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Andrys Basten | profile | all galleries >> Egypt and Jordan 2009 >> Petra photos - Walking the Ancient city in Jordan tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Egypt and Jordan Photos - Draft and preview | Petra photos - Walking the Ancient city in Jordan | Photos of Hot Air Ballooning over Luxor/Thebes & Valley of the Kings | VIDEO: Hot Air Ballooning over Luxor / Thebes

Petra photos - Walking the Ancient city in Jordan

These are Petra pictures from the main walk around the ancient city, from tne entrance, to the Siq and through that gorge to "The Treasury" aka "Al Khazneh" (often 'Al Khaznah'), and then continuing through the main streets of the city.     We had left the Nile group after the first week and went onto the Sinai Peninsula for the 2nd week and ended with a week in Jordan where there are a lot of historic biblical and Roman sites.     I've also started a draft-preview page on just 2 Egypt sights, done before starting the actual galleries (someday).  That's an interior wall of the Treasury building (used in the Indiana Jones film) behind me

    Unfortunately, we would have needed a 2nd day to see the famous Monastery high up, after beginning the day at 9:15am and walking back to the hotel at 4:45pm.

    Our energetic Jordan guide, Waleed Ayoub, chose our Petra guide, Sami Al-Nawafleh, who as a lead archeologist for the excavations underneath the Petra Treasury building, filled our heads with a lot of good info not found in most Petra tour books.  This traces our steps through what was once a bustling center.
    Those who've enjoyed Petra might enjoy early views of Petra in drawings done by David Roberts and two others before Petra was restored, compared with pictures of Petra as it is today.
    Here is another good page of early images.

    Here is some background on the founders of Petra, The Nabataeans (also spelled "Nabateans").

    The pictures here were taken with the Canon SX10 IS.  
    Eventually will upload three weeks of photos from a quite active trip to Egypt and Jordan

Click on any image to get the larger version.  Then you can click on "Next" or "Previous" to see other ones.
    SLIDESHOW:  IF PC users choose this, first press F11 key to get the slideshow with larger pics without distortion.  When you're through press F11 again to end the full-screen view.  Hope you enjoy. (Let me know if you can.))



