Petra: Finding the “Lost” City

Inhabited by the ancient Nabateans some 2,000 years ago, Petra was lost to the Western world before being “rediscovered” by a European traveler in the late 1800s—it now dazzles scores of travelers from every corner of the globe.

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Through the vast and narrow paths of red sandstone, the mountains parted to reveal a view of the sun glistening off the columns of the Treasury at Petra. It felt like we stepped back in time, watching the horse drawn carts zoom through the rocky alleys, past the architecture carved from the mountains. We spent the day exploring—sharing the common road with passing tourists, donkeys, and camels. The experience was capped off at the monastery with an astonishing sunset view. We watched with awe as the sun melted into the horizon of red sandstone.