Far from the Santa Fe(e) trail...

It appears that Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah (“Messenger and Prophet of God”) has quite a following here.  Since there are major prohibitions, like arrest and deportation, re: talking about the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., I’ve noticed darn few young people wearing white shirts on bicycles.  Core beliefs have run deep in this part of the world for a very long-time (just ask Gilgamesh). One thing that still makes the world-go-around of course is money. Things of value have been finding their way down Petra’s streets for a couple millennia+. It continues today, and it makes for some interesting paradoxes and challenges for managers at Petra Archaeological Park (PAP).

On one front we see unauthorized (yet allowed) roving street and donkey-boy vendors pestering visitors. Management is taking steps to limit and channel these forces. However, it is hard due to a history of these practices and the identification of Dinars (JD: money) to be made.

Another issue has to do with the increase of fees to visit PAP that took effect last November (see web-links listed below). Based on increased visitor services that haven’t been completed yet, present visitors are faced with no Visitor Center (while the new one is being constructed by funding from the World Bank), limited restroom/water closet facilities, and other challenges as previously noted. So, you ask: Is it worth my time & energy to visit? Yes, indeed. This is truly a dynamic World Heritage Site worth the effort: many of the Park Rangers & staff, shop owners and the locals are wonderful hosts working to make this a better place- Bedouin traditions live-on (note to my sister Chris' family: just yesterday I was offered tea by a shop owner and when he called back to the improvised kitchen area he yelled: "tea for Uncle Phil"); their generosity is plentiful. Sure, there are nooks-n-crannies where visitors (mostly western) have defecated in a corner and the Petra National Trust has determined a carrying capacity of 2,000 that has often been exceeded, but steps are being taken to improve the experience here… as the river of JD’s that stream through here daily will flow only as long a this remains an enjoyable destination that maintains its historical integrity. Of course, that is one reason we’re here working with the Park Rangers.

From USA Today

http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2011/03/admission-to-a-wonder-of-the-world-how-much-is-too-much/149500/1

From 501 Places

http://www.501places.com/2011/03/entrance-fees-to-the-7-wonders-of-the-world-how-much-is-too-much/

At The Treasury: Photo by Bruce McKeeman