OBAMA!!!!!!! We are so excited! Woke up in Aqaba, Jordan, our first stop here in jordan, turned on the tv and me and megan freaked out. Just in time to watch his speech live. It was werid to be watching him from a country that boarders Iraq just as you all were watching the same thing at the same time back at home. looks like people are celabrating like mad, i wish i could be there to feel the excitement, but we will have to celebrate here on our own, though the world as a whole i think is excited.
As far as the trip goes, we have done so much it is hard to recount. Went to Luxor (Thebes in the past) and went to the Karnak temple and Valley of the Kings. Took a Donkey ride into the Valley of the Kings and had a great view looking down on the temples and rocky cliffs. The painting in the tombs were incredable, so detailed the color looked like they were painted yesterday.
Back in Cairo for one more day and then headed to the Sinai Pennisula. Beautiful area! It is very mountainous, rugged red rocks. Went to St. Catherine's monestary were the burning bush is; not at all what i expected, it was a vine, like a blackberry bush, and it was huge and not even charred. funny the way our mind creates images. Also climbed the near by Mt Sinai. Amazign view from the top, looked like the north cascades in that all that streches all around you is mountain tops. Only climbed 750 out of the 3000+ stairs of repentance but that really was enough. Watch sunset and hiked down with our headlights. Only had one night in this area and really could have done with another, so peaceful after the hustle and bustle of Cairo.
Drove one a short way from St. Catherine's to the Red Sea on the far east side of the Sinai. The mountains go right to the waters edge and across the 13km guld of Aqaba we could see the lights of towns and mountains of Saudi Arabia. Stayed at a great spot right on the beach in little huts. Snorkeled right off our soft, sandy beach. It was beautiful! Saw my first sea turtle, huge black urchines, loads of brillantly colored fish, amazing coral, and huge blue scallops. it was so fun, mum, dad, and dave i thought of you a lot. Relax on the beach for the evening and morning before a long day of waiting to ferry across to Jordan. Got in late last night just in time to start see info on the election.
It is amazing to think that americans may be able to hold our heads high when traveling abroad. Recently when our government went into Syria we all hung our heads in shame, but now we have something to be hopeful for. Thanks for voting everyone. Here to hoping that Obama will do us proud and that we are on the right track for the first time in a long time. Love you all, will up date soon with adventures from Wadi Rum (Lawerance of Arabia terrritory) and Petra!!!!! Enjoy the cold weather, changing leaves, and rain for me!
