Some tels on the way to Egypt

Chels and me: quick sacrifice on our way out

4-horned altar at Tel Arad. One of the remains from a satellite temple destroyed in about 600 BC



Day one (January 23): started out early, and we saw a few tels along the way across the country. We went to Tel Sheva. Beersheba is where Hagar was comforted after Sarai was angry at her. Also, the same area from which Abraham starts out his journey to sacrifice Isaac. So, Tel Sheva was a government outpost built by Solomon, built next to Beersheba. The old city of Beersheba is currently under the modern city.

Next stop was Tel Arad. Honestly, the tels grow similar to me after awhile, but we saw an old tabernacle and things dating over a thousand years before the time of Christ.

We stayed in a Kibbutz that night. Which was very interesting. I didn’t love finding a few bugs in my bed. But, it was cool that it was such a community-focused place. We ate on the floor, on little mats around mini tables, and the food tasted so good, we were all starving.

Camel and Felukah

Sunset on the Nile

Our Felukahs

Not-so-good pic of me on my camel, Cassanova

Jessica Moose + Jessica Madson

(My posts are not in chronological order, but this is as good as it's going to get)
In Luxor we had such an incredible day! First of all, we were staying the Sheraton, which is never too shabby. So we took a felukah/sailboat ride along the Nile. In Cairo the Nile was kinda gross looking..saw some people doing things in it that were...gross. But Luxor is farther south, and it was gorgeous!

The camel ride was so crazy! My little guide didn't really speak English, but definitely asked me if I have a husband..and if I want one. That made for an awkward 45 minute ride. Haha, not really.

The camel was so high off the ground. It was super jostle-y, especially when it ran. But it made me laugh really hard and I got used to it really fast. And my main thought as I sat atop my ride "I can't believe that I'm riding a camel next to the Nile in Egypt." Being on the camel as it was standing up or kneeling down was the scariest part, but I'd definitely do it again in a heartbeat.
The Nile was so pretty there and smelled like boating. I broke the rules and put my hand in the water. It felt like regular water, and maybe my hand will be withered eventually, but it was worth it.

Pyramids

Cool roommates at Hufu Pyramid in Giza.

Do not ask me who took this...

So, this information is purely historical and will be boring to everyone but me. But, I'm writing it to document for myself. Ahem.
The blocks for the Great Pyramid were about 2 tons a piece, sometimes up to 15 tons! And it has 3 million blocks on it. It's the last remaining wonder of the ancient world.
Originally it was coated with white limestone, but later Pharaoh's took of the white limestone for their building projects, so just the yellow limestone undercoat was left.

The 3 pyramids were family pyramids; father, son, and grandson. We went into the inside of the smallest of the three. It definitely smelled like someone had been dead in there for 1000 years.

Best Day in Luxor

So, one day in Luxor when we had a free afternoon, I had the funnest adventure with these 3 girls. Audryn. Laurel. Addie.

We rented bikes for an hour and rode along, with the Nile next to us.The bikes were so rickety, but so funny.

Then after our bike ride, we went out with our tourguide, Islam. He took us in an opendoor taxi, and bought us sugarcane drink. So so so good.And then, we took a carriage ride back to our hotel. Nothing better than good friends, sugarcane, Luxor Temple on our right, and a horse race with another carriage. We were laughing so hard! This other driver tried to pass us, so our two carriages were full-on running down the street. Me and Addie. See her face? A girl after my own heart.

Arab Night

Audryn, me, and our Arabic teacher, Ayman. He's...interesting.
We had a great Arab culture night! I found some 2 shekel (60 cents) pants in the city to wear, wrapped a turban around my head (Lace, I thought of you and your turban from Christmas) that a lady in the city showed me how to tie.

We listened to 2 men sing the Call to Prayer, had an ethnic dinner, and then did some traditional Arabic dancing.

Double Birthday

We had the funnest time celebrating Rach and Chels' birthdays on Wednesday! These two turned 20, and I'm so glad that they let us share the beginning of their next decade with them.

We had pizza in the Old City, with delicious lemonade and mint. Holy cow, the lemonade was fantastic.

Then some singing and gummy eating and catch phrase ringing at the Austrian Hospice.

I loved it, because I love these two and my friends here so much!

Happy birfday goils. And shoutout to Taylor and Callie too :) Happy birthday bro and sis.

PS, the top picture shows how Kaitlin and I feel about our Islam class sometimes. :)

Sheets of Egyptian Cotton

Me and Mt. Sinai

Friends and I on top of the Sinai. Freezing.
(Sarah, Audryn, Laurel, and ME)
And me and new friend Addie
(well, we knew each other before, but really bonded in Africa)

So, I've been back from Egypt for about a week. I haven't had a chance to upload very many pics, so I'm working on that. But, it was an adventure. And I loved it.