May 31,2009 – Day 157 – Nuweiba, Egypt

From 9AM until 5PM, we did nothing. We read, drank tea, played cards, and walked and sat and sighed and grumbled and waited some more. When we played cards in a little cafe-restaurant across from the terminal we amassed a highly curious and involved audience who offered (Arabic) advice on how we should play our cards and intently watchful eyes of all ages, from the 5 year old son of the cafe owner to a scraggly old man of about 60.

Street Goat

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Egypt… I have no idea what to say. We loved it, we hated it, we can’t wait to come back, and couldn’t be happier to leave. We had some awesome times in Egypt. We stood in awe of the great Pyramids, enjoyed the laid back feel of Dahab, got lost in Cairo’s markets and became thoroughly addicted to shisha. Read the rest of this entry »

May 30, 2009 – Day 156 – Nuweiba, Egypt

After hiking for nearly 3 hours, we summited Mt Sinai and found a hidden cubby to shield ourselves from the chilling wind until the light of dawn began to peak. And when it did, it was really splendid.

Dawn

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May 29, 2009 – Day 155 – Dahab, Egypt

This place just gets better and better with each day we are here! It`s beautiful, warm and sunny, has great food, and an island pace. More snorkeling today and laying in the sun to tan. Tonight we hike Mount Sinai to see the sun rise tomorrow morning. No sleep tonight but it should be worth it. We shall see…

Camel enjoying the empty northern beach

May 28, 2009 – Day 154 – Dahab, Egypt

Saben started the day with a morning dive (Penguin Divers, 18 euros includes all equipment). But to be honest, Saben`s dive wasn`t very exciting. They went to “The Islands”, where we had been snorkeling yesterday, and he didn`t see anymore diving than he did snorkeling! Still it was a great way to brush up on his mad diving skills.

Boat on the water

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May 27, 2009 – Day 153 – Dahab, Egypt

Few things better than snorkeling in the Red Sea. Parrot fish, clownfish, lion fish, flute fish, barracuda, and a mass of other fish too plentiful to name were waiting just below the surface as we trucked off to “The Islands” dive site.

Rusted by the sea air

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May 26, 2009 – Day 152 -  Dahab, Egypt

Despite the firm declarations of the bus attendant, driver, and ticket guy the bus to Dahab was NOT 12 hours but turned out to be 17! On top of that, it was the most uncomfortable 17 hours of our lives and we now have multiple bruises and perhaps even some permanent bone-reshaping from the unusually tiny dimensions of the bus interior.

Donkeys seem to be OK though

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May 25, 2009 – Day 151 – Luxor, Egypt

Super slow day for posting. We did nothing today but try and hide from the heat in the best air-conditioned place in town: the internet cafe…Night bus to Dahab this afternoon. Better luck for posts tomorrow…

Shot down our street

May 24, 2009 – Day 150 – Luxor, Egypt

Egypt is all about tours. Everyone seems to have a hand in at least five or six enterpirses aimed at the tourism industry. For those who prefer sightseeing alone find it twenty times more difficult than it should be. So as it turned out, it was more economical to take a tour to the Valley of the Kings and surrounding area (a whopping $25 for guide, transport, and all tickets; each sight has its own entrance fee and taxis charge astronomical fees to take you to the area and then wait for you).

Columns amoung the ruins

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May 23, 2009 – Day 149 – Luxor, Egypt

The air was stale, hot, unmoving and the sun’s heat was beating down upon the city of Luxor in a most unforgiving manner. But as soon as my foot touched the rocking felucca tied up to a seemingly ancient dock, the air turned sweet and pleasant as if indicating what was to come. Our captain welcomed us above the Isis and introduced his first mate and youngest son, Ali Baba.

Ali Baba on the Isis

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