Petra by Candlelight

(Andrew) It was a beautiful journey throughout a candlelit site. Petra, an ancient city protected by natural canyon fortification, was glowing with eerie candles. We first stepped into an open area with sandstone mountains on either side. We followed the candles as ducklings would follow their mother. The snaking line of candles just kept on going until it disappeared behind crowds. It reminded me of the line to get into the Apple Store at the mall. We walked and walked on, for a while, then we entered the rock valley or “siq.” There were 60 ft. tall, smooth yet jagged rocks towering above us and they were very intimidating. As we walked, our flickering shadows danced along the rock walls. The valley narrowed then widened and there, smack in the middle, was the famous Petra Treasury. Below it was a candle-infested courtyard now teeming with tourists. We sat down on the first row without carpeting, which smelled most vividly of camel urine, and waited for whatever-it-was to start. We waited while others took pictures with flash, which temporarily lit up the building. A Jordanian came out and introduced a man playing a rababa, an ancient stringed instrument. The echoing sounds dominated the silence. My family liked it, but I thought it was never-ending, as was the flute played by the next Bedouin. I prefer music with words. The first Jordanian host returned and urged us to take a picture on the count of three. “One, Two, THREE!” he said, and everyone snapped one. The flashes lit up the Treasury like strobe lights. Suddenly it was over and we left the Treasury. I was looking forward to viewing it in greater detail in the daylight the next day.