I'm still savouring the orderliness of London -- it's a far cry from Cairo.
Today I had a very typical London day....I started in Leicester Square by getting some theatre tickets for a matinee, and I spent a couple of hours in Notting Hill and the Portobello Rd market.
Sadly, I could not get ticket for my first choice, Wicked, but I did manage to get an afternoon ticket for Guys and Dolls starring...are you ready for it? ....Don Johnson from Maimi Vice fame! Who knew he could sing (sort of) and dance (somewhat)? This really isn't one of my favourite musicals, but I really enjoyed it. I think I'm having some sort of theatre addiction here...there are so many choices!
It was a good London day, busy with people bustling here and there; and lots of tourists from all over. I didn't realize London would be so crowded in January.
I'm craving some good Vancouver sushi, and sleeping in my own bed...it will all be soon enough.
Take care....
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Cairo to Bohemian Rhapsody
Thursday was a very full day for me. It started very early, at about 3:30AM Cairo time, as I woke to the buzzing of a mosquito in my hotel room. Visions of West Nile...seriously -- I do have a bite!
Thursday was the big "leave Egypt" day...our flight to London was scheduled for 9:25 AM, so of course that meant a 4:00 wake up call (seriously).
My first observation at that hour was the heavy mist and smog that was hanging over the city. Cairo is the biggest city in Africa, and I would be guessing that it is one of the most polluted in the world. My eyes were burning from the air, and I wondered what kind of pollutants I was breathing in. All of this was in sharp contrast to the sea air of Sharm el-Sheik from the previous few days.... As we drove from Giza to the airport we passed a myriad of scenes that are unique to that huge polluted and crazy place -- donkeys on the freeway, guys hanging out for a ride on the side of the road, vendors setting up shop on the freeway and endless apartment buildings that look unfinished yet have people living in them. It has given me a whole new appreciation for all that we have in Canada.
At the airport we waited...and waited and waited. There was lots of time to people watch and chat with our group. One of our small-minded people (a guy from Edmonton) got into a verbal scrap with the leader of a flamenco dance troupe from Madrid. No, I'm not kidding!!
Anyhow...5 'short' hours later I made it London. Ahhh, London. The land of order, politeness (sometimes) and good common sense. Ahhh, London.
I didn't have any set plans, but I did end up hanging out with Barb and Doug (from Calgary). We went for a bite to eat and grabbed some cheap theatre tickets for the West End. We all wanted to see We Will Rock You -- the Queen theatre extravaganza (kind of the Momma Mia for Queen fans). It was really good--amazing music and singing.
What a day....starting with my eyes burning in Cairo, and ending it singing Bohemian Rhapsody with a theatre full of people in London.
Cheerio for now...
B
Thursday was the big "leave Egypt" day...our flight to London was scheduled for 9:25 AM, so of course that meant a 4:00 wake up call (seriously).
My first observation at that hour was the heavy mist and smog that was hanging over the city. Cairo is the biggest city in Africa, and I would be guessing that it is one of the most polluted in the world. My eyes were burning from the air, and I wondered what kind of pollutants I was breathing in. All of this was in sharp contrast to the sea air of Sharm el-Sheik from the previous few days.... As we drove from Giza to the airport we passed a myriad of scenes that are unique to that huge polluted and crazy place -- donkeys on the freeway, guys hanging out for a ride on the side of the road, vendors setting up shop on the freeway and endless apartment buildings that look unfinished yet have people living in them. It has given me a whole new appreciation for all that we have in Canada.
At the airport we waited...and waited and waited. There was lots of time to people watch and chat with our group. One of our small-minded people (a guy from Edmonton) got into a verbal scrap with the leader of a flamenco dance troupe from Madrid. No, I'm not kidding!!
Anyhow...5 'short' hours later I made it London. Ahhh, London. The land of order, politeness (sometimes) and good common sense. Ahhh, London.
I didn't have any set plans, but I did end up hanging out with Barb and Doug (from Calgary). We went for a bite to eat and grabbed some cheap theatre tickets for the West End. We all wanted to see We Will Rock You -- the Queen theatre extravaganza (kind of the Momma Mia for Queen fans). It was really good--amazing music and singing.
