At the biblical landscape reserve

This sheep didn't want to be held. It kicked me in the arm and someone yesterday asked me if it was a birth mark. It kept kicking to get out. ha but none the less it was fun!

I was in the first group that tried to herd sheep. The guide didn't tell us anything to do. This is me trying to pick up the sheep. The way to lead them, as we found out later, is you lead from the behind and point with your stick the way you want them to go. You need the leader of the sheep to follow you and all others will follow.

Pulling up water from a cistern. It got pretty heavy toward the end.

We made our own pita bread. I got my hands dirty to mix the ingredients together. I made my pita too fat but it was good once i dipped it into date honey and the oregano that we picked earlier.

Getting on the shuttle that takes you around the reserve with Daniel and Kendel.

Good to know that they do weddings here! ha

Mt Sinai / St. Catherine's Monastery

We woke up at 2 am to start hiking Mt. Sinai. Moses came up to Mt. Sinai multiple times to commune with the Lord. He brought the Ten Commandments down this mountain. It took us over two hours to hike it. Many people went up on camels most of the way up. One of the camels hit me while it was coming down. Guys with their camels were constantly asking if you wanted a camel ride. Once we got to the steps (there were 800 steps on the last leg) men were asking if they could help you up- of course they charged a few pounds once you got to the top. Once i got to the top it was cold and i tried to find my friend who had my jacket. I didn't find him until after the sun was up and wasn't cold anymore. It was so pretty to watch the sunrise!

On top of Mt Sinai. It was beautiful up there.

One the way back down. This time i finally got my sweater ha. Beautiful!!

Another pic on the way down.

This is a bush that is an ancestor to the burning bush. It was at St Catherine's Monastery.

This was a really really old bible at St. Catherine's Monastery.

Muhammad Ali Mosque

Cairo, Egypt. Outside the Mosque. this was our last stop before we left Egypt. Also in Cairo we went to the Egyptian Museum. It is one of the best places to study ancient Egyptian art. The King Tut exhibit there and the mummies were my favorite.Here is a pic of the Mask of King Tut. It was beautiful.

Back to the Mosque. . Inside the Muhammad Ali Mosque.

A lookout point of Cairo. Most of these buildings were empty. If it wasn't hazy you would be able to see the pyramids in the distance.

Luxor temple

Luxor, Egypt. Colossi of Ramses II at Luxor temple's entry. They found this and excavated it only less than 20 years ago! it was under a church.

Karnak Temple. They built these columns by bringing huge amounts of sand in and piling it up higher and higher to make each layer.

Karnak Temple. It is the largest temple complex in the world. Nearly every pharaoh from the 18th Dynasty onward contributed at least a building or a relief carving here.

Taking charge of our carriage ride back to our hotel from the Luxor Temple. The guy let me guide it most the way home!

Outside of the Luxor temple at night. After going shopping in a market close by we came here. Daniel bought this dress and he didn't even mean to ha . he asked how much it was and the guy said way too much. so just to get him off his back he said a super low price. the merchant said okay and he felt pressure to buy it!

sailing and camel ride

Right before we went sailing on the Nile, behind us.

We got on the sail boats right outside out our hotel. It was nice eating breakfast and dinner overlooking the Nile.

You can't really tell but I was sailing this boat! I got off course a bit and was heading into the bank.

Our boat!

After sailing for a while on the Nile we got off for a camel ride! My camel's name was Jack Daniels. ha It was so pretty going along the Nile and looking over to farmland and villages on the camel ride. I was guiding my camel and during this pic i let loose and it started eating. I was just trying to make it happy:)

One of my favorite pics i took with the camels. We were back on the Nile sailing back to the hotel when i saw these camels walk by.

On a boat ride to some temples. With Daniel, Blake and Rachel.

Memphis - Luxor, Egypt

Memphis was the capital of Old Kingdom Egypt and an important city throughout Egypts history. Noteworthy pharaohs such as Ramses II and Menes reigned from here.  The city, as well as the founder, Menes, symbolized the unificiation of Upper Egypt (Nile) and Lower Egypt (Delta). This is a statue of Rameses II. IT was huge.

One of the rooms for a tomb at Saqqara. These engravings and colors have been here forever!

Queen Hatshepsut's Temple/ Saqqara

Luxor, Egypt. Many engravings of Queen Hatshepsut were destroyed by her step-son, also her husband, after she died. It was so hot while we were here. The temperature got up to 120 degrees.

Chrissy and I made a new friend! ha

Saqqara. With our security guard. Yes, my hand is on his huge gun. Everyone here has guns. I still don't understand how people wear full suits in 120 degree weather.

Just on a camel in front of the step pyramid. The Giza pyramids were to the left in the distance.

At Queen Hatshepsut's Temple. It was really cool to see these engravings from so long ago.

Giza pyramids and Sphinx

Cairo, Egypt. The pyramids of Giza were built as part of the magnificent tomb complexes for three pharaohs:  Kufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. This pyramid behind me, Khafre, we went into and i laid in his tomb. Unfortunately they don't let people try and climb the pyramids anymore. It was awesome coming into Cairo and seeing the pyramids in the distance.

At an overlook of the pyramids. So cool!

Kissing the Sphinx..

The sphinx was bigger than I imagined.

Avdet

Many trade routes came through Avdet. It was built in 310 BC. It functioned as a way-station between Petra, Egypt and Gaza.

A random seat built in. Im sure someone really cool once occupied this chair.

I almost had to have my guards come take these guys away from me. They wouldn't get off their knees. ha

Jud and I.

Sand Dunes

Overlooking the sand dunes. We all found a place to sit where we couldn't se anyone else and just had alone time to ponder. The sand here was SO soft!

With Grace on our way to the sand dunes

Walking back from a great day. Egypt in the far distance.