Road Trip to North Camp, 27 April

Our road trip across the northern Sinai, heading southeast from Tel Aviv across the Israel/Egypt border (two border checkpoints and then an MFO checkpoint) to MFO North Camp at El Gorah. Once we got past Be'er Sheva in Israel, there wasn't much to see except sand and more sand!

Drifting sand across the roads and highways is common! They use bulldozers to clear the sand off the roads. If they didn't do this, the roads would quickly disappear into the desert.

The road is long and often empty.

The Israeli border crossing. We had to walk through camel dung to the guard shack where I got my passport stamped! Didn't smell too good! It's against the rules to take photos of "military installations" so I couldn't photograph the facility, which was clean and modern except for the camel poop!

A very nice, friendly Egyptian soldier who expedited our entrance on the Egyptian side of the border.

Finally, the MFO checkpoint in Egypt, not far from the border crossing... we're still a couple of hours away from North Camp!

Rambo and Rambette had to gear up in helmets and flack jackets at the MFO checkpoint for the remainder of the trip. Those vests are HEAVY!

We passed a group of Bedouin women, tending their herd of camels, goats and donkeys.

Tel Aviv and Jaffa (Yafo) April 24-27

I flew to Israel this time for my spring trip to see Bob. He met me in Tel Aviv, and we spent several days there, visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem, drove through the desert to MFO North Camp in Sinai, Egypt, took a trip down to Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea, and then back to Tel Aviv for my return to the States. Israel is a beautiful, modern, clean and highly developed country. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Tel Aviv, and I would love to go again.

This was the view from our hotel room on the Beach in Tel Aviv

We have just arrived at the bottom of the hill in Old Jaffa, ready to wander around the old city.

We found ourselves in a small park at one of the entrances to the old city.

Some interesting antiquities decorating the exterior of an apartment.

The old city is composed of dozens of narrow walkways, sloped ramps and stairways.

An Orthodox church. We peeked inside, where people were preparing the church for the Orthodox Easter celebration.

More nooks, crannies and alleyways.

And lo and behold, we stumbled upon this quaint shop where all the jewelry is hand made!

The old port

A local resident

Some fantastic views

The Colonel (Bob) with the General (Napoleon)

St. Peter's Catholic Church and Monastery. It is said that St. Peter actually visited this site and performed a miracle here.

One of my favorite shots from the top of the hill (That's Tel Aviv Beach in the background).

Restaurants literally ON the beach! What a great atmosphere! You're sitting at a table with your feet buried in the sand (at least mine were) with the Mediterranean literally yards away...

And of course, KFC and Mickey D's are easily accessible. We did NOT go there...

More early AM beach views

Shelly & Matt Visit Egypt

Shelly and Matt were able to spend a week in Egypt in early April, to visit Bob and some of the sites. Bob was with them during the Cairo portion of their trip, and a great time was had by all!

At the Khan el Khalili (souk) in Old Cairo, preparing to haggle with the merchants over souvenirs & stuff.

Matt & Shel in front of Zosier's step pyramid at Sakkara

Shelly & her dad at Sakkara

Naturally Matt & Shelly had to climb on the big pyramid at Giza!

Bob and Shelly near the Sphinx

Trip to Tiran Island

Recently, Bob took a trip to Tiran Island, off the coast of Sharm el Sheikh in the Red Sea. He was checking out the location as a site for a microwave tower for the MFO. You're lookin' good, Honey! Like a movie star in an action film!

A shot of the island from the helicopter.

The place is truly a "desert island." I doubt even Robinson Crusoe could survive here for long! There is an MFO contingent of U.S. Army troops who actually stay on the island for a few weeks at a time. ALL their supplies, including water, have to be airlifted in twice a week! You can't dock a boat at the island and walk up the mountain, because the beach area still has a lot of mines buried that are left over from the Israeli-Egyptian war.

I think I'll stick with the normal tourist sites and Bob's place at North Camp on my visits, though riding in a Blackhawk would be fun!

Flora and Fauna at MFO North Camp, Sinai Egypt

MFO Sinai at North Camp and all of Egypt had some cold weather and heavy rains recently. When the clouds cleared, some egrets decided to stop in Bob's front yard for a short visit on their way to wherever...

And the yucca plants in his back yard decided to bloom... I have never seen orange flowers on a yucca. They're really pretty! The gardener better get busy, too... I see a lot of weeds!

This is a shot of what the duplexes in the housing area look like. This isn't a shot of Bob's unit... he has a large hot pink bouganvillea growing up the wall of his front patio.

The walkways and parking at the housing area. Note the Disney-style topiaries! This is the only part of North Camp that has grass or greenery of any kind. The rest of the camp is strictly sand and desert terrain. That's Bob's car on the left... but he's getting a new one soon!

These owls also hang out in a tree in front of Bob's duplex. I think they're called Athenian Owls. They're indigenous to Egypt, and they are all over the place. When I was visiting in November I was sitting on the balcony of our hotel in BUSY downtown Cairo at around midnight one night and one flew by within a couple of feet of me. I guess they can find prey in the city just as easily as they can in the country!

This is a hooded crow, also found all over the place in Egypt. The birds really like that tree in Bob's front yard!