Well, I’m getting ready to hit the road again. On Feb. 23 I leave for Egypt. I’ve wanted to go to Egypt for some years, but I wanted to travel with a group and a wanted a trip that focused on Biblical history, not just general Egyptology.I’ll be traveling with a group from Associates for Biblical Research, a Christian group with a lot of interest in archaeological. My friend, Shawn Firminger will join me, as will Karen Jenison and a friend of hers.
My plan is to try and post regular reports and pictures. I’m not what internet access I’ll have where we will be staying. I’ve found that it’s just about impossible to upload pictures with a dial up connection. So, keep checking back. I’ll post as often as I can.
My flight into Cairo lands at 2:10AM (ouch). We get there a day before the main group, so I’ll use some of the time to meet with a Presbyterian pastor who teaches New Testament at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC).
ETSC was founded in 1863 by the American Mission, which was itself an undertaking of the United Presbyterian Church of North America. If you don’t know who the UPCNA were, ask Pins Dawson.
The school is now run by the Evangelical (Presbyterian) Synod of the Nile, with a number of Presbyterians serving on their staff and in support positions.
Here’s the rest of our itinerary:
Day 2
Arrive in Cairo and transfer to a flight to the ancient center of Egypt at Luxor (Thebes) and Karnak. Evening visit to the Luxor Museum and/or a carriage ride through the suk (bazaar). Overnight in Luxor.
Day 3
Morning: cross the Nile and visit King Tut's tomb in the Valley of the Kings and Deir el Bahri, the massive Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Afternoon: visit to the famous Temple complex of Amun at Karnak, including the relief of Seti I's campaign to Palestine ca. 1300 B.C., inscriptions and relief’s of Merenptah, the Pharaoh who mentioned Israel in his records in ca. 1210 B.C., and Pharaoh Shishak's record of his campaign against Judah and Israel in 925 B.C. Overnight in Luxor.
Morning: cross the Nile and visit King Tut's tomb in the Valley of the Kings and Deir el Bahri, the massive Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Afternoon: visit to the famous Temple complex of Amun at Karnak, including the relief of Seti I's campaign to Palestine ca. 1300 B.C., inscriptions and relief’s of Merenptah, the Pharaoh who mentioned Israel in his records in ca. 1210 B.C., and Pharaoh Shishak's record of his campaign against Judah and Israel in 925 B.C. Overnight in Luxor.
Day 4
Early morning flight back to Cairo. Morning: Visit Old (Coptic) Cairo and see the traditional burial place of Jeremiah the Prophet. Afternoon: Visit Cairo's famous Egyptian Museum to see many items (and sometimes the people themselves!) from Egyptian history that relate to the Bible. Overnight in Cairo.
Early morning flight back to Cairo. Morning: Visit Old (Coptic) Cairo and see the traditional burial place of Jeremiah the Prophet. Afternoon: Visit Cairo's famous Egyptian Museum to see many items (and sometimes the people themselves!) from Egyptian history that relate to the Bible. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 5
Morning: See one of the seven wonders of the world: the Pyramids and Sphinx on the Giza plateau. Afternoon: travel to the ancient capital city of Memphis and the pyramids of Saqqara. Overnight in Cairo.
Morning: See one of the seven wonders of the world: the Pyramids and Sphinx on the Giza plateau. Afternoon: travel to the ancient capital city of Memphis and the pyramids of Saqqara. Overnight in Cairo.
Day 6
Depart Cairo and travel north to the Land of Goshen where the Israelites lived for over 400 years. See modern villages still operating with some of the same traditional practices the Israelites used. Stop at the ancient royal city of Tanis (Biblical Zoan) (remember Raiders of the Lost Ark?) and Rameses where many Exodus events took place. Overnight at Lake Timsah in Ismailiya.
Depart Cairo and travel north to the Land of Goshen where the Israelites lived for over 400 years. See modern villages still operating with some of the same traditional practices the Israelites used. Stop at the ancient royal city of Tanis (Biblical Zoan) (remember Raiders of the Lost Ark?) and Rameses where many Exodus events took place. Overnight at Lake Timsah in Ismailiya.
Day 7
See the site of the famous store city of Pithom built by the Israelites, Succoth, the first stopping place on the Exodus itinerary, and the remnants of Lake Ballah, possibly the Yam Suph (Sea of Reeds, not the Red Sea) where God parted the waters, then cross the Suez canal and head into Sinai, stopping at Elim on the way to our Red Sea resort. Overnight along the Red Sea
See the site of the famous store city of Pithom built by the Israelites, Succoth, the first stopping place on the Exodus itinerary, and the remnants of Lake Ballah, possibly the Yam Suph (Sea of Reeds, not the Red Sea) where God parted the waters, then cross the Suez canal and head into Sinai, stopping at Elim on the way to our Red Sea resort. Overnight along the Red Sea
Day 8
Enjoy a morning of leisure and lunch along the shores of the Red Sea. In the afternoon follow the route of the Exodus heading into the interior of the Sinai Peninsula on the way to St. Katherine's Monastery. Overnight at St. Katherine's.
Enjoy a morning of leisure and lunch along the shores of the Red Sea. In the afternoon follow the route of the Exodus heading into the interior of the Sinai Peninsula on the way to St. Katherine's Monastery. Overnight at St. Katherine's.
Day 9
Optional: Rise early (very early!) and climb Jebel Musa (sorry folks, but I don’t plan to try this), the traditional location of Mt. Sinai, for an unforgettable view of sunrise over the Sinai. Visit the famous St. Katherine's Monastery where early Biblical manuscripts were found. Afternoon: Travel back though Sinai, visiting additional sites and scenes from the Exodus itinerary. Cross the Suez Canal and head back to Cairo. Overnight in Heliopolis, near the Cairo International Airport.
Optional: Rise early (very early!) and climb Jebel Musa (sorry folks, but I don’t plan to try this), the traditional location of Mt. Sinai, for an unforgettable view of sunrise over the Sinai. Visit the famous St. Katherine's Monastery where early Biblical manuscripts were found. Afternoon: Travel back though Sinai, visiting additional sites and scenes from the Exodus itinerary. Cross the Suez Canal and head back to Cairo. Overnight in Heliopolis, near the Cairo International Airport.
Day 10
Depart Cairo International Airport for home.
Depart Cairo International Airport for home.
