The Wonders of Petra, Jordan

The Bedouin people who used to live in Petra, before it became a monument, are now the only ones who can sell jewelry and other crafts and they have the best tea. We love her smile and elegance.
We began our walk down the path to the siq in Petra in Jordan first thing in the morning, as the security guards reported to work. The Nabateans built Petra during the Greco-Roman period.
The security guards in the distance show the massive scale of the canyon walls as you walk through the siq. The trough at the base of the canyon walls would collect rain water and deliver it to the city at the bottom of the canyon.
Some visitors rode into Petra by carriage. It all looked and felt so dramatic. We felt that we had stepped back for a few minutes to live in ancient times.
The caves carved into the canyon walls reminded us of the architectural style at the Taos Pueblo of New Mexico.
The treasury carved into the canyon is familiar to those who saw "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." It was not a treasury at all, but is a plain room carved into the canyon. It is a magnificent site to behold. Petra as a city in its heyday earned its wealth because it was located on a major trade route.
Camels provide traditional transportation for people in the canyon, unchanged for centuries, except for the camel driver's cell phone. We really enjoyed riding camels as it is a very comfortable ride and camels are very easy to get on and off.
Some Bedouins serenaded visitors with their songs that echoed in the canyon. The music was enchanting and we greatly enjoyed the cultural experience as we stood in awe before the monastery, high on the mountain.

The Monastery is reached after a long climb out of the canyon. Like the Treasury, it was not really a Monastery, but was so named by later European explorers who used their imagination. It was a long hike up the mountain to get to the Monastery, but well worth it. It is awesome to turn the corner on a hike and see this amazing carved building rise from the mountain and desert.