Vacation 2019 Israel: Day 4 Wadi Rum Fri 11/15/2019

AQABA / WADI RUM / PETRA / AQABA

Depart Aqaba for the spectacular desert wilderness of the Wadi Rum, sometimes known as the "Valley of the Moon" for its lunar-like landscapes, the protected region of mountains, dunes and canyons was where TE Lawrence known as "Lawrence of Arabia" fought alongside the Bedouin s during World War I. Continue to Petra & then travel on foot or carriage (additional cost) through a narrow gorge in the Nubian sandstone and arrive abruptly at the outstanding Red Rose City with the treasury before you. Visit the Nabateans' Tombs, Temples and dwellings which were hewn from the surrounding rock formations of multicolored stones. Petra was one of the most important caravan centers during Biblical times. It was lost to the world for over 500 years until rediscovered in the year 1812. Return to Aqaba for dinner and overnight.

What a way to start this day!

"This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24
We slept in a very luxurious resort last night.
Here was the view out our balcony:

You can see a bit of the Red Sea in the upper left part of this picture.

Here's a view of the resort from street level.

First stop: Wadi Rum...

...meaning Wadi "Valley" Rum "of the Tall Mountains"

This is part of the desert where the Israelites traveled on the east side of the Jordan on their way to the Promised Land.

We're on our way to our "Jeep" ride. Jeep is in quotations because we really will ride in the back of a pick-up truck.
The mountain in the distance is called the mountain of 7 pillars after Lawrence of Arabia's book, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. There are 5 pillars in the front and two in the back.

Hopefully we'll all stay in the "jeep" and not get thrown out!
You can see the Tourism Police in the background.
He stayed with our group the entire day.

If you look in the background you can see where we came from.
It's at the base of the mountain range in the distance.

After climbing down the overlook, we got in our truck and rode a little further.

We found this group of camels ready for a photo shoot.

Time to leave Wadi Rum and get on the bus to head toward Petra.

Next stop: Petra

On the way to Petra we stopped at this overlook.
Petra is further north, but this is how it might look from above as you will see the view from below in the next few pictures.

Also, on our way to Petra, we traveled the King's Highway (see Numbers 20:17) and saw the mountaintop where Aaron (Moses's brother) was buried, Mt. Hor (see Numbers 20:22-29).

Now we're at Petra and making our way down to the rose-red city...

From the National Park brochure:
Map #1 'Bab Al Siq' is Arabic for gateway to the 'Siq'. This picture shows the Obelisk Tomb, carved by the Nabataeans in the 1st century AD. Above the tomb are four pyramids ('nafesh') and a niche with a statue in bas-relief that symbolizes the five people buried there. Below is the Triclinium, a banqueting hall. On the opposing cliff face there is a double inscription in Nabataean and Greek that refers to a burial monument. Written by "Abdomanchos", it indicates that the tomb was to be used for himself and his family, probably in the reign of Malichus II (40-70 AD).

I didn't get a picture of the inscription. Maybe someone else has it?

Here's a map of our journey - I will use the same numbers on the map to show you the picture of the location that corresponds to the number.

The places I took pictures will be 3, 4, 5, 7, & 8 - that's as far we we got.

On the Siq trail (Map #3) as we head toward the Treasury (Al-Khazneh).

From the National Park brochure:
This narrow gorge leads visitors into Petra. The Siq resulted from a natural splitting of the mountain and it is 1.2 km long. A triumphal arch once spanned the entrance to it. Two water channels run along both rock sides. As well as presenting a dramatic entryway into Petra, the Siq also holds many relics from Petra's past, including a paved road, Sabinos Alexendros Station, and Nabataean baetyls (sacred stones).

Video shows the narrow opening along the Siq trail.

Length: 00:00:16 sec.

See the large stone(s) in the shape of an "elephant"?

Video shows the approach to the Treasury...

Length: 00:00:20 sec.

From the National Park brochure:
The Treasury (Map #4) The siq opens up onto Petra's most magnificent facade'; the Treasury, or Al Khazna. It is almost 40 meters high and intricately decorated with Corinthian capitals, friezes, figures and more. The Treasury is crowned by a funerary urn, which according to local legend conceals a pharaoh's treasure. The Treasury was probably constructed in the 1st century BC. Also, so many points of interests - the facade also depicts 12 months of the year, 30 days in a month, 7 days in a week, 365 days in a year, etc. I'll need to explain where you can find these symbols in this facade if you ask me.

Video show a panoramic view of the area around the theatre

Length: 00:00:21 sec.

I was so impressed with the Theatre (Map #7)). From the National Park brochure: Carved into the side of the mountain at the foot of the High Place of Sacrifice, the theatre consists of three rows of seats separated by passageways. Seven stairways ascend the auditorium and it can accommodate 4,000 spectators. The back wall of the stage was rebuilt by the Romans. This is the only theatre in the world carved into the rock.

From the National Park brochure:
Map #8 - The Royal Tombs
This is the name given to the four magnificent facades adjacent to each other on the right side at the end of the main path through the middle of the city. The four structs are (rt. to left):
8.1 Urn Tomb
This derived its name from the jar that crowns the pediment. It was probably constructed around 70 AD. The tomb is preceded by a deep courtyard with colonnades on two sides. High up in the facade there are three niche that open into small burial chambers. In 446 AD the tomb was adapted to serve as a Byzantine church.
8.2 Silk Tomb
This tomb is remarkable for the swirls of different coloured rock that make up its facade.
8.3 Corinthian Tomb
The upper part of this tomb is similar to that of the Treasury, but it is severely eroded. The tomb combines various elements of both Natataean and classical architectural styles.
8.4 Palace tomb
This dates to the early 2nd century AD and has a grandiose five -story facade. A dam and water reservoir are located behind the monument which drain rainwater to a pool cut to the north of its podium. The monument was probably used for banqueting or funerary.

From the National Park brochure: Map #5 The Street of Facades
This is the name given to the row of monumental Nabataean tombs carved in the southern cliff face that lies past the Treasury and adjacent to the outer Siq. The facades are crowned with corner crow-steps, pilasters and cavettos.

At the end of the day we checked our fit-steps: 16,000 which is equivilent to 8 miles.