SECRET CITY UNVEILED - JORDAN

In the footsteps of Indiana Jones

The King's Highway was an ancient caravan route between Syria and Egypt, meandering at the edge of a 1000m deep abyss. As we got closer to Petra, the landscape still didn't reveal a single thing of this extraordinary city that was half-built, half-carved into the rock. This rose-red city was built by the Nabataeans 2000 years ago and remained a secret for centuries until the Swiss, Johann Burckhardt, found it in 1812.



Full of anticipation we drove through the Siq, a narrow passage with gorge walls a 100 ms high. After 1.5 km we reached the end as it opened up to the  30 m high Khazneh or The Treasury. The only vehicles that had been allowed here before us where the ones of late King Hussein and the film crew of Indiana Jones. We were very very privileged indeed. Stepping into the Treasury I expected to find, just like Harrison Ford, a labyrinth of passages and hanging bridges as I had seen them in the movie. We were so disappointed to find only a small square room with a door that led knowhere.



Once, hundreds of houses and temples, and around 500 royal tombs composed this former capital. They were elaborately sculpted from soft sand stone. The rocks  featured the most beautiful natural designs.



Petra  flourished for over 400 years around the 1st century BC. At that time it counted 30 000 inhabitants. They levied tolls on the trade caravans for safe passage.  They were wealthy and had great political power.

Today, Petra is a World Heritage Site. The last inhabitants of the city were relocated just outside the site about 20 years ago. The descendants of the Nabataeans now make a living out of tourism.



On our 5th day in Petra, we heard that the Alpes in France were running out of snow for the ski-season. Imagine our amazement when the City of Petra got a white coat. The last thing I expected during this expedition, was snow.