"The Wonder that is Petra!" Petra by K.Knight

As you begin to emerge from the Siq, and you have walked almost 3 kilometers, you are met with one of the most impressive sites in all of Jordan. I stood there in the shade of the cliffs and simply gazed at this unique and ancient wonder of the world!

The surroundings and everyone in view was simply dwarfed by this 30 meter wide by 43 meter high carving. It is impressive in status and I could not help but try and think of how impressive the Nabataen King was that inspired his people to carve such a grand and breathtaking monument.

The façade is impressive in itself but the top of the structure is littered with bullet holes. A group of Bedouins were drinking and decided to use the large urn (Tholos) at the top as target practice. Some suggest that they thought the urn was full of gold.

Camels at the Street of Facades.

The Street of Facades is located just around the right hand bend as you are leaving the Tomb of 17 Tombs. This is the point where there is a Bedouin stall where they sell all types of bottles filled with colored sands that make up a desert scene. There are also dozens of camels located here where all of the local Bedouins will constantly ask you if you would like a ride on their camel!

Be warned, the camel ride is the shortest ride in all of Petra! The camels are only allowed between the Treasury and just past the Street of Facades. The handlers will ask you for US$15 and your camel ride will last a few minutes at best!

Anne with the breathtaking colors in the rocks

All the way through the impressive Siq you are met with bizarre formations and breathtaking colors in the rock formations.

You will pass three or four dams as well as several water harvesting system that were built by the Nabataean’s. There is also several water channels that were made from terracotta took the water from its origins approx 13 kilometers away to the town itself, approx 2 km’s below the bottom of the Siq