We had no idea what magic was in store for us. While entering the gates into the UNESCO World Heritage site initially felt a bit like a Disneyland attraction, complete with flashy fountains, tourist shops and blaring music, that feeling quickly dissolved once we stepped foot onto the long, dusty path known as the “Bab al Siq,” or the “Gateway to the Siq.”
We embarked on a long walk along the tomb-lined path of Wadi Musa, batting away the dust that kicked up from the donkey caravans. After about a half a mile, we entered the Siq, a long, meandering gorge carved into towering burnt orange and dusty red sandstone walls. A sophisticated aqueduct system was etched into the side of the walls caught our eye. The gorge was a vessel that carried and redirected water, the ancient city’s vital lifeblood.
Our eyes darted left, right, center, up and down as we strained to capture every inch of our surroundings. We wondered what magic was ahead with every rounded bend. Little did we know that we would eventually turn a blind corner right into the Al Khazneh, the Treasury!
Seeing the Treasury for the first time stopped us in our tracks. It was truly magnificent in every way. We were in awe of its size, symmetry and the sheer feat of human ingenuity. Our minds struggled to comprehend how this stunning structure was ever constructed. I thought about how old it was, and how many people have crossed this very path and stared at this very façade, which conjured up so many larger-than-life, existential feelings and thoughts. What kind of structure can provoke that?! The Al Khazneh.
