May 23, 2009 – Day 149 – Luxor, Egypt
The air was stale, hot, unmoving and the sun’s heat was beating down upon the city of Luxor in a most unforgiving manner. But as soon as my foot touched the rocking felucca tied up to a seemingly ancient dock, the air turned sweet and pleasant as if indicating what was to come. Our captain welcomed us above the Isis and introduced his first mate and youngest son, Ali Baba.
Ali Baba on the Isis
May 22, 2009 – Day 148 – Abu Simbel, Egypt
There is nothing quite like leaving on a 3AM military convoy to the Egyptian border with Sudan. We were heading to Abu Simbel, the temple complex honoring Ramses II. Abu Simbel was intended to show the Sudanese coming into Egypt that Ramses II was a not merely a fierce, strong king but a god and they in turn were mere mortals. Overall it’s an interesting sight but the view of Lake Nassr is quite stunning as well. The temple complex was moved block by block in the 1960’s to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nassr and is now housed in a giant constructed mountain.
Ramses at Abu Simbel
May 20, 2009 – Day 146 – Cairo, Egypt
Cairo has so many faces and personalities that it’s difficult to decide whether one likes it or doesn’t. Today we felt both. When spent our morning wandering through the Coptic Museum that houses some really amazing ancient pieces and the best part is that they are being cared for quite well! Unfortunately, these beautiful old things can’t be photographed so we have no way to share what we saw today.
Africa
May 19, 2009 – Day 145 – Cairo, Egypt
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is known worldwide. It holds history of not just ancient Egypt but of the world. It’s the pride of Egypt and there is even a movement to ”give Egypt back its stuff,” that is, to return to Egypt all Egyptian artifacts that are currently housed in other museums and collections around the world. With these things in mind, we expected the Egyptian Museum to be fitting of such pride and grandness entitled to such an honor.
Hieroglyphics
May 18, 2009 – Day 144 – Cairo, Egypt
En route to Giza on a stuffy, sweaty minibus, a man offered us both a Kleenex to wipe the sweat dripping from our faces. It was 105 degrees Fahrenheit and we were wilting in the miserable heat. Saben chatted with the man who, within a matter of 10 minutes, kindly invited us to visit his home before we went to the Pyramids. We gratefully declined since we were running an unfortunately tight schedule today but he would hear none of it. He took us to visit his home, a lovely beautiful and very large Egyptian home, and to meet his family, who were wonderful and endlessly hospitable.
Curls by fire
May 17, 2009 – Day 143 – Cairo, Egypt
If you’ve ever heard of the Khan Khalili market in Cairo, you’re probably familiar with the downright ridiculous things the vendors will say just to make a sale, no matter how big or small. Perhaps the one that best sums up the day we spent at the famed market was, ”Hello! How can I take your money?”
Fanta!.... now in Arabic
Taxi Rides = 123
Boat Rides = 35
Motorcycle Rides = 10
Plane Rides = 16
Bus Rides =330
Train Rides = 124
Rickshaw Rides = 98
Truck Bed Rides = 25
Rainy Days = 42
Current Rummy Score
Lin 10950, Saben 12435
