On 9/24, we continued south west from the Dead Sea with relaxed bodies and mud smoothed skin for Petra; the ancient site that was the original motivator for us wanting to visit Jordan. Through the afternoon desert heat, we began to see hazy glimpses of the canyons that hid the ancient city. Arriving to the modern city of Wadi Musa, the gateway to Petra, Firaz provided us with some final tips on touring Petra; “go early and hike to the Monastery.” With that, we checked in to our hotel, enjoyed some refreshing mint lemonade and relaxed for the evening. We woke early the next day excited to tour and experience first hand the city carved directly in the red sandstone cliff walls by the Nabataean people starting around 312 BC. Due to the early departure, we had the site almost to ourselves.
Walking towards the Siq, the opening to the 1.2km long slot canyon that hid and protected the city for centuries, our guide filled us in on the history of Petra. The aquifers that supplied the city with water are still visible along the narrow canyon walls and look as though they could still supply drinking water to the city after a few minor repairs.
The Nabatean kingdom of Petra thrived for centuries as a stop along the Silk Road. To our surprise, the impressively large carved structures were not used as dwellings, but as places for Nabatean families to honor the dead; social status dictated the size of the structure. Romans, Byzantines and finally Bedouins occupied the city after the Nabateans. The Bedouins were moved out of Petra in 1980 when the Jordanian government built another settlement for them and began excavating and restoring the historical site in earnest. Petra is massive, we walked over 12 miles exploring the site and didn’t see all it has to offer. Like the Neolithic sites in Scotland, we left Petra in awe and with an amazing repspect for the enigineer feats of ancient peoples.
Dinner for the night would be prepared by us (and two other lovely retired couples from Chicago) as we were signed up for a Jordanian cooking class. Led by a chef who could double as a stand up comedian, our menu consisted of Jordanian staples that we looking forward to cooking again in Seattle.
Now reading… Lindsay: The Wonder, by Emma Donoghue; Chad: The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate; Discoveries from a Secret World, by Peter Wohlleben
A Forever of Nows 