Jordan

Mar 29-Apr 3, 2018
AC876 YYZ-FRA, LH692 FRA-AMM, LH693 AMM-FRA, AC873 FRA-YYZ

I’ve been wanting to visit Petra for some time, and took advantage of some low-cost business class tickets from Toronto to Amman, Jordan, to build our trip around. Air Canada had recently opened a new, fancy, business-class lounge only available to paid business class passengers. The Signature Lounge has complementary, high-end restaurant-quality food with table service, that allowed us to get in all of our eating and drinking before departing, and sleep on the flight. We were only very briefly in Amman, before heading to Petra and the surrounding dessert. Petra more than lived up to our expectations, and we really enjoyed the time in Jordan.

Mar 31

After our very early morning arrival in Amman and a bit of sleep, we made our way to Petra to have a good portion of the afternoon to explore the ancient city.

Wadi Musa town above Petra

1st century Djinn Blocks squat monuments

Obelisk Tomb, one of the first tombs

1.2km Siq (or Canyon) with its 200m high walls is the entrance to the hidden city

More of the incredible canyon and anticipating the Treasury that awaits

The Treasury is the first tomb that appears as we exit the Siq

Horse for those that prefer to avoid the walk

One of numerous tombs cut into the mountain

Amphitheatre carved from the solid rock, originally built over 2000 years ago, but later enlarged by the Romans

Urn Tomb built around 70AD

Mountain goat

Palace Tomb in the Royal tombs on the hillside

Broader perspective on the Urn Tomb

Camel appointed for his tourist transportation duties

Expressive Camel

Last look at the Treasury as the day is ending

Afternoon crowds put the Treasury size into perspective

Horse and carriage for transporting those not wanting to walk the canyon

Making our way through the Siq and back to the entrance

One last look at Obelisk Tomb before we exit Petra

Sunset over the Petra Valley

Apr 1

After a quiet night at our hotel near Petra, we headed out early to go back to Petra, hike, and explore more of the Ancient Valley, and then go onto Wadi Rum.

Morning caravan of tourists making their way to Petra

Morning sunlight over the Siq

Standing in front of the Treasury

Hiking our way up to the High Palace of Sacrifice

At the High Palace

Looking down on the Royal Tombs

Obelisk near the High Palace

Mountain goat joins us on the way down

Garden Tomb

Inside the Garden Tomb

Renaissance tomb

Broken Pediment Tomb

Tombs in al-Biyara mountain

Colanaded Street in Petra City Centre

Nabathaean and Roman Houses above the city centre

Petra Museum cut into the rock

Hiking towards the Monastery

Procession of donkeys brings supplies to the Monastery

Far bigger than the Treasury, the Monastery (50m wide and 45m high), is the most impressive structure in Petra

Restaurants competing for the tourist trade

Looking across the valley towards the Dead Sea from one of the best views

A broader perspective on the Monastery shows how it was carved out of the mountain in the 3rd century BC

Final look before we hike back towards the main valley and the exit

Fully loaded donkey

Curious goat

Another goat

The Temple of Qasar Al-Bint built in 30 BC

Tom continuing his study of camals

Camel resting

Carriage rushing back to pick up the next round of tourists

Mountains of Wadi Rum

Exploring the valley in Wadi Rum

Road cutting through the Wadi

Looking towards Israel on the Kings Highway, back to our hotel near Petra

More of the barren desert landscape

Approaching Petra along the mountain road

Apr 2

Having made the most of our time in and around Petra, it was time to head back towards Amman. On the way down, we went the most direct routing, but took a slower pace back along the King’s Highway.

Standing above Petra near our hotel

Surrounding countryside around Shobak Castle

Castle Ruins

Some of the arches still surviving from original construction in 1115

Broad perspective of Shobak Castle from below

The more fully restored Karak Castle towers over the town below

Arches on the outer wall

Selection of tunnels beneath Karak Castle

After arriving in Amman, Tom was exhausted from the day of driving, but I took the time to explore a bit of the city. As our flight left at 03:10 am on Apr 3, we turned in early to get a bit of rest before taking an Uber to the airport.