What a day....starting with my eyes burning in Cairo, and ending it singing Bohemian Rhapsody with a theatre full of people in London.
Cheerio for now...
B
By Popular Demand....Camel Update
Undeniably, camels are strange animals. Desert dwellers, no water, moving their legs side-by-side...it's all a bit strange. As we made our way to "the Bedouin night" outing I was wondering how this would all go....I haven't ridden a horse in years, and I was guessing the motion would be different.
When we arrived into the "desert" starting point all I could see was a fleet of about 40 camels for our group. The crew that was to help get us up and running was a group of young children probably no more than 12 yrs old. The desert was kind of like gravel as opposed to silty sand. Wendy later commented that the area was the biggest camel litter box she could imagine -- complete with the excrement smells.
Let your mind set the scene....I am put in a group of three (Claudio, Amanda & me), and we follow our 10 yr old guide with confidence. I am paired up with a striking white coloured camel (let's call her Sally), who is calm by all accounts. I am told to get on, and in no time flat I'm shrieking like a school-girl as Sally the camel starts standing up. I almost went ass over tea-kettle out of the saddle.
Ok, so I'm up, we're moving in a little pack of three led by our intrepid guide. I feel that my life is in the hands of Sally and this young man, and I momentarily wonder if my travel insurance covers death by camel or any type of injury that may arise from camel riding...Hmmm. I check the time, we've been going strong for about 4 minutes and the top of my thighs are killing me. I remember that this is an adventure, and I'll probably never get to do it again....there's comfort in those thoughts....6 minutes -- I think I'll make it.
Forty-five minutes later we pull into the Bedouin tent area. I have spent much of the time metally preparing for disembarkation....Sally kneeled forward, I screamed in my inside voice, and voila, we were done. Success!
Gosh, that was only a couple of days ago -- now I'm in a completely different world.
Stay tuned for more.
B
When we arrived into the "desert" starting point all I could see was a fleet of about 40 camels for our group. The crew that was to help get us up and running was a group of young children probably no more than 12 yrs old. The desert was kind of like gravel as opposed to silty sand. Wendy later commented that the area was the biggest camel litter box she could imagine -- complete with the excrement smells.
Let your mind set the scene....I am put in a group of three (Claudio, Amanda & me), and we follow our 10 yr old guide with confidence. I am paired up with a striking white coloured camel (let's call her Sally), who is calm by all accounts. I am told to get on, and in no time flat I'm shrieking like a school-girl as Sally the camel starts standing up. I almost went ass over tea-kettle out of the saddle.
Ok, so I'm up, we're moving in a little pack of three led by our intrepid guide. I feel that my life is in the hands of Sally and this young man, and I momentarily wonder if my travel insurance covers death by camel or any type of injury that may arise from camel riding...Hmmm. I check the time, we've been going strong for about 4 minutes and the top of my thighs are killing me. I remember that this is an adventure, and I'll probably never get to do it again....there's comfort in those thoughts....6 minutes -- I think I'll make it.
Forty-five minutes later we pull into the Bedouin tent area. I have spent much of the time metally preparing for disembarkation....Sally kneeled forward, I screamed in my inside voice, and voila, we were done. Success!
Gosh, that was only a couple of days ago -- now I'm in a completely different world.
Stay tuned for more.
B
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Other Observations...
First of all, thank you all for your kind wishes for my good health. Commenting on one's well-being, and sharing wishes of good health are all very "Mr Darcy"...I love it.
For this installment of my Egypt adventure I would like to share some insight into my fellow adventurers...Let me start by sharing some of my favourites...(Fiddy and de Vife are a given, so I will not be commenting!). For starters...we have Wendy and Lorenzo from the City of Cows. We met them at YVR and I instantly knew they would be fun. I was not mistaken...they are a spirited couple that are always the life of the party. Wendy loves to shop and is not shy of haggling with the most annoying/aggressive shop-keeper.
