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<\/a><\/p>\nThe well worn path led to an area where\u00a0local Bedouins had horses available for people to\u00a0ride instead of walking to\u00a0the\u00a0Siq. \u00a0Al<\/em>\u00a0Siq<\/em> is the narrow gorge that leads to the entrance to the city of Petra and is about a mile long.<\/p>\n Originally known as Raqmu<\/em>, Petra is perhaps the most spectacular ancient city remaining in the modern world today. \u00a0The “Red City”<\/em> is a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the New\u00a0Seven Wonders of the World. \u00a0As we entered the Siq,<\/em> the path narrowed to about 15 feet across. \u00a0The walls towered 650 feet above us.<\/p>\n Sometime during the sixth century BC, nomadic Nabataeans settled and made Petra their capital. \u00a0The Nabatean Kingdom preserved its independence for centuries. \u00a0They created an amazing system of hydraulic engineering in the desert. \u00a0Channels were carved out of the rock and earthenware pipes, dams, and cisterns were constructed to collect water and to irrigate farmland.<\/p>\n After we followed\u00a0the winding path for about a mile, the narrow Siq<\/em> opened to reveal the most impressive monument in Petra: al-Khazneh<\/em>, (Arabic for “the Treasury”). \u00a0It was carved out of solid rock from the side of a mountain and stands over 150 feet high. \u00a0Although it served as a royal tomb, the Treasury gets its name from a\u00a0legend that pirates hid their treasure there.<\/p>\n After walking more than\u00a0two miles to reach The Treasury, we rested and watched the flurry of activity in front of the incredible stone carving. \u00a0It was a noisy chaotic mixture of tourists, camels, donkeys, horses, and local Bedouin boys selling postcards and jewelry.<\/p>\n We passed through another short steep gorge to reach the wide heart of the city between towering cliffs. \u00a0The steep rock faces were carved out for tombs, markets, temples, baths, and cave dwellings.<\/p>\n It was a long walk along the main canyon between Petra’s cliffs. \u00a0We were entertained by the camel drivers and their relatives selling donkey and horse rides. \u00a0The enterprising young Bedouin in the photo below told me his three donkeys were named Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati.<\/p>\n Tourists passing the Royal tombs:<\/p>\n We walked along a narrow thoroughfare called The Colonnade which was built curing Roman times, about 100 AD. \u00a0Historians believe it was used for ceremonial purposes. \u00a0The ruins of the triple-arch Temenos Gate are at the western end of the Colonnade.<\/p>\n Our reward at the end of a long walk was lunch at the Crowne Plaza restaurant which is the end for point for most tourists. \u00a0Some tourists like to continue on the path and climb 850 steps up to the Monastery, but I did not. \u00a0After lunch, I began to walk back to the Visitors’ Center but was easily persuaded to take a camel ride back to the Treasury.<\/p>\n The kind owner with his two camels. \u00a0He said they were gentle animals with good memories.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n