White desert (Amy)

I have no idea why I got the idea of desert camping in my mind, but I heard about it somewhere and it was the one thing I wanted to do in Egypt.  We just spent three days in the White desert - it is an 80 million year old desert and actually considered part of the Libyan desert of the Sahara- details, details.  I had never seen anything like it and yet it reminded me of Lake Michigan in many ways.  The wind makes patterns on the sand which are the same as the water does on the bottom of the Lake.   I saw my very first moonset -   I have oodles of memories of the sun setting into Lake Michigan,but I had never seen the moon set.  Once the moon set we saw more stars than any of us had ever seen in our lives.   

There were six families on our trip.   Each family had their own Toyota 4 x 4 thing and a Bedouin driver who also set up camp and cooked delicious meals.    The white rocks looked like snow drifts and many of the formations looked like meringue.     To make another connection to the Lake,  the cocktail hours were incredibly impressive considering our location.

The ripples on the sand.

Meringue

Cocktail hour

Lunch at magic spring

White caps

Family photo

Desert Camping (David)

A fantastic desert camping experience. Four hour drive into the desert to am Oasis.   Them out into the Black and White Deserts in 4x4s.  We were 21 people and 6 cars.  Two nights of camping. Then a final night at the Oasis hotel.    Great sights like we have never seen.

Natural

Family

Pre Eid (David)

The cows have arrived at our house.  The people below will likely sacrifice tomorrow morning after first prayer.

A couple other Eid sightings, yes blowup items, canes, and look closely at the other two.  The guys in the middle with a bicycle rim looking thing, that's a knife sharpener (maybe even butcher

Saqqara (Elliot - from several weeks ago)

 I did the family blog post. We went to Saqqara today with a driver and a tour guide. We also went to many other places and those blog posts will come out soon. Saqqara is the first pyramid ever built, and is a step pyramid.  The cobras mean protection. More Saqqara pictures will come when they finish downloading

Elliot

Some PicCollage of Luxor (David)

A week ago we were in Luxor.   A great trip!   This is the valley of the Kings and so much more.   For those of you who like photos, here are a bunch!  I'll try to post some more, we took over 250!

Recent Sights (David)

A Major holiday is coming next week, Eid holiday.   Seems there are some feasts that will take place.  Indeed, the local markets are getting ready.

We found a great bakery recently.  Lots of great cookies, morning dunkers and chocolate eclairs.

A couple of weeks ago Elliot befriended a local carpet weaver.  He kind of negotiated with the man for the fish rug, not a full order, but close.  What Elliot did order was a rug with the various pyramids and his name.  Success!

When people get married they decorate the car with flowers.  I've seen this several times, finally got a snapshot.  Another great use for ducttape.

Luxor (David)

Life must be settling into a routine.  Two weeks have passed without a post.  We are well, working and studying, involved in activities.  All is well.

But, with a three day weekend, we jumped on a plane and headed to Luxor.   Home of the Valey of the Kings.   And so much more.   The hotel is on its own island in the Nile.   We went to Karnak Temple and Luxor temple.  Both were stunning.  Some quick shots to start ...