Here's a short video. I'm not sure if anyone is still checking back here for further writing or pictures/videos. As much time as I've had, I just haven't gotten around to writing any more.
Anyways, here's the first video that I've uploaded.
Again, if anyone wants cd's of the pictures/videos I took, let me know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w7XpE-b8EQ
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Home again
I made it back home in one piece alhamdulillah!! lol
Flying when you're sick isn't fun, but I guess 19 hours of flying is never that fun.
I think my mind is still trying to catch up with my body. The body is pooped but the mind is awake. It's 1:20 a.m. and I've been home for an hour but I don't think I'm that close to sleep. I made a trip to the grocery store, forgetting that it was colder here (43 F right now) than in Cairo and I just had a shirt on and no jacket or sweater. lol Silly me.
Alright, like I mentioned, I will post some more things about Egypt, but I'm not sure when I will post it all.
Thanks to all those who kept up with my "adventures".
=)
Flying when you're sick isn't fun, but I guess 19 hours of flying is never that fun.
I think my mind is still trying to catch up with my body. The body is pooped but the mind is awake. It's 1:20 a.m. and I've been home for an hour but I don't think I'm that close to sleep. I made a trip to the grocery store, forgetting that it was colder here (43 F right now) than in Cairo and I just had a shirt on and no jacket or sweater. lol Silly me.
Alright, like I mentioned, I will post some more things about Egypt, but I'm not sure when I will post it all.
Thanks to all those who kept up with my "adventures".
=)
Saturday, November 10, 2007
A bird pooped on my head!
If that isn't a fitting title for my last post from Egypt..... well, yeah I guess it isn't, but, it did happen today.
We were shopping at the khan al khalili (outdoor shopping area) and we were underneath a tree that was full of birds merrily chirping away. It was really nice to listen to and I was enjoying it, and I felt something plop on my head. I was hoping it was just a piece of the tree, like a leaf or something, but when I asked Ahmed, he said it was poop. So, we wiped it off and all was well.
We did *alot* of shopping today. All in all, we were in pursuit of shopping for about 6 hours. Unfortunately, there were some things I needed to get that I couldn't find, and I'm not happy about that, but what can you do?
I was sad when we were walking around. I almost cried a couple of times just thinking about how much I wasn't ready to leave this place yet. There's still too much I haven't done. Five weeks isn't enough to even scratch the surface of a place like Cairo. Well, two of those weeks were in Alexandria. But still... I hope to be back at some point next year, though we don't have any definite plans just yet. Insha'Allah it won't be too long.
My flight will be leaving in about 12 hours from now. It's hard to believe. I'm not packed yet. I'm pretty sure I have more to bring home than I have room in my suitcases but we shall see about that. I hope I don't have to have anything shipped home!
There is much more to post, but I will do it from home in the states. It seems a little strange to be thinking about posting after I'm home, but I just couldn't get it all done here.
Well, so long from Egypt.
Assalamu alaykum
We were shopping at the khan al khalili (outdoor shopping area) and we were underneath a tree that was full of birds merrily chirping away. It was really nice to listen to and I was enjoying it, and I felt something plop on my head. I was hoping it was just a piece of the tree, like a leaf or something, but when I asked Ahmed, he said it was poop. So, we wiped it off and all was well.
We did *alot* of shopping today. All in all, we were in pursuit of shopping for about 6 hours. Unfortunately, there were some things I needed to get that I couldn't find, and I'm not happy about that, but what can you do?
I was sad when we were walking around. I almost cried a couple of times just thinking about how much I wasn't ready to leave this place yet. There's still too much I haven't done. Five weeks isn't enough to even scratch the surface of a place like Cairo. Well, two of those weeks were in Alexandria. But still... I hope to be back at some point next year, though we don't have any definite plans just yet. Insha'Allah it won't be too long.
My flight will be leaving in about 12 hours from now. It's hard to believe. I'm not packed yet. I'm pretty sure I have more to bring home than I have room in my suitcases but we shall see about that. I hope I don't have to have anything shipped home!
There is much more to post, but I will do it from home in the states. It seems a little strange to be thinking about posting after I'm home, but I just couldn't get it all done here.
Well, so long from Egypt.
Assalamu alaykum
Friday, November 9, 2007
Time flies!
Well, we had a nice day today alhamdulillah.
We went to the house of one of Ahmed's aunts today for lunch. She has 4 kids (2 girls and a set of boy twins) but only 3 of the kids were there. Also, Ahmed's aunt from Kuwait who was with us for dinner last night came as well.
They really know how to make you feel welcome here in Egypt. Everyone has been so accomodating of me not eating meat that I've never had to worry about it and I'm often quite stuffed when we visit someone as they want to feed you so much! Well, also, I have a small stomach as I'm used to eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of just two big meals like many here do.
Anyways, the visit was really nice. His family is just so *nice*! lol
I tried chicken again and fish. There were a couple of things that had ground beef and I just scraped the beef out and it was fine. And we had konafa for dessert, made with honey instead of cheese or nuts. It was just the right amount of sweet and really nice. I do love kanafa. *sigh*
After we had lunch we headed out so that I could meet a friend from online who lives here in Egypt. I was a little nervous when I got to her door, all of a sudden thinking, "What am I going to say???", but it was a really nice visit and I'm so happy that I had a chance to stop by. Also, I tried a persimmon for the first time while I was at her place. lol The taste was nice but it was a bit mushy.
Actually I felt so at home in her apartment. It was really nice and not decorated in Egyptian style (not that Egyptian style is bad, just different than what I'm used to). More like I'm used to from home and in a taste that I like as well, so I felt really comfortable there.
We stopped at a place near home to look for some clothes but I couldn't find anything I liked, so we'll look some more tomorrow insha'Allah.
Tomorrow will be a busy day and we have some irons in the fire that we're not sure how they will turn out but if they turn out good then I will have some nice news.
That's it for now.
There's always more on my mind and thoughts and sights to post about, but never seems to be enough time.
I hope to really get alot of this stuff down in the next week or so though insha'Allah.
Happy weekend everyone!
=)
We went to the house of one of Ahmed's aunts today for lunch. She has 4 kids (2 girls and a set of boy twins) but only 3 of the kids were there. Also, Ahmed's aunt from Kuwait who was with us for dinner last night came as well.
They really know how to make you feel welcome here in Egypt. Everyone has been so accomodating of me not eating meat that I've never had to worry about it and I'm often quite stuffed when we visit someone as they want to feed you so much! Well, also, I have a small stomach as I'm used to eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of just two big meals like many here do.
Anyways, the visit was really nice. His family is just so *nice*! lol
I tried chicken again and fish. There were a couple of things that had ground beef and I just scraped the beef out and it was fine. And we had konafa for dessert, made with honey instead of cheese or nuts. It was just the right amount of sweet and really nice. I do love kanafa. *sigh*
After we had lunch we headed out so that I could meet a friend from online who lives here in Egypt. I was a little nervous when I got to her door, all of a sudden thinking, "What am I going to say???", but it was a really nice visit and I'm so happy that I had a chance to stop by. Also, I tried a persimmon for the first time while I was at her place. lol The taste was nice but it was a bit mushy.
Actually I