What a weird feeling to be following a signs: "this way to Egypt". A representative from the tour company took us through the Israeli border and passport control and then handed me an envelope saying : give this to Ahmed when you get through on the other side. Ok................
(Oh yes, did I mention that this was same guide that picked us up an hour late?
We walk down the road with a half dozen Swiss who are going to Saint Catherines (monastery at Mt Siani) and go around the curve to Egyptian passport control where we see six men in white uniforms sitting around smoking ad chatting. As we go to walk past, one man stands up, still talking to the others but waves us over..
Now you have to realize that we feel like we are walking down this stark gorge from set of "Raiders of the lost ark" and I think we were all a bit nervous.
After numerous papers and stamps we get through to the visa section where a man walks up to me and asks "do you have something for me?"
I was so proud of myself for responding "depends what your name is" rather than just handing everything.. But sure enough it was Ahmed who worked his magic to get our visas (more paper and stamping) and walked us down the next stretch of road to some waiting vehicles. I think was close to 100 degrees although it was before 7 am.
When he showed us to our van the driver smiled and opened the door to air conditioned bliss. And we waited, and waited, and men got in the car, smiling but not speaking and then left and we waited and finally the driver got in. Another man got into the back seat and a third, very stylishly dressed man in sunglasses got into the shotgun seat. Did I mention he had a sub machine gun strapped to his waist?
David Zimet
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