Yes, there is internet on the boat.
It is free.
It is not available "this' week
Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx
This is one of my favorite images from my visit to the Giza Pyramids on Saturday morning, November 13, 2010. Watching from a distance, one can almost feel the vast emptiness of the desert as the person on camel rides past ones of the original seven wonders of the world.
Reality of course is that there are thousands of people here this morning from all over the world. A true babel as the multiple languages of us visitors blend together with the authoritative voices of our respective guides and the wonderfully charmingly perfect English (to me anyway) spoken by the ever present souvenir hawkers.
The wonder and mystery of these Great Pyramids does not disappoint.
Neither does the Great Sphinx of Giza - pictured here with the second pyramid, the one of Khafra, behind it.
And pictured here with the head of KathyL beside it (for those of you responsible for letting Marcia know she's ok) ...
And here is one tacky picture of me in front of the Great Pyramid of Khufu (aka Cheops in Greek) with one of my new good friends in the spiffy white uniform with an automatic weapon by his side (aka Tourism Police) The picture was taken by another nice young man in a spiffy white uniform with an automatic weapon by his side (and who was tipped $1 for his efforts). Just glad he shot me with the camera. (Did I mention I tipped him?)
Sunday night (11/14/2010) We are back here for the sound and light show. (Since our hotel is within sight of the pyramids, it wasn't exactly a long drive even in Cairo traffic) Best part of which was the sitting here in the cool desert evening under the stars with a sliver of moon with the Sphinx and the three Great Pyramids visible before us. It almost seems real that I'm here.
Leaving the Giza complex at night to get back on our bus, here is the street scene as we come out. City and country present many contrasts.
Reality of course is that there are thousands of people here this morning from all over the world. A true babel as the multiple languages of us visitors blend together with the authoritative voices of our respective guides and the wonderfully charmingly perfect English (to me anyway) spoken by the ever present souvenir hawkers.
The wonder and mystery of these Great Pyramids does not disappoint.
Neither does the Great Sphinx of Giza - pictured here with the second pyramid, the one of Khafra, behind it.
And pictured here with the head of KathyL beside it (for those of you responsible for letting Marcia know she's ok) ...
And here is one tacky picture of me in front of the Great Pyramid of Khufu (aka Cheops in Greek) with one of my new good friends in the spiffy white uniform with an automatic weapon by his side (aka Tourism Police) The picture was taken by another nice young man in a spiffy white uniform with an automatic weapon by his side (and who was tipped $1 for his efforts). Just glad he shot me with the camera. (Did I mention I tipped him?)
Sunday night (11/14/2010) We are back here for the sound and light show. (Since our hotel is within sight of the pyramids, it wasn't exactly a long drive even in Cairo traffic) Best part of which was the sitting here in the cool desert evening under the stars with a sliver of moon with the Sphinx and the three Great Pyramids visible before us. It almost seems real that I'm here.
Leaving the Giza complex at night to get back on our bus, here is the street scene as we come out. City and country present many contrasts.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Off the River, Through the Desert to the Red Sea We Go
published by accident - still working on ...
We left Luxor heading east about 7:15 a.m. First hour was driving along an irrigation canal which meant green, agricultural and farm animals sharing road space with buses, trucks, motorcycles & cars. This poor guy and his donkey had to move to get out of the way of our bus making a u-turn.
We left Luxor heading east about 7:15 a.m. First hour was driving along an irrigation canal which meant green, agricultural and farm animals sharing road space with buses, trucks, motorcycles & cars. This poor guy and his donkey had to move to get out of the way of our bus making a u-turn.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Things in Egypt
How things work in Egypt:
THERE IS FREE WIRELESS INTERNET ON THE SHIP
(but it's not available this week)
-- the message I tried to send a week ago
What a week!
We're back in Luxor tonight after a week viewing temples. Our guide
is soooo good that whenever we might be tempted to say "Oh, no, not
another temple" she makes us glad to climb the steps in the sun.
Truly amazing.
Currently at an internet cafe --- have a 5 a.m. breakfast in the
morning to go to the Valley of the Kings
We both miss you all (although only one of us is sitting here sweating
and squinting to get this message sent)
More soon when we get to the Red Sea (Monday)
Monday, November 15, 2010
Never Say Finished
When we arrived after dark at the Cairo airport Friday night, it was a one hour trip across the city to the hotel. From the freeway, I kept seeing miles and miles of what looked like unfinished apartment buildings with open windows. Except some of them had lights and televisions on and even more seemed to have laundry hanging out the windows.
Apparently, it is more difficult to get "permission" for building projects than to "not finish" one and just add on when so moved. Not really legal but "overlooked" except in certain parts of the city. So these unfinished apartments have people living in them and can be built upon whenever. Miles and miles and acres and acres of these. A very practical approach, actually.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Wandering in Egypt
Wandering in Egypt as living examples that all who wander are not lost.
Made it to Egypt just fine 24 plus hours after leaving home. Arrived at our hotel sometime Friday night very close to Saturday. Six hours later, we're out in the desert looking for our cruise ship.
Ok, seriously. Cruise ship doesn't leave until Monday or Tuesday. (Check out the Egypt tab above for the schedule.) A very full day today - the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx, in the morning; the Citadel with the Alabaster Mosque in the afternoon where from the top of the hill, I could hear mid-afternoon call to prayer coming from all over the city. Followed by 3 hours in the Egyptian Museum where one could spend 3 weeks and never touch half of the items they have on display. Beautiful day. Sunny. 80's. Exhausted. Leave for half day trip to Memphis in the morning.
Made it to Egypt just fine 24 plus hours after leaving home. Arrived at our hotel sometime Friday night very close to Saturday. Six hours later, we're out in the desert looking for our cruise ship.
Ok, seriously. Cruise ship doesn't leave until Monday or Tuesday. (Check out the Egypt tab above for the schedule.) A very full day today - the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx, in the morning; the Citadel with the Alabaster Mosque in the afternoon where from the top of the hill, I could hear mid-afternoon call to prayer coming from all over the city. Followed by 3 hours in the Egyptian Museum where one could spend 3 weeks and never touch half of the items they have on display. Beautiful day. Sunny. 80's. Exhausted. Leave for half day trip to Memphis in the morning.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt." -- Mark Twain
“The Sphynx is grand in its loneliness; it is imposing in its magnitude; it is impressive in the mystery that hangs over its story. And there is that in the overshadowing majesty of this eternal figure of stone, with its accusing memory of the deeds of all ages, which reveals to one something of what he shall feel when he shall stand at last in the awful presence of God.” — Mark Twain
What I Tried to Say ...
Have actually printed all travel documents and put them in a folder. Found my passport. Bought clean underwear and a toothbrush cover. Have $5's and $1's for tips. Refilled my arthritis meds for my knee. What else should I possibly be doing right now than testing texting to a blog that I may not actually use. As you may have noticed, the texting part didn't show up so well.
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