I arrived home last night. It's funny to me how good it felt to be back on American soil. We're all safe and sound but it's a awefully crazy world out there right now. Yesterday I recieved all these emails from the Jersusalem consolate about demonstrations that will be taking place in the Old City and where to stay away from. We got out of there right in time, this Gaza situation is nervewrecking to watch. Security at the airport was rediculous, packing and unpacking every bag, running those wands over every piece of clothing, they even made Al put a box of fudge into my bag instead of his... i have no idea why.

All that being said, Israel was definately the highlight of this trip. I've been telling my family for so long that I'm going to Jerusalem and to actually have gone, it was the trip of a lifetime. It wasn't really anything that I expected but I think you make the trip what you want to make of it. It's unfortunate that there are these huge churches built up on every site, every place that could remotely be considered a place of reverence you just see these big, ornate buildings beckoning to every tourist. But you can take moments to remove yourself from what you're seeing immediately and just reflect on the reality of where you are and what happened in those holy places. Real meaning came in those times. I do hope I get to take my family back there again someday. My parents would love it :)

Cairo was interesting to say the least. It's a crowded, very dirty city. The pyramids and the ruins of ancient Egypt are quite a sight to see. Honestly, I just stood in awe of what we were really looking at. It was great too, we ran into the Evans while we were at the pyramids at Giza. It was great to see familiar faces with similar stories. But the tourist traps and the pushiness and the filth drove me CRAZY. Of course you expect them to be trying to get your money but you don't expect, for instance, two men to pick you up and put you on a donkey and start running with it up the hill toward the pyramids. Seriously. i was so ticked, Al just kind of ran behind taking pictures while i kept saying "Get me off, i want to get off..." And then they tried to fight us about how much money we owed them. This whole trip i was so so greatful that Al is so good at bargaining down prices. He just refused to pay whatever anybody asked. Pretty sure i saved hundreds of dollars cuz of him. Thanks, Al.

Moral of the story, i booked us this piece of trash hotel, yes, i'll take full responsibility, but it was all for the adventure of it! Unfortunately it was too much of a hole and we ended up leaving after 2 nights. It kinda was 2 nights too long ;) There was nothing nice about that place, it was on the 4th floor of the most run down building without windows or locks or paint... the room was facing all the aweful traffic of Cairo's blaring horns, the shower/toilet/sink w/ rancid water were all one in the same... saying it was bad is probably the biggest understatement possible. BUT, looking at the bight side, the hotel we switched to looked like a royal palace! we moved to a hotel over by the airport for the last 2 days and had a great New Years before flying back to London on the 1st. They even had toilet paper. Ooh la la.

There is so much to catch up with, i am going to hopefully get the day-by-day reports in here later this afternoon after Nikki's wedding this morning. That'll give you a better idea of what was happening. Here are a few highlight pics, there are hundreds more to show and stories to tell. All in due time.

Happy to be home and Happy New Year to you all. It's gonna be a good one. Pray for peace.

St. Peter's fish- I thought you'd be proud of me, mom. I ate a whole fish and actually like it! That could be due to the fact that Al starved me all trip long, but that's neither here nor there.