I saw this gentleman walking up the sidewalk singing the other day and told him that I liked his sweatshirt. Eilat, Israel. January 10, 2009.

Going for a swim in the Red Sea. A little chilly, but not bad.

Crossing the Israeli/Egyptian border

I love Jerusalem! There is such a holiness about this city and this land. Crossing the border was an interesting experience. We crossed in the southern part crossing over from Taba, Egypt to Eilat, Israel. (We hadn't planned on crossing that way because we didn't think that it would be open, but it was, although it was with a little difficulty, but not much.) We were going to travel through Jordan and enter the country on the western border but for some reason I've been so ansy to get to Jerusalem (it's been calling me!) since the second or third day in Egypt. But crossing the border from Egypt to Israel and then the travel up to Jerusalem and the first night here was an interesting experience. As soon as we crossed over the Israeli/Egypt line there was a deep feeling of peace and calm that settled down over me. Interesting.

Old Jerusalem

Just a quick post, cause I am super tired. Robby and I arrived late yesterday night in Jerusalem and are staying at a great place near Jaffa Gate in the old city. Lots of interesting people to talk to staying at out hostel, more on them later. Today we walked up the mount of Olives stopping at the traditional site for the Garden of Gethsemane, walked through the Orson Hyde garden and walked over to the BYU Jerusalem center which was closed. Kinda of upsetting that they had their services on Saturday but oh well. We then cruised the Old city for a while before the rain drove us inside. After the rain stopped I went out for a little walk, ran into a bunch of Amercians headed to the Giants - Eagles game so of course they were able to persuade me to come along. It was a fun time. Anyway that's all for now.

Me just chillin and readin a good book while kickin it at the Bishbishi just before checkout. Our room was the one right behind me.

Bishbishi and Dahab

The entrance to our 50 cats hotel in Dahab, Egypt. (Cats abounded PLENTIFULLY there!!)

Bishbishi

The last couple nights Brian and I have spent in Dahab, Egypt (a little town on the east coast of the Sinai Peninsula located along the seashore). The scenery is awe inspiring. Looking out across the Gulf of Aquaba you can see on the opposite coast in Saudia Arabia a jagged mountain range. And behind us are more majestic, rugged mountains.

The last couple of nights Brian and I stayed in a place named Bishbishi. The room is simply a little concrete building, our room 8'x8', a wooden door with large cracks all the way around the frame so that you can see in and out through it, and a grass ceiling/roof. We like it, it's nice! The first night however we had these sheets that felt so dirty, nasty, and filthy. The mosquitoes got to me pretty good that first night because the top sheet was only 4'x4'. I couldn't easily cover up from them with a sheet so small. We stayed there one more night but last night before going to bed I asked one of the workers if I could get an extra sheet for sleeping. I saw where the sheets were stored away and he gave me a medium sized sheet(at least not a small one). But while in there I saw a bunch of large clean sheets neatly folded and stacked. So 10-15 minutes or so after the area was clear of people I quietly walked over and inside and helped myself to several of the large clean sheets for both Brian and I. Close call though, cuz as soon as I was clear of the area one of the guys that runs the place walked around the corner. That would have been awkward had I been 15 seconds later in carrying out my plan. It was really nice last night sleeping on clean sheets and being protected from the mosquitoes. Slept like an angel.

Anyway, we're headed for Taba in an hour and then crossing the state line into Israel today.