After nearly 3 weeks in Egypt we have now traveled into Jordan via the "fast" ferry from Nuweiba, South Sinai, Egypt.  Took us a full day to travel - weird how that went but our days in Dahab were full, relaxing, cheap and wonderful!!  More to blog filling in the days from Luxor to here with pictures, etc. later.

Today, in a half hour, we will travel to Wadi Rum - amazing desert-scapes and the home of "Lawrence of Arabia" as he was nicknamed.  Also we expect to stay with a Bedouin family or in similar accomodations.  The sunrise and sunsets are to be seen, we are told.  Two of our group have already made the trip and highly recommend the 4x4 trip.  They will actually travel up with us (Chad, Alan, Josslyn and myself - making six of us, together with a couple from Canada that we met on the ferry and another fellow who has traveled a bit with us too).  Karen and Friedel will just stay the night with a family as the 4x4 is about $30 apiece.

The rest of the group will travel on to Wadi Musa and Petra, where we will meet them tomorrow. 

On into Jordan!!!  grinning wildly all the way!

Last night we (14 of us) left the hotel at almost midnight for a trip to Saint Catherine's Monastery.  From there we climbed up the rocky, craggy trail during the early morning hours to a 750 step rise - over 7,000 feet above sea level.

Mount Sinai is reputed to be the place that Moses received the Ten Commandments. 

After watching the sun rise we hiked back down the 3750 steps (the other path to the 750 steps was a camel trail and very steep too but the steps were something else!!!).

Saint Catherine's Monastery opened at 9 am so after hiking down, we toured the church, museum and saw the Burning Bush - pictures galore of course!!

Most everyone is sleeping now.

 Will do pictures later of course!

Chad and I decided to take the Rescue Course of the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI), which also meant *I* had to take the Emergency First Responders course!!!

Took us a couple of extra days for interesting reasons but I haven't time to discuss now.  BUT WE PASSED!!!

WHY No time???

Because in about 45 minutes we get on a bus to go to Saint Catherine's Cathedral at the base of Mount Sinai for the night time hike up the 6,000 foot mountain to the peak.  We expect to view the sunrise from the peak tomorrow morning!

More tomorrow afternoon!!!

So we arrived here in Dahab, Sinai (just up the coast on the Red Sea from Sharm El-Sheik) after the 19 hour bus ride from Luxor.  Luckily it was an overnight bus ride so we didn't really "lose" any days (laughing - we just don't have enough time to do everything, but we're trying)!!

Arriving at about noon on June 25, we were immediately accosted by the usual "touts" trying to get our business - taxi ride, hotel, etc.

As per usual, we ignored them (mostly) and since we are such a large group they continue to yell at us from their vehicles (we put on our backpacks and begin walking).  Actually quite comical as we are often 16 people long with lots of belongings, roller backpacks, backpacks, daypacks and sunglasses to boot!!!  So the price begins to fall, from 30 Egyptian pounds for the taxi and 30 for the hotel per night per person, to 20 for the ride, to .... to free ride to town and look at a place for a possible 10 pounds per night per person.  (An Egyptian pound is the equivalent of about 18 cents.)

We took the free ride and the place was OK - NO AIR CONDITIONING kicked a few of us into the A/C (wasn't available the first night) so we are now paying double the price - yes, less than $4!!!  Laughing out loud!  Many are sleeping under a bedouin shelter - huge covering with carpets and cushions) as it is cooler than in the rooms. 

The next step was to eat and search for a dive shop (some just went straight for the sea and snorkeling!!) grinning the whole way!!  I think we checked 6 or 7 shops and chose the one that was cheapest but with a local owner who has a good "vibe" - after all, 5 of us are doing the Open Water Certification - never dove before, 2 are doing Advanced Open Water, 1 did a refresher course, 1 (me) is doing EFR (Emergency First Responder - a requirement for taking the Rescue Course) and Chad and I are also taking the rescue course.  So we have 11 persons paying around 200 Euros per course (we bargained down on the price so most are only paying 180 or so), 20 Euros per fun dive - all equipment included, etc.

The diving has been amazing!!!  So after 2 days here now we have found time to relax quite nicely, do some studying - yes, studying and more relaxing!!!  grin ...  Lots to do and NOT to do - that is just relax - here in Dahab. 

Chad and I did a dive this morning and saw many puffer fish, a horned beak sea turtle (for about 5 minutes), a broom wrasse, many parrotfish and tons of other fish and bright vibrant coral.  Pictures to come, I expect - yes, I have over 1600 already but have only looked at around 600 for possible inclusion on the blog.

All I can say is WOW!!!




  And then a WHOLE LOT MORE!!!

I am in Luxor currently and today we visited the Valley of the Kings - four tombs of the Pharoahs!  WOW, they are amazing!

