March 22, 2007/Thursday
6:34am EET (On the road from Cairo to the Red Sea)
Well, we woke up God this morning. We got up at 5:00am. We are headed to the Red Sea via the Sinai Desert. Basically, we are tracing the footsteps of the children of Israel as they made their Exodus. We have about a five hour drive across the desert. Then we take a hydrofoil boat ride across the Red Sea into Aqaba, Jordan.
I would like to attempt to describe the traffic and atmosphere in Cairo. To help with this I will use the words of our guide, Hany. He said, “There are no traffic laws in Egypt.” He didn’t have to tell me that. I got that one on my own. The general rule in traffic is that there isn’t a rule. They have lines on the road. I am not sure why. Maybe they are there to prove that they have a traffic department in this country. I can think of no other reason. All vehicles are welcome on the road, even wheel chairs. You can actually make better time in a wheel chair. You can move in and out of traffic this way. While driving, you simply run the others off the road or out of the way. Maybe this is the only traffic law in Egypt. It has to be a law; everyone does it so well. Have you ever seen a bunch of cattle trying to squeeze through a small gate? There is a beautiful word-picture of this traffic. I have to mention that I saw a full-sized dead horse lying by the canal that runs though downtown Cairo. Just wanted to throw that out there for you. There is no charge for that.
This is a poor city. There is a great disparity between the rich and the poor. There isn’t really a middle class. You have or you don’t. This is also true of most of the Middle East. Jordan, where we are headed is the same. Cairo is a giant city in the middle of desert. It is the second largest capital city in the world.
This morning, we are traveling with a new escort and a policeman or security. It is kind of cool to have armed escorts. For those of you who worry a lot, you can relax. This is normal in this area. Americans are highly protected in these parts. People may not agree with our political positions. However, they love us. We give billions of dollars to these deprived places. Back in 2000, I believe, we gave billions to Egypt to repair a massive flood in the Nile region. We give billions to Palestine. We give the most to Israel. They want us to be safe. If we live, they live from that which we give and spend here. Plus, I think it is cool to have armed escorts. It makes me feel important. I wouldn’t mind a little gunnage action myself. But, I also jump out of planes and stuff.
9:41am
(Somewhere in the Sinai Desert)
We crossed through the Suez Canal just minutes ago. There were huge cargo ships passing through it. We actually went under the canal via a tunnel. We are now heading south down to the Red Sea. We are tracing the steps of the children of Israel. I believe we will see Mt. Sinai. This is where Moses saw the burning bush. I am pretty sure it isn’t burning anymore. My first trip to Israel a lady asked our guide if we were going to see the burning bush. I guess she thought it was a perpetual flame like the monument to JFK.
As we entered into the tunnel of the Suez Canal, there were soldiers mounted up above us. They had their guns aimed down. But, they were waving at us. It is very common to see guns around here.
Very Important: As we were traveling cross the desert we stopped at a small rest area. You have to understand that rest areas here are not like the ones in the US. These are basically buildings. They did have restrooms. You had to pay to use them. Here is the important miracle that took place.
I have been to four continents and many countries. I never recall seeing Mountain Dew anywhere. As a matter of fact, I usually line my suitcase with them. I didn’t this time because of the weight limits. I walked into this rest area and like a beacon in the night I saw green cans in a cooler. Someone said, “They have Mountain Dew.” I thought this was just a bad joke. As I approached the cooler, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I opened the door. Sitting in the cooler were many cans of the nectar of the gods. I grabbed nine of them, slammed them on the counter, then walked out proudly with my miracle in hand.
All of a sudden I realized how the Children of Israel felt. Also, I was now made aware of what took place when Moses took the tree at Marah and made the water sweet. Mountain Dew was actually first drunk by the Children of Israel. It makes sense now. He put the tree in the bitter water and it became sweet. The sweet water was Mountain Dew. Mountain, because of the desert terrain, Dew because it was light and refreshing. This is yet another miracle that was not recorded in Scripture. Personally, I like to think of it as one of the greatest.
4:55pm EET
(Somewhere on the Red Sea)
This has been a very long day. We woke up at 5:00am. We left Cairo at 6:15am. We drove seven hours through the Sinai Peninsula. We then boarded a ship. We are still cruising toward Aqaba. I hope that we get there soon. I have asked about three Jordanians on the ship, “How long is the cruise?” I have gotten three different answers. None of them have been correct so far. I guess I am not going to find out until we get there.
Dave successfully took a picture of every rock in the Sinai. I think he has surpassed Jason Espey in his picture taking skills. I look forward to sorting through all 1,100 of them. I am sure you guys can’t wait to sit through the slide show.
10:07pm EET
(Petra, Jordan)
We are staying in a great place. It is a remodeled Ottoman Village. It kind of looks like an adobe type dwelling. It is awesome.
We have been on the road and on the Red Sea since 6:30am. We got here about 8:00pm. It was a very long day. I’ll have much more to say later.
