Egypt to Jordan
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This is just a fast update, as we’re awaiting falefel, then off to Petra.
We spent our last two days in Egypt camped out on the Red Sea in grass huts, going snorkeling on the coral reefs. The water was unbelievably warm, and from the beach we could look across the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia, and to our right was Jordan and Isreal.
We spent an entire day waiting for the ferry to Jordan – administrative efficiency abounds here! (No problem, we’ve been well trained to deal with these kinds of problems…) then the ferry did donuts in the harbour for an hour before we actually docked – apparently there were “high winds”.
Yesterday we spent four wheeling in the Wadi Rum desert, and we saw several sights associated with Lawrence of Arabia, and we stood on the natural stone formation bridges and ran down sand dunes. We camped in the desert under the stars at a Bedouin camp last night, and we’re off to Petra today.
To Laurie: the toilet paper here is “bring your own”.
As usual, we miss everyone and our doggies – Kylie, let us know how they are…
Noel & George
Cairo
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It’s amazing how staying up for 20 hours in 54C weather helps you sleep on the train… We arrived back in Cairo yesterday after taking the overnight train from Luxor and said goodbye to our travel companions before heading off to the Victoria Hotel.
Last Night in Luxor
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We were at Karnac temple yesterday, and the Valley of the Kings today. It’s hotter than hell here and we’re trying to stay in the shade when we’re not out sight seeing.
Cairo to Aswan
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Cairo is a huge city that shows up as million lights and three pyramids dissected by a swath of black that represents the Nile. At least that’s how it looks at night when you fly over it after missing a flight and delayed connections and you are incapable of interpreting it as anything else. If Cairo was a perfume it’s top notes would be diesel fuel and dirt, it’s heart notes would be skin – not the disgusting B.O. you smell in line at a German grocery store, but a puppy-dog paw smell of familiarity. Finally, there’s a fleeting whiff of rose water and citrus fruit.
Trip Map 2008
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Map denoting our travels for the summer of 2008. We will be starting in Cairo, Egypt.
Istanbul, historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see Names of Istanbul) is Turkey’s most populous city, and its cultural and financial center.
The Sümela Monastery stands at the foot of a steep cliff facing the Altındere valley in the region of Maçka in Trabzon Province, Turkey. It is a major tourist attraction located in the Altındere National Park. It lies at an altitude of about 1200 metres overlooking much of the alpine scenery below.
