Our Guide left us at the furthest point in Petra and allowed us to walk back at our own pace. That was the best way to manage the trip as we maximized his knowledge and the repeated parts were on our own dime. We stopped for our lunch in the Great Temple surrounded by two cats and two dogs. The alpha dog had to snarl at the beta dog which scared the small cat. None of that caused any of the animals to leave our lunch eating sides. After lunch I took the hike up the stairs to the Royal Tombs while Leslie saved her knee for the uphill walk yet to come. 2.5 miles did not seem like it was going to be too bad but the surfaces that we had to walk on were very uneven. To top it off the further we went the steeper the grade that we had to walk up. At the treasury building we were going to get on the golfcart but I balked at the 42 USD cost. By the time we got to the end I wished I had spent the cash. We were offered mules, donkeys, golf carts and horses to take us to the exit but by gum we walked the whole way.
Lots of steps to get to the Royal Tombs
The sandstone layers were exceptional in this section
Colors and textures
I looks like a set of stairs
Into the maw of the earth
A series of six large tombs are on this level
Some have specific names, this is the palace tomb
Top layer
This is the Corinthian Tomb maned for the columns
The shapes of the rocks are fantastical
Looking out to the end of the valley from up on the Royal Tomb level
This is the Silk Tomb
This is the Silk Tomb for the vibrant colors
The natural weathered rock forms at the base
Up and up it goes!
A natural column
A trick shot making this arch look larger than it was
Common redstart
Tucked into the rocks
Back down to the common folks tombs
Wave like formations
The Stadium from ground level
With sky boxes up at the back section
Almost half way out
A bricked up section way up high
Last shot of the Treasury
Back into the Al Siq
Very nice patterns
The older water channel on the right and the roman channel on the left
It widens out
The light is fading
The elephant rock
We are out! Only 15 more minutes to walk to get to the gates of the visitor center
We thought that this was the Marriott but it was not
Almost out and we see a sign for the cave bar!
Raining back at the Marriott
Nothing some fresh chamomile tea can't fix
A very funny and hearty couple from Australia Sandy and Doug made out evening great
Our trip had 1800 foot elevation change. 800 feet to the hotel and the rest in Petra
This included 2 miles strait parts of driving back to the hotel
