It started strange. On the way east through an elevated highway of Cairo we heard a loud “bang” and felt a jolt. One of the busses inner rear tires had blown. By the strangest of luck, we blew the tire right next to a place on the highway that was a small tire shop and the owner helped the bus driver change the tire. Apparently, he has the shop there for just such occasions.
There were also several homes there, plus lots of animals- who seemed to live in the houses – including this donkey.
We have had police escorts before, but today was extraordinary. At times, we had three police trucks escorting us, guns at the ready. We weren’t suppose to take pictures of them, but I did.
As it turns out, an Egyptian general was worried about where we were going. It’s not your normal tourist destinations. So he sent along some extra security. We had no problems and most of the people we passed seemed friendly.
We first stopped at a city that was probably the Biblical Pithom, one of the cities the Hebrew slaves built. All these cities were built of sun baked mud bricks that do not last over time. So these vast cities of mud brick homes and palaces turned back into brown hills, while the limestone pyramids and granite statues of Giza and Karnack endured.
After that, we visited Tanis, known as Zoan. If it looks or sounds familiar, remember the first Indiana Jones movie and Indiana finding the Ark of the Covenant in Tanis.
Finally, we passed by a place where several Biblical cities were built: the city of Avaris and the city of Ramses. This was the center of the area where the Hebrews lived and worked when they were in Egypt. It was interesting to see people working their fields with donkeys, in the same way and in the same places that the Hebrews did it 3500+ years ago.
Tonight, we are on the edge of the Suez canal. Tomorrow we cross into the Sinai.
As we drove through the country, we saw how most rural Egyptians lived. Far more donkey carts than cars. Water buffalos to plough the fields. Butchers who don’t rely on refrigeration. And, even a small caravan of 5 camels carrying palm fronds. It almost seems frozen in time. 
Today we had a police car escort our tour bus. We noticed that most of the others busses didn’t have escorts, so I asked our guide why. “Because you are Americans” was the answer. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but everyone has been friendly to us (or at least to our money).
There are no pictures allowed in the tombs, so you can assume that the slightly blurry pictures that appear from tombs here must have been camera malfunctions.
Finally, a typical stop and shop opportunity that gives the guide a small kickback from what we buy. Here it is alabaster. You can see Karen Jenison talking with a salesman. What you can’t hear is a sucking sound: That’s the sound of Lynn’s money being sucked into the Egyptian economy.
