Petra

Petra (means “stone” in Greek) is located in Jordan, and it is famous for its rock-cut architecture.  When I mention Petra, most people do not know where it is.  When I describe it to others, I ask them to picture a Greek temple, which is a free standing site, and then I ask them to picture that same Greek temple carved and built within and around a mountain.  I then usually follow up with, “How the hell did they do that?”  I admit that it’s an unusual place to be intrigued about as it wasn’t even in my radar until I returned from Turkey.  I still don’t know what words to use to describe how and what I felt in Turkey, but feeling like you were touched by God leaves a deep, indelible mark in your psyche, never to be forgotten.  And because it was the greatest of highs that I have ever experienced, I wanted, of course, to feel this way again.  So thinking that another historical place (Petra is at least 2,600 years old!) would allow me to feel this way, I researched “The Seven Wonders of the World” list which somehow led me to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  I believe this is where I found Petra.  I must have seen glimpses of its architecture in the past somehow, somewhere, as it seemed familiar.  Simply put, its beauty astounded me.  I cannot imagine how beautiful it would be in person, as well as how I would feel when I’m actually there.