Sinai, Egypt

Hi again!

More chronicles of holiday travel...Dec. 27 Mary and I took the bus from Jerusalem to the Israel/Egypt border, and then a taxi into Sinai. It is a great trip--amazing scenery past the Dead Sea, and incredible rock formations. Crossing the border required the most production of my passport that I think I have ever experienced. then we had to wait for a final stamp because the one guy who could do it was at prayers. Now THAT is something I haven't experienced in North America!

We stayed at a place called Sultana Village--separate stone cabins, on the beach--a really fun and funky place. It was sunny mostly but windy--I gave up trying to sit out in my bathing suit, but Mary is a tanning trouper so she was out there, despite the wind. I took a clue from the Bedouin women and wrapped a scarf around my head--really was much warmer!

One of the fascinating experiences for me was seeing Bedouins riding by on the beach, wearing robes and headresses, galloping along on their camels.

The area was really popular with Israeli tourist until several bomb attacks a few years back. Now they have done so much building of hotels and resorts, but some of them are half-finished, and some of them finished by abandoned because there are just not enough people. We were told though that later in the season, it is pretty busy there. Given the water shortage (it IS the desert) I can't imagine the ecological ruin of the area if all of the available accommodation was ever filled.

OK, I am going to do several posts so I can comment on the pictures--can't figure out how to intersperse them throughout the text.

K