Of the older set, my favourites are: Dale and Doreen, and Ed and Karen from southern ON; the two gals are sisters. They are absolutely delightful -- lots of fun, lots of energy. I think they feel sorry for me because I'm a "single" (LOL). Of the younger set (and I do mean younger) we have Amanda and Claudio from Edmonton. They are newly married -- took a big trip to the South Pacific last year for the honeymoon--and are quite sweet. They are traveling with Amanda's parents (which I won't comment on); They're an interesting couple. She's a striking blonde pipefitter (with her steam ticket) and she often works up in Ft McMurray (hence two big trips!!). Claudio is a pipefitter and a plumber. They probably burn money to keep their home warm. LOL. These are just a few of my faves for now....We really have a great group, and I feel fortunate to have met so many wonderful people from all over Canada.
Another challenge;
Overly attentive guy who cleans my room here at the resort. The men here are quite annoying...oh, yes arab country...reminscent of Turkey only worse. I travel around with my bitchy face on to avoid more than the regular hassle. At the resort I was not well on day one, and my housekeeper guy kept checking on me. He was trying to be kind ( I guess) and now he has just become too attentive and too annoying. I've let all my traveling companions know, and Claudio (Amanda's husband) has offered to be my chaperone....it's all just sooooo irritating. This entire country needs an etiquette and a marketing course!!
That's it for now...having 'fun' in Sharm.
Tomorrow we're back in Cairo, and then off to London on Thursday.
For this installment of my Egypt adventure I would like to share some insight into my fellow adventurers...Let me start by sharing some of my favourites...(Fiddy and de Vife are a given, so I will not be commenting!). For starters...we have Wendy and Lorenzo from the City of Cows. We met them at YVR and I instantly knew they would be fun. I was not mistaken...they are a spirited couple that are always the life of the party. Wendy loves to shop and is not shy of haggling with the most annoying/aggressive shop-keeper.
Of the older set, my favourites are: Dale and Doreen, and Ed and Karen from southern ON; the two gals are sisters. They are absolutely delightful -- lots of fun, lots of energy. I think they feel sorry for me because I'm a "single" (LOL). Of the younger set (and I do mean younger) we have Amanda and Claudio from Edmonton. They are newly married -- took a big trip to the South Pacific last year for the honeymoon--and are quite sweet. They are traveling with Amanda's parents (which I won't comment on); They're an interesting couple. She's a striking blonde pipefitter (with her steam ticket) and she often works up in Ft McMurray (hence two big trips!!). Claudio is a pipefitter and a plumber. They probably burn money to keep their home warm. LOL. These are just a few of my faves for now....We really have a great group, and I feel fortunate to have met so many wonderful people from all over Canada.
Another challenge;
Overly attentive guy who cleans my room here at the resort. The men here are quite annoying...oh, yes arab country...reminscent of Turkey only worse. I travel around with my bitchy face on to avoid more than the regular hassle. At the resort I was not well on day one, and my housekeeper guy kept checking on me. He was trying to be kind ( I guess) and now he has just become too attentive and too annoying. I've let all my traveling companions know, and Claudio (Amanda's husband) has offered to be my chaperone....it's all just sooooo irritating. This entire country needs an etiquette and a marketing course!!
That's it for now...having 'fun' in Sharm.
Tomorrow we're back in Cairo, and then off to London on Thursday.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Waking from the Dead
I think it's Monday....I woke up feeling a lot better, so I decided to go on my excursion to the Monestary of St Katherine.
It was a day-long adventure that saw us drive through a landscape that looks much like the moon. The sights included: camels, bedouin and army check-points. Our guide nattered on and on about biblical references for the site and the area. It was like a New Testament quiz at 8:00 in the morning. I tuned out somewhere around the parting of the Red Sea.
The monestary was cool. It's the centre of the Greek Orthodox Church, and the main bascilica (that our guide referred to as a cathedral) houses the relics of St Katherine (only part of her) and someone else's finger in a glass case. I always thought that if saintly body parts were 'in the house' the building was a bascilica -- non? Can someone clear this up for me.