*** ( For FULL images: PC's, press/toggle F11.  Mac's, maximize screen. ) ***


Drawing of the (since-fallen) Petra entrance arch by David Roberts
Drawing of the (since-fallen) Petra entrance arch by David Roberts		 This is where the arch used to be.
This is where the arch used to be.		 The Djinn Blocks - earliest primitive private tombs
The Djinn Blocks - earliest primitive private tombs		 A bit further on down, caves w/ designs
A bit further on down, caves w/ designs
Tomb of the Obelisks (top) and The Triclinium
Tomb of the Obelisks (top) and The Triclinium		 Obelisks portion extracted
Obelisks portion extracted		 It's the first Petra-like structure seen as you walk toward the Siq.
It's the first Petra-like structure seen as you walk toward the Siq.		 Near the top - I have no idea how this was used
Near the top - I have no idea how this was used
First view of the Siq or Petra gorge
First view of the Siq or Petra gorge		 Sami Nawafleh, archaeologist and our guide
Sami Nawafleh, archaeologist and our guide		 These eroded niches once had sculptures (usually of gods)
These eroded niches once had sculptures (usually of gods)		 mImg_1591r.jpg
mImg_1591r.jpg
Very peaceful and relaxing walk
Very peaceful and relaxing walk		 It is just a gorgeous place.
It is just a gorgeous place.		 A cataclysmic event split the mountain
A cataclysmic event split the mountain		 At far end, a walker shows height of sides
At far end, a walker shows height of sides
Original Roman stone steps long under sand (2,000 yrs)
Original Roman stone steps long under sand (2,000 yrs)		 Play of light can have extreme effects. Niches w/ remnants of sculptures
Play of light can have extreme effects. Niches w/ remnants of sculptures		 Some are like chocolate fudge
Some are like chocolate fudge		 A shrine of some sort at bottom left
A shrine of some sort at bottom left
One set of boys closer up
One set of boys closer up		 And another grouping
And another grouping		 Very creature-like. I love the surface.
Very creature-like. I love the surface.		 Surrounded
Surrounded
Invaders on horses often had to go almost single file.
Invaders on horses often had to go almost single file.		 Joined by a partial, ghostly form from the past
Joined by a partial, ghostly form from the past		 rock crop
rock crop		 First glimpse of The Treasury, thru narrowest opening - columns in lower portion
First glimpse of The Treasury, thru narrowest opening - columns in lower portion
The sight discombobulated me into a dream state
The sight discombobulated me into a dream state		 Sami enjoys guidees' first reaction to Petra City.
Sami enjoys guidees' first reaction to Petra City.		 There it is
There it is		 And a bit closer up
And a bit closer up
Bumpy carriages do the return trip most.
Bumpy carriages do the return trip most.		 Another view from the opening
Another view from the opening		 Petra plaza through Sami's eyeglasses
Petra plaza through Sami's eyeglasses		 The Treasury, or Al-Khaznah - wider shot
The Treasury, or Al-Khaznah - wider shot
Sandstone mountain from which Al-Khazneh is carved. 1st Century
Sandstone mountain from which Al-Khazneh is carved. 1st Century		 The Plaza - the white is from the hot sun
The Plaza - the white is from the hot sun		 Plaza - carriage horse
Plaza - carriage horse		 A guide compares Petra past w/ what they're seeing, Using David Robert's Yr-1839 drawings
A guide compares Petra past w/ what they're seeing, Using David Robert's Yr-1839 drawings
Plaza camels are the kissing kind. (Used full 20x zoom.)
Plaza camels are the kissing kind. (Used full 20x zoom.)		 Mary Ann and Sami in front of The Treasury
Mary Ann and Sami in front of The Treasury		 Mary Ann and Sami cropped from previous shot
Mary Ann and Sami cropped from previous shot		 Close-up of the archeologist-guide
Close-up of the archeologist-guide
What's inside? No holy grail today, but it's beautiful
What's inside? No holy grail today, but it's beautiful		 Sami's project
Sami's project		 Found under the Treasury ! What was it?
Found under the Treasury ! What was it?		 The Khazneh from another angle
The Khazneh from another angle
At the huge doorway, a glimpse of the interior
At the huge doorway, a glimpse of the interior		 Eroded sculpture of horse and horseman at the right
Eroded sculpture of horse and horseman at the right		 Getting closer to the humongous doorway
Getting closer to the humongous doorway		 My turn to see the room - shot by Mary Ann
My turn to see the room - shot by Mary Ann
Taken inside at ISO 100 - the real colors
Taken inside at ISO 100 - the real colors		 Closer look at the door to ...
Closer look at the door to ...		 The wall on the right
The wall on the right		 Composed in book form style - ISO 200
Composed in book form style - ISO 200
On the way to see the ancient city
On the way to see the ancient city		 This is the start of it - The Outer Siq
This is the start of it - The Outer Siq		 Many horses, donkeys, and camels await riders.
Many horses, donkeys, and camels await riders.		 Behind me, a camel for tired tourists
Behind me, a camel for tired tourists
Blurred from camera movement
Blurred from camera movement		 Blur, close up. I kinda liked this inadvertent effect :-)
Blur, close up. I kinda liked this inadvertent effect :-)		 I loved looking at those camels.
I loved looking at those camels.		 The start of The Street of Facades
The start of The Street of Facades
mImg_1687.jpg
mImg_1687.jpg		 At the right isThe Tomb of the 17 Tombs
At the right isThe Tomb of the 17 Tombs		 mImg_1690.jpg
mImg_1690.jpg		 Tomb of the 17 Tombs, with its colors again, from the front
