Jordan Photo Gallery
Excited to see one of the new 7 Wonders of the World.
Our first look at Wadi Musa, which means Valley of Moses. They believe that it is in this location where Moses struck the rock to bring water to the Israelites.
Looking out over Wadi Musa to the hills where we will hike to see Petra.
Starting the walk in Petra where we see oleander flowers and carvings in the cliffs.
The Obelisk Tomb on the left-carved in the 1st century AD. The top floor was for the burial of 5 people and the bottom floor is the Triclinium. a banqueting hall.
One of the massive Djinn blocks.
A demonstration of soldiers from an earlier time period. This is near the dam that was built to divert flash floods. The Nabataeans were masters in hydrological engineering.
Ismail Nas, the private guide that we hired. He was good at explaining what we were seeing.
This is a channel carved out of the rock for water irrigation.
We are walking through the Siq, the narrow gorge that leads into Petra.
Usually this area is full of people and no cars are allowed, but no one is coming to Jordan right now so many times we had the place to ourselves.
We're walking through the siq on our way to see the World Wonder of Petra with Doug and Margaret.
The is the Elephant Rock in the Siq.
The Siq is 1.2 km long and so beautiful!
More water channels, one side was for irrigation and the other was for drinking. You can tell because it would have been completely enclosed in a ceramic pipe.
Our first glimpse at The Treasury, which Ismael presented to us in a surprising way.
The Treasury, not a treasury, but a mausoleum. It got its name from the Bedouins who thought that it held a hidden treasure.
Gwen in front of the Treasury of Petra.
Details of The Treasury and the funerary urn.
The Corinthian capitals.
The Treasury is 128 feet high and 83 feet wide and probably constructed in the 1st century BC. The markings on the side are ancient steps.
Brian and Gwen in front of the Treasury of Petra.
This is one of the tombs that we entered.
Look at the different colors of the sandstone, because of the different mineral content! It was natural beauty.
This is on the Street of Facades with many tombs.
The Theatre-The only theatre in the world carved into rock and can accommodate 4000 spectators.
Looking at the stage area of the theatre.
One of the Royal Tombs.
The Colonnaded Street-One of the principal shopping streets in ancient Petra.
Camel Rock.
The Great Temple Complex-Thought to be constructed by the Nabataeans at the end of the 1st century BC.
Looking back at the Colonnaded Street and Royal Tombs.
Qasr al-Bint-A temple in Petra dedicated to Dushara, dating back to the first half of the 1st century AD.
Are we really going to try to go up the 850 steps to The Monastery? Were we crazy? Yes!!!
Margaret & I opted to ride the donkeys about a third of the way up. It wasn't an easy ride, but better than walking. This is where I get off the donkey.
Doug and our guide got on donkeys about halfway up and Brian is following.
Brian climbing all by himself.
Doug and Ismail arrive at the coffee stop.
Brian arrives! He was the only one to walk all the way. I couldn't believe that he did it and so fast!
Here is our reward, The Monastery! 148 feet tall and 160 feet wide. This dates to the 2nd century AD and later used as a Christian chapel and how it got its name.
Another view at this awesome structure! The 3 donkeys look so small in comparison to the Monastery that they appear to be dogs.
Brian and I with Doug and Margaret at the Monastery at Petra.
We hiked a little farther for this view looking toward Israel.
It is very rugged and almost impassable.
More of the rugged landscape.
Coming back to The Monastery.
We come across the goats.
On the way back down. No donkey this time and if not for Brian helping me I don't think I would've made it. It was very hard on the knees.
A goat in front of very pink sandstone.
Shobak Castle-A Crusader castle built by Baldwin I of Jerusalem in 1115 AD.
A close-up of one of Shobak's towers.
Looking out over western Jordan. It reminded me of the painted dessert.
Another dessert photo.
Wadi Ad' Dathneh, near a famous hiking trail.
Brian and I in front of Wadi Ad'Dathneh.
Wadi An' Nakhil
Homes in the dessert.