Yesterday was Karnak - the biggest religious structure in the world, let alone the oldest!  Amazing!  More once I get better internet connections etc.  Pictures too, I hope!  Yesterday afternoon/evening we went for a sailboat ride on the Nile up to Banana Island.  Words escape me at the moment!

The night we arrived, we visited the Luxor Temple - the night images were absolutely stunning. 

Tomorrow,  we go over to the West Bank again to see the Valley of the Queens (maybe) and Seti I and a couple of other monuments or so.

Internet connections have been nonexistant much of the time.  We have also been going, going and going - including swimming each day here in Luxor in the pool.  110 today, 108 yesterday and 110 tomorrow!!!  But it's a DRY heat!!! Yeah - dry heat ...  laughing out loud!

Leavin' for Dahab tomorrow at 5 pm - 16 hour bus ride up and through the Suez Canal area, we think, then down and around the Sinai peninsula, I think!!!  SCUBA HERE I COME!!!

First there is the trip to the Giza Train station through the Metro (subway).  Did I tell you that men are not allowed in the women's subway train cars?!!?  Women can (but don't often) travel in the men's cars!!  We were quite a sight going through the subway, no doubt - transferring from the #1 line to the #2 line (the #3 line is not finished yet).


Here we have plopped down to await the night train to Luxor!


Upon early arrival in Luxor, we present quite a sight with 16 persons' backpacks and luggage.  We send out scouts to survey the possible hotels/hostels in the area while others try to "court" our business as well!!  The town was hurting so bad for business that we ended up at a GREAT hotel within sight of the Luxor Temple including a pool for those REALLY hot nights!! 

Wow, 16 people and one computer makes for interesting blogging, eh?!!?

The evening (10 pm) will find us boarding a 10 hour train (1st class) to Luxor, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings!!!  YES, Airconditioning included!!!!  165 Egyptian pounds (5.6 pounds to the dollar).

Lots to see and enjoy - so the Lonely Planet tells us (and many other travelers).

A fellow graduate student from the University of Prescott, where Chad is getting his Ph.D. met with us today with her girls (OK, one of her girls is 20 and older than some of my fellow travelers!!).  She is from Egypt but has impeccable English.  We spent over 4 hours talking with her and the girls.  What a treat to have someone talk to us who had no agenda!!!  (Everyone else here - or so it seems - wants money if they have advice for us - GOOD OR BAD ADVICE!!!)

Anyway, we need to leave soon for Giza and the train station there to Luxor!

A couple of more photos of Khafre's Pyramid to show scale:


As shown above, Khafre's Pyramid is the only one with the original "covering" stones - look like they can fall on you don't they?!!?



Looking up the edge of the stones gives you a disinct picture of the scale - no climbing past the second row!!


And here is Brianna showing you how high the first row is!!  Well over 5 feet high!

          
Then we traveled over to the Sphinx on our camels - these were not small distances and we managed to take 4 hours to do the whole trip - grin!


Such a cute guy - from a distance!!!

As we approached the Giza Pyramids, they appeared over the roof tops - right next to the city!!!  WOW!



Then we decided to take camels into the desert and tour the pyramids from camel back!


Laughing out loud, we were a sight, no doubt!!!  We went to the hilltop for the picture posted also today (earlier) and then moved on to the pyramids themselves.


Yes, I am on the hilltop and holding up one of the pyramids - yeah, what ever!!  The Great Pyramid of Khafre (or Chefren)
 is the second highest and the one I am pointing to.  The Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops) is the other and largest one above.

The Group Photo with a "Fisheye" lens on the Giza Plateau. 



Ride a camel out into the desert and everyone goes domestic, eh?!!? 

We are off in a few minutes to the Great Pyramids!!! On Tuesday we visited Islamic Cairo, Wednesday we went to the Egyptian museum - mummies and all, on Thursday we went to Coptic Cairo and saw where Mary, Joseph and Jesus came through on their 3 and a half years evasion of Herrod's decree!

Here's a picture over the Nile of part of the City of Cairo, Egypt!!

Though I have many pictures from the Christian area, I have just had time to downsize one so far.  Lindsay, our final member arrived early at 4 am this morning so we opted for Giza tomorrow to give her (and the rest of us) another day to recouperate!

          

The Church was blessed by Joseph, Mary and Jesus as they made their 3 year tour of Egypt when escaping Harrod's edict.

That is, Harrod had decreed that all children a year old or less be put to death.  So Joseph and Mary traveled to Egypt out of harm's way.  After 3 years an angel appeared to Joseph relaying the message that Harrod had died and return to Palestine was now possible.

We found out that we needed to go to the main train station on the Metro to buy our overnight tickets to Luxor from the Giza Train Station!!!

So off we trekked - yes, all 16 of us are quite a sight - but we also enjoy making a spectacle out of ourselves ... SEEE ...


Taking pictures of the trains, the people and stuff in the Main Train Station!!!  Laughing!!!

