My traveling buddy Ann Tanous and I have a passion about ancient ruins. Most of the time we can talk the hubbies into joining us, but, on this trip to Jordan, we left them at home. With a local guide, we hiked and I sketched through the rose-red city of Petra for days.
Petra was established by the Nabataens in the 6th century B.C. They carved palaces right out of the sandstone cliffs. The only way into the city was through a small canyon known as the Siq. After walking 2 miles on a path that is as wide as 4 people, the first view you have of Petra is the magnificent 40-foot building known as the Khazneh; it is pictured here. It is impossible to tell from the sketch how tall that building is. A normal size person would not reach the height of the first step.
I am fascinated by magnificent man-made structures. Maybe that is why I am hung up on writing about monuments!
I love these travel sketches and the stories behind them. Wait.. do you hear that? It's the call of another book idea knocking at your door, monuments and travel. Can I be your traveling assistant?
:P
Yuki
Posted by: Yuki Yoshino | April 02, 2007 at 07:02 PM