Thursday, July 20, 2006

Petra

This is the view you see in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. They ride their horses through the narrow trail and up to this monolith carved in the rock wall. It is astounding. A marvel of human ability with a chisel.

Then they go inside. There is a huge cavern with tunnels leading off into every direction. Puzzels to solve, riddles to answer, chasms to leap.

The real inside is somewhat less glamorous. Like a lot less glamorous. Like after they finished the exterior, they were just so tired, they didn't bother putting out any more effort. Or it could have been a burial chamber. Or just a place to play shuffleboard. Really.

It's a plain, flat-walled 50 foot square chamber. Huge, yes. Ancient and historical and genius, yes. Adequate for filming the last scenes of Indiana Jones, no. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble. Watch that movie again. There is no panning from the outside in.

But I was there. Really, click on the picture, that's me. I held up the pillar. I walked where Harrison Ford and Sean Connery walked. It's possible I may or may not have walked where Moses walked, but I definitely walked where Sean walked.

The city of Petra was unbelievable. There was only one way in. A narrow, several hundred foot-deep trail. Which they would flood if they didn't want to let you or your army into the city. They built several of these pillared facades for their city. There were hundreds of homes carved into the stone. They even had an amphitheatre and a huge shopping collonade.

You can still see the theatre and all the dug-out homes. You can climb to the top of the mountain and look over all of these monstrosities. (And very tiredly climb back down with aching muscles)
And there is still shopping. Many booths with artifacts which may or may not be authentic. But that's ok. I'll still shop there!

7 comments:

Jen said...

Those pics are amazing! It makes me want to grab my backpack and travel.

anne said...

I know, doesn't it!? I would LOVE to go back again.

Jean said...

That's so amazing!! That place is HUGE!! The people look like little ants. No..little gnats! I bet it was a jaw dropper.

anne said...

Totally. It is hidden while you're walking through the deep dark trail and then all of a sudden, you see it. Unreal.

Carbon said...

WOW, that is amazing! I agree with you and everyone else. I can't get over how HUGE it looks too. Very very beautiful. Funny how you say the inside pales in comparison cuz it looks like they got tired from working the outside. I believe it. I'd be pooped out.

Meadow said...

Wow, you are so fortunate to have experienced that. I can't believe how huge those pillars are!

Buffy said...

Wow.

*Envy*