Friends:
Today, we went to Petra, Jordan. We were up early and arrived to the Yitzchak Rabin border crossing by 7:30 a.m. What an interesting experience! We had to go through Passport control - we were leaving Israel, then we crossed the border by foot into a "No Man's Land" into Jordanian control - as someone suggested - it felt like a prisoner swap! After going through Jordanian security, we met our guide who handled our passport control on the Jordanian side. After visiting the bathrooms (a real cultural experience - picture a "hole in the ground"), we boarded our "coach" to Petra. A few miles inside Jordan, we went through Customs Control - no big deal, but an interesting thought. Our guide, Mahmoud, was very nice and knowledgeable.
Petra is the treasure of ancient world, hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains, boasting incomparable scenes that make it the most majestic and imposing ancient site still-standing nowadays.. It has been said "perhaps there is nothing in the world that resembles it", actually, for sure, there is nothing in the world that resembles it. The rock-carved rose-red city of Petra is full of mysterious charm, it was "designed to strike wonder into all who entered it". Petra is considered the most famous and gorgeous site in Jordan located about 133 km north of Aqaba (where we crossed into Jordan). It is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2000 years ago. Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels, Petra is now a UNESCO world heritage site and one of The New 7 Wonders of the World that enchants visitors from all corners of the globe. We were all in awe of this place!
The approach through a kilometer long, cool, and gloom chasm (or Siq) a long narrow gorge whose steeply rising sides all but obliterate the sun, provides a dramatic contrast with the magic to come. Suddenly the gorge opens into a natural square dominated by Petra's most famous monument, The Treasury (El-Khazneh), whose intricately carved facade glows in the dazzling sun.
Other palaces and tombs.
And of course, the obligatory camel picture!
Enjoy! Tomorrow - a day of rest and packing - some of us may snorkel. We will have our farewell dinner and will connect with you one last time.
SHALOM!
1 comment:
Now even our Rabbi is commenting on the rest room facilities! But after passing through serious Israel security, we were finally allowed back into Eilat, with warm showers in A++ bathrooms.
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