My late father visited Petra 60 years ago when he was on shore leave with the Royal Navy. In those days foreign tours even to the Med, lasted up to two years. Living in Saudi Arabia allowed me the luxury of a short two hour flight to spend a long weekend in Jordan which at a push gave me time to see Petra and a few other sights.
Dad often told me about his visit to Petra. In those days there were no hotels there for visitors, him and his mates gratefully accepted the famed bedouin hospitality and slept among the ruins. I took this trip with him.
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Dad at Petra in 1952. Let's hope the Temple family photography
skills and dress sense have improved in the past 60 years. |
Petra is a city built by the Nabateaen people in about 1500 BC. The path down to the city starts at the top of a wide valley near the modern day town. On the way you pass several early tombs built in a simpler style than the main city.
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| An early 'block tomb' |
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| The 'obelisk tomb' |
As you continue downwards the valley narrows into what is known as 'The Siq'.
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| A niche in the Siq wall |
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| A local catching up on his emails |
When you get to the bottom of The Siq it is only about ten feet wide. You then have your first view of one of the worlds most iconic buildings. The Treasury.
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| The Treasury |
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