Eleven new travelers arrived last night as our group began to arrive in Cairo. 


I will have to downsize the picture above!!!

We took a walk to Islamic Cairo and through the Khan al-Khalili or HUGE open market bazar (for everyone).  Acres and acres of everything anyone would want!!!

          

Including headscarves, eh?!!?

I met a young German who was working an orphanage up in Bethlehem and we traveled together for the day.

       

First we went to the oldest Mosque in Cairo - right in the center of old Cairo.  The central area is for the every day (5 times) prayers, whereas the wooden stairway is for the Friday afternoon prayer.



We went up to the top of the Minaret to look around and take pictures ...



There was a bad earthquake in 1992 from which there is still evidence of damage on the tops of houses today.  Then we wandered through a market area to another Mosque and again went to the top and inside.

      

Here is Sebastian and myself infront of the everyday prayer area.

Chad sent an email that arrived just before I left - he must have known that I have almost fully adjusted to the Chinese ways!!!  That is, everything is done "Just In Time" or another way of saying it is, when you need the information, it will come!!  Laughing!  So here is a portion of the email:

Here is a generic itinerary:
Middle East Summer OP Trip 2009
Date Day          Place
15-Jun 1 Monday Depart Denver - Cairo
16-Jun 2 Tuesday Cairo
17-Jun 3 Wednesday Cairo Pyramids
18-Jun 4 Thursday Cairo Museum
19-Jun 5 Friday Valley of Kings
20-Jun 6 Saturday Valley of Kings
21-Jun 7 Sunday Arrive in Sinai
22-Jun 8 Monday Sharm el-Sheikh
23-Jun 9 Tuesday Dahab
24-Jun 10 Wednesday Dahab
25-Jun 11 Thursday Dahab
26-Jun 12 Friday Dahab
27-Jun 13 Saturday Dahab
28-Jun 14 Sunday Mt. Sinai
29-Jun 15 Monday Mt. Sinai
30-Jun 16 Tuesday Mt. Sinai
1-Jul 17 Wednesday Dahab
2-Jul 18 Thursday Jordan
3-Jul 19 Friday Petra
4-Jul 20 Saturday Petra
5-Jul 21 Sunday Wadi Rum
6-Jul 22 Monday Wadi Rum
7-Jul 23 Tuesday Dead Sea
8-Jul 24 Wednesday Arrive in Syria
9-Jul 25 Thursday Bosra
10-Jul 26 Friday Damascus
11-Jul 27 Saturday Damascus
12-Jul 28 Sunday Damascus
13-Jul 29 Monday Palmyra
14-Jul 30 Tuesday Dead Cities
15-Jul 31 Wednesday Qala at al-Horn
16-Jul 32 Thursday Apamea
17-Jul 33 Friday Aleppo
18-Jul 34 Saturday Aleppo
19-Jul 35 Sunday Arrive in Turkey
20-Jul 36 Monday Sanliurfra
21-Jul 37 Tuesday Nemrut
22-Jul 38 Wednesday Nemrut
23-Jul 39 Thursday Lycian Way
24-Jul 40 Friday Lycian Way
25-Jul 41 Saturday Lycian Way
26-Jul 42 Sunday Lycian Way
27-Jul 43 Monday Lycian Way
28-Jul 44 Tuesday Izmir
29-Jul 45 Wednesday Izmir
30-Jul 46 Thursday Izmir
31-Jul 47 Friday Istanbul
1-Aug 48 Saturday Istanbul
2-Aug 49 Sunday Istanbul
3-Aug 50 Monday Depart Istanbul - Denver

As you can see, we will do a little bit of traveling!!!  grinning WILDLY some more!

FINALLY was able to get a few pictures downsized!!!



Notice the fog/smog in the air - fairly constant during the last two weeks I was in Shanghai.  Emirates Air was awesome and I had an exit row seat so the flight was quite wonderful!



In the Dubai International Airport, I was confronted with one of the most amazing shopping vistas imaginable, including this restaurant?!!?  Hint, look at the food!!  grin ...

Well, Youssef at the Syrian Embassy said "NO WAY - no visa from ME!"

I tried to explain the situation in China that Mr. Kourssay told me to come to Cairo ... he said, Ï don't know ANYONE!!"

So, WE SHALL SEE!!!  No worries - part of the adventure!!

Wandered around the embassy area for awhile and enjoyed coffee, etc.  Quite modern in many areas and tough in many others!

Enjoyed a great lunch nearby where I am staying - Orabi area of Cairo.

Took the subway to the Embassy (actually two subways as I had to transfer).  Asking questions gets VERY interesting answers!!
Laughing.  Talked with a woman from South Africa who lives in Qatar.  She gave me a name and some hints about Luxor.

8 more of the group arrive today so we become a group beginning this evening!!!  50 days is a long time and not long enough!  grin

The EXPO image!!!  Laughing!