Let's Talk with Cheryl Hollon
Once in a Lifetime
July 7, 2022
I’ve returned from a once-in-a-lifetime tour to visit a site on my bucket list – Petra, Jordan. I’ve been fascinated with this wonder of the modern world since it was featured in one of my all-time favorite movies: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The final scenes in the movie feature the iconic Treasury, the centerpiece of Jordan’s ancient Nabatean city of Petra.
In the movie, it represents the Temple of the Sun. In real life, it is located at the end of a long walk through a cleft called The Siq which builds anticipation. The first glimpse of the façade can only be seen 50 meters before the end. It is one of the seven modern wonders of the world. Petra is a 10,000-year-old city hidden in a vast desert more beautiful than any picture can represent.
I was also able to visit the Dead Sea. What doesn’t show up in the pictures is how deadly hot the weather is. I was roasting, and I’m from Florida!
Then there’s the bubble tent luxury glamping site at the Wadi Rum desert. A long list of movies was filmed there. A total of 37 films feature the haunting desert. My favorites:
• Dune (2021)
• Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
• Prometheus (I) (2012)
• Aladdin (2019)
• The Martian (2015) ..
• Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
One of the highlights of the entire trip was the fabulous food. We were treated to fresh-made hummus, tabouli, falafel, kunafa, bedouin coffee, and wonderful chai tea. Our guide always preceded each new dining site with this statement, “Eat as if you’ve never seen food before.” I did, it was marvelous!
When and where do you plan to go for your next bucket list adventure? Don’t wait until it’s too late. Go! Go now!
My Paint & Shine Mysteries are set in the Daniel Boone National Forest. My parents were born, raised, and now rest in the Adams Family Cemetery in Wolfe County, Kentucky. The characters spend a lot of time preparing traditional southern meals and creating moonshine cocktails. Please consider buying local. Independent bookstores need your help during this challenging time.
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For more about author Cheryl Hollon, visit her WEBSITE.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Cheryl Hollon • Tags: Cheryl Hollon, Jordan, Let's Talk, Once in a Lifetime, Petra | 9 Comments
Thanks for the great tour, Cheryl! Sounds like it was a wonderful trip. Our next adventure will be Pinnacles National Park in central California. Our once-in-a-lifetime trip took place in 2019 and included a land tour of New Zealand, a stay in Sydney, and a 30-day cruise to Hawaii via a trip around New Zealand.
New Zealand is on my list! I keep meaning to put Hawaii on the list, but for the long flight, I usually end up in England.
At the top of my bucket list is seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors in China, but I doubt that will ever happen. At least not until smoking is banned in China. Cigarette smoke gives me migraines, and there are a LOT of cigarette smokers in China.
Your trip does sound like the adventure of a lifetime. I’ve never been to Greece so that would probably be on my list. I’ve already been to Europe, the South Pacific and the Orient.
Nancy, I haven’t been to Greece yet. We’re planning to do that on a cruise of the Mediterranean. We love cruise ships.
Petra has fascinated me, too, for some time. I’m so glad you got to go! I had Greece on my bucket list and practically forced my husband to go with me for our 40th anniversary. We were both very glad we did!
Hi Kaye. I’m so happy to hear you dragged your husband along. I’m planning to force George to go to Italy — who wouldn’t love that?
Wow, what a great trip! You now have given me something to add to MY bucket list. One trip I really want to make is a run thru all 13 colonies. Being from the southwest that is an area I never really traveled in and want to see some of that USA history that I missed as a kid.
Hi Diane, What a great bucket list item! There is so much history in the original 13 colonies. It’s just fascinating. Good traveling!