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Jordan and Israel

October 2018
A short adventure trip around the sites of Jordan, before heading to Israel for the Scotland qualifying game. Read more
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  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 3

    Wadi Rum camp

    October 7, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    We get back to the camp, where we are joined by a couple of other tour groups, mostly Dutch and French. We have a buffet style meal of local food, not entirely sure what it all was but still had it, topped off with a traditional roast of chicken and lamb, that was cooked in the sand. Afterwards we have some local music, and even join in with some dancing, some weird shapes on the dance floor.

    Afterwards we retire to our beds, more tented rooms than actual tents. The end of a very long day.    Read more

  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 4

    Wadi Rum Train Station

    October 8, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Another 8am start for the main day of the tour. Not far from the Wadi Rum camp we visit the Wadi Rum Train Station where a Turkish train has been left since 1916.

    It's still in pretty good condition. The railway is still in use, primarily for the transport of Potash from cental Jordan to the seaport at Aqaba.Read more

  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 4

    Petra View

    October 8, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Not long after joining the Desert Highway north from Aqaba, we turn off onto the Kings Highway, the ancient route from Aqaba north through Amman all the way to Damascus, also used by the pilgrims.

    Along the route the altitude changes from around 2500ft to about 5400ft at it's highest. We stop at a viewpoint over the Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses), were we look down on the rocky canyons that enclose Petra, and with the Rift Valley in the hazy distance. Alongside this viewpoint, understandably the Crown Prince has a house, what a view.    Read more

  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 4

    Bab al Siq (Petra Entrance)

    October 8, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We arrive in the town of Wadi Musa where we'll be staying for the night. It's also where the gateway to Petra is.

    After dropping my bags at the hotel, we head to the Petra visitor centre, where we pick up the tickets. You can also take a horse from here to the entrance, which is included in the ticket price. I decide to walk, it's only a kilometre. Along the route we see the Obelisk Tomb and Bab al-Siq Triclinium. This tomb had five people buried here in the upper part, with the lower part being a banqueting Hall to honour the memory of the deceased each year.

    It is not known precisely when Petra was built, but the city began to prosper as the capital of the Nabataean Empire from the 1st century BC, which grew rich through trade in frankincense, myrrh, and spices. Petra was later annexed to the Roman Empire and continued to thrive until a large earthquake in 363 AD destroyed much of the city in the 4th century AD. The earthquake combined with changes in trade routes, eventually led to the downfall of the city which was ultimately abandoned. By the middle of the 7th century Petra appears to have been largely deserted and it was then lost to all except local Bedouin from the area.

    In 1812 a Swiss explorer named Johannes Burckhardt set out to 'rediscover' Petra; he dressed up as an Arab and convinced his Bedouin guide to take him to the lost city. After this, Petra became increasingly known in the West as a fascinating and beautiful ancient city, and it began attracting visitors and continues to do so today.    Read more

  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 4

    The Siq

    October 8, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    The Siq is a narrow gorge which is the only access to Petra, and is 1.2km long. This was the original course of Wadi Musa (River of Moses). Two water channels were carved in the wall sides, on the left drinking water, and eroded from the right the toilet water.

    At one time the Siq used to flood from the local river, so the Nabataean's built a dam at the entrance and diverted it through an 86m tunnel they also built. This then rejoins the Wadi Musa at the start of the Colonnade Street inside Petra. This meant Petra was never without water for domestic needs, filling the fountains, and irrigating the surrounding fields.

    Side gulleys of the Siq were also dammed to stop flooding, which still need to be maintained. The Siq also originally had an entrance arch and drawbridge. The rock walls of the Siq reach a maximum height of 80-90m, and in some stretches are just 3m apart.    Read more

  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 4

    Al-Khazneh al-Faroun

    October 8, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Known locally as the Treasury, this tomb is where most visitors fall in love with Petra. The Hellenistic facade is an astonishing piece of craftsmanship. Although carved out of iron-laden sandstone to serve as a tomb for the Nabataean King Aretas III, the Treasury derives its name from the story that an Egyptian pharaoh hid his treasure here (in the facade urn) while pursuing the Israelites.

