Mummies & Mosques: Bike Touring Egypt, Jordan, Greece & Turkey

Rock Climbing

Images of the World
Mummies & Mosques
Slide Program

Egyptian, Greek and Roman history -- plus Islamic culture!

In 2005 we bicycle through Egypt, Jordan, Greece, and Turkey. Our journey follows the path of early civilizations across three continents -- Africa, Europe and Asia.

Which countries in the world have the largest Muslim populations?

Sphinx at night, Luxor Temple, Egypt.

We begin in Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs, where we explore pyramids, temples and tombs.

There are about 90 known Egyptians pyramids. The larger pyramids took 20 years each to build, employing 4,000 full-time workers, plus 20,000-30,000 extra workers each flood season when they could not plant their crops.

The Step Pyramid of Saqqara is the world's oldest stone monument, built in 2650 BC, more than 4600 years ago.

Today the architect who built the pyramid, named Imhotep, is more famous than King Zosher who was buried inside.

Descending into the Red Pyramid, Egypt's first true pyramid. Inside, only an empty room. Tomb robbers plundered all the pyramids thousands of years ago.

Bruce's web journal from the trip is at the bottom of this page, organized by regions along with a subject index.

108 degrees in the shade, if you can find any. The temperature on the road is 119 degrees.

Cycling across the Great Western Desert was the hardest riding we have ever done. It was also some of the most exciting and rewarding.

At first we carried five gallons of water (weighing forty pounds) in bags on our bikes, which we would drink in just one day. As we cycled we found that every 40 miles there were police checkpoints or ambulance outposts where we were always welcome to stop for tea and given water. Then we only had to carry a few gallons of water at a time.

We started riding early before sunrise each day, and tried to find shade if possible during midday when temperatures were the highest. The heat from the sun was so intense we had to wear huge hats and long sleeve shirts, and wrap wet handkerchiefs around our necks as we rode.

During our two-week desert crossing we passed through four large oasis. The biggest oasis, named Dakhla, was fifty miles long.

Mohammed is the most common first name throughout the Arab world.

Everyone we met was exceptionally friendly and told us Americans should always feel welcome to visit their country.

Many men and women dress modestly with loose fitting clothing, and hats, turbans or scarves covering their heads.

Some Muslim women also wear a veil over their face when they are out in public. They do not wear the veils when they are with their families inside their own homes.

Tass buying a scarf our first morning in Egypt. Tass wore the scarf whenever we would go into a Mosque. We also never wore tanktops that would show our upper arms out of respect for local customs.

Bruce climbs the 3,750 steps of repentance to the summit of Mount Sinai, Egypt. Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe Mount Sinai is where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments over 3,000 years ago.

A school of Striped butterfly fish, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. The Red Sea offers perhaps the finest diving and snorkeling in the world.

We travel into Jordan to visit the famed city of Petra, carved out of sandstone 2,000 years ago. Look close, that is us sitting in the doorway to the monastery.

Greece is a beautiful landscape of mountains and ocean, with 169 inhabited islands and over a thousand smaller, rocky islands where no one lives.

Greece is often called the cradle of western civilization because of the vast influence of Greek language, politics, and philosophy on European history.

The 2,000 year old amphitheater of Epidavros in Greece can hold 14,000 people and has such good acoustics a person in the last row can hear a piece of paper torn on the stage--without a microphone!

The Greek island of Santorini has houses hanging off the cliffs of a huge volcanic crater.

Santorini has erupted numerous times in history. The island you see in the center of the crater first appeared in 197 BC, then expanded during an eruption in 1707 AD. Sadly the hotel with this panoramic pool was out of our price range. We stayed in a great little spot nearby.

Stairs leading down the cliff next to our hotel.

Our last stop, or should I say "dur", is Turkey, a fascinating country with friendly people and incredible history.

Istanbul is our favorite city in the world. The city was first called Constantinople, and was the capitol of the Byzantine (eastern Roman) Empire for over a thousand years. Renamed Istanbul in 1453 when the Ottomans conquered the city, Istanbul was the capitol of their vast empire for nearly 500 years.

Five hundred years ago Ottoman sultans built the Topkapi Palace, the largest palace in the world. This is part of the harem buildings where the women lived.

Eroded hills of central Turkey lie along ancient spice and trade routes. Camel caravans followed these routes for thousands of years. Today the caravansari are filled with tourist shops.

In Cappadocia in central Turkey we stay in a hotel room carved out of volcanic rock. Our second floor porch is a great place to relax and do some reading.