6:34am EET (On the road from Cairo to the Red Sea)
Well, we woke up God this morning. We got up at 5:00am. We are headed to the Red Sea via the Sinai Desert. Basically, we are tracing the footsteps of the children of Israel as they made their Exodus. We have about a five hour drive across the desert. Then we take a hydrofoil boat ride across the Red Sea into Aqaba, Jordan.
I would like to attempt to describe the traffic and atmosphere in Cairo. To help with this I will use the words of our guide, Hany. He said, “There are no traffic laws in Egypt.” He didn’t have to tell me that. I got that one on my own. The general rule in traffic is that there isn’t a rule. They have lines on the road. I am not sure why. Maybe they are there to prove that they have a traffic department in this country. I can think of no other reason. All vehicles are welcome on the road, even wheel chairs. You can actually make better time in a wheel chair. You can move in and out of traffic this way. While driving, you simply run the others off the road or out of the way. Maybe this is the only traffic law in Egypt. It has to be a law; everyone does it so well. Have you ever seen a bunch of cattle trying to squeeze through a small gate? There is a beautiful word-picture of this traffic. I have to mention that I saw a full-sized dead horse lying by the canal that runs though downtown Cairo. Just wanted to throw that out there for you. There is no charge for that.
This is a poor city. There is a great disparity between the rich and the poor. There isn’t really a middle class. You have or you don’t. This is also true of most of the Middle East. Jordan, where we are headed is the same. Cairo is a giant city in the middle of desert. It is the second largest capital city in the world.
This morning, we are traveling with a new escort and a policeman or security. It is kind of cool to have armed escorts. For those of you who worry a lot, you can relax. This is normal in this area. Americans are highly protected in these parts. People may not agree with our political positions. However, they love us. We give billions of dollars to these deprived places. Back in 2000, I believe, we gave billions to Egypt to repair a massive flood in the Nile region. We give billions to Palestine. We give the most to Israel. They want us to be safe. If we live, they live from that which we give and spend here. Plus, I think it is cool to have armed escorts. It makes me feel important. I wouldn’t mind a little gunnage action myself. But, I also jump out of planes and stuff.
9:41am
(Somewhere in the Sinai Desert)
We crossed through the Suez Canal just minutes ago. There were huge cargo ships passing through it. We actually went under the canal via a tunnel. We are now heading south down to the Red Sea. We are tracing the steps of the children of Israel. I believe we will see Mt. Sinai. This is where Moses saw the burning bush. I am pretty sure it isn’t burning anymore. My first trip to Israel a lady asked our guide if we were going to see the burning bush. I guess she thought it was a perpetual flame like the monument to JFK.
As we entered into the tunnel of the Suez Canal, there were soldiers mounted up above us. They had their guns aimed down. But, they were waving at us. It is very common to see guns around here.
Very Important: As we were traveling cross the desert we stopped at a small rest area. You have to understand that rest areas here are not like the ones in the US. These are basically buildings. They did have restrooms. You had to pay to use them. Here is the important miracle that took place.
I have been to four continents and many countries. I never recall seeing Mountain Dew anywhere. As a matter of fact, I usually line my suitcase with them. I didn’t this time because of the weight limits. I walked into this rest area and like a beacon in the night I saw green cans in a cooler. Someone said, “They have Mountain Dew.” I thought this was just a bad joke. As I approached the cooler, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I opened the door. Sitting in the cooler were many cans of the nectar of the gods. I grabbed nine of them, slammed them on the counter, then walked out proudly with my miracle in hand.
All of a sudden I realized how the Children of Israel felt. Also, I was now made aware of what took place when Moses took the tree at Marah and made the water sweet. Mountain Dew was actually first drunk by the Children of Israel. It makes sense now. He put the tree in the bitter water and it became sweet. The sweet water was Mountain Dew. Mountain, because of the desert terrain, Dew because it was light and refreshing. This is yet another miracle that was not recorded in Scripture. Personally, I like to think of it as one of the greatest.
4:55pm EET
(Somewhere on the Red Sea)
This has been a very long day. We woke up at 5:00am. We left Cairo at 6:15am. We drove seven hours through the Sinai Peninsula. We then boarded a ship. We are still cruising toward Aqaba. I hope that we get there soon. I have asked about three Jordanians on the ship, “How long is the cruise?” I have gotten three different answers. None of them have been correct so far. I guess I am not going to find out until we get there.
Dave successfully took a picture of every rock in the Sinai. I think he has surpassed Jason Espey in his picture taking skills. I look forward to sorting through all 1,100 of them. I am sure you guys can’t wait to sit through the slide show.
10:07pm EET
(Petra, Jordan)
We are staying in a great place. It is a remodeled Ottoman Village. It kind of looks like an adobe type dwelling. It is awesome.
We have been on the road and on the Red Sea since 6:30am. We got here about 8:00pm. It was a very long day. I’ll have much more to say later.
Comments
I know many people in Israel who travel to the Sinai for diving, and would love to wash the saltwater out with a Mountain Dew. Do you remember the place where it is sold in Sinai?
Thanks!
Paul Thomas
Boise, Idaho