    Some locals clearly believed the tale because the 3.5m-high urn is pockmarked by rifle shots. As with all rock-hewn monuments in Petra, the interior is unadorned. It's 40m high and 28m wide. They started carving it from the top down, so as not to damage it.    Read more

  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 4

    Street of Facades

    October 8, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Continuing in the direction of the city, we go through the part of the Wadi Musa valley known as the Outer Siq. This stretch of road is also known as the Street of Facades, because of the amount of Royal tombs that align it.

    To the right, the great massif of Jebel Al Khubtha looms over the valley. Within its west facing cliffs are burrowed some of the most impressive burial places in Petra.

    Known locally as the Treasury, this tomb is where most visitors fall in love with Petra. The Hellenistic facade is an astonishing piece of craftsmanship. Although carved out of iron-laden sandstone to serve as a tomb for the Nabataean King Aretas III, the Treasury derives its name from the story that an Egyptian pharaoh hid his treasure here (in the facade urn) while pursuing the Israelites.

    Some locals clearly believed the tale because the 3.5m-high urn is pockmarked by rifle shots. As with all rock-hewn monuments in Petra, the interior is unadorned. It's 40m high and 28m wide. They started carving it from the top down, so as not to damage it.

    Petra is also known as the rose-red city, a name it gets from the wonderful colour of the rock from which many of the city's structures were carved. The Nabataeans buried their dead in intricate tombs that were cut out of the mountain sides and the city also had temples, a theatre, following the Roman annexation and later the Byzantine influence, a colonnaded street and churches.

    In addition to the magnificent remains of the Nabataean city, human settlement and land use for over 10,000 years can be traced in Petra, where great nature, cultural, archaeological and geological features merge.    Read more

  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 4

    The Theatre

    October 8, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    The Theatre at Petra stands at the eastern extremity of the urban area, where the Wadi Musa gorge opens up. It's also the only theatre in the world carved in rock.

    Originally built by the Nabataeans (not the Romans) more than 2000 years ago, the Theatre was chiselled out of rock, slicing through many caves and tombs in the process. It was enlarged by the Romans to hold about 8500 (around 30% of the population of Petra) soon after they arrived in 106 CE. Badly damaged by an earthquake in 363 CE, the Theatre was partially dismantled to build other structures but it remains a Petra highlight.

    The seating area had an original capacity of about 3000 in 45 rows of seats, with three horizontal sections separated by two corridors. The orchestra section was carved from the rock, but the backdrop to the frons scaenae (stage, which is no longer intact) was constructed, as opposed to carved, in three storeys with frescoed niches and columns overlaid by marble. The performers entered through one of three entrances, the outlines of which are still partially visible.

    To make room for the upper seating tiers, the Romans sliced through more tombs. Under the stage floor were storerooms and a slot through which a curtain could be lowered at the start of a performance. From near the slot, an almost-complete statue of Hercules was recovered.    Read more

  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 4

    Colonnade Street and Temenos Gate

    October 8, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    The valley is crossed for its entire length by a wide Colonnade Street, parallel to the river. Built in the 2nd century AD by the Romans it is thought to be prevalently for ceremonial use, due to the absence of cart furrows, and would be flanked by seventy-two columns. It replaced the original Nabataean Street. The south side would have been an almost uninterrupted row of shops, the northern side probably hid the irregular buildings behind it.

    At the western end of the Colonnade Street was the monumental Temenos Gate, which gave access into the sacred enclosure surrounding the city's main sanctuary known as Qasr al-Bint. The gate, which collapsed during an earthquake, has had recent restoration.    Read more

  • TravelerJordan and Israel
    Day 4

    South Temple & Temple of the Winged Lion

    October 8, 2018 in Jordan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Alongside the Colonnade Street is the South Temple or Large Temple. Dominating the south side of the street, it's accessed by a double staircase, and would have had a monumental door. The style of the temple is believed to be from the Syrian and Palestinian areas.

    Right across the Colonnade Street and on the northern bank of the Wadi Musa stands the Temple of the Winged Lions. The columns are decorated with crouching winged lions, from which the temple takes its name. This temple was built by the Nabataean's, but was destroyed by fire about 110-114AD. It was never rebuilt.    Read more

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