Interjection: can't write for long. Some smooking boob has polluted the internet cafe, so I must make haste.
Smell of the day: tar and nicotine
Tomorrow-- I ride a camel. Or as Jeremy says: Camille!
Bye for now!
It was a day-long adventure that saw us drive through a landscape that looks much like the moon. The sights included: camels, bedouin and army check-points. Our guide nattered on and on about biblical references for the site and the area. It was like a New Testament quiz at 8:00 in the morning. I tuned out somewhere around the parting of the Red Sea.
The monestary was cool. It's the centre of the Greek Orthodox Church, and the main bascilica (that our guide referred to as a cathedral) houses the relics of St Katherine (only part of her) and someone else's finger in a glass case. I always thought that if saintly body parts were 'in the house' the building was a bascilica -- non? Can someone clear this up for me.
Interjection: can't write for long. Some smooking boob has polluted the internet cafe, so I must make haste.
Smell of the day: tar and nicotine
Tomorrow-- I ride a camel. Or as Jeremy says: Camille!
Bye for now!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Abu Simbel to Sharm ...where's the loo?
Hello all;
I'm finally back on line after a few days of being on the boat.
We left Cairo and flew to Aswan...it was a few days ago, I don't remember when.
All I know is that I started to feel crappy shortly thereafter.
I took a half day excursion to Abu Simbel on that day -- I was feeling fine then-- and it did not disappoint. Abu Simbel would have to be the most impressive temple or ruin I have ever seen ...and I do mean EVER!! It was well worth the effort to fly there and back. If you haven't seen it I would suggest checking it out online. To be honest I wasn't sure if it would be worth the effort, but it was spectacular. It's not like viewing the pyramids....which are really more impressive from a distance...it's got the 'wow' factor that the sphinx and pyramids are lacking (for me).
We've seen tons of sites...actually I reached my threshold somewhere between Karnack and Luxor. I've learned so much about kings and gods/goddesses...my head has been swimming. Our very excellent guide, Rhonda, provided us with an overview of each site, and she explained everything in great detail. We visited: Philae, KomOmbo, Edfu and Esna and then when we got to Luxor we visited Karnack and Luxor temple.
Cruising up the Nile....it reeks of romance and adventure?? -No. It just reeks of diesel fumes. I'm sure that this contributed to me feeling crappy. I did enjoy the actual sailing part, but I felt "off" the entire time. The best part for me was sitting on the top deck and watching the farmers in the sugar cane fields. I saw all types of working animals: donkeys, water buffalo and camels...farming here is a lot different than in Canada. The cruise was pretty good, but I'm not a good sailer -- we left the boat yesterday morning and I still feel like waves are passing thru me. It must be an inner ear thing...
Currently I'm in Sharm el-Sheik on the Red Sea. We're at a lovely resort ...the Movenpick Golf Resort...but I haven't seen much of it. Yesterday we had lunch, and then I was feeling really crappy. Most of my time here has been in bed or in the bathroom. I was certain that I would die here last night - (seriously). Richard and Cindy claim that they will not let me die here...I'll have to hold them to it!
I'm sorry this is a rushed installment of my blog, but I'm just not thinking clear enough to compose more.
Bye for now!
I'm finally back on line after a few days of being on the boat.
We left Cairo and flew to Aswan...it was a few days ago, I don't remember when.
All I know is that I started to feel crappy shortly thereafter.
I took a half day excursion to Abu Simbel on that day -- I was feeling fine then-- and it did not disappoint. Abu Simbel would have to be the most impressive temple or ruin I have ever seen ...and I do mean EVER!! It was well worth the effort to fly there and back. If you haven't seen it I would suggest checking it out online. To be honest I wasn't sure if it would be worth the effort, but it was spectacular. It's not like viewing the pyramids....which are really more impressive from a distance...it's got the 'wow' factor that the sphinx and pyramids are lacking (for me).
