Here Safely

We last left you enjoying Dahab, Egypt on the east coast of the Sinai. We spent all day Friday there. We took a very bumpy 20 minute ride north along the coast in the back of a taxi/jeep to 'The Blue Hole' a popular snorkeling/scuba diving site. As we were getting into the water, a woman was frantically getting out, claiming that she had seen a 'hammerhead shark'. This did not stop Trevor (who had talked to the girl's boyfriend who assured him that it was probably just a big fish and she was a little shaken up.) Trevor went in to test the waters while Ali held back until the initial report was made by Trevor (hopefully without blood!) When Trevor gave it the OK, Alison also braved the 'shark infested' and chilly water. It turned out to be AMAZING. Just like swimming around in the aquariums you see museums. Lots of beautiful, multi-colored bright fish swimming all around you. And no sharks were seen! However, we were very cold upon getting out of the water (as it is winter here as well, and the locals think snorkeling now is crazy.)

Dinner that night was at 'Al Capones', in honor of our hometown villian. We had great kabobs and soup for cheap again, in a great atomesphere (sitting on the floor with cushions around a short, small table). Let's just say this, though, if you are afraid of cats, none of the places we have visited so far are the place for you. Cats run wild and are EVERYWHERE!!! Even wandering around restaurants. As we found out while eating on the floor at Al Capones. As we were finishing our yummy kebabs, a cat came running under our table dragging a long fish carcas (mostly bones) that he had stolen from another customer's plate. We 'shushed' him away, and enjoyed watching other people's reactions as he ran to their part of the restaurant with his prize.

Saturday (yesterday) was spent traveling from Dahab to Eilat, Israel. The bus ride was a few hours, then the border crossing (by foot) was another 1 1/2 hours. The Israeli border patrol, as you might guess, is VERY thorough. We had to open our bags and remove stuff as they put it through the huge x-ray machine a few times. There was a child and mother in front of us. The kid had a toy machine gun that did not make it through security without a lot of scrutiny. The kid was very upset that he might lose his gun. Not a smart thing to bring through Israeli security, for future traveling families.

So we are safely here in Eilat. No we have not witnessed any terrorist attacks. We are about 200 miles from Jerusalem, as far south as you can get in Israel. This is a very multi-cultural town, with a large Russian, Chinese, Romanian, etc. populations. If you told us we were in Southern California, with beautiful blue sky, moutains, and lots of palm trees, very westernized here, we would believe you. Even a mall with Sbarros! So, please don't think we are in any danger.

We will stay here at The Shelter, a youth hostel here in town for our time here. They are going to put us to work some while staying here, including Trevor being the 'interim' youth pastor at the local congregation for a few weeks! We plan on leaving January 1st to get to Cairo and fly to Kenya Jan. 2 at midnight.

More later,

Ali and Trevor