A Stroll through the Siq

Today we were in Aqaba, Jordan.  The ship was here overnight, mainly for the big tour today to Petra.  Now I have been now to quite a few ancient cities and very famous ruins and truly beautiful sights, but I can tell you… NONE of them have been like this.  It’s such a completely unique experience and archeological find that I just found my self fascinated, asking our guide tons of questions. 

We were on a crew tour again today and we took the 2-hour drive to Petra through amazing terrain.  It was true desert, with rising rounded mountains and just really dry, arid climate.  I know we have areas like this in the states, obviously, but I really had never seen anything like it.  At one point I shouted, “This is just like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!”  While I was proud for having found some corollary, I would have preferred it be something other than a Disneyworld roller coaster.  It really was all I could relate it to, though!  Ha ha!  Finally we reached the bus lot, but we were far from the actual city of Petra. 

We slowly walked down a large gravel road that was surrounded by the same canyon-looking rock formations and had horses traveling parallel to its path.  We began to see carved openings in the rock faces more and more.  Our guide explained that we were entering the city of Petra, but that this was just sort of the entrance.  He said that throughout the day we would mainly be seeing these large openings, some ornately carved, others simple holes in the wall, and that they were actually graves.  The city is still being excavated, but much of what we see is thousands of graves they have found.

We walked down the hill for a while until we reached what is called the Siq.  Now, the city was actually not discovered until 1812 when an explorer convinced some Bedouin people (Arab desert dwellers) to show him the city.  He had heard of a secret city, but no one knew where it was.  The secret to its anonymity is the Siq.  Pronounced “seek,” this is just a rock formation where two walls are formed by the rock faces and a small opening is formed.  This particular Siq was formed after an earthquake and the opening between these two giant rock walls ranges from 8-30 feet along its over mile-long stretch.  You see, the city is hidden past this tiny, natural canyon pathway.  The people didn’t carve it, but just took advantage of the rock hallway of sorts.  It’s AMAZING!  You walk and walk and walk down this tunnel sort of thing, many times with sheer rock faces on either side of you reaching hundreds of feet high.  It’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen.  We had fun just exploring the Siq, climbing the rock faces and taking pictures.  One of the most interesting parts (I thought) was the hand carved water drain or aqueduct carved into one of the rock faces.  To get water the people carved this gutter that wanders the entire length of the Siq. 

Once you reach the end your breath just catches in your throat.  Talk about a grand entrance.  All of the sudden from the dark canyon you literally see a light at the end of the tunnel.  The walls open up into a giant area and you are standing directly in front of the grandest tomb of them all!  The ancient people called the building the treasury, but this tomb, built for the king, is an ornate façade covered in details of columns, figures, etc.  The amazing part is that it isn’t built, but CARVED directly into the red sandstone by hand.  Our guide said he wasn’t sure how long it took, but they began with a solid rock face and chiseled in a full front of columns and gable, porch area, and the inner tomb.  The room inside was HUGE (probably 30 feet high and 15 feet wide) and to think that it was all carved out of the mountain by hand is just incredible.

We proceeded to walk through past more large facades of the wealthy and past huge walls covered like a honeycomb with tons of simple tombs for everyday citizens of Petra.  To walk around and realize what must have been here some four or five thousand years ago is amazing.  The town was abandoned and covered with sand until being discovered in 1812, but what a treasure.  It has recently been added to the list of 7 wonders of the world and I can certainly see why.  The sad thing is that just from natural disintegration, Petra is slowly disappearing!  What a lovely spot and an AWESOME archeological find.  If you have any chance of making it here I would highly recommend it. 

Our day was finished with a walk (or hike) back up to the bus through the dust, sand, horses, camels, and in 100 degree heat!  It was a refreshing stroll to say the least.  We had lunch overlooking the scene and rode back to the ship completely pooped.  It was a long, but fun day.  Tomorrow I am excited to go to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt.  Who knows what adventures are in store?  Hope you are all well.  I am having a blast, but I will be so happy to be home with friends and in a place that is familiar.  Have an awesome week.  Love you all!

Tripp