Upper Egypt

So close to the end of our program…Spring Break in Hurghada was a success maybe I’ll get around to writing a blog about it sometime =P but during Spring Break we hit our half way mark. 2 months living in Cairo…2 to go…of course for me I am staying 7 weeks later into the summer and working as an Intern with my program so the end is not as close for me but it feels like it is…This weekend we went on a Nile River Cruise from Luxor to Aswan! And now all we have is a month of classes left then we all will go our separate directions! But more about that later! Our cruise was amazing I will tell you all about it!

Early morning flight…went to bed at 12am-ish woke up at 2:30am…leaving for the airport at 4am! I need to learn to get my sleep before flights! Because not only are we flying o Luxor super early but we are also beginning our tours the same morning that we arrive at 7am! Yikes! But true to form I don’t get much sleep but sleep on the way to the airport and on the plane =)

Finally, Karnak Temple. I am an ancient Egypt buff =) or dork as some may say =D but I don’t deny it! I love ancient Egyptian history! So Karnak Temple was definitely top on my sites I wanted to see! It is a temple complex added upon by many famous Pharaohs including Ramsess II (or the Great), Hatshepsut (one of the few woman Pharaohs), and Thutmosis III (Hatshepsut’s step-son who had her likeness and name removed from her temples!). We also feel special because my Egyptology professor is showing us around the temple and is a much more legit source then others… =P

But anyways we arrive to our cruise ship just in time for buffet lunch! Lunch, laying out, reading, napping…it is a very relaxing rest of the day =) This really does feel like Spring Break part 2!  

picture from a different temple

Day 2 – Early morning again!!! Nooooo! Lol up at 6:30am for…wait for it…buffet breakfast! =) Then promptly leave for our next excursion to…the Valley of the Kings….again a bit of a history lesson for those who don’t know the Valley of the Kings is where 60 plus pharaonic  tombs are. Located on the west bank of the Nile because that is where the dead lives because it is where the Sun completes his journey across the sky and begins his nightly journey…so anyways! We go to the Valley and see some tombs =) No photography allowed though!

Next is Hatshepsut’s temple…I won’t bore you with the historical details behind this wonderful female Pharaoh but she really is an amazing topic I’d suggest for anyone who is slightly interested in ancient Egypt to look her up! In her temple we had a bit of excitement…first when we were doing our classic jump shot, the excavators on the side of the walk got mad and said we could break the stone! Fat Americans… lol so THEN me and both of the professors with us got in trouble for touching the temple! A little background…the temple is mostly newly built! They are rebuilding the temple to its former glory using the bits and pieces of the original that they had found…so all three of us clearly were touching new building parts! But they started yelling at us! Well to keep a long story short there was some yelling then everything was ok =P Not sure if they will want us back anytime soon tho!

Also, we got surrounded by small children…which was pretty scary considering I don’t like kids! =P

Good thing about having to wake up at 6:30am for breakfast and go on tours till lunch is that you get the rest of the afternoon free to do whatever you want! Well what we wanted to do was go up to the deck and get some sun, read, and swim =) So we did! I even did a couple of homework questions... =P

Dinner on the boat then early bedtime so we can be up tomorrow for our Murder Mystery game and more tours!

TO BE CONTINUED… 

Alexandria...part 2!

Well I have been really busy the past month =) Different excursions and of course class! Just had 3 midterms and turned in some papers today! Heading off to Hurghada for Spring Break tomorrow! But before I can update everyone on my AMAZING Spring Break plans I need to finish my trip to Alex!

So Day 2 in Alex...

Last night was not as relaxing as my first night...my room locked me out! It was actually pretty amusing =P The first guy I go to looks at me like I'm the classic stupid tourist who doesn't know how to open a door! (which I'm not! I promise! =P) He tries the door...doesn't open...he starts looking a little confused hehe so he goes downstairs to get another guy. This guy is clearly a door guy lol he has a tool and everything! So he tries the door...still won't budge. He takes the whole door handle mechanism off to no avail! Meanwhile I get to sit waiting on a couch holding my borrowed computer cord tired and slightly annoyed but amused as I listen to their efforts...finally a third guy comes up. This guy is a much larger guy...guess what he was here for...to break the door down! =D They finally gave up and between all three of them broke the door down! To sum it up they moved Pam and me to a new room with no heat =P

But an amazing breakfast later (Ahmed ate about 10 doughnuts...) and we are off to our next excursion! To the Alexandrian Library! Alexandria in the times of the Ptolemeys (or to those of you not in Egyptology classes lol Cleopatra times) was world renowned for learning. And the Alexandrian Library held the greatest collection in the world! Unfortunately, a nasty fire (set by Julius Caesar) burned it down. Luckily, this new library can definitely rival its predecessor!

This library was amazing and HUGE. Had many important books...and some not so important... =P

I had to get a souvenir from my trip to Alexandria! Especially from the Library! So I found this beautiful wooden ankh in the gift store =) It matches my tattoo and necklace nicely =D

Onward we go...visit some castles oh hum but the exciting visit was to the beach on the Mediterranean ocean! Normally our program takes a break from touring in Alex to go have lunch on the beach...however it was closed for construction!





The local guys felt bad that we couldn't go onto the beach so they gave us a boat ride instead! =D

I LOVE boats! I LOVE being on the sea! The cold spray of water, the unique smell of the sea, and of course the clean air =) I think I could be happy just buying a boat down in FL with my best friend, Sam, and living on it =) Maybe if my future plans fall through it will be plan B!




