Snuggled up together

Like 2 birds of a feather would be

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Christmas basket

Beautiful christmas basket sent to me and my staff. It is nice to feel appreciated in an environment were we are used to such negativity. Thanks for the christmas cheer!

My car buried in Buffalo after Vacation

Not the best picture but car under 3 feet of snow in my dads drive way. We had to hire a bobcat to finish digging it out. Almsot 2 full dump truks of snow removed and hauled away

At the christmas tree farm

Looking for our tree

Cairo Day 2

Egypt Day 2


After breakfast at our hotel we headed out to visit the Citadel of Salah Al-Din and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammad Ali. As we drove the crowded streets of Cairo to reach of destination we had a very nice education of on the religion of Islam. Hmmm very different from what is presented on fox news?

Next we were off to the step pyramid of Saqqara and the Imhotep museum. Here again it was interesting to be able to enter the tomb and understand what the carving on the wall represented to see how there were so many depictions of food being brought to the soul for the afterlife.

Our journey continued to the ancient city of Memphis. This was pretty small site and we opted to cut some time from the visit there to have more type at Giza. We stopped at the Mit Rahina Museum to see the huge fallen king Rames II statue and the alabaster sphinx.

It was then time for lunch at another 5 start hotel. I should mention that every site visited, every hotel, museum etc had security check points with metal detectors and x-ray machines. Some people were annoyed by this but after all it is Egypt. This hotel actually checked under the cars and busses with a mirror before you could get to the front entrance.

After lunch was the high light of the trip. The pyramids of Giza and the sphinx. Now much to say but wow!!!!!!!!

We were warned about the vendors at the sites especially the pyramids and how they could be vultures. It turned out to be true. We were even chased by a man on a camel, but hey it made for a great picture. When driving in Egypt they do not believe in staying in their lanes. So a 3 lane road can have 5 lanes of traffic. They speak to each other by using their horns. It is crazy and very scary. But part of their culture. I am sure that this is the same in the port. Ships heading into the port in all directions, in the fog blowing their horns. It makes sense after seeing the way they drive.

Many people on the ship were turned off by all the garbage and filth in the streets. Luckily from my research and from another friend being here last years I was prepared. I was expecting it and chalked it up to culture and 20 million in one city. It was unfortunate that some could not see the beauty, friendly warm people that actually live here for the garbage in the streets. Most say they wound not return. I would. I would not see all the same sites, for there is so much more to see here. Lots of people have the Gi bug. We are not allowed to touch any of the food. We cannot even get our own coffee.

I ask who faults is this? Is it Egypt? Or people who did not bring had sanitizer with them? Drank orange juice most likely from concentrate? We were very diligent and it looks like it paid off.

I loved seeing all the people in the streets, the donkeys, water buffalo they are a part of what life is in Cairo.

I give our trip an A+++++ the only way it could have been better is if the fog lifted earlier. Maybe It gave us extra education time.

Eygpt

Egypt Day one. Nov 28 2010.


I write this as we sail hugging the coast of Libya.

We awoke to the sound of ships horns as we pulled into the port of Alexander. Very strange as we had never heard this at any other port on any other cruise. I now know why….. more on this later.

This blog is not only to update you on a travels, but to serve as a diary for us of our travels. So this portion will be lengthy. But wow what an adventure.

Our trip was delayed starting by about 2 hours due the dense sand fog and road closures. We meet our guide Abir who teaches at the Cairo University with a PhD in Egyptology, Our Driver Mohammad and our armed guard. We left in a large caravan with police in front and behind. It was a 3.5 hour ride to Cairo with the unbelievable traffic. NYC traffic it a tame country drive compared to what we experienced. Imaging going 60 miles an hour and a donkey pulled cart of carrot pulls out in front of you and the bus just swerves around it without breaking. Women in Burkas stepping in front of the bus with children in tow. Pregnant women running across 12 lanes of traffic jumping the concrete barriers in the middle. This is not a once or twice event but a common sight for 2 full days. The whole trip went by fast as Abir kept us engaged in history, culture and info on Egypt. What an incredible guide. She taught us so much as we drove from site to site.

Once we arrived in Cairo our first stop was the National museum. Abir showed us her favorite pieces as well as the most important items. I must say that his was one of the most enjoyable visits to a museum I have ever had. Do to some of the education of the bus, including photos and books, with the guides help we were able to actually read some of the hieroglyphics including a page of the “book of the dead”

Next we checked into our hotel and had lunch. We stayed at the Fairmont Four seasons Nile city. This was the fanciest hotel that we have ever stayed in. We hated to head back out for the eve.

We headed out to the Giza plateau to see the English version of the light show narrated by the Sphinx. It was an amazing night in the Sahara dessert. Warm breeze, stars in the sky very dark. Then out of the total darkness. The great pyramid and sphinx appeared. A very moving moment indeed. ( the next day we actually heard someone in our group say that he thought it was a fake stage production and not the real thing??????? AGHHHH!)

Next we were off to the pipers museum for a demonstration on how the ancient paper is made and why it holds up so well. There was store to buy some and do some other shopping as well.

The final event of the night was dinner cruise on the River Nile. We boarded our river boat and set sail. We had a nice mix for dinner of tradition mid eastern foods as well as the American like staples. We were entertained by belly dancer as well as a whirling dervish dancer. Of course you cannot forget the wonder views of the Nile.

We got to are Hotel about midnight and awaited our 6am wake up call.