Indiana Jones and Petra

We left Amman and headed down the desert highway to one of the wonders of the world, Petra. Along the way, we made a "refreshment stop" where we found ourselves tasting dates surrounded by bottles of sand, bright rugs,and the smell of incense. It was the first of many encounters with Middle Eastern bathrooms, and all I can say is I learned to hold my breath, advert my eyes, and say a silent prayer. :) We ambled around the souvenirs,bought some popcorn, and then headed back on the road with our sights set on Petra. Petra was located at the crossroads of the Ancient East and served as a caravan stop on the trading routes. It was inhabited by the Nabataeans who carved the city into the rock more than 2,000 years ago. When political control changed, it caused a stop in trade and Petra was soon forgotten. It is called the "lost city" because it was completely lost to the the Western World. It was rediscovered in 1812 by a Swiss traveler named Burckhardt who tricked his way into the fiercely guarded site. He pretended to be an Arab from India wishing to make a sacrifice at the tomb of the prophet Aaron.

As you hike down into Petra you see tombs carved into the rock. They are always elaborate on the outside, but very plain on the inside. The person who passed away was rolled in a scarf and buried with simple personal belongings, water, and honey for the afterlife. Many of the tombs have carved steps which point to heaven like the Egyptians.

This is the Siq, it is the canyon leading into Petra. The Nabataens figured out how to harness water allowing the population to reach 20,000.

They used these walls as a natural defense against invaders They could shoot down at them or pour hot oil. This is the way up to the top of the canyon.

The canyon walls are stunning, but then just as you round the bend you are stunned by this sight.

The treasury,seen in Indian Jones, was named because they thought it held all of the treasures of the pharaoh. It is actually a memorial to the king. It has 4 eagles watching the entrance and two goddesses that help the soul get to heaven. It is 12 stories high and is still all of the original carving except for one column missing from an earthquake.

As you walk down into Petra you see many more tombs, bricks from where the houses would have been and even a hand carved amphitheater. So cool!!!

Everywhere in Petra there are children, adults, and animals clamoring for your attention and money.(Okay, maybe the animals don't want your money, but they definitely want your attention) My roommate luckily brought candy that she stuck in their hand anytime they asked for money, which gratefully staved off some of the craziness.

Our tour company paid for us to take mules out, but as we watched the awkwardness and pace of the mules, we elected to walk out. However, they not only have mules coming and going, but camels, and chariots for those who need extra help. It reminded me of hiking down in Havasupi, where the pack mules threatened to run you over, yep, pretty much like that.

After our journey back in time, we strolled the streets of Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses)searching in vain for a bag I had seen earlier. We checked in at our hotel, which was quite old and was in the middle of renovation. It was a little bit eerie and brought out our Scooby Doo senses. After a late night lecture from our guide, Bruce Porter, the best,we found ourselves lost and smelling and hearing alarming sounds in a seemingly deserted part of the hotel. This of course prompted us to book it back to our room and promptly put the fridge in front of our door. I'm sure this would have stopped any bad guys. And so with peace now in our hearts, we rested well ready for our next adventure.