I decided to write my second blog about Petra. I am half-American, half-Jordanian and was born and raised in Jordan. However, it took until two years ago for me to finally visit this incredible historic site. This ancient city, carved entirely out of sandstone , may have been built as early as 5th century B.C. The building pictured above, the Treasury, is only one of the many structures spread throughout the city. As tourists make their way through, they can view the rather advanced water systems carved from stone along the walls. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and it is a place I would love to visit again to be able to really take in every part of the city.  What surprised me the most was the sheer size of the building. It was incredible to stand in front of the Treasury building and know that a long time ago, there were people in my exact spot that lived and worked in the city. I stood in awe and just stared at the intricate carvings in the building, wondering how with no technology and fancy machinery, they were able to create such a spectacular city. It is a place I recommend anyone who loves historic sites to visit.

For my first blog post, I chose Quigley’s Castle in Eureka Springs. I visited this cool house this past summer, on a family trip. I chose to write about it because of its uniqueness, as I had never seen a house like it before. It was build in 1943 by Albert Quigley under the guidance of his wife and designer of the house, Elise Quigley. Inside, the two story house has rooms that accommodate tropical plants that reach the second floor! It has a very spacious layout and the plants that are spread throughout the house give the impression that you are in nature. Elise had wanted this very feeling as she said she wanted to feel as if she was living in the world and not a box.  They used the lumber from their own land and built this incredible building Outside, there are various artistic designs using the stones and bottles that Elise had collected since she was young. The whole area puts you in a very good mood. It’s a very simple environment with natural decor at every turn. It was truly a beautiful house with such a relaxing aura both inside and outside. I would love having a house like it. I feel like I could always be relaxed and it would be very difficult to be stressed in such a setting.