T-Rex in a Lost City

Hi! Hopefully I can get some posts about this past summer done. After meeting up with my mom things moved very fast paced. Once returning home it was almost impossible to catch up. The posts will be out of order but I still would like to share my experiences!

The Lost City of Petra (Rose City), Jordan

Making our way up Jordan eagerly I can barely believe that I will soon be entering the Ancient City of Petra. Originally thought to be established as early as 300 BC by the Nabateans, the city is believed to only be 15 percent uncovered! Soon we would be walking the ancient pathways and discovering more history that I knew little of previously. The city was hidden away for centuries after  the city of Nabateans was absorbed by the Romans. The Romans eventually left the city and Petra became home to Bedouins who inhabited the area for years undisturbed. No westerner visited the city for over 600 years.

After a few hours drive, and multiple desert pee stops, we arrive at our hotel located across the street from the UNESCO heritage site entrance. Here we hired a horse drawn carriage to take us down to the main site. We quickly are very excited about our choice. The sun is scorching hot as we trot down the pathway! Soon the desert sun gives way and we enter the Siq.

Cool, Dimly Lit but Colorful, and Mysterious. The 200 m orange and red rock cliffs tower over us and our horse's feet click down the stone canyon. The view is breathtaking yet eerie. Resembling Antelope Canyon in Arizona (formed by water), the Siq (formed by tectonic plates) winds down towards the hidden city in a beautiful twist. It is easy to see how Petra stayed hidden for so many years. The canyon's width grows and shrinks. At times it is barely 3 meters wide. 

I feel like a great explorer racing down the canyon with my head scarf wrapped tight with my mom and my partner in crime. Barely any tourists are in sight. Sadly, due to the recent issues in the Middle East, tourism has declined greatly. Add in the fact we are here in the middle of the summer heat and tourism can be considered non-existent.

Then it appears through the dimly lit crack glowing bright in the distance. The natural architecture of the canyon allows sun to light up the Treasury in front of us.

If there is one thing I have learned, no matter how much I travel or see, world wonders NEVER disappoint. They always feel as if I am looking at something that could never be imagined. This was no exception.

It is pretty amazing that this city was carved out in the years before Christ and still exist in such perfection today. The Nabateans were very developed and used the natural geography to form a city using trenches to create a water system. 

Here we are, in 110 degree weather, starring at a 2000 year old stone carved city. So what do I do? Put on my T-Rex suit of course! I am not going to lie, I was very nervous. Unsure of if it was breaking any regulation and how the locals would take it I secretly climbed into the outfit. Within seconds and younger Jordanian approaches us asking what is going on. I quickly explain the situation and he looks at me and bursts out laughing.

"This will be a first. I can guarantee that! I grew up right here. Everyone will be surprise and amused," the young man tell my mom and I. "Can I try it next?"

The costume inflates and the temps go from 110 to what feels like 150! But hey, it is all worth it right?

Kids, camels, adults, security all look at my puzzled and laughing. I begin to run around the base of the Treasury. A few people approach to get pictures. Then a few more. Before I know it I have every local (like I said tourists were lacking) in a group gawking at me. One lovely man offers to take some pics with my DSLR while my mom snags some go pro moments. I plan to edit them into a Travelsaurus Rex montage.

Another guy ushers me over to the camels. They are not happy!

A little overheated I unzip and step out. Laughing looks turned to surprised as they point and say "That was a girl in there!" Next up is the local bedouin. I show him how to work the costume and zip him up in it while the other kids look on longingly. 

 He jumps, prances, and chases the camel clearly loving life. After all of the fun we sit down to enjoy some lunch before continuing on to explore the rest of the city.