We have arrived in Amman after leaving Petra and an exciting time there. Take a lot to top that day! On our way we went to a Crusader castle Shoback (http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/shobak.html) which they are restoring but a lot is still very original including the catapault stones which they used to fight the enemy. Sitting on top of a hill they had 360deg all round. From there we headed to Madaba and visited St George Church which has the mosaic map of the Holy land which dates back to 6th century ; http://198.62.75.1/www1/ofm/mad/index.html The mosaic in this town is beautiful. Would have bought a table but the pricing was too much. & Free shipping!! We went to a disability factory where they explained the mosaic process. Very patient people that just sit there and work in this ... read more

Left Aqaba today after a good nights sleep in a nice Hotel for a change. Clean , clean, clean!! Driving along Jordan is so huge adn the statistics are amazing. Apparently 50% of the population is under 18.. Very Modern and from Aqaba, you can see Israel. Amazing how close. Aqaba is a very nice place. http://www.aqaba.jo/english/index.php Went to Wadi Rum which is in the outskirts and occupied by the bedouins. Amazing rock formations and sand colours! http://www.pbase.com/mansour_mouasher/rum&page=all check out this site to see what I mean. Not my pictures but I have similar. Had tea in a bedouin tent and it was so cool from the sun, and so relaxing. Would loved to have stayed out in the night there.. Then had a feast for lunch. Food is so fabulous.. and healthy! Headed off to ... read more

Arrived back by train and by comparison to the first trip down to Aswan it was a bit better.... not much but a bit.. we found a toilet that was a little cleaner.. not much but a bit!!!! A few of us headed to the Khan El Khallily bazaar to look around. We witnessed two actaul fist and head fights between two different groups of men in the Bazaar. All suffering from the effects of Ramadaan. The bus arrived to take us to the hostel in Morganland at St Catherines for our next challenge - Mt Sinai. Well the accommodation was not fantastic. Shared a room with Shane and Kasey. Three to a room... it was to be 7 to a room but our leader Shady arranged a bit of a better deal!! Into bed at ... read more

After the greatest train ride of all time - 12 hrs overnight half sitting - half laying, and no air conditioning for the first couple of hours, we arrived in Aswan. Where to begin!!!We checked into our hotel overlooking the Nile River. Went for a walk and had some lunch and checked out the town. Have done so much my mind is a blank!!! at present!! We had an early morning to go out to Abu Simbel.. up at 3 or 4 for a 3 hr bus convoy to arrive by 8.00 am. This magnificent temple was moved up the bank about 100mtrs after they built the great dam and Lake Nasser. Block by block it was dismantled and put back together and you cannot tell that it has been moved!! The amazing heiroglyphics and drawings ... read more

After a beautiful sojourn in France have arrived into Cairo early Monday morning - like 1.30am and to Hotel by 2.30am - then up to go to Alexandria at 7.30 am!! This place never sleeps!! Amazing flying over Cairo - an enormous amount of lights and traffic. Alexandria ( 3 hrs drive through desert all of which I slept) - is extremely populated - 3 million in Alexandria alone. Huge high rise, and no road rules!! Went to Pompeys Pillar and the site of the lighthouse whic is no longer but a huge sea wall. Drove along that stretch for 40 kms to the Palace of King Farouk who was exiled in 1952. Now home to the President. Today a catch up day. Will walk to the Egyptian Museum and meet with the tour leader tonight. ... read more