I’ve been looking forward to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week because the theme is Black and White! I’ve been having lots of fun switching my photographs from color to black and white! I’m getting a better feel for which ones will look better or at least just as good black and white.
Mediterranean cruise – 2010
“Me, Myself and I”
Another series in my People from around the world…Exotic People from Egypt! Why is that some men from Egypt have this mysterious and perhaps a bit of danger look in their eyes? I find it quite fascinating!
The 18 days I traveled through Egypt and Jordan with GAP Adventures in 2009, were filled with adventure, excitement and wonder.
Our group of 14 people from across the globe, typically traveled by private van, but we did take a night train from Cairo to Aswan. Here is a map of our route…
This photo is of the back of the Citadel, which was originally built during the 12th Century to be a fortification…a wall surrounding Cairo, but was never completed. It is now a preserved historic site, with mosques and museums.
We wandered through the Khan Al Khalili bazaar. It was an endless maze of sidewalks filled with little shops, selling clothing, jewelry, anything you could think of. It was so colorful and intriguing!
There had been a bombing one month prior to my arrival…a French girl died and others were wounded. Of course my family thought it would be too dangerous to visit…
Our hotel at Mt. Sinai was very nice and the pool looked inviting…but it was too cold to swim. I think the scenery was so simply stark and beautiful!
I was so happy to be able to climb to the top of Mt. Sinai. For those of you who don’t remember the significance of this area. According to the Bible, it is where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.
It took about 3 hours to reach the top and it was timed so that we could see the sunset. The temperature change was amazing. By the time we reached the summit, it was freezing. We waited about 15-20 minutes to witness the sunset…with my teeth chattering uncontrollably…I’m asking…do we really want to see the sunset?? It was pretty…but we then ran down the mountain, partially in the dark, in about 30 minutes.
I loved this Greek Orthodox Chapel at the top.
The following photo is St. Catherine’s Monastery, which was built in the 6th century and is the oldest continuously functioning Christian monastery in existence. It is built on the site of the original burning bush.
Cats were everywhere!
Our last stop was Nuweiba, Egypt before boarding the ferry to cross the Gulf of Aquaba to Jordan…this was the beach area where our hotel was located…it was eerily deserted!
This little girl was selling jewelry on the beach…but only five people were on the entire beach! We couldn’t speak to each other, but you don’t always need words to communicate. I took her hands and swung her around and around…and we laughed!
Next we’ll explore Indiana Jones’ territory…
My first impression of Cairo was of a dirty, polluted, congested city with very aggressive drivers. Most of the buildings had re bar sticking up, so they could continue building as they saved enough money. The “Travel Channel” doesn’t prepare you for the reality of experiencing a culture so very different than your own!
It was a country of contrasts…the call to prayer echoing through the streets…five times daily…sexually suggestive noises and gestures…the desert…the lush tropical Nile valley…ugly buildings…beautiful colors of the spices & fabrics. It was an amazing trip!
I booked the trip through a company called GAP Adventures, based out of Canada and met my fellow travelers the evening I arrived in Cairo, in March, 2009′. There were 4 Australians, 4 Americans, 3 Irish and 3 Canadians. Learning about their lives and countries over the next couple of weeks was an added bonus!
The weather varied from the 40’s in Mt. Sinai to the 90’s in the Wadi Rum desert of Jordan.
We spent the first day in Cairo and then took the 12 hour night train from Cairo to Aswan, stayed for three days and then traveled for 2 hours by private van to Luxor. After two days there we took the night train back to Cairo.
To avoid paying a single supplement GAP will pair you up with a roommate, but on this trip there were no other solo females, so I had my own room in the hotels which was nice because they were usually quite small.
I’m not much of a museum person. When I travel I’m most interested in the people, the landscapes, the culture and the activities.
On the train ride back to Cairo, I went to the club car where you could purchase snacks/drinks and encountered an eclectic group of travelers. While attempting to make conversation with a man from Japan, one of the waiters tied a towel around his hips…jumped up on a table…and started gyrating to the music…picture an Arab Elvis!
If you’ve ever been shopping in Mexico…the salesmen hawking their goods in Egypt are far more aggressive! Being the fearless female that I am, one morning in Aswan, I set out on my own to shop. Some of the men would make odd noises as I walked by…sort of a clucking noise with their tongues. I dressed conservatively…but I think they have a distorted opinion of western women…probably from T.V.
One of the issues we encountered were the private shopping stops and pre-arranged restaurants. We decided after eating quite a few “not so good” meals to venture out on our own and the few times that we were able to do that – the food was much better. We assumed that there are kickbacks to the tour guide for bringing people to their shops and restaurants.
We risked our lives walking two miles…crossing five lanes of speeding… horn honking…Egyptian drivers…who must have inhaled too many Turkish coffees…to reach a French Restaurant called “Le Bodega”. It was worth it…the food was excellent!
I didn’t get sick with intestinal problems …very vigilant with my disinfectant wipes…and I didn’t eat any vegetables that weren’t cooked.
The Kissing Camel
More later…
Sherry Lachelle Travels 