Camel, Niweba, Egypt

Red Sea & Saudi Mountains, Dahab, Egypt

Lantern, Cairo, Egypt

Fishing, Istanbul, Turkey

Nasr & Abdul, Niweba, Egypt

Wailing Wall Boys, Jerusalem, Israel

2010. I was 27 when I showed up alone in the Middle East, with only plans to see Turkey, certain the rest of the area was "too dangerous" for a Western woman.  "Go to Egypt! I stayed in the same beach town for 6 weeks!" My hostel roommate in Antalya seemed normal enough, so I threw to the wind & took her advice.  Arriving at the Cairo baggage claim, I saw the man who had been sitting next to me on the flight; "Welcome home," he said through a smile.  And I did find a large part of myself in those sands with all their religion, politics & exotica.