Picturesque Petra* Part 1

I always said that if there was one place I really wanted to visit while I was in the Middle East it was Petra in Jordan. I travelled down to Petra (possibly the most expensive way) with a private driver. It cost about 60 euro for the privilege of my own driver and the car was very comfortable for the two hour journey. I only had four days to see everything I wanted to see in Jordan so this was the most efficient way to get down to the ancient city. Cut from rose coloured rocks, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra is famous for both its archaeological and historical importance and I was about to appreciate what all the fuss was about!

The small village at the gates of Petra.

I checked into the gorgeous Petra Moon Hotel in the small town of Petra. The hotel's friendly staff made me feel very welcome. The room itself was tastefully decorated and it really surpassed my expectations. 

My room had a queen sized bed with a lovely clean en suite. There was a mini bar, stacked with free soft drinks and water and a bowl of fruit on the table. Before I went to bed, a man came around with bars of chocolate for me! The total price for two nights at the hotel was 60 euro. This included a sumptuous buffet breakfast both mornings! The proximity to the gates of Petra and the Jett bus station only added to my satisfaction with the hotel.  

Thousands of these illuminated the way.

 ''The Petra by Night Experience'' cost 12 euro (available from the hotel's reception) and met at the Petra Welcome Centre at 7pm. This is conveniently located a five minute walk from the Petra Moon Hotel. You walk with a group of around one hundred people, led by the Bedouin people who run the tour. Strategically placed night lights illuminated the otherwise dark pathway. The small tea lights were placed inside brown paper bags that had sand in the bottom. These had a doubly haunting and dream like effect on everyone as the anticipation of the arrival at the iconic Treasury building grew. The walk took about forty minutes, at times on a gravely path and other times on a cement walkway. In the darkness, I could just about make out the craggy rock faces of the canyon. As one girl I walked with said to me on the way down, ''Who knew you could get this excited about rock formation?" But is was very true. 

On arrival at the Treasury, we were asked to sit down on mats and listen to the enchanting  music of the Bedouin people on their traditional instruments. Arabic coffee (of course!) was given to everyone as we sat, rapt by the music. Thousands of of small night lights danced rhythmically to the song of the instruments, casting shadows on the Treasury.

The Treasury.
Such a haunting image.

At one point, as we sat there, the Bedouin leader invited the assembled group of tourists to put their flashes on their cameras, point their cameras in the direction of the Treasury, count to three and take a picture.The picture on the left is the result. As beautiful as it is, it still fails to capture the sense of peace one feels in the haunting presence of this ancient building. 

Without doubt the "Petra by Night Experience" was my favourite part of my trip to Jordan. I was not expecting it and if anything it whetted my appetite to see the rest of Petra the next day. 

*I'm an English teacher so I'm allowed some alliteration... Even if it does make you cringe!