Middle East Budget

After nine months I think I finally hit the $20,000 mark. It took only $4,000 to get me through two and a half months in the Middle East:

I already mentioned the $100 I spent in three days in Egypt at the end of February. During my five days in Cairo in April partying and sightseeing with Monique I spent another $265, including a $26 horse ride around the pyramids. Finally, the last two weeks in Egypt cost about $800, including four days of diving and lodging at the Holiday Inn Resort in Safaga ($450). That comes to a total of $1,165 over 22 days ($53/day), super-cheap even with the occasional Egyptian rip-off. Especially easy on the wallet were the ten cent falafel sandwiches and five cent bus rides.

Three separate visits to Israel added up to a bit more than a month, most of that time staying with relatives. $1,190 over 32 days ($37/day) included splitting some car rental plus gasoline costs with Leib ($185) and two nights at a resort in Eilat ($250).

A week in Istanbul with Leib and two weeks traveling around Turkey cost $1,435 ($65/day over 22 days). The round-trip flight from Israel was only $300. Food was the biggest cost after arriving, adding up to almost $400.

Finally, five days in Jordan came to $215 ($43/day), including a $20 entry fee to Petra and a dive in Aqaba ($29).