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

[veryhappykayla.livejournal.com]

Hi James!

You should totally come visit me in Haifa while you're in Israel! It's beautiful, and I'd be happy to host you and Flame for a few nights if the dates work out well. You can also leave a bag or two here while you explore the rest of the country, if that'd be helpful, and pick it up on your way out. (Haifa is a quick hour north of the airport by train or bus.) I'd be happy to help with Israel trip-planning, suggesting places to visit and to stay and helping with any logistical questions.

FYI, when visiting Israel you can easily ask for the entry stamp to happen on a separate piece of paper. Then you keep the paper with your passport during your stay, and after you leave the county you simply throw out the piece of paper (or keep it in separate place when you're visiting anti-Israel countries). This is quite a standard procedure, and sometimes the border people will even suggest it, and thus you can not have your Israel visit affect your future travel destinations. Flame, who you say already has an Israel stamp, could consider getting a new blank passport and avoiding the issue that way.

Another note -- occasionally Israeli security likes to extensively question incoming travellers. (This doesn't result in anything more serious than some questions, as long as you don't mention terrorist ties.) It sometimes helps to have a letter from an Israeli stating that you're coming to visit her, or at least contact info for said Israeli so that you project legitimacy and non-nefarious intentions (they don't consider visiting friends to be particularly nefarious). I would be happy to provide you with such a letter / contact info, if you would like -- just let me know.

Hope to see you soon!

[jrising.livejournal.com]

It would be wonderful to see you! Unfortunately, we're having a tough time trying to figure out if there's a cheap ferry to get from Cyprus to Lebanon or Israel, or if we have to go all the way back to Istanbul and take a plane. And if we do have to fly, we might go straight to Cairo, since Flame has already spent so much time in Israel. I'll tell you as we know more!

[veryhappykayla.livejournal.com]

Hope you make it to Haifa!

<=$200 flights exist between Cyprus and Israel. Don't know about ferries. It's also very easy to get to Israel from Cairo.

Keep me posted on your plans, and hope you have a marvelous trip whether our paths cross or not.