I'm pretty sure the spines are God's way of saying "Do not dive" - 18 April 2009

It's our last day in Egypt, and we're spending it at a resort in Nuweiba. Before we get to the resort we're given an option: Pay some additional money to make it all-inclusive, or go a la carte for the meals and drinks. We elect to go the all-inclusive route, and at lunch it looks like a bad call. Think very average cafeteria food.

We also have the option to go diving, and decide to do so along with two of the other folks from the group. What we didn't know was that we'd have to walk about 50 feet in shallow water out to the boat. Or more specifically that we'd have to walk 50 feet where there are lion fish and snakes:I'm certainly feeling cowardly
The fauna are just too much for one of our colleagues - she basically runs out of the water and refuses to go. The other three of us, though, continue on. It's not one of my best or favorite dives - the water is freezing and there's no ladder to get back in the boat.



Laurier, shown below, was a real trooper. It was his first time diving and I think he swallowed most of the ocean, but he's just smiling the whole time.

We were supposed to hit two dive sites, but after the first one the boat started to sink. Instead we just got our one dive in and called it good.

I actually enjoyed dinner this evening - it's amazing how much that can improve your mood.

Seriously dude, if you offer her a camel one more time I will not be responsible for the consequences - 17 April 2009

We've been on the road so long at this point that's it's almost refreshing to wake up in a known place - even if it's the Santana Motel in Cairo. Since we're already acquainted with the breakfast offerings we know that skipping it is no great loss.

While Jen finishes packing I go in search of the almighty ATM. We've become seriously cash focused during the trip, a combination of places that just won't take credit cards, places that won't take American Express, and CitiBank's decision to cancel our card due to a security breach at one of their retailers. Just for the record - those commercials where the credit card company manages to get the world-traveling couple a new card the next day in some out of the way place, not so much. After they failed to get them to us in Bangkok, Phuket, Iguazu Falls, and San Francisco (so that Jeremy could bring them to Peru) we gave up on them.

We're taking a bus to Mt. Sinai today so that we can climb the mountain for the sunset. We get caught in traffic, though, and end up getting to the resort later than expected. Instead of a nice leisurely opportunity to change and clean up, we're scurrying to get ready. Jen is extremely irritated by this, and I'm irritated by her irritation. Alternate blog title: Like the Robert Frost poem, only if you skipped to the part about the ice...

We get to the Mt. Sinai parking area and start up the trail to the summit. Almost immediately we're set upon by camel jockeys, offering us a ride to the top on their camel for a modest sum. Kylie (whose birthday is today) is the first to take advantage:

We're not making good time, and I'm worried that we won't make it for sunset, but Jennifer IS NOT going to get on a camel. The dudes are insistent, though, and I'm seriously concerned about their safety for awhile. They finally take the hint, though, and leave us alone. Thankfully, my fears turn out to be unfounded:

The excitement's not over, though. On the way down there are these French children who insist on running down the mountain in front of us, then turning around and shining their flashlights in our eyes. Then, Jen falls down and tweaks her knee, meaning that it takes a long time to get down.

But hey, at least there was a crappy buffet dinner waiting for us at the hotel.

Can you tell we're getting homesick?

A wretched hive of scum and villainy - 16 April 2009

No, not Mos Eisley. Instead that's how another American in Luxor described Cairo while I was enjoying my McArabia as described in the last post.

I'm not going that far (yet) but we returned to the Santana Hotel this morning and dropped off our laundry.

During the day we visited the mosque of Saladin:

And a market. Since we're not really shoppers Jen and I sat at a sidewalk cafe enjoying falafel and tahine (and strawberry juice) while watching stray cats (not the band):

Remember, as the holiday season approaches, that plastic bags are not toys!

Afterwards we returned to the hotel while the rest of the group visited Coptic Cairo. You'll recall that we visited this on our own while staying with the Deutsches, and were able to spend a lot more time there than the official visit offered. They didn't eve go to the Coptic Museum, which was my favorite part.

For the evening we went on a dinner cruise, complete with a belly dancer and whirling dervish. There are pictures (and video), but I'm not going to post them here.