We've seen tons of sites...actually I reached my threshold somewhere between Karnack and Luxor. I've learned so much about kings and gods/goddesses...my head has been swimming. Our very excellent guide, Rhonda, provided us with an overview of each site, and she explained everything in great detail. We visited: Philae, KomOmbo, Edfu and Esna and then when we got to Luxor we visited Karnack and Luxor temple.
Cruising up the Nile....it reeks of romance and adventure?? -No. It just reeks of diesel fumes. I'm sure that this contributed to me feeling crappy. I did enjoy the actual sailing part, but I felt "off" the entire time. The best part for me was sitting on the top deck and watching the farmers in the sugar cane fields. I saw all types of working animals: donkeys, water buffalo and camels...farming here is a lot different than in Canada. The cruise was pretty good, but I'm not a good sailer -- we left the boat yesterday morning and I still feel like waves are passing thru me. It must be an inner ear thing...
Currently I'm in Sharm el-Sheik on the Red Sea. We're at a lovely resort ...the Movenpick Golf Resort...but I haven't seen much of it. Yesterday we had lunch, and then I was feeling really crappy. Most of my time here has been in bed or in the bathroom. I was certain that I would die here last night - (seriously). Richard and Cindy claim that they will not let me die here...I'll have to hold them to it!
I'm sorry this is a rushed installment of my blog, but I'm just not thinking clear enough to compose more.
Bye for now!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Free Day in Cairo
Today was our “tour” free day!
The bellman at the hotel arranged a driver, Abdul, for us, and our plan was to visit the Kahn al-Khalili market. Our adventure began at 10:00AM….
Driving along the streets of Cairo in car is a very different experience than driving in the comfort of a bus. Despite the millions of cars veering close, and passing us by we felt safe in the hands of Abdul….praise to Allah. Along the route into downtown Cairo we saw a range of different people, places and all sorts of crazy things. At any given moment one can see cars, trucks and livestock near by. Remarkably, the traffic moves with very little delay – despite the huge volume. I’m pretty sure there are no regular traffic lights here ….despite the 18 million inhabitants.
The visit downtown was pretty good. We started by visiting a mosque…where Richard embraced the spirit of Mohammed, it then prompted him to purchase a galabaya (traditional garb for an Egyptian man) and headdress. Praise Allah.
The market was “manageable”….which means we were only bothered every meter as opposed to every centimeter. For some reason the hawkers want to know where the shoppers are from, and then the always say, “ah, Canada Dry”….which is odd but cute all the same. We made some good purchases and eventually found our way out of the market and back to our driver.
Smell of the day: while having mint tea and enjoying the people watching we were overcome with smell of something that was ….hmmm…like body odour.
Tomorrow we’re off to Aswan at the un-holy hour of 5:00 AM….what is Allah thinking?
Till then…
The bellman at the hotel arranged a driver, Abdul, for us, and our plan was to visit the Kahn al-Khalili market. Our adventure began at 10:00AM….
Driving along the streets of Cairo in car is a very different experience than driving in the comfort of a bus. Despite the millions of cars veering close, and passing us by we felt safe in the hands of Abdul….praise to Allah. Along the route into downtown Cairo we saw a range of different people, places and all sorts of crazy things. At any given moment one can see cars, trucks and livestock near by. Remarkably, the traffic moves with very little delay – despite the huge volume. I’m pretty sure there are no regular traffic lights here ….despite the 18 million inhabitants.
The visit downtown was pretty good. We started by visiting a mosque…where Richard embraced the spirit of Mohammed, it then prompted him to purchase a galabaya (traditional garb for an Egyptian man) and headdress. Praise Allah.
The market was “manageable”….which means we were only bothered every meter as opposed to every centimeter. For some reason the hawkers want to know where the shoppers are from, and then the always say, “ah, Canada Dry”….which is odd but cute all the same. We made some good purchases and eventually found our way out of the market and back to our driver.
Smell of the day: while having mint tea and enjoying the people watching we were overcome with smell of something that was ….hmmm…like body odour.
Tomorrow we’re off to Aswan at the un-holy hour of 5:00 AM….what is Allah thinking?
Till then…
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