But all good things must come to an end. Our trip to Alex was over time to head back to Cairo. After a great lunch and lots of dessert later! We are on our way back home...to Cairo and whatever our next adventure may be. =)

Alexandria

Alexandria…

Cleopatra’s city…

Founded by Alexander the Great…  

This weekend was a big milestone for me being in Egypt. I have now been here a month and we had our first big weekend excursion, to Alex! A 3-hour bus ride from Cairo (usually ppl take the train but we didn’t want to risk not being able to come back because of the strikes on Saturday!), Alex is located on the Mediterranean Sea.

I LOVE THE SEA! The fresh air, blue skies, blue water. Its almost as good as my mountain air =P

We arrive at the Winsdor Hotel located on the sea =) When my siblings and I were growing up my mom would ask us where we wanted to travel…for my oldest sister it was actually Egypt but for me it was simply a hotel. I love hotels. So much! So as soon as we arrive I’m pretty tired because of my motion sickness medicine but everyone else goes out for dinner. I stay in…and order room service! Curled up on my King sized bed eating room service (and ice cream ;)) I feel so happy =D

A good (hotel) sleep later, Pam (my roomie) and I go up to the roof for breakfast. First I see the scrumptious breakfast buffet that is laid out then I see the breathtaking view! We were on the Mediterranean and on the roof but I was not prepared for the white buildings and giant expanse of blue skies and sea…

Off to explore Alex after a decadent breakfast. The library is closed that morning so we go off to Pompey’s pillar and the catacombs…random pillar sticking out into the sky was actually erected in honor of the first Christian emperor of Rome, Constantine.

Pam and the dead lady...

Lunch. More food! And its off to Catherine’s Cathedral. A catholic church in Egypt. It was interesting. First of all there was a dead lady covered in wax there! Weird! It wasn’t St. Catherine but some other lady whose body was covered in wax to preserve her so she could bring good luck…hmmm lol

Also, we visit a Roman Amphitheater. Cool cool but the best part was the street kitty! While everyone else attempts to get a jump shot =P I go and pet a very friendly adorable street kitty who decides he wants on my lap =D

Then we go to the fort where the Alexandrian Lighthouse (one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world) used to stand. I go up to the wall to see the water crashing against the wall and run into two of the kids on my program surrounded by arabs (mostly women) wanting their pictures taken with my friends! Lol! It was like paparazzi! They made us get of the wall because it was closing time but even going down I got asked for a picture =P 

Oh and I got to pet yet another street kitty! But this one bit me after a little bit =O Don’t worry didn’t break the skin!

Long day and more food then we could handle our trip continues the next day…

Asharaf, one of our Arabic teachers

Shangri-La

Cairo is an intense city…

The crowds…

The trash…

The smog...

The dust…

The noise…

We survived our first dust storm in Cairo last week…yes a dust storm! It is not just dirty as most big cities are but we are located in the desert! We have dust/sand everywhere! Permanently!

I’m used to the mountains of North Carolina. The clean air, quiet town, and trees all around. How can this country girl get used to living in one of the largest cities in the world!

I have found the answer…my own little piece of paradise, Safir Hotel.

This extremely posh hotel is located in the middle of Cairo, conveniently a 15 second walk from my apartment…

My program has a special deal with their Health Club/Spa. So I now have a gym membership there with full access to their gym, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and most importantly showers!

Peaceful, tranquil, quiet, clean, beautiful…

This is now my escape whenever I am feeling stressed or culture shocked…

Go to the gym, work out, spend forever in the spa area, and read curled up in a chair in the lobby listening to a violin player =)

Safir is also a great place to treat ourselves to a nice dinner, drink, and some shopping for a girls night when we need one =)

Anniversary

It is the anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution. It began last year on the new holiday, Police Day, and ended with the President (/tyrant) of Egypt stepping down 18 days later. Jan. 25, 2011…

But not only is it the anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution but also the anniversary of my stay in Egypt last year. I was studying abroad last year in January in Cairo. So excited to finally be living out of the States, looking forward to learning Egyptology, and slightly overwhelmed with being there =P My 3^rd week there we got a day off of classes and we were all looking forward to going out and sleeping in =) Little did we know that the peaceful demonstrations on Police Day would lead to a revolution!

A few days later we went to the boy’s AP (It is now the girl’s AP, and where I am living) for a Egyptian cooking lesson and then we were not allowed to leave for 4 days until we were evacuated to Greece and from there I went back to the States and lived at home for a semester…

Things had finally calmed down enough by the summer of 2011 that my program decided it was safe to reopen the program for Spring 2012…I immediately signed up! So here I am again, living in Cairo.

But don’t be fooled. This country is still unstable. Unfortunately, power corrupts. The military that the people loved when they took power last spring have not lived up to the people’s expectations. Free elections to elect a civilian leader still have not taken place, so the Egyptian people take to the streets once again in protest…

Hooreayah = Freedom

                                                 


There are deaths and violent conflicts but most of Cairo is peaceful, calm, and safe. So no need to worry! I respect the Egyptian people and their struggle for freedom but I know it is not my fight. Insha’allah (God Willing) the people will prevail and democracy will finally begin in Egypt =)

It is officially, now, the longest I have ever been in Egypt/abroad! I am beginning my 4^th week in this amazing city and even though I am remembering the past I am also looking forward to the future!