Picturesque Petra Part 2

Treasury by day.

After a wonderful sleep in the Petra Moon Hotel, I indulged in the sumptuous buffet down in the hotel's restaurant. After what I had experienced the night before in Petra, it felt like no trouble to be up before 8 am. I made the short journey by foot to the Petra Welcome Centre where I purchased my ticket. Tickets cost 50 Jordanian Dinar for the UNESCO World Heritage site. It is important to note that they only accept cash but an ATM is available across the road in the Movenpick Hotel.

While it was November when I visited Petra, it was still quiet hot in the early morning. It is best to go early before the tour buses come and before the temperature gets too high to make walking around bearable.

Horses scare me!

I was delighted that I had completed the night tour first, as when I began the trek the next morning, it felt like a completely different experience. I could now see the rose pink rock formation that Petra is famous for.

The first forty minutes of the journey is over gravel and concrete so as far as the Treasury is quite accessible for people using wheelchairs or children in buggies. You can also get a horse ride or carriage ride into the ancient city. Apparently, this is included in your ticket but the guides still expect a tip of a euro or two.

Initial glimpse of the Treasury.



The picture on the left was taken just as I was about to get my first experience of the rose rocked city in the daylight. It captures the sense of excitement and anticipation I felt as I walked down the ravine towards the city. Carved into the rocks of the ravine are ancient aqua conduits. In ancient times they were the life line of the city and it is amazing to see that they are still in perfect condition.

At the end of this series of aqua conduits, you are confronted with the breathtaking Treasury. The building is an incredible feat to ancient masonry, with each pillar and door frame skillfully cut from the rock. It really is beautiful. You are not allowed into the building but you are allowed to take pictures. Bedouins (nomadic people from the area) will offer you camel and horse rides (of course, at a good tourist's fee) from here to the Monastery .

Tea break with some Bedouin girls
 and two American guys I met. 

The morning was so beautiful that I decided  to take the longer path to the Monastery via the High Place of Sacrifice. Be warned, however, that the incline is very steep. I wouldn't advise it to anyone who is nervous of heights. Along the way up, Bedouin woman have set up there stalls, selling hand made jewellery. At one point, three girls asked me to their stall to have tea and sheisha with them. This was just one example of the hospitality and genuine friendliness I encountered as a solo traveller. One of the American guys I met, Jake, completed the rest of the trek with me.

The climb up to the High Place of Sacrifice.

The view from the High Place of Sacrifice was beautiful. You can see the ancient city for miles in every direction. It is very peaceful up there too. Not many tourists go up there as people are mostly concerned with getting to the Monastery. It adds a few hours to the hike but is definitely worth it. The trail continues back down the mountain and you can stop on the way to explore the many rooms and buildings etched into the mountain side. I do not think the guide books or reviews has prepared me for the sheer scale of the city. Once back on the main track to the Monastery, you have a welcome break to the slopes. Enjoy it because once you start the hike to the Monastery the climb is relentless. Just before you start the climb, there are toilets, places to eat and drink as well as the option of taking donkey up the mountain. For me, the idea of a donkey on these narrow, steep paths was terrifying so I decided to walk. If if had not been for my American buddy I had met earlier in the day, I definitely would have given up! You do need a certain level of fitness as the steps are steep and by the time you get this far, the day has heated up.

A resting camel with the immense
ancient city in the background.

Sweat, steps and goats!

Unfortunately, I was more concerned with not collapsing of exhaustion than taking photos so I do not have many pictures of the way up. To be honest though, sometimes pictures do not suffice in capturing an experience. It was so beautiful! Finally, after an hour of hiking, we reached the Monastery. It amazes me still how such a building was constructed in such a remote area up a mountain. As a reward for myself (and a thank you to Jake for listening to me moan the whole way up) I bought us two bottles of Bavaria. Tourist trap (or local opportunism at it's best), the two bottles cost the equivalent of 12 euro. After remarking that it was definitely the best beer we had both ever tasted we realised that it was, in fact, non alcoholic! Unsurprisingly, the trek back down the mountain took less time than the way up. I was back at my hotel by 1.30 pm in plenty of time to get the 3pm Jett bus back to Amman for my next Jordanian adventure. Petra had been an unforgettable experience.

At the Monastery!

You will need:
A light weight bag pack;
Good walking shoes/hiking boots;
A camera;
Sun glasses and hat;
Water (drinks are available inside but are very expensive);
Sun cream.