Egypt

From Jordan we took a ferry across the Red Sea to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. We arrived at about 7pm and decided to take a night service taxi (an old van in which you squeeze 14 people) across Sinai to Cairo. Like Jordan, Egypt was kind of tacked on to the Israel portion of the journey, so we set aside only a couple days. This was enough to see the Nile, the Pyramids, and get a taste of contemporary Cairo. Sadly, I didn't take my camera when we visited one of Cairo's crowded markets, so you only get to see the Nile and the Pyramids.

Perfect for tourists like ourselves, there are a number of sailboats that will take you out on the Nile for a very reasonable rate. Our tour book recommended going at sunset, which turned out to be a very good idea.

I have lots of pictures of the Pyramids because they're so impressive. Here's a photo where I try to get as many of them in one picture as I can.
The aim of this picture is to impress you with the pyramid's size.

Here's an attempt at perspective. I'm at the base of the of one of the Pyramids with the other big one in the background. I'm not sure if the picture works. Anyway, the two big Pyramids are about 450 feet or 34 stories tall (i.e. very tall).

This is the Sphinx. It's also very impressive to see, especially when you have the Pyramids in the background.
Visiting the Pyramids seemed like an appropriate time for a group photo. So here it is. In case you forgot, that's me with Gabe and Cara.

Lots of tourists visit Cairo and the locals know it. People are always inviting you to buy some of their wares. The folks offering camel rides eventually got to us, so we took a nice 30 minute ride across a bit of desert nearby the Pyramids arriving at a lovely perspective point. I have to say, camels are pretty fun to ride.

I was a little too entranced by the scene of this salesman approaching me, so I decided to ask him how much for a Coke. At the slightest indication of intention to purchase (before I was sure of the price), I was holding an open Coke bottle in my hand. Feeling obliged to pay, I figured I would add in a tip in order to get a picture with him. I'm sure he's taken in many silly tourists like myself before.