Jordan

Another postcard for today is from H. K. of Jordan, located on the east bank of River Jordan. Jordan's only port is at its south-western tip, at the Gulf of Aqaba, which is shared with Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Much of Jordan is covered by the Arabian Desert. However, the north-western part of Jordan is part of the Fertile Crescent. The capital city is Amman.

This postcard, that I like so much, is showing Petra. Petra is the home of the Nabateans, is a complete city carved in a mountain. The huge rocks are colorful, mostly pink, and the entrance to the ancient city is through a 1.25 km narrow gorge in the mountain—called the Siq. In the city are various structures, all (except 2) are carved into rock, including al Khazneh – known as the Treasury – which has been designated as one of the ''New Seven Wonders of the World'' by the for-profit New Open World Corporation. Other major sites of interest in Petra include the Monastery, the Roman theater, the Royal Tombs, the High Place of Sacrifice. Petra was rediscovered for the western world by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.

The top picture is one of David Roberts early 19th century drawings if the Al-Deir temple in Petra. Below is photograph of the site today.

This postcard is one of the most travelled ones I've ever received! Many thanks to Elisabeth for sharing such information and beauty of Jordan with me. :)