Petra, Jordan April 30th

Petra, Jordan (April 30^th) – our ship anchored in the port of Aqaba, Jordan.  You might remember this name from the Lawrence of Arabia movie when he says that he and his Bedouin fighters were going to travel across the desert to take Aqaba for the British from the Turkish Army.  On our way out of the port to Petra we could see where the famous scene from the movie was shot.

We travelled for approximately an hour and a half out into the dessert to reach Petra.  This was a site of a major way point for caravans proceeding on the famous Silk Road from the eastern worlds to the western.  It is also the site of the Indian Jones movie the Temple of Doom. 

To reach the treasury the main building at the site you have to walk or take a donkey or camel three km’s up a narrow canyon before it opens onto the main valley.  It was easy to see why this spot was picked as it is quite defendable from attack from either end as both require entrance through the narrow canyons.

Bob and a new friend on the way to Petra

Bedouin camp in the desert

                                                    Coming into the Valley at the treasury

                                                                   The Treasury

         At the Treasury, Bob with a Jordanian Infrantry Officer ( he wasn't interested in new armour)

                                                             The Royal Tomb at Petra