The Desert الصحراء Al-sahharra

Happy Fourth of July! It is definitely strange to be in a foreign country today and lacking BBQ, fireworks, and Old Glory....I had a midterm instead. However, we might make a trip to downtown Amman tonight, as there is an American wings restaurant hosting a celebration for Americans here.

As for this weekend, my mind was totally blown by all of the incredible places that we visited. Our first stop was Dana, a small, 500 year old village situated next to a natural gorge -- Wadi Dana. We made it just in time for sunset, climbing to a phenomenal view and lingering for dusk. We returned to enjoy a traditional Arabic dinner and the best tea ( شاي pronounced shayy) that I have had in my life.

After a night in Dana, we ventured to Wadi Rum, comprised of massive sandstone and granite rock formations amidst a vast desert. This wadi is famous for its connection with British officer T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), who resided and planned his military operations here in the Arab Revolt of 1917.

Exploring this area was my favorite part of the trip and possibly my summer so far. Starting off with a wild, bumpy, and reckless desert jeep ride, we traveled a few miles into the wadi and were able to climb some of the rock formations. Then we embarked on an hour long camel ride to our destination for the night -- a Bedouin camp in the middle of the desert. The main word for camel in Arabic is جمل  (pronounced jamal) and has the same root as the word for beautiful. Camels are highly valued in Arabic culture, serving as modes of transportation for thousands of years. Riding a camel was easy -- cross your legs in the front and hold on for the ride.

 Zach with his fez -- conquering the elements

The night spent at the Bedouin campsite was one of the most memorable of my life. Encompassed by a tranquil desert with no human life for miles, I was able to truly appreciate the beauty of Wadi Rum. The desert evoked a calming yet awing feeling for me, and I loved just sitting atop the sandstone to take it all in. After just relaxing at the campsite for a couple of hours, the Bedouins cooked us a delicious meal -- first grilling the meat and vegetables over a fire, then burying it in the sand to preserve the warmth and prevent any animals from eating our food. We enjoyed our meal, danced around the campfire listening to the Bedouins play music, and gazed at the seemingly infinite amount of stars. We slept outside on mattresses and woke up when the sun came up. I felt like a real Bedouin girl haha

The next and final day of our trip, we visited Petra, the most famous tourist attraction within Jordan. Established in the around the 6th century BC by the Nabataeans, Petra flourished because it was a crossword for numerous trade routes and thus was a center of commerce and culture. It is absolutely astounding how well this city has withstood the test of time, as the original structures still show intricate carvings and designs.

Claudia and I in front of the Treasury building

I am exhausted....and so happy.