Hoefling Exodus Tour 11/6/07
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Tuesday, November 6
Depart Cairo and travel to St. Catherine at the base of Mt. Sinai
Wadi El Raha, St. Catherine, Egypt
5:30 wakeup call; 6:00 breakfast, 7:00 start
Leaving Cairo today for Mount Sinai region – all day drive. Today’s trip gave a great view of the variety of apartments in the city. Most buildings appear to be bombed out or falling down, and have many families living inside. Others are new, but only have a few floors built and an unfinished roof waiting for enough funds for the next floor. You can also see that many units are occupied before the building is complete – including outer walls. Windows appear to be completely optional, and no though is given to making the outside look finished, even if the apartments inside are very nice. Clotheslines seem to be the required hardware to make a house a home. Apartments are generally $100,000 for 2-3 bedrooms. All must be paid in cash or other collateral provided. Payment must be fully made in 12 years.
I was not feeling well today, so I didn’t leave the bus until we stopped for lunch. We did stop at the wells representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Only three have been uncovered. From here, you could also see the Red Sea. Also learned that we were not to give money to any of the children along our route. They would only ask for candy, but could easily make more money in a day than their parents did in a week if we gave them our spare change. A big push is made not to give money, so that the kids will go to school rather than staying home waiting for the tour buses.
An interesting part of our trip today included the number of military checkpoints along the way. I would guess we stopped at least 10 times
Arrived at St. Catherine’s late in the afternoon, after traveling through a tunnel under the Suez Canal. This will likely be they most interesting hotel location. We are in the Sinai Mountains, at the base of St. Catherine’s monastery. The rooms are bungalows – three to four per unit, and about 40 units altogether. All are built in stone, and include a refrigerator that is not plugged in, the promise of someone available to fix a TV that does not exist, and twin beds. Outside is the real eye catcher – we are in a desert valley between two mountain ranges. There is another set of hotels about one mile away, and the monastery is the only other building we see. This is really off the beaten path.
Brent is in heaven – baklava at every meal so far.
My notes:
a day of driving.
We did stop at a location of some ancient wells that are said to be from the 12 tribes. there were three there. they say the others weren't discovered yet. it brought to my mind how that there is not much care for things that are Jewish or Christian. Even though we are tourists and bringing in a lot of their economy, it didn't seem that it mattered.
I am glad that we decided to make this trip. I really enjoyed the fact that Mary was with me. this is something we will remember for ever. even if we ever go back, it will always be the trip of a lifetime. For various reasons it is difficult to stay in a very "sacred" attitude, but it is easier when we are on the buss and there are no pushy souvenir sales and I can enjoy the scenery and imagine Israel traveling through this area led by Moses.
Tuesday, November 6
Depart Cairo and travel to St. Catherine at the base of Mt. Sinai
Wadi El Raha, St. Catherine, Egypt
5:30 wakeup call; 6:00 breakfast, 7:00 start
Leaving Cairo today for Mount Sinai region – all day drive. Today’s trip gave a great view of the variety of apartments in the city. Most buildings appear to be bombed out or falling down, and have many families living inside. Others are new, but only have a few floors built and an unfinished roof waiting for enough funds for the next floor. You can also see that many units are occupied before the building is complete – including outer walls. Windows appear to be completely optional, and no though is given to making the outside look finished, even if the apartments inside are very nice. Clotheslines seem to be the required hardware to make a house a home. Apartments are generally $100,000 for 2-3 bedrooms. All must be paid in cash or other collateral provided. Payment must be fully made in 12 years.
I was not feeling well today, so I didn’t leave the bus until we stopped for lunch. We did stop at the wells representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Only three have been uncovered. From here, you could also see the Red Sea. Also learned that we were not to give money to any of the children along our route. They would only ask for candy, but could easily make more money in a day than their parents did in a week if we gave them our spare change. A big push is made not to give money, so that the kids will go to school rather than staying home waiting for the tour buses.
An interesting part of our trip today included the number of military checkpoints along the way. I would guess we stopped at least 10 times
Arrived at St. Catherine’s late in the afternoon, after traveling through a tunnel under the Suez Canal. This will likely be they most interesting hotel location. We are in the Sinai Mountains, at the base of St. Catherine’s monastery. The rooms are bungalows – three to four per unit, and about 40 units altogether. All are built in stone, and include a refrigerator that is not plugged in, the promise of someone available to fix a TV that does not exist, and twin beds. Outside is the real eye catcher – we are in a desert valley between two mountain ranges. There is another set of hotels about one mile away, and the monastery is the only other building we see. This is really off the beaten path.
Brent is in heaven – baklava at every meal so far.
My notes:
a day of driving.
We did stop at a location of some ancient wells that are said to be from the 12 tribes. there were three there. they say the others weren't discovered yet. it brought to my mind how that there is not much care for things that are Jewish or Christian. Even though we are tourists and bringing in a lot of their economy, it didn't seem that it mattered.
I am glad that we decided to make this trip. I really enjoyed the fact that Mary was with me. this is something we will remember for ever. even if we ever go back, it will always be the trip of a lifetime. For various reasons it is difficult to stay in a very "sacred" attitude, but it is easier when we are on the buss and there are no pushy souvenir sales and I can enjoy the scenery and imagine Israel traveling through this area led by Moses.
posted by RamboPreacher | 7:30 AM
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