No Egypt trip this year...

Egypt is on hold this year, folks. Kellen gently brought me back from giddy, travel brochure heaven with a reminder that he needs to write a thesis at some point.

The thing is, I've wanted to go to Egypt since I was a very wee child. I wanted to be an egyptologist, one who studies ancient egypt for a living. So when the time came to get a grown-up job and resign myself to two weeks of vacation a year, my consolation was that at least I could travel somewhere cool during those two weeks. Like Egypt.

But maybe it's not worth going broke just yet trying to get there as soon as possible? Kellen is eager to spend some time in Europe with me after he finishes his field work, and that actually sounds like a great idea. It will be cheaper for us and really a bit more relaxed, we won't need to plan the hell out of that trip. So for Vacation 2008 we're going to truck around some European countries in September, don't know where yet but I suspect it's going to be awesome.

Here is why I am pretty excited about deferring Egypt until 2009: this allows more time for some of our favorite people to mull over a trip like that, and save up to join us! Maybe vacationing with us doesn't sound like the best time in the world, fair enough. But maybe some of you are thinking that could be awesome? Because, seriously, what in the world could possibly be better than f***ing Egypt?! Also, a side trip to Jordan and the Dead Sea is in the works along with that.

So friends and neighbors, think about it. Egypt in 2009? Come on...do it! Some ballpark numbers: the tour we want to go on (right now anyway, but we're totally flexible) is a 12 day Egypt/Petra adventure with a Nile cruise, most meals and airfare from New York and back, running about $3500 per person. Really, not too shabby.

I'd post some photos as incentive, but I haven't been there yet. I know it's going to be phenomenal, though.