From the ancient city of Petra: without doubt, the most amazing place I have ever been.

Petra, meaning ‘rock’ in Greek, is an ancient city in the Jordanian desert that has been carved out of solid sandstone. Built by the Nabataeans, Petra was a center for trade. Strategically located along the Frankincense Route, caravans would often pass through Petra on their way to Rome. Though it wasn’t until 1812 that Petra became widely known in the western world.

Carved out of the rock-face over 2,000 years ago, the city is a marvel of architectural achievement. One of the wildest parts of Petra, however, formed naturally: the main entrance, the Siq. Formed by plate tectonic shifting, the Siq is a narrow pathway that twists and bends for about a mile, ending in front of Petra’s most recognizable building, the Treasury, or Al-Khazneh.

Due to where the Treasury sits in Petra it has been shielded from the elements and is remarkably well preserved. And, if you think the Treasury looks familiar that may be because it was featured in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade! One thing that was hard for me to fathom while looking at this amazing building is that only about 5% of Petra has been excavated. This means that there are buildings equally (or even more) marvelous still to be uncovered.

After exploring the Treasury and the Siq, we headed to the Monastery, which is older and larger than the Treasury. And, the differences between the two buildings serve as a great example of how the Nabataeans became more skilled in architecture as time progressed.

One aspect of the Monastery that I did not enjoy was the journey there! The Monastery sits high up on a hill; 800 ancient steps take visitors to the top. The steps, however, were not the problem! My inner scaredy-cat was challenged when the team decided to ride donkeys up those steep, slippery steps. My donkey seemed to slip and slide a little on each step. Nevertheless, I toughed it out. But, when it came time to venture back down, I decided to walk by my lonesome and meet everyone at the bottom!

Petra by Night. Several times a week, visitors can experience Petra in the dark (and in silence). This was one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had. Guests walk through a candlelit Siq to the Treasury and are asked not to speak. At the entrance to the Treasury, we sat on blankets, drank small cups of herbal tea, listened to Bedouin rababa and flute music, and watched dozens of shooting stars streak across the sky.

Magnificent!

Up Next: Head north to Umm Qais.

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