Adventures for Anyone: Back to the Bucket List of Miss Jenn With a Look at Petra, Jordan!

Petra, Jordan is one of the most misunderstood and enigmatic places in the world. It is also one of the most famous locations in the world, and one of the most famous abandoned cities in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the 7 Modern Wonders of the World. It's a location that's been used in every adventure movie from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade to Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen.

So, with the inherent dangers of traveling the Middle East, why is it that Jordan and its mysterious city of Petra continue to enthrall us? History has the answer to that.

Petra is located in an isolated valley in the desert of Jordan. It's called the Valley of the Crescent Moon by most Indiana Jones fans. The only way to enter the valley is through the Siq; that long crack in the stone. There are no conventional roads in Petra; only the stone paths from centuries past. The entry alone is dramatic enough to burn itself into your memory for the rest of your life. As you enter the city, you see the Treasury first. It is one of the more dramatic buildings in the city. It is also not a treasury. It is a tomb for a Nabatean leader.

Nabateans, are the people who inhabited the city at its height. Petra sat right on a massive trade route, and the people of the city either helped or robbed the traveling traders. Whichever the case required at the time. There are many temples and tombs carved in the stone at Petra, and was at one point called the city of the dead because of it. There were once thousands of people living in the city which covers around 100 square miles in this secluded valley in Jordan.

Petra was inhabited and ruled by different peoples over the years. They were once part of the Egyptian Empire and once part of the Roman Empire. If you climb up 850 steps, you will reach what used to be a Christian Monastery high atop the edge of the gorge valley. The view alone is worth the hike.

Most of the people lived in the more subtle carved out buildings you will see. The tombs were the ornate buildings, but everything, including the stadium, was carved into the cliffs. It was a thriving city with great wealth and busy common areas. And then, one day, it was as though they disappeared.

In 363 There was an earthquake that rattled the area to its core. After that, the trade routes were already shifting, and the people just began to move on and die out. The city then became a place for the elusive Bedouins to camp at and claim as their own, until a Swiss explorer, Johann Burckhardt, rediscovered it in 1812. He put the place on the world map, and now it is Jordan's single most lucrative tourist location.

Now, we all know that Petra is an amazing place to visit, but how is that done? Jordan sits in the Middle East, just north of Israel. It is the home of one of the largest enclaves of Palestinians in the world. The refugees from Palestine are one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. Jordan is still ruled by a king, King Abdullah II. He does rule in tandem with an elected house in Parliament, but he still has the last word. Women are still treated as secondary citizens in most cases. They still cover their heads and faces quite often and rarely go out without a man. There are different castes in Jordan as well. Islam is the primary religion, even though there are Christians around. The language is Arabic, but everyone learns English in school. It is a unique country in the middle of a hotbed of conflict.

Strangely, one of the largest sources of tour companies that travel to Petra is Israel. The location is also associated with parts of the Bible and that makes Israel interested in travel in that area. It's wise to visit Petra with a tour so that you understand exactly what it is you're looking at. My advice is to always book a tour to a place like Petra with a local company. They live there. They know the country, the people and the history.

Bedouins, Bedouins, Bedouins. These are the people who inhabited the city when it was an abandoned secret, and they are the people who spend the most time there right now. I have heard visitors describe the phenomenon as shopping at a bazaar full of people dressed up like a Middle Eastern Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean. The men in particular wear eye shadow as a form of skin protection from the desert sun. Most of the Bedouin folk wear long sleeved clothes year round and head coverings. All are for protection from the ruthless desert sun.

Petra is the largest tourist attraction in Jordan, therefore, it will strike you as very touristy. There are tons of things to buy, eat, and drink. Everyone will try to sell you something. On the flip side of that, it is a great place to shop. Everything that you might want to buy in Jordan will probably be on sale in that one single location. Take advantage of it, but remember to haggle. Vendors will count on that.

Transportation is another thing that comes up at Petra. Not everyone wants to hike all day just to see the city. You can't take a car into the valley. It isn't possible. That being said, you can take a cart, donkey, or camel. You may arrive at the siq by bus or car, but the old ways take over from there. You can even take a donkey up to the monastery at the top of the 850 stairs. This makes it much easier for people of all ages and capabilities to see the city. Just remember, it will cost. The locals aren't going to give any services away for free.

Where to stay if you make the wise choice to not try to see the whole city in one day? Well, there are accommodations near by. Some of the local hotels in the Wadi Rum area are very exotic and will give you unique memories to last a lifetime. But, if you want the whole experience of Petra, you should make arrangements to stay in a Bedouin Camp. The Bedouin locals will show you how they stay in the desert overnight and give you that truly unique experience that you just can't get most other places.

If you stay in a camp, you will also have the opportunity to see the lantern show at the Treasury. This is an event that happens most nights, weather permitting, and is just beautiful. It's a great experience to attend the show, stay in the Bedouin Camp and have breakfast with the locals right in the valley. Then, you spend day two seeing what you missed of the enormous ancient city on day one.

Petra is a two tier trip. First, you will want to talk to a company about booking an arranged agenda to Jordan. It is in the Middle East. You will want to book with a company that knows how to get you to and from Jordan safely. Most people either fly with an airline out of Dubai or go by cruise ship. All things to consider before you go. When booking a trip to Petra itself, you should talk to a local Jordanian tour company who knows the country, the area, and the people. Do not take your first trip to Jordan without arranging guides, tours, and organized travel; probably as a group. It is not a place that you want to learn by winging it on your own.

That being said, Jordan is one of the safest countries in the Middle East. It is one of the most stable and has its own military for protection. It is a wealthy country, so the amenities are great. The people there are friendly, and want you to have a good time. Tourism is a huge source of income to the people of Jordan. So, make sure you book your arrangements in advance and have them planned well. Make sure you plan to travel to Petra through a local company. Make sure you are prepared for the sun in the desert. Make sure you take full advantage of everything that Petra has to offer, such as overnight stays, and enjoy!

http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_nabateans.html

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/solving-the-enigma-of-petra-and-the-nabataeans/

http://scihi.org/johann-ludwig-burckhardt-petra/

https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/archaeology/a-walk-through-the-ruins-of-petra

https://www.quora.com/When-and-why-was-Petra-abandoned-in-the-ancient-world

https://gretastravels.com/visiting-petra-jordan/

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/jordan/petra

https://globalcastaway.com/inside-petra-guide/

https://www.roughguides.com/jordan/petra/wadi-musa-town/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g318895-Petra_Wadi_Musa_Ma_an_Governorate-Vacations.html

https://www.booking.com/city/jo/wadi-musa.en-gb.html?aid=357029;label=yho748jc-1DCAModEIJd2FkaS1tdXNhSDNYA2iLAogBAZgBCbgBBsgBD9gBA-gBAYgCAagCA7gC4fWtigbAAgHSAiRjZWMzYzhlNi1kMWVhLTRhMmMtOGM0ZC1kOTQ1N2Y1MzE1ZjfYAgTgAgE;sid=2da9f0fae7108bbfb62b7dddfab3a52c;inac=0&keep_landing=1&

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/jordan/explore-jordan-125295?msclkid=e16db492e6491660563fd5d99ca31a3e&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Adapt%20-%20US%20-%20Search%20-%20MOFU%20-%20International%20-%20Middle%20East%20-%20DSA&utm_term=%2Fus%2Fjordan%2F&utm_content=Jordan