One thing I love about travel is how the world has a knack for shattering my illusions. I frequently see things that just don’t line up with expectations. It could be a Bedouin  riding a donkey while talking on his mobile phone (do the rules against talking on mobile phones while driving apply to driving a donkey???). It could be excellent customer service in Paris (more on that later). Or in this case, a small trinket stall in Petra, with a solar panel on the roof.

One of the least expected features of Petra was the constant thrum of diesel generators in the background, so I have to admire this trendsetter embracing green energy. If I’m fortunate enough to return, I’ll be sure to buy something from that stall to encourage more use of solar energy. After all, it’s pretty well the ideal location for it.