The library at the Roman ruins of Ephesus was built in 125 BC and held 12,000 scrolls. The early Romans called Turkey "Asia Minor", and made Ephesus their capitol.

Bicycling adds adventure to our travels and is good exercise for people of all ages. When was the last time you were on a bike?

Traveling is a great way to make new friends all over the world.

If you could go anywhere, what countries would you choose?

We spend the last ten days of our trip on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. What a great way to finish one of our most amazing bike trips!

Inside the dome of Rustem Pasa Mosque. The lines you see are chains hanging from the ceiling to hold up the lights. Look close at the top of the photo to see two glass lights.

Tour Dates & Fees
All of our educational school assembly programs are available in different versions with appropriate photos and concepts for each age:
K-1 grade 30 min
2-3 grade 45 min
4-6 grade 60 min
7-12 grade 60 min
college/adult 90 min

Bruce's web journals written during the trip.

Pre-Trip Issues
Trip Planning -- How the journey evolved from a rock climbing trip through Spain, France, and Italy, to a biking trip through Egypt, Jordan, Greece, and Turkey.
Security and Safety Concerns -- Aren't We Afraid Of Terrorists?
Prior to Departure -- Contemplating the Moment / Dinner Party / Church / Snow / Trek 520 Touring Bikes

EGYPT

Cairo and the Great Pyramids of Giza -- Cairo / Welcome To Egypt / Crazy Drivers, Crazier Pedestrians / Pyramid Cycling

Cycling the Great Western Desert -- Bahariya Oasis -- 119 Degrees / White Desert / No Policeman / Four Wheeling Fun / Americans Can Feel Very Safe / Speaking Arabic / Dakhla Oasis -- In the Desert -- Getting Hotter / Cycling To Kharga Oasis / Police Escorts -- Muslim Hospitality

Valley of the Kings / Upper Nile Valley -- Luxor -- Valley of the Kings -- Karnak / No Bicycling / Police Escourt -- Abul Simbal / Egyptian Food -- Toothache

The Red Sea Coast -- Red Sea -- Sinai Peninsula -- Sharm el-Sheik -- No Women / Shark's Bay -- Snorkling Red Sea -- Coral Reefs / Cycling to Dahab / Snorkeling the Blue Hole / Muslim News -- Cycling through Israel

JORDAN

Petra / Bedouin / Red Sea

Return to EGYPT

Sinai Peninsula -- St Katherine's Monastery -- Climbing Mt. Sinai / Desert By Camel -- Bedouin -- Cell Phones and iPods -- My Response to 9/11 / Egyptian Buses -- Veiled Women / Cairo -- More Pyramids -- Final Tidbits

GREECE

Athens -- Athens --Toothache -- Ancient Ruins / More Dentists / Artwork -- Sidewalk Cafes / Root Canal

Peloponnese -- Bicycling Peloponnese -- Greek Greetings / Ouzo -- Epidavros / Nafplio -- Dentist #5 / Sidewalk Cafes -- Greek History / Cycling the Peloponnese Coast / Parnonas Mountains / Taygetos Mountains / Euphoria and Exhaustion / Stoupa -- Greek Drivers / Ferry to Crete

Island of Crete -- Kissamos Kiss -- Crusades and Venetians / Hania / Rest Day / 110 Degrees -- Reythimno / Through the Mountains to Iraklieo

Santorini -- Greek People Would Not Do This / Volcanic Eruptions -- Photographers Paradise / Peregrine Falcons -- Black Sand Beaches / Clouds -- Turbo Trek / Ferry and Bus to Turkey

TURKEY

Istanbul -- Athens to Istanbul -- Greek and Turkish History / Istanbul -- Byzantine History -- Aya Sophia -- Blue Mosque / Van Cats -- Carpets -- Crazy Traffic

Cappadocia -- Nevsehir -- Turkish Hospitality / Rock Carved Houses Are Cool / Rest Day ala Flintstones / Rock Churches -- Carpets / Pots, Hair and Paranoia / Life In A Greek Mansion / Relaxing In the Mansion / Life In An Underground City

Mediterranean Coast -- Coasting on the Coast / Gravel and Sweat / Kas / More Coasting / A Bittersweet Ride / Resting Is Exhausting / Bus With No Tears / Roman Ruins of Ephesus / On the Bus Again / Start the Ferries / Blessed and Fortunate / Amsterdam – Thoughts On Terrorism – The Odds -- Home