Tomb of the 17 Tombs, with its colors again, from the front
On the Street of Facades
On the Street of Facades		 Is that a sweetie?
Is that a sweetie?		 The theater
The theater		 To the left of the theater, many tombs
To the left of the theater, many tombs
Amazing colors of the rock
Amazing colors of the rock		 Sami and a colleague. Monumental Gateway further down.
Sami and a colleague. Monumental Gateway further down.		 The Royal Tombs, from the Colonnaded Street
The Royal Tombs, from the Colonnaded Street		 A vendor who knew Sami's mother
A vendor who knew Sami's mother
Closer up
Closer up		 After going through the Monumental Gate
After going through the Monumental Gate		 The Qusr el Bint al-Faraoun - The House of the Daughter of Pharoah
The Qusr el Bint al-Faraoun - The House of the Daughter of Pharoah		 Petra transport, resting
Petra transport, resting
Lunch break away from that hot sun
Lunch break away from that hot sun		 For visitors who wanted a ride back
For visitors who wanted a ride back		 Behind us, the Royal Tombs: Palace Tomb on the left, the Corinthian next to it
Behind us, the Royal Tombs: Palace Tomb on the left, the Corinthian next to it		 The Urn Tomb is in the background, strange rock formation in front
The Urn Tomb is in the background, strange rock formation in front
Closer up (same picture - note the colorful ceiling of the opening)
Closer up (same picture - note the colorful ceiling of the opening)		 The ceiling inside
The ceiling inside		 Closeup taken of the rock formation's side facing us
Closeup taken of the rock formation's side facing us		 Also from the ceiling shown earlier from a distance
Also from the ceiling shown earlier from a distance
A burro in his Petra surroundings
A burro in his Petra surroundings		 The coloring of the striations shows up inside also. See middle area.
The coloring of the striations shows up inside also. See middle area.		 Closer up - Swirls of pastel-like color in the larger version
Closer up - Swirls of pastel-like color in the larger version		 Turned a corner to see this very different scene
Turned a corner to see this very different scene
Exposure was made for the sandstone this time.
Exposure was made for the sandstone this time.		 Sweet look. This was a rare one not set up for riding.
Sweet look. This was a rare one not set up for riding.		 Going back up to the Treasury
Going back up to the Treasury		 Wider view
Wider view
Different perspective from when walking down
Different perspective from when walking down		 Wider view. Will delete one of them
Wider view. Will delete one of them		 Detail from Tomb of 17 Tombs set seen earlier
Detail from Tomb of 17 Tombs set seen earlier		 That gold-color door again
That gold-color door again
Room at the top
Room at the top		 Crop of odd top section
Crop of odd top section		 Back up the main road to Al Khazneh
Back up the main road to Al Khazneh		 Here it is, at dusk, 5 hours later.
Here it is, at dusk, 5 hours later.
That expressive guide again, for a large group we saw
That expressive guide again, for a large group we saw		 Taken at 10x - I never did see him open the package
Taken at 10x - I never did see him open the package		 Just a nice moment at the Treasury steps. From cafe across the way.
Just a nice moment at the Treasury steps. From cafe across the way.		 At the cafe across from Al Khazneh
At the cafe across from Al Khazneh
Petra cleft entrance/exit. FromTreasury bldg. (From videoclip)
Petra cleft entrance/exit. FromTreasury bldg. (From videoclip)		 Affectionate camel, closer up
Affectionate camel, closer up		 Siq again - The elephant-like creature again
Siq again - The elephant-like creature again		 Carriage coming through.
Carriage coming through.
On way back, the shrine, or votive stele, again
On way back, the shrine, or votive stele, again		 The votive stele, closer up
The votive stele, closer up		 Exiting the Siq soon
Exiting the Siq soon		 Blurred - Officer from Petra plaza
Blurred - Officer from Petra plaza
Back to the larger road
Back to the larger road		 Djinn blocks seen earlier
Djinn blocks seen earlier		 Intro and End-credits for Petra
Intro and End-credits for Petra		 At entrance, colored-sand art in bottles
At entrance, colored-sand art in bottles
The Visitors Center area just beyond.
The Visitors Center area just beyond.

comment | share
Gerrie Collins 20-Jan-2010 21:33
Fascinating photos, and so panoramically plannd and shot. It's like Being There for one who has never been. Looking forward to the Geza!
Andrys Basten06-Jan-2010 04:18
Elinar, thanks very much for your note. I am envious because I wish I had gone for more
than one day as I would have liked to explore the higher portions of the site (Monastery,
The High Place) but it was a rich day nevertheless. Even then we walked from 9;15 until
almost 5pm. I think 2 days is minimum to explore the paths with steps and gorgeous
views, so your three days is VERY wise!
Einar Johannessen05-Jan-2010 19:53
Thx for providing all this insightful commentary (and links) to your beautiful images. We shall be there for three days w/o Jan 18 2010 and this was really a most welcome help in our planning.
Andrys Basten28-Dec-2009 21:51
Bruno, thanks for writing. It was voted as one of the
"Official New 7 Wonders of the World " in 2007 and
is now definitely a popular place to visit.
  Seehttp://www.new7wonders.com/n7w/world
Guest 28-Dec-2009 13:10
Beautiful.I like this place,i'd like to visit it one day.Thanks to share your pictures.V
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