Petra

This weekend I got to see one of the wonders of the world. The incomparable Petra!

It was 95 degrees in the city of Petra, and we arrived at noon—the very beginning of the temperature peak. The sun bears down hot and close in the desert, and try as you may to slake your thirst, you could drown in that heat and still be unsatisfied. The way was long and our bodies were tired from the early rise and five hour drive. We paid 1JD to get in with our Jordanian IDs (normal costs are up to 150JD—beware tourists!) and were warned by our guides not to buy food or drink or anything past the gates. Trekking through the smooth, rolling stones was awesome. I want you to really think about the word awesome because I mean it in the awe-inspiring, take-your-breath-away, move-you-to-tears kind of awesome and not in the way that haircuts and hamburgers are awesome.

 

So then we got to that really really famous Wonder of the World part...and that was awesome
...

These nice gentlemen told us we could take pictures with them for free...then asked us afterwards for 5JD tips...smooth.

 While we were standing in this clearing trying to catch our breath a couple of Bedouins asked us if we wanted to ride camels down to the monastery, and I said "Take me to your leader." Not really, but kind of.

So that dream came true. I don't know that I can do justice to the experience with description. Everything in Jordan is beautiful in the way that stone here is this  chaotic and yet patterned thing that is both utilitarian and natural and astounding and simple. And Petra is this magnificent testament to those pillars of beauty that all of Jordan is aesthetically defined by. The stones are bold and yet they hold secrets that are ancient and subtle and obvious at times and the Bedouins who live there will appear  beside you out of no where, with their thick, dark eyeliner and their alluring offers to tea and rides and jewelry. But beware. They'll take you for an arm and a leg.

After the camel ride we did some hiking around, and it was wonderful but I can't tell you much about it because I got severely dehydrated and overheated. After a while I VERY sadly turned back and made my way back down. On the way back we got a free donkey ride, we're offered a very very very tiny puppy, and were given postcards and jewelry by fascinated children. It was a gorgeous and awesome experience, and I would love to do a night tour so that I wouldn't get overheated!


Recommendation to any women visiting Petra: websites will tell you that you can dress Western here (shorts, tank tops, etc.) DO NOT. Do not under any circumstances. Just don't. Dress conservatively and if anyone offers you tea do not accept, it is a proposition.

Enjoy the rest of the photos!