Home Sweet Home

We're back! After 13 days of intense sightseeing in dirty, crowded countries...it's good to be home. We were nervous about getting "mummy tummy" (the middle east equivalent of "Montezuma's revenge,") so we made the choice to book the Jordan trip first, followed immediately by Egypt. Our intuition proved correct, but thankfully we got sick just as we were leaving Cairo and returning to Saudi (and not in the middle of the trip). Moreover, I'm especially thankfully that it was only the adults that got sick.

We all loved Jordan and hope to take another trip back to catch a couple cities/sites we didn't have time to see. Of what we did get to see, Petra and the Dead Sea were Steve and my favorites; the boys loved climbing the fascinating rock formations in the desert.

Egypt was a once in a lifetime trip. The sand and dry climate had excellently preserved the temples, pyramids, statues, mummys, etc. Some of the things we saw were over 5,000 years old - it was truly amazing. We took a very relaxing 3-day cruise on the Nile River and among other things saw the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, where over 62 tombs have been unearthed in the mountains. However, we hated Cairo and hope to never have to return there. It was crowded, filthy, and jammed packed with traffic. Moreover, it was really disheartening to see enormous amounts of trash around the Great Pyramid and Great Sphinx areas, as well as priceless treasures from King Tut's tomb not being well preserved in decent museums.

This was our first international trip with the kids since Michael was one. They did amazing and we are so proud of them. They're both anxious to travel again, but "after a while." I would have to agree.

I'm hoping after the holidays to take my time and show you some of the sights (don't worry - I'll limit my postings to only a couple of the best temples!) For the time being, I am in high gear trying to get ready for Christmas.

In case I don't get another opportunity before then, I just want to thank you all for your support and friendship, and wish you a wonderful Holiday season.

Don't Change that Channel

Guess what? Steve's parents arrived last night. Our first Saudi visitors! You know, you all are welcome to visit us too ;o) They are here until January 10th, or maybe 11th, I can't remember now. Despite the fact that they have at least a Seven Day Jet-Lag ordeal ahead of them (it's b-r-u-t-a-l, I'm here to tell you), we are going to whisk them away on Wednesday!

We'll be leaving early on the 3rd to spend five days in Jordan and eight days in Egypt. We're all very excited and I'm sure I'll have lots to share with you when we return. I also have a few other posts rattling around in my brain that I'm hoping to get finished soon. Stay tuned for essays on My Rock Hounds, Holidays Saudi Style, and Repelling in the Desert.

That's it for now - I need to get back to my packing...be sure to check back in with me around mid-December.