Petra – The Magnificent Rose City – Down the Cleft! – Photos

We started off down the long cleft in the rock. It was easy to see why they had chosen this – not only was the rock sandstone and so easy to carve, but the cleft was narrow and easy to defend.

I love the colours of the sandstone with its different striations.

Tourists walked or rode in buggies and there was always someone wanting to sell you something – and it was always genuine silver or precious stones.

There were ancient carvings into the rock which had once housed religious icons to be prayed to, worshipped or for offerings.

The remains of an aquafer carved into the rock to bring water down into the cities cisterns.

What was once a man leading a camel – now eroded.

Then we received our first glimpse of the magic Rose City!!