Day 35: Dahab

So tired... but feeling great!

So last night, we took a shuttle with Kierra and some others at 11pm to St. Catherine and Mt. Sinai. Just like on the bus from Cairo to Dahab, we were stopped over and over for security checks so our sleep was pretty broken.

We arrived after 1am, and started our climb. We had forgotten our flashlight, flashlights were "expensive" (25LE or 4$) to buy there, a friend had said we didn't need a flashlight, and the moon had been bright the previous few days so we figured we didn't need it. We were wrong. It was really really dark. Unlike the rest of the sites in Egypt, Mt. Sinai is in the middle of nowhere and there is no light to be found but for the stars in the sky.

The dark was constantly broken by the flashlights of tour groups so our night vision couldn't really adjust, so we ended up just following them. Several hundred along the path, there was another cafeteria so we bought a flashlight and headed up ahead of the tour group. We tried again to go without a light and this time our eyes could adjust and we walked up without the flashlight for the rest of the way. The walk was incredible and took about 2h 15min.

Sunrise was such a spectacular view... so moving. We all really loved it.

We took the 3000 stairs of penitence (or whatever they're called,) which sucked but did get us down quite a bit faster, say 1h 30 or so. We checked out the famous monastary (that we've never heard of) and it was okay then took the bus back. The desert was so beautiful... really reminded me of California and Arizona just on a much larger scale. It was way cool.

We were wrecked but I needed to snorkel. We snorkeled at the Lighthouse and it was great. We saw lionfish, jellyfish, clownfish, and all kinds of good stuff. Jen was really nervous and had a few paniks but really came out strong in the end. The plan is to do the famous Blue Hole tomorrow and finally get some sleep tonight! Goodnight!

Day 34: Cairo to Dahab

Last night we went bowling with the group. It was a massacre. Jen and I pulled up the rear against the the rest of the commonwealth (the rest were aussies and brits). It was good fun though.

After we went for dinner at a very un-Egyptian pub. It was a really good time with tons of laughing, dancing, and reminiscing over the past 11 days.

This morning we took a taxi to the bus for 15LE's at 6:15am, and caught the bus at 7:15am without any problems. I was not feeling well. I think the beer or something really didn't work with my system 'cause I was really feeling bad. Jen drugged me up with a couple of Gravol and that just knocked me out cold. For security reasons, the public buses are stopped often to check passengers' passports and tickets and stuff. I missed it all... I was out.

This trip has been much easier since we're traveling with our new friend Kierra. Through the tour group, she organised her stay in Dahab so we've been following her. Tonight, we leave to climb Mt. Sinai at 11pm so we're just leaving our stuff in her room until tomorrow.

We're very excited for snorkeling.

Day 33: Cairo

May 31, 2005

We left Luxor last night at around 11:10pm, and arrived this morning in Cairo at around 8:30am. The seats were pretty good but the lights don't turn off so we're a bit tired.

We were taken by bus to the same hotel we stayed in on the first night, the King Hotel. We cleaned up and met the gang in the lobby for 11:30. In the convoy was Glen and Rebecca, Paul and Meghan, Braiden, Kiera, and us. We grabbed 2 taxis to the bazaar for 10LE per taxi one way.

The bazaar was surprisingly okay. We had heard that it was just nuts but it wasn't too crowded. Maybe it was because we were there early, or maybe because it's so hot today... I don't know why but I loved it. It's only fun when you're in the mood and I was. Jen and I got some good buys.

We met up at 2pm with the gang... really ended up being more like 2:30. No big deal. We're all on Egyption time now. Anyway, the plan for today is bowling and dinner together for some more group bonding. The group has been amazing and we couldn't have hoped for better.

The plan for tomorrow is to catch the bus from Cairo to Dahab at 7:15am; hang out during the day in Dahab and store our luggage in the hotel room of our new friend from the tour group Kiera (although she doesn't know this yet). Tomorrow night, we'll take a bus to St Catherine and climb Mt Sinai, then camp our there over night to catch the sunrise. We'll hike back and catch the bus back to Dahab the next day. Hopefully it all goes nice and smoothly.

Wish us luck!

Michael

Day 28 to Day 32

May 30 2005

Ok, so we're in Luxor now but we've missed a few days so there's some catching up to do.

We spent May 26 to May 29 on a felucca cruise. A felucca is the traditional sailboat for the nile.

After reading that all the terrible nile diseases are actually treatable, we all dove into the Nile river for a swim. The heat heat, dry or not, is just unbearable for long periods of time. And without showers, proper toilets, or a pool, the nile just looks so tempting... it's really quite nice and actually quite cold.

We arrived at 7am or so yesterday in Edfu. We checked out Edfu temple which is the best preserved temple... it was alright. We took a bus into Luxor and checked into the hotel and showered... now that was great. Later, we went to visit Luxor temple but instead of going in, we checked it out from MacDonald's 3rd floor because we heard it was a better view. That afternoon though, we went to Karnak temple which was amazing. I had been looking forward to this quite a bit and I am really happy that it delivered.

This morning, we awoke at 4:45am to be ready at 5:45am to catch our donkeys at 6:15am. We were so tired but that quickly faded. The donkeys are hilarious! The precariousness of our purch on the silly animals was a source of absolute hilarity for virtual the entirety of the hour it took to ride into the Valley of the Kings. It was a blast.

We visited a bunch of tombs in the valley and they were great. The tombs are empty of treasures but the colours on the inscriptions are just amazing. After, we climbed up the side of the valley for a spectacular view of the valley, and then of Hapchetsut's temple.

The ride back was crazy. Most of the group opted to take the bus back (it's almost 50C outside so it's understandible) but we went for the donkeys. It was only 5 of us so they chose the fastest donkeys. It took about 60 minutes or so on the way up but only 25 on the way back. It was just hilarious.

Now we have the day off to hang out in Luxor then we take the night train back to Cairo. From there, we're still deciding but next stop will be Dahab in Sinai, then off to Israel after that.

Our health has been pretty good so far but we'll see. Wish us luck and all the best!

Michael

Day 27: Aswan and Abu Simbel

May 25 2005

Today we woke at 3am to be on the bus at 3:30, to catch the convoy at 4am to Abu Simbel. Due to the terrorist incident in 97, tourists now travel to Abu Simbel in groups of more than 40 buses with police escort in the front and back. It's pretty cool but it really limits the time that you can travel since there are only 2 convoys per day and both are in the morning.

We arrived after 7am and the sun was still pretty low on the horizon. The temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefatari were really beautiful. The temple of Ramses II has 4 statues in the back. From right to left: Horus, Pharoah Ramses II, Amun-Ra, and the god of Evil. Twice per year, the sun shines all the way to the back: on Ramses II birthday and corronation day. At least it used to be like that until the temple was moved during the creation of Lake Nassar due the High Dam. The god of Evil, however, always remains shaded. It's really cool.

Jen's favorite part about the temples were the colossus of Ramses in the front of his temple. They were really huge and well preserved. Jen liked how they were smiling. Michael's favorite part was the hieroglyphs in the temples. They were surprisingly well preserved and depicted interesting scenes of offerings, and conquest.

Now we have free time in Aswan! The plan is to hang out and enjoy the ludricrously hot weather. Hooray we have a pool!

Tonight, there's dinner at a Nubian household and dancing and stuff. We have no idea what to expect. Tomorrow is camel rides and felucca's! Should be loads of fun.

Michael and Jennifer