Itinerary

Ahoy chaps. Not knowing how regular my updates will be, I thought I’d better provide an itinerary ahead of time, so here you go:

Thu 11th Oct

06.00 After being transported to Heathrow by his wonderful parents (thank you in advance, M&D!), Phil departs for Cairo, via Milan.

09.00 Arrive Milan. Dove reprendo my luggage, por favor? …er… per favore?

10.20 Depart Milan.

14.10 Arrive Cairo. Attempt to find nice chap who’s supposed to meet me.

Taxi to Victoria Hotel. Find feet, and head for the …er… Pyramids?

Fri 12th Oct

Full day in Cairo on me tod. Not sure what I’ll be doing yet, but the Cairo Museum, and possibly a fellucca trip, may well feature strongly. Ramadan will be ending around now, so it could be an interesting time as Eid festivities kick in.

Sat 13th Oct

Last morning before joining party. Still plenty to see. Islamic Cairo, if I haven’t got that far yet.

13.00 Meet the Intrepid party at Victoria Hotel. Orientation walk. Then a trip to Coptic Cairo, featuring , hopefully, the Hanging Church, and other highlights of Egypt’s ancient Coptic Christian tradition. This has been recommended by Imad, an Egyptian friend from church.

Sun 14th Oct

We arise early to begin the nine-hour trip through desert sands to Sinai. We’ll be following in the footsteps of Moses, no less, and ascending the sacred mountain (although the jury’s out on whether Mt Sinai is actually Moses’ Mount or not, it’s certainly hiding around these parts somewhere…). We’ll also have an opportunity to visit St Katherine’s Monastery, an ancient Greek Orthodox monastery that has been continuously occupied by monks for over 1,400 years. Legend says it was founded on the site of the Burning Bush. It has one of the most amazing libraries in the world, which will definitely not be on the tour, as it houses some of the world’s most important ancient manuscripts, including part of the Codex Sinaiticus, the most ancient and complete text upon which the New Testament is based. Whoah.

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/themes/asianafricanman/codex.html

Mon 15th Oct

Today we head for Nuweiba, on the Red Sea coast. Yes – I have packed my trunks. If I remember my contacts, I may even get to do some snorkelling. Tonight, we dine with the Bedouin (cue the sheep’s eyeballs for the idiot tourist…)

Tue 16th Oct

In the afternoon, we’ll take the four-hour ferry journey up to the ancient port of Aqaba, in Jordan, where we’ll spend the night. And yes, this is where we start to enter Lawrence of Arabia territory. It’s very close to the Israeli border, so you can see across the Jordan valley from here.

Wed 17th Oct

Following in Lawrence’s footsteps we head into the amazing desert landscape of Wadi Rum, by jeep. Tonight we’ll be staying in a Bedouin encampment. Good thing I’ve bought a sleeping bag.

Thu 18th – Fri 19th Oct

Catch the bus to Petra (very Indiana Jones). A chance to explore that ‘rose-red city, half as old as time’, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of the Nabateans. Good thing I charged up my camera at the Bedouin camp. Er…

We’ll be staying nearby in Wadi Musa, the Valley of Moses, where the prophet is supposed to have struck the rock with his staff, bringing forth water for the thirsty Israelites.

Sat 20th – Sun 21st Oct

Now we travel up an ancient trade route known as the King’s Highway (see e.g. Numbers 20:17). Along the way, we’ll be visiting al-Karak, an old Crusader castle, doing the obligatory floating-in-the-Dead-Sea, and visiting Mount Nebo, from where Moses first glimpsed the Promised Land. He’s also reputed to be buried in the area, tho’ the site of his grave is a mystery.

Our destination is the ancient city of Madaba, where we’ll be staying. It has many archeological treasures, including a mosaic which is the oldest map of the Holy Land (6th Century).

