(^10) Today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra is considered one of the
world’s most famous archaeological sites.
In its heyday, Petra was a major crossroad between Arabia (for
incense), China (for silk) and India (for spices). While exploring Petra,
one could easily be transported to the time of caravans and could just
as easily imagine the chaos of trade and bargaining that undoubtedly
took place in those years. Most ingenious was their clever water
system and how rain- and floodwaters were channelled into cisterns
and reservoirs. Being a desert area, none of this would’ve been
possible without these channels and diversion dams that controlled
and conserved the seasonal rains.
While returning from our walk to the high place of sacrifice, a sudden
downpour and hailstorm made us seek shelter in a tomb. I thought
taking refuge in an ancient tomb was quite a cool thing to do.
Unfortunately, the rain continued all night and, with freezing weather
setting in, we stayed an extra day.
leana
(Leana)
#1