I'd wanted to visit Petra since I saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, sometime around 2nd grade. And I finally made it to the outskirts of the ancient city.

I was the second person to walk in the Siq, the iconic slot canyon that has guided travelers into the Rose City for two thousand years. I pulled by headscarf over my ears to fend off the desert's morning cold (a chill I'd gladly welcome a few hours later). The canyon walls hung high above, capturing every footstep before sending the sound right back to me.

I felt a sense of calm, a sense of peace, a sense of welcome solitude.

And then, I rounded the corner. And I saw it: the Treasury.

The ancient build popped against the canyon wall, leaving me in awe, leaving me in wonder (no wonder it was named a Wonder of the World).

And I kept going. I walked through the vertical canyon walls to the center of the city that, 2,000 year ago, would have buzzed with people who wanted to trade and talk and live.

The amphitheater, a 4,000-seat stadium carved out of a single piece of stone, rose in the distance. but I went a different direction, electing to explore the caves that rose hundreds of feet above the ground. Old homes and kitchens and tombs and shops, free to wander through. Completely unbothered.

I walked along the road, lined with old Roman-looking columns until I got to the Byzantine-era church (with a floor mosaic that was still remarkably intact).

And then, I walked up the canyon path for a few miles to reach the farther spot on the map: the Monastery. I walked a mile past the awe-inspiring monument and stood on the cliff's edge, looking out toward the Jordan River.

I started my walk back, but decided to stop for a quick coffee. Arabic style (with cardamom). I hiked for two hours straight, through the blazing heat and arid atmosphere. I craved water, but I kept going, wandering along an old trade route path until I reached a 2,000-year-old set of stairs. I climbed up and up and up, aware that nobody else was within shouting distance (except for a few Bedouins who used the occasional cave to shelter their donkeys and goats from the heat).

Finally, I reached the High Place of Sacrifice. I sat down and looked over the entire maze of canyons that made up the City of Petra.

I returned through the Siq to grab some food before returning in darkness to catch Petra at night. The Treasury, lit up by candles and accompanied by Jordanian music, brought me some relaxation, capping an epic day through history.