We left the Silver Whisper early in the morning for the 2.5-hour drive to Petra. The desert scenery was colorful, and the drive interesting, as our guide Hani Ali filled us with stories of the area.
The walk down the gradually sloping hill into the center of Petra helped fuel our anticipation of the spectacular carvings we knew were in the large desert valley surrounded by rose-red cliffs below. We finally reached the Siq, the narrow passageway that served as a barrier to the enemies of the Nabateans. As we continued further down the Siq, I held my breath as we walked around each narrow corner, expecting to see the spectacular Treasury, made famous in the climax of the Harrison Ford/Sean Connery movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Finally the Treasury was there in all its glory, carved into the red cliffs and towering over the valley below. We spent about an hour in the valley, strolling down the main street of facades, and imagining what the city must have looked like 2000 years ago. Petra had a theater that sat over 3000, and many tombs carved high in the hills.
The time was over too quickly, and some of our group elected to ride out of the canyon in small buggies. The ride was fast and furious and not recommended for those who are faint-hearted or have a bad back!
Famished from our long day, we enjoyed a late lunch at the Movenpick Hotel near the entrance to Petra before driving back to the Silver Whisper. For many passengers, Petra was the highlight of the cruise tour.
