Like a queen in the desert, the city of Petra stands enthroned deep within the vast red-rock formations of the desert. The Nabataeans, who founded the city, were well knowned for their wealth, based on there trade with incense. Somewhere here their treasures may be preserved.
A little girl in a large, dark red shawl shows us a worn plastic tray. On it are a few small necklaces, each lined up together with ordinary stones, plane red and brown stones that characteristic for Petra. I look at the tray, uncomprehending. She nods at me and holds out the tray—yes, she wants us to buy souvenirs, a reminder that we are now in Jordan.
My own daughter, who is the same age as the girl, gazes wide-eyed at the items on the tray. They are the same things sold in the souvenir shops we’ve seen, exept for the stones. I am not interested.
They are quite similar, my daughter and the Jordanian girl. Both are lightbrown-skinned, straight, light brown hair and brown eyes. The girl is bundled in shawls, while my daughter wears a tough denim skirt and a pink T-shirt with a Disney motif. So similar, and yet so different lifes.
Later, we sit at Mövenpick and having dinner. My daughter shows the stone she was allowed to buy to our waiter, who has been joking with her during dinner. She firmly says she will keep the stone as a keepsake. I explain that she can’t take the stones home. We’ve talked about shells before, when we traveled. It’s not possible for all tourists to take things from nature. She understands. We leave the stones with the waiter, he will bring them back to the nature.
The Nabateans lived here in Petra. They had considerable wealth by trading myrrh, incense and spice at a time when it wasn’t only seen as a magical attribute but at important part of daily life.
We walked through the narrow canyon. The Nabataenans were famous stone carvers, built an efficient plumbing and water conduit system. It is called the Rose city because of the red color of the sandstone. The narrow winding path a natural gorge is leading to the main entrance, were there is a museum.
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Petra is known for its spectacular tombs, monuments and houses that were carved into the cliffs. Here you find the treasury Al-Kaznen a burial place of a Nabatean King, Half built and half-carved into the rock. The Nabataeans built Petra more than 2000 years ago and then the Romans took over it and then the place was abandoned.
But it is still magical by its beauty and there is an experience to walk in the canyon lit up by thousands of candles by night. You can also take a private jeep tour into the desert Wadi Rum to witness the sunset. There are also tours from Ammam to the Dead Sea. Mövenpick also has a hotel at the Dead Sea with a famous Spa called Zara. We got mineral-rich mud with us home.
Jordan is surrounded by friends. Balanced approaches and diplomacy have laid the foundation for Jordan to be considered a safe country to visit. In a region with a lot of tension and conflicts. It’s still a good idea to check it out before you go here. Before Jordan, we’ve been to Israel, where we’ve seen a lot of weapons. When we reach Jordan, a caravan of cars arrives. Open jeeps. Men with guns shoot straight into the air. The cars honk. The men are excited. The caravan meets and passes us on a hill. I hold on tightly to my daughter, who is sitting with me in the back seat. It turns out to be a motorcade going to a wedding. It’s a common way to celebrate. Shooting straight into the air.
Back home a week later, I read to my daughter in the evening. Sitting in the armchair next to the bed in her room. In the bookshelf is a new picture of the hidden treasures of Petra, that is all our new memories such as the picture of us riding on a camel. When she falls asleep, I’ll sneak out. That’s when I see it. Something sticks out of her hand. She holds something slightly hidden in the palm of her hand. I recognize a small brown stone from Jordan.