Bula Bula!

On Tuesday night we departed the hotel at 10:30 PM. The drive to Mt. Sinai is approximately 3 hours. A few of the group did manage to get some sleep but I did not. We passed through several tourist police checkpoints where they boarded the bus. The lights came on the bus and we had to be awake to show them our passports. I would just about have closed my eyes when we would come to the next one. At 1:30 AM we approached the last "rest stop" (Meaning last chance for flush toilets). Also we pick up our Mountain Guide for the hike. By about 1:45 AM we had reached the destination and exited the bus. Immediately you noticed how much colder it was than just that morning when we had been at the beach! And there were quite a lot of people. Everyone was in line and eventually we started to shuffle our way along the path. It is really dark here and we each have a flashlight to guide our way - basically to try and avoid the camel poop along the trail. After about 30 minutes ...

We left the hotel at 5AM today and flew to Sharm. When we arrived we went out on a glass bottom boat out to the Red Sea. We went snorkeling and saw so much. Lots of corals, picasso fish, parrotfish, zebrafish, tigerfish... It was actually cold at first jumping in but then it was fine. Tonight is the big hike on Mt. SInai. We leave hotel at 10:30 tonight.

(Another crazy keyboard!) Cairo was so busy. The traffic is really bad. Everyone told me but still it was a lot worse than I imagined. They make 3 lanes into 6 and it is rush hour all the time. The local people cross the street in the middle of traffic. Passing one car and standing in the middle of the road for the next one to pass. Just like a real life game of Frogger. The first offical morning of the trip we started right out with the Great Pyramid. We left the hotel at 7:30 AM and were there by 7:40 AM. Couldn't get our tickets until 8:00 AM but we stood in line because only the first 150 people in the morning and afternoon can actually enter. And they will only sell to the actual person because they are afraid that the tickets would be sold on the black market otherwise. To go inside the pyramid at first it is like going into a cave. But as you move further you have to go up this ramp where it is not tall enough to stand up straight so you are arched over. This ...

Arrival to Cairo 1:05AM. Exit plane to bus, which takes us to the main terminal. Immediately upon entering the building I am greeted by the first 2 (of many!) Mohammeds I will meet. They give me my visa and direct me to the customs line. As I am waiting in line, they wait for my bag… which ends up being the last one to come out of the conveyer belt (50 minutes after the plane landed). We depart the airport at 2:00 AM and head to the hotel. It is about a 45 minute drive since the traffic is “light ” (relatively speaking) . We pass a lot of buildings with the word “MISR” which I learn is the Arabic word for Egypt. Cairo is huge. It is the largest city in all of Africa and the Middle East. The population is 12 million people and there are civilizations dating back 6,000 years ago. By the time I am checked into the hotel and in my room it is after 3AM. I’m completely exhausted but sit out on the balcony for a few minutes looking at the view. You can barely make out the shadows o...

Did I really just leave yesterday? We landed in Amsterdam local time was just after 10:00 AM. I left the airport and took the train into the city. Found my way to the central area and then took the tram to the museum. Walked around that part of the city. Found a Hard Rock - used its bathroom. Bought a stupid T-shirt because it is soooooooo hot and I didn't bring one in my back pack. Took the train back to the central part of the city. I'm starting to find my way around. I've come across a lot of coffee shops. (They don't sell coffee there.) For coffee you have to go to the cafes. I haven't been able to get internet on my phone. Hope Egypt works better. The internet cafe is in the basement of a store. It's crazy. And the steps are about 8" high but only about 4" wide. I don't know how all the Europeans in their fancy shoes do it. There are so many outdoor restaurants here - and they are all packed. The weather is incredible. And there ...

Well here I am about to embark on another adventure!! Heading to Cairo but have a 10 hour layover in Amsterdam first. Stay tuned....