Petra, Jordan

East face of Jebel Rum

Update from Xmas trip to Jordan, almost a month late! Great trip exploring Wadi Rum and Petra, and the interesting locals who seem keen to try and rip you off at every available opportunity. First up, Petra.

Petra

What a place - some of the buildings took over 300 years to carve by hand from the sandstone walls, they must have had a lot of time free! A very touristy place, this fact recognised by the locals, who take great pleasure and have no shame trying to extract as much of your money as possible. The ridiculous entry prices with different prices for people staying in the local area, day visitors, multi day visits, people staying in the local area... Where does the money go? Someone will be getting very rich from this place, as the information provided on the buildings is pretty basic and litter abounds everywhere, seems like the locals don't give a toss and are just out to squeeze as much money out of passing visitors as possible. But then the whole Middle East seems to have no desire to keep its area clean, throwing rubbish away seems to be a national sport, something to do with the Koran?? But i'm digressing...

Getting away from the beaten track was the way to do it, and only then do you get a feel for how the place used to be at it's peak. Over 30,000 people used to live here apparently, there must have been plenty more water going about back then!! Can't imagine what the sewage system was like.. A home to traders, gangstars, vagabonds and religious nuts, maybe a few normal people too, with a soceity based on human sacrafice to the gods, i'm glad i'm visiting it now and not 2000 years ago...

Rush hour, Petra

2000 year old stairway

Garden Temple

Petra 'Police'

Petra vista, from near the place where children were sacraficed to the 'gods'

House? Temple?

Big old temple...

This was carved out by hand, crazy..

Massive..

Entrance to Petra

300 years to build this

Top of Petra