On Sunday, there’ll hopefully be chance to attend an early mass at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George. Later, we’ll visit Jordan’s capital, Amman, with its ancient Roman theatre, and Citadel. I may seem to be using the word ‘ancient’ a lot, but it’s not inappropriate for Amman, which, by all accounts has been inhabited continuously since, well, the Stone Age.

(There may also be chance to visit a Palestinian refugee camp, but that’s not definite.)

Mon 22nd Oct

Another early start, to travel to Jerash, site of the Graeco-Roman city of Gerasa. Well-preserved ruins. (Why does that make me think of Oil of Ulay?). Then it’s Jordanian public transport over the border into Syria, where we arrive at its (yes) ancient capital, Damascus. ‘Ancient alleyways and bustling bazaars’ says the tour guide. A highlight is bound to be the great Umayyad Mosque, one of the wonders of the Islamic world.

Tue 23rd Oct

Staying in Damascus, with plenty of opportunity to explore. Somewhere around here is the Street called Straight, where St Paul (or Saul of Tarsus as he then was) visited Ananias after his conversion. And I must check out the Mausoleum of Saladin…

Wed 24th Oct

Today we visit Palmyra, another unbelievably old city. It was also known as Tadmor (see II Chronicles 8:4) and is said to have been built by King Solomon. One of its most famous rulers was Queen Zenobia, a descendant of Cleopatra. There are also the ruins of a temple to Bel.

In the evening, another chance to enjoy the hospitality of the Bedouin.

Thu 25th Oct

We head west for the Med coast, and the crusader castle of Krak des Chevaliers, which Lawrence of Arabia described as the ‘most wholly admirable castle in the world.’ It has outer walls 100ft thick, and stands 700m above sea level, affording a commanding view over the valley between Homs and Tripoli. Ah, right. Yes. A good time to cure myself of my vertigo…

Fri 26th – Sat 27th Oct

Off to Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city. Its local name is Halab, meaning ‘milk’, after a tradition that the Patriarch Abraham gave out milk to passing travellers in this region. Well-known for its covered souq (market), it also has an impressive Citadel, a very fancy bath-house, and the Great Mosque. Lots to see.

Sun 28th Oct

Into Turkey, and Antakya, known in ancient times as Antioch. It was one of the wealthiest cities in the Roman Empire, and also the place where the followers of Jesus were first called ‘Christians’ (as an insult, of course). It later became one of the centres of the Early Church. Nice mosaics, too.

Mon 29th Oct

Mostly a travel day, we should arrive at the Ihlara Valley in the afternoon. On the way, we stop at the small town of Nigde. We spend the night in Selime, where apparently the locals are friendly and the trout is very good. Opportunity for scenic walks and seeking out the hidden churches of the Early Christians.

Tue 30th Oct

Onto Cappadocia, land of bizarre fairy-chimneys and surreal limestone landscapes. Also the home of some of the most important early Church Fathers, such as Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory Nazianzen, who showed key insight into the Trinity at a formative time in Church history. We’re staying at Goreme. Oh, and did I mention the underground cities?

Wed 31st Oct

Happy Birthday Mum! (in case I can’t reach a phone or PC). Still in Goreme. Cool.

Thu 1st Nov

This afternoon, we catch the bus to Ankara, the bustling, cosmopolitan face of modern Turkey.

Later, we’ll catch an overnnight train for the 9½ hour journey to Istanbul.

Fri 2nd – Sun 4th Nov

The train should pull in early to Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, formerly Byzantium. I have a book about this city as thick as you like [cheers Bill ;^)] and I won’t have time to read it til’ my return. Even then, I doubt I’ll scratch the surface, but I’m glad of the opportunity just to go.

Our hotel is near the Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), but that amazing place of worship is just the tip of the wonders of Istanbul. I still can’t fully believe the photos I’ve seen of the Blue Mosque, so that’s also high on the list. Then there’s the Topkapi Palace, and not forgetting the Grand Bazaar…

I return home with BA (direct flight, woo!) on the 4th, and will, God willing, touch down in London at 11.20. Whew, I’m exhausted, and I haven’t even gone yet.

xXx