Middle East Trip!

[jrising]

Last Friday, just a hours after finishing my application to the EPA, Flame and I bought tickets to Turkey for winter break! Flight Finder found the deal for one date, and Flame found it for the perfect span: we're leaving on Christmas from Boston (we're we'll be with my parents), and returning a few days before classes to New York. Minus a day of travel, we get 20 days to explore the middle east-- or at least, those parts of it that Flame, with her Israel-stamped passport, can enter.

Our plan is to spend a couple days in Istanbul, go down the coast (Troy and Ephesus are both there), and take a ferry to eat in Cyprus for a couple days. We want to spend time in Egypt, but there aren't ferries, so we need to go by way of Israel (which, conveniently, hops us over Syria, which Flame can't enter). After a few days in Jerusalem, we explore Cairo and Alexandria for up to a week. Then it's a flight to Athens for a spree, and a bus back to Istanbul. If we have extra time, we can take a side trip to Cappadocia.

Other ideas? We definitely are interested in recommendations within those cities; with this itinerary, we don't have much time to squeeze in other cities, but the itinerary is anything but set. In particular, if you know another way to get to Egypt cheaply or interestingly, tell us!

Comments

[jrising.livejournal.com]

The Pillars look incredible. I really have no idea how easy it is to get around there, but I'll try! It looks like the Dead Sea might depend on how warm it is when we're there though.

[mals13.livejournal.com]

oh, it'll be warm. the water will be warm and even if it's not, you should do it anyway.
will you be backpacking your way around? hitchhiking is usually pretty easy in israel, 'specially if you don some military gear (read that as *Israeli* military gear, hat or jacket or something), course it's been about 10 years since I've been, so things may have changed, but we picked up quite a few hitchhikers, and as I recall the pillars are just a short hike right off the highway only about 20 miles north of Eilat. There isn't much between the Dead Sea and Eilat, so make sure you're not trying to hike that whole way, it's a lot longer than it seems. good luck! and take pictures!