Petra

01/08/2009 - 01/08/2009 42 °C
View Around the world ın 8 months on chrisvasil's travel map.

The ancient city of Petra is, in my opinion, overrated. It's cool for the amount of buildings carved into caves and the sheer size of some of the buildings, but there is a lot of walking and if not for the historical aspect (which I don't know, but I hear there is one), it probably wouldn't be worth the admission fee of 21 JD (about 30 USD) plus the 1.2km walk to get to the site plus the hourlong climb in the Jordan heat to get to the main building (the monastary). It was worth seeing given that we were in the area - the monastary must be the tallest 2-story building there is - but I wouldn't recommend planning a trip around it.

That said, here are the highlights:

This is a grave for 5 people, symbolized by the 4 triangles on the top floor, according to the sign (I was confused by that).

Here is the Treasury, build to a massive scale (Sue next to a pillar, people in the doorway).

Sue on a staircase of a complex carved out of stone (she was on the third floor, I was on the fifth).

And here is said complex:

At the base of the complex we had (free) tea with a Bedouin family that runs a jewellery stand. The 10-year old girl knew 5 languages (pretty good english, and at least enough of the others to speak a few lines to tourists) and shifts effortlessly between small talk and sales.
They make tea with a small metal kettle on a small propane tank / burner. When the water boiled the girl held brought the kettle to the ground with her bare hands, holding it for maybe 10 seconds. Then she poured water on the handle to cool it down - it boiled instantly, I'm guessing the temperature was around 150 degrees Celsius. In spite of her ability to handle such hot items, her hands looked normal.
Anyway, this is the family:

Here is the Great Temple, currently under excavation or restoration by Brown University.

Here is the monastary, the main attraction which is arrived only after an hour climb up stairs and rocks, the stairs shared with donkeys.
For perspective, the red and white part just below and to the right of the door is Sue.