by Joan Ramirez, author/photographer
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| Petra (Copy right Joan Ramirez 2018) |
An adventure, a step back in time, and an experience of a lifetime. These are the phrases that best
describe a visit to Petra. This former center of the caravan trade, a royal jewel in the country of Jordan, is slowly succumbing to the forces of nature.
As my horse-drawn carriage navigated through the Siq, a narrow gorge that leads visitors into
Petra, my guide made me close my eyes.
When I opened them, his first words were, “BEHOLD, history awaits.”
I’ve circled the globe, but this view, even from a distance, of Al Khazna, the Treasury, is
spectacular. Crowned by a funerary urn, local legend has it that a pharaoh’s treasure sits inside of its
belly. I’d watched the Raiders movie featuring the fearless Indiana Jones, but to be up close and personal
was incredible. Almost 40 meters high and adorned with Corinthian capitals, friezes, and figures, I closed
my eyes once more and stepped into Indiana’s shoes to take his place on my own literary adventure.
From the Royal Tombs to the Governor’s Palace (shown below), the city is a feast for the eyes.
Petra has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1985, but windblown sand and growing salt
crystals are a threat to precious monuments.
In fact, during an event held on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal, Petra was designated one of the
new Seven Wonders of the World.
If I had available funds, I’d provide them in a heartbeat to preserve structures steeped in a country
rich in history.
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| (Copy right Joan Ramirez 2018) |
In Petra nature, culture, and archaeology/geology blend together to form a magnificent whole.
While plot and character have a major role in all novels, setting is often the muse that fires our imagination.
Joan Ramirez is a published author of three non-fiction books, a romance novel and a romantic suspense set in the intriguing world of fragrance is now being reviewed by a publisher.
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| Roman Governors Palace (Copy right Joan Ramirez 2018) Visit my website at: joansbookshelf.com for information on events, new publications and short stories. |
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