Some photos from Cairo so far

The city of Cairo from the Citadel.  A pretty heavy smog lays over the city from all of the cars and traffic.  We could see the pyramids from here in the distance (left side of the photo).

This is a night shot of our neighborhood.  We live on northwest of downtown Cairo in an area called Heliopolis.  Small shops line the main streets with 5 to 10 story apartment buildings off of the main streets.  The streets are busy at night but dead in the morning.

One of the hot spots in Cairo is an island on the Nile River, Zimalac.  This is one of the statues directly outside of the metro stop on Zimalac. 

Nathan and I went exploring and ventured around the entire island.  The one side of the island was home to numerous restaurants in these large boats.  You can also see some of the taller hotels on the other shore.

Some of the taller buildings lining the opposite coast.  The river was beautiful but even better was the  refreshing breeze that blew off of the water.

A view of the three pyramids with the city in the background.  It was surprising how the pyramids were so close to the city.

At the pyramids, there were salesmen everywhere, trying to sell different items and trying to get you to ride their camels.  Nathan and I did not but our boss's mother decided to try one out.

Our tour guide insisted that we take a photo pretending to hold a pyramid with our hand, so here it is.

Going inside the pyramids cost a significant amount and our tour guide said it wasn't worth it at all, but climbing up the side of the pyramids came with the entry fee.

The sphinx was the best part of the pyramids area.  We were able to go inside the surrounding temple and see the sphinx from close up.

Just a few pictures from the Jordan Trip

 On our way from the airport to the city where we would be working, we stopped off to get some food and ice cream.  Sandi and Nathan (two people on the project team) are joined by a random balloon salesman.

 The small city in Jordan where we were working.

The father of our host family with magruber ("upside down" food).

 A local shepherd; first one that I've ever seen.

 Had a chance to share my life with the local congregation.

 One of the team members in a classically decorated Jordanian house.

 The team hard at work (I must be on a break).

 Each night a different family made us dinner.  They all were presented family style on these huge platters.  I'm going to miss the food.

 Another fantastic meal.

 Mansef night... the most fun I've had during a meal.

 Another meal pick.

Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. (Numbers 20:11)

One of the team members standing by the rock.

 One of the team members and I went exploring and got ourselves good and lost, but still had time for a picture on the edge of one of the cliffs.

The only entrance into the city of Petra was through this narrow path, making Petra impenetrable.  The city was taken by the Romans when they cut off the water supply to the city and forced the natives to surrender.

The narrowest part of the path leading into the city.

The treasury, the most famous piece of Petra.  After wandering through a narrow path in between two cliffs you come to this building carved into the side of a cliff, really incredible.

A better view of Petra from the top of a few columns.

 On our way from Petra to the Dead Sea we had a tea stop.

Jordan countryside on the way to the Dead Sea.

 Nothing like a good Dead Sea float...

 

Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho.  And the Lord showed him all the land... (Deuteronomy 34:1)

 Trying out some Dead Sea products when in Madaba.

The roomy and I at a historic church in Madaba.

 The great city of Amman, and its giant Jordanian flag.  The people love their country.

 At the Citadel with Amman in the background.

In the Colosseum,the blood remained from ancient sacrifices.

 The Colosseum

 The Temple of Hercules at the Citadel