The lost city of Petra
It is probably the most famous place in Jordan and one of the most spectacular ancient sites on the planet. Nobody really knows when exactly this magical and legendary city was built but its history traces back to thousands of years ago when this place used to be a thriving metropolis. Today it belongs to the "New 7 Wonders of the World".
Al Khazna or The Treasury — the facade is almost 40m high and according to a legend it holds the treasury of a Pharaoh.
It is about a three hours drive from Jordan's capital Amman towards the south along a very well maintained and comfortable highway that winds its roads through the Jordan desert. Arriving in Petra from the mountains provides you with a breathtaking view over the modern and ancient city that lies neatly draped along the hills and canyons of Wadi Musa.
Wide open view when arriving in Petra from Amman
The city prospered from the first century BC as the capital of the Nabataean empire and grew rich through trading goods like myrrh and spices. The Roman Empire annexed the city and participated in its wealth and importance for the region. At around 400 AD a massive earthquake destroyed much of the place and changes in trade routes led to the downfall of the city. It was forgotten for a long time until the Swiss explorer Johannes Burckhardt discovered the "Lost City" again in 1812.
Small makeshift Bedouin Cafe on top of the rocks with a stunning view over the “Treasury”
As by today only 15 percent of the city has been uncovered and the biggest majority of it remains lies untouched somewhere underground. It has become Jordan’s number one tourist attraction and can be very crowded during the high tourist season. During winter times it is way less busy there.
“The Street of Facades” and the “Royal Tombs”
The wonderfully colored red sandstone, where most of the city's structure is carved from, brilliantly shines in the warm sun of late December. Arriving at the end of the up to 80m deep and mostly naturally grown canyon called "The Siq" gives you a first impression of what this place has to offer. The canyon was the entry gate to the city and ends at the most iconic building of the whole place which is known as "The Treasury" or "Al Khazna". The 40m high facade used to be a temple or place where documents have been stored.
The Theater an “the Colonnaded Street”
Local Bedouins sell their merchants and hawk souvenirs. Camels and donkeys are around and it feels like traveling back in time to the first century. Several scenes from the Hollywood blockbuster "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" has been filmed here. Literally behind each corner new fascinating views and places can be explored.
After a whole day in the city with some good chats to locals, magnificent views and lots of fantastic impressions, heading back to the car leaves you with a feeling of deep respect for this magical place which managed to survive for so long and allows a peak into how life must have been thousands of years ago.
Fujifilm X-Pro2 — Mastin Lab Kodak Ektar 100 digital film emulation