In September, 2009, I visited Israel on business exploring solar sites, and took a weekend to explore Israel and another weekend to explore Cairo. There are 19 photos in this gallery, organized chronologically:

• Acre, Israel: Famous Crusader bastion, home to the Venetians, Genoese, and Knights Hospitallers as well as Richard the Lionheart, Acre was beseiged by Napoleon during his escapade in Egypt and the Levant.
• Capernaum and the Horns of Hattin, Israel: Land of Christian monuments and Crusader battlefields.
• Jerusalem.
• Pyramids at Giza.
• Cairo Citadel, Saladin's fortress.
• Cafe Riche, Cairo: Incubator of literary conversation and political conspiracies, and namesake of my favorite DC hangout circa 1999.