Syrie - Jordanie 2001

August 6, 2001 – Dana – Petra (2)

When you continue the going down on the right, you can see many tombs sculpted in the rock before you arrive at the theater. This theater can welcome 7,000 people but he suffered from the earthquake in the 4^th century. The restoration work was concentrated on the wall of the stage. During a short break in the shadow of a rock, I meet a Palestinian family. The roles are reversed, I am the model of a photo shooting, each member of the family wants to be on a picture with me. Goodbye !! Massalaama !

Petra : The theater

I head for the lower part of the site, leaving behind me the royal tombs for tomorrow. The lower city was built and not sculpted, it is very hard to imagine what it looked like because of the earthquake, everything is down. Archeologists from different countries are working there. Parts of the entrance gate were rebuilt, the road pavement is visible on 10 meters.

From the lower city, you take stairs that lead to the Deir, a beautiful monastery. Just after the start you can stop to admire on the left the Lions’ triclium who guard the entrance. From time to time you just have to look back to have a wonderful view on Petra. After a last turn, you are near the Deir that looks like the Khazneh, he was also sculpted in the rock (45m high and 50m wide). I continue my way on a small path to reach a belvedere from which you have a gorgeous view on Wadi Araba. The mountains have each a particular color (black, green, yellow). Beautiful show! I turn back to have a break in a little cavity where I have a beautiful view on the Deir.