I first visited Petra when I was living in Cairo in 2000 and so some of the photos are from that trip. Pre-digital camera days for me meant that the scanned photos lack the sharpness of the other photos taken on a more recent trip in April 2008.

Petra. But what an amazing place. Emerging from the canyon almost too narrow for a horse and cart and then to be confronted by the ancient treasury chiselled out of the sandstone cliff has got to be one of the most amazing sights in the world.

siq, petra

These photos were from my first trip

siq The treasury, Petra treasury, petra

After visiting the treasury and surrounding monuments and buildings, the gorge opens up a bit. Here is the amphitheatre from my first trip - you can't actually climb up here anymore.

amphitheatre, Petra

Tombs

Petra

Behind some of the tombs there is a path that leads up the mountainside which provides a great view of the amphitheatre far below (top left of the photo).

amphitheatre, petra

Walking further around, you get a great view of the Treasury as well.

Treasury, petra

After going through the gorge you enter a wide and hidden valley. Here are still more buildings excavated out of the soft rock.

Royal Tombs, Petra Petra

In addition to the amazing tombs and buildings of the ancient Nabateans, Petra is also know as the Rose Red City after the amazing colours of the rock

Wall, Petra

There are still a few buildings surviving and amazing mosaics. After all, the Petran civilisation was of about the same time as the Romans and shared a lot of their culture.

mosaic, Petra

Taking time to explore the amazing scenery is one of the highlights of a trip

view, Petra view, Petra

Quite some distance from the other buildings and way up another hidden valley is another masterpiece - the so-called Cathedral

Cathedral, Petra Cathedral, Petra

Petra is also an excellent place for a spot of birdwatching. Here are a couple of Mourning Wheatears

Mourning Wheatear Mourning Wheatear

Here's a Pipit. Notice the typical red Petra rock in the background

Pipit

A video by Jackie - made for the travelogue section of our site podcastsinenglish.com