OK, we’re back to civilization now. After a long day traveling through the desert stopping at a few spots where the children of Israel camped and dug wells, we checked into "Morganland Village" which is at Mt. Horeb in the Sinai. It is somewhat off the beaten path to say the least - look for it on a map. We visited St. Catherine’s Monestary, the location of Jacob’s well and the burning bush. No Internet access…or phones….or TV…or A/C for some of us. We had dinner and then were invited to a Bedouin tent for tea, water pipe, dancing and of course you can buy some souveniers.

We got very little sleep, then 12 of our 17 left at 1:AM, yes - AM to begin a climb up Mt. Horeb. Whatever you imagine it to be, you are probably wrong - You’ve never seen anything as beautiful as the desert in the black of night with a full moon, no light pollution to block out the stars. You would not imagine how hard a climb it was - rocky, uneven and steep. Soon we all hired camels to ride. We all made it 5 miles. Then we had to go the rest of the way by foot.

Along the next few miles we lost a few. The last surge was VERY steep, the air was thin and sunrise was coming fast. 7 made it. Look at a few pics for just vague idea of the experience. The first thing we heard was "How Great Thou Art" being sung by a group of Korean Christians, then some Hispanics. Can’t wait to tell you about it.

Then another long travel day throught the Sinai to Jerusalem for overnight. Today we went to the Palestinian are to visit the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds Field where the angels heralded Jesus’ birth. Plenty more to tell, but we’ll get to that later.

Everyone is well, healthy, happy, touched and moved.

Sorry to be late getting started - free Internet access turned out to be $8 USD per hour and I didn’t get a card yesterday - so I’ll try to catch you up:

Long flights, we were beat, but determined to make the Light and Sound show at the Pyramids; remarkanble - a full moon in the sky, a warm breeze off the Giza Plains and the call to prayer was sounding all over the city. In addition, meals and celebrations were starting after a day of fasting for Ramadan ( no food, alcohol, smoking or sex from sunup to sundown, then, as our guide, Yassir says "we go crazy".

Today we rode camels to the Sphinx and the Pyramids on the plain. Then to the museum ( too much to tell, but there was ALL of Tutankhamans treasures in one place). We then went to a Synagogoue marked as the site of the beginning of the exodus and a church noted as the hiding place of the holy family whe they fled Herrod.

This evening we cruised the Nile and had dinner. We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore as Dorothy might say.

Lots to tell about all this. Suffice to say - it’s been a full and amazing few days and we’re just starting. Everyone is healthy , happy, safe and thankful we have you all at home to watch after tings after the storms - we owe you!

Tomorrow we leave Cairo for St. Catherine following the Exodus route through the Sinai to Mt. Horeb where Moses received the 10 comandments.

Don’t know about internet access in the desert, so I’ll post as soon as I can.

Click for larger pics.

Didn’t you love to get postcards back in the day when friends and relatives were on a trip? Sometimes they didn’t make it to you until your friend was already home, but as a kid I thought - wow - they actually wrote this from another country or the other side of the US, or even a ship at sea.

It’s easier to communicate now, but postcards are still cool. Once we leave we’ll try to keep up a log with a few pictures every day. You will get an email alert of the update and can check out our daily "postcard".

Over on the right, use your email address to subscribe.

• Days to departure:

  10!

Here’s what you should know about money - tipping, exchange rates, credit cards, etc.

Our guide will help all along the way with all these issues, but it’s good to be informed ahead of time.

Money and Currency in Israel

Money and currency in Egypt

We’ll be able to exchange currency in our hotels, so there is no need to do it before we leave the U.S.

• Days to departure:

  10!

Here’s a page of photos of some of the places we’ll visit. I’ve been looking at pictures like this since I came to know the Lord nearly 20 years ago - imagining what life was like, why it happened there and wondering if there is really something special about the place itself.

The view of Jerusalem is the history of the world; it is more, it is the history of earth and of heaven.
Benjamin Disraeli

• Days to departure:

  26!

We will arrive in Egypt at about 1:PM Monday afternoon and travel some 40 minutes to our hotel. Here’s a link to our hotel - the Pyamids Park Intercontinental resort. The rest of the day is at our leisure. Once we are settled in, we can visit some nearby shops or cafes if you wish.

I want to get an idea of how many of you want to take the dinner cruise on the Nile and see the light show at the pyramids. We’ll plan on one Monday evening and the other Tuesday evening.

These events are not included in our tour and must be purchased seperately. The cruise, which includes a buffet is about $70 to $80 depending on how many people are going and the light show appears to be about $45.

Drop me an email so I can get an idea of how many to expect. I’ll collect money at the commissioning service or at airport and make arrangements with the concierge once we check in.

• Days to departure: 33

It’s a spiritual journey we are about to embark upon, but let’s face it - you gotta buy some stuff too.

Just because you are a "rich American tourist" doesn’t mean you don’t want to find a bargain. Here are a few sites with some suggestions on finding deals. If you find others, let the rest of us know by clicking "comments" below.

Israel shopping

More Israel shopping

And more Israel Shopping

Egypt shopping

More Egypt shopping

• Days to departure: 52

(click for larger pictures)

You will need an adapter to use any of your electrical appliances, battery chargers or laptops while we are traveling.

Israel uses 220v, 50 cycle power with an "H" type socket (pictured above). The SI-32 and SI-32 "flat pin" plugs picured are incompatable with any other type of socket. However, this "C’ type "eoroplug" (pictured below) will work in the "H" type socket. The "C" plug is used in Egypt and most of the mideast. In other words a "C" adaptor will work in both Egypt and Israel, but an "H" only in Israel. (The power is the same in both countries, only the plug shape is different).

If your equipment does not have a switch to convert it for use on a 220v system, you will also need a step down transformer (below), which will convert the 220v power in the mideast to 110v which we use in the US.

If you are uncertain about your equipment, check with a travel store like Magellan’s, Taylor Trunk, The Travel Store or an electronics store like Radio Shack. You can also check with your equipment manufacturer about potential timekeeping problems when using power at a different cycle rate.

Just do a google search for step down transformers or travel adaptors for good deals.

The last thing we need traveling together are agitated women who cannot blow dry or curl their hair and grumpy men who are unable to charge their gadgetry.

This is one of the things I can’t wait to do and I’m trying to get in better physical shape so it doesn’t wipe me out to do it.

At Mt. Mt. Sinai (Horeb) there is a monastery named St. Catherine. We stay overnight there and have the opportunity to climb the mountain and have a sunrise picnic breakfast at the peak, then descend by donkey. It must be somewhat long because we are scheduled to leave on the climb at 2:00 AM for a breakfast at 8:00 AM. Could it really take that long?? Guess we’ll find out. I’m down for it in any case. Who else is going?

Read more here: The Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai.