Petra, The Rose Red Desert City , Jordan

Excursion from Aqaba, Jordan January 17th 2011 - Suez Canal cruise with Brilliance of the Seas from Barcelona to Dubai. Petra is a historical and archaeological city in Jordan in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Created by the Nabateans, Arab Bedouin tribes who came from Arabia almost 2,000 years ago, the fortress like city of Petra became an important and very rich stronghold by protecting passing caravans. The impressive eastern entrance the "Siq", a very narrow, descending ancient river bed winding its way through the gorge for approximately 3 kilometers - in places only 3--4 m (9.8--13 ft) wide. The "Siq" is a natural geological feature formed from a deep split in the sandstone rocks. Towering walls of rock reach 300 feet high and at the final turn, out of the gloom appears the brilliance of Petra's most elaborate ruin, Al Khazneh, popularly known as "the Treasury", carved out of solid rock. Continue beyond the Treasury and marvel at the towering temples, royal tombs, carved Roman theatre, burial chambers, paved streets, large and small houses and public buildings.