April 20, 2009

#3 Coolest Place - Rock Cut City of Petra, Jordan


Walk down a narrow half mile canyon to glimpse the ornate rock cut Treasury building in this 3,000 year old Nabatean city located in present-day Jordan. It was unknown to the outside world until 1812 when it was discovered by Swiss Explorer Johann Burkhardt. There are dozens of huge buildings carved out of solid rock in Petra, and you can only guess on the hundreds of man years required to build a place like this. The Treasury building (above) was also prominently featured in the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Petra is at the top coolest sites list because it is so unique, wide open for wandering and has a wonderful and mysterious history. Spend at least three days here hiking the cantons and climbing to the roof of some of the buildings. While there, stay nearby at the amazing Taybet Zayman Hotel, which is a 3,000 years old and carved out of solid rock like Petra, making it one of the greatest hotels of the world.



Climbing the 800 steps of the Monastery toward the back of the city, will take you to the roof and the best view in Petra. While in Jordan, also check out the ruins of Jerash, snorkel in the Red Sea near Aqaba, read a book while floating on the Dead Sea, and camp out with the famed Howeitat bedouin in the spectacular Wadi Rum canyons made popular in the movie, Lawrence of Arabia.

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