And for one Wheeling man, the violence and protests are exceptionally unnerving to watch. His mother is in Egypt with a travel group -- one of more than 2,000 Americans trying to get back home safely.

Brendan Leary said he hasn't spoken directly with his mother since she departed for Egypt and has been relying on bits of information about her safety and travel through the travel company's blog.

Leary said he's staying positive she will make it back safely.

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Leary said his mother, Doris, lives in Charleston, but is also a savvy world traveler, adding she's gone to Russia, China, Australia and the Czech Republic.

But Doris Leary's latest trip put her in the heart of protests and possible violence. She left on Friday, the day the unrest erupted, and that was the last time he spoke directly with her. Brendan said she has no cell phone communication but has made a couple of brief calls to family from a landline. The company she is traveling with has been working frantically to get the tour group home, he said.

"On Sunday, we heard that it was going to be on Monday, and then again today, we hear it's going to be tomorrow," he said.

One night, the protests prevented the group from getting back to their hotel after a day of sightseeing. Leary learned the group was forced to find last-minute temporary accommodations.

"And then the next day it was our understanding that the company was able to hire more armed guards and they were able to escort the folks on the tour back to the original hotel so they could retrieve their belongings," Brendan said.

Watching the coverage on TV has become more and more nerve-racking as the protests have intensified.

"You're kind of torn between wanting information but when you receive the information, not being real happy about the information and then trying to deny it, I guess, and not wanting to see it," Leary said.

The last Leary had heard, his mother's tour group was going to be flown to Europe and would have to make their way home from there. Doris was one of 2,400 Americans that the U.S. State Department said are trying to evacuate.

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