Middle East

If you dream of sand, dream big. The inland sea of rolling dunes, dazzling the eye, seeming like something sprung from a fantasy, is a sight that awaits the traveler in Egypt. Home of the gritty and glamorous city of Cairo, the Pyramids at Giza, resorts on the Red Sea… and, of course, the desert.

There is more to the desert than meets the eye. Seemingly barren, it teems with life. And beyond the next false pool of shimmering heat, a genuine oasis may hide. RealTravelers Four Explore had this to say about their trip to Siwa Oasis:

“Suddenly, out of nowhere, we started seeing a few smatterings of green, and before long, we were surrounded by date palms, sugar cane, and other greenery. This is why oases were a big deal to desert travelers in the old days, and still are today. It was remarkable to me how anybody could ever have found this place, because the surrounding country is so inhospitable for so far. But, apparently it has been well known for millennia. They’ve found evidence of human habitation here in Siwa dating from the Neolithic age.

When the Persians invaded Egypt about 500 BC, they sent an army of 50,000 men to destroy the Oracle of Siwa, who was well-known and perceived as a big threat. That army was swallowed up in a sandstorm, and never heard from again. (Too bad they didn’t take the West Delta bus service, as we did.) Alexander the Great made the trip through the desert as well, and had better luck, as the Oracle declared him a son of the god Amun, which gave Alexander justification to crown himself as pharaoh.

Supposedly, Cleopatra came out here, too, and enjoyed the hot springs. It was immediately apparent that this was a very cool place, living up to its reputation. (Our Lonely Planet guidebook says, “Siwa is simply one of the most picturesque and idyllic places in Egypt.” Bingo.)” (more…)

To help plan your trip to Egypt, visit:
Cairo Hotels

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Famous not only for its many celebrated archaeological sites, Jerusalem is also known for its beauty, culture and bustling activity which draws visitors of all types from around the globe.

On their round the world adventure, The Sherineau’s visited, among other destinations, Jerusalem, where they investigated the Old City, an ancient world filled with devout pilgrims and significant religious sites that takes visitors back not merely centuries but millennia. Their photo above showcases the Dome of the Rock, the third holiest site in Islam. In modern Jerusalem, the Sherineau’s discovered a cultural hub which has built up around the gates of the Old City. While in the holy city, the couple also took a side trip to the Dead Sea. As with their other adventures, including jaunts in Paris, Cairo, Alexandria and Petra, the couple describe the highlights of their trip to The City of God:

“As most people know Jerusalem is very important to Christians, Jews and Muslims. Seeing the city in person is intense. The ancient passageways of the old city crawl with Christians reenacting the crucifixion, Orthodox Jews wailing at the last remaining wall of their 2000 year old temple and Muslims heading to the Dome of the Rock. The streets are really narrow, to get through you have to elbow your way through everyone while dodging the tiny tractors and carts hauling merchandise into the market (no cars can get into the old city).

What amazed us about the old city was how lived-in and ungentrified it is. There’s no fancy cafes or luxury hotels, all of those are in the new city. We figure that with all the competing interests it is too difficult to develop anything trendy, so the city city stays in a neat, ancient bubble. If you ignore the satellite dishes you can imagine that the city looks almost as it did 500 years ago.” (more…)

Useful links:

Jerusalem Travel Guide
Israel Travel Guide
Jerusalem Travel Photos

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