We were down for breakfast at 7am to get an early start with Petra. We bought a 3-day pass for 60 JD. I thought we'd be Petra'd-out after two days, but we weren't sure if my ankle would need a break. The 2-day pass was 55 JD so the extra day was just a 5 JD insurance.
We took our time going down the Siq. Because we'd already seen the Treasury last night I wasn't in a big rush
We took our time going down the Siq. Because we'd already seen the Treasury last night I wasn't in a big rush
There weren't too many other tourists. The situation in Syria has caused a huge decline in tourism here, even though its a different country. I used to think traveling in shoulder season was the best way to travel; now it seems to be going to a country adjacent to a troubled country.
All the shadows of rock formations we had seen on the night trek were now in full life. It's so surreal it almost looks fake, like a Disney impression of Petra. Except it's real.
We spent a few minutes at the Treasury. There were more workers than tourists at the site. The whole of Petra is kept impeccably clean.
We have been pleasantly surprised at the lack of aggressive sales pitches from guides. Just saying No Thanks once is enough, and they wish you on your way. Much different than any other country I've been too!
We followed the suggested walking tour in the Lonely Planet. After the Treasury is the Street of Façades, where the Nabateans cut 20m high façades into the rock around 2000 years ago. Petra has survived earthquakes because it's not built, but carved out of solid rock. Everything is one piece.
We had the street to ourselves - there were no other tourists in sight.
Next on the LP walk was a climb up to the High Place of Sacrifice. I thought it would just be a short climb, but it actually goes all the way to the top of the 200m rock formations. There were amazing views of the surroundings.
By the time we descended, it was close to noon, and the tour bus tourists had arrived. We waited for tourist free pics of the 8,500 seat Theatre. We had to keep remembering that everything was carved, and not built.
We walked up to the Royal Tombs across from the Theatre. By this time we were getting hungry and tired. Had a box lunch from a restaurant facing the Royal Tombs, which was pretty good (pita bread, cheese, tomato, cucumber, orange and cookies) for 6JD. There are also excellent toilets inside Petra -- much better than we had expected.
Rejuvenated, we headed back to the Royal Tombs along a path we had observed from our lunch seats. It ran above and behind the ground level row of tombs. We had this to ourselves - it's hidden from a casual view (especially if you're checking out the Theatre). It was amazing, with great views looking down on the Street of Façades.
We debated doing some more sightseeing but it had been a long day and we didn't want to push my ankle. So we headed back to the Treasury, took some more pics, and then walked back through the Siq to our hotel.
All the shadows of rock formations we had seen on the night trek were now in full life. It's so surreal it almost looks fake, like a Disney impression of Petra. Except it's real.
We spent a few minutes at the Treasury. There were more workers than tourists at the site. The whole of Petra is kept impeccably clean.
We have been pleasantly surprised at the lack of aggressive sales pitches from guides. Just saying No Thanks once is enough, and they wish you on your way. Much different than any other country I've been too!
We followed the suggested walking tour in the Lonely Planet. After the Treasury is the Street of Façades, where the Nabateans cut 20m high façades into the rock around 2000 years ago. Petra has survived earthquakes because it's not built, but carved out of solid rock. Everything is one piece.
We had the street to ourselves - there were no other tourists in sight.
Next on the LP walk was a climb up to the High Place of Sacrifice. I thought it would just be a short climb, but it actually goes all the way to the top of the 200m rock formations. There were amazing views of the surroundings.
By the time we descended, it was close to noon, and the tour bus tourists had arrived. We waited for tourist free pics of the 8,500 seat Theatre. We had to keep remembering that everything was carved, and not built.
We walked up to the Royal Tombs across from the Theatre. By this time we were getting hungry and tired. Had a box lunch from a restaurant facing the Royal Tombs, which was pretty good (pita bread, cheese, tomato, cucumber, orange and cookies) for 6JD. There are also excellent toilets inside Petra -- much better than we had expected.
Rejuvenated, we headed back to the Royal Tombs along a path we had observed from our lunch seats. It ran above and behind the ground level row of tombs. We had this to ourselves - it's hidden from a casual view (especially if you're checking out the Theatre). It was amazing, with great views looking down on the Street of Façades.
We debated doing some more sightseeing but it had been a long day and we didn't want to push my ankle. So we headed back to the Treasury, took some more pics, and then walked back through the Siq to our hotel.
We showered and headed out for dinner. It was a choice between identical mediocre restaurants and we didn't choose well. Went to the Mövenpick for a celebratory beer.
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