Embedded Files
Wednesday, June 28
I have to admit it. I was expecting some type of tour bus. Instead, a random guy named Aariz pulled up to my hotel in his dusty Hyundai. "Get in," he commanded. He would take me to Jordan. You could imagine alarm bells going off in my head, but I read somewhere that dangerous people rarely drive Hyundais. As we drove to the border, I was happy to know that a tour bus was waiting there, but it was on the other side of the barbed wire fence. First, we’d need to get through security.
I don’t have many photos of the border crossing because I didn’t want to further upset the angry men with automatic rifles. Needless to say, the process was not for the faint of heart.
Our destination was Petra, one of the wonders of the world. The ride was two hours long through deserts and small towns.
I didn't see bumper stickers like in the United States. No "proud of my honor student" or "Ohio State Alumni." Here was the Jordanian version.
I was able to meet our tour guide after we arrived. He would navigate us through the complexities of Petra. I couldn’t help noticing the similarity between him and the previous bumper sticker.
After you arrive at the front gate, you deceptively believe you are there. That is not the case. There’s a mile or more walk to the first sight. And that mile is hot, sunny, and long. You know it's a problem when even the camels are wondering why you chose to walk.
Petra is one of several cities of the Nabataean culture. They were around from about 500 BCE to 500 CE. They survived via agriculture and trade. Their cities were important stops on the Silk Road. They believed in the afterlife, so they spent a lot of time carving impressive tombs from the sandstone. The site is huge with miles of trails for exploring.
The most famous structure at Petra is a tomb incorrectly named the Treasury (it never had any money). If it seems familiar, it was in the final scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as the location of the Holy Grail.
Then, it was time to mentally prepare myself for long the walk back. Good thing there was plenty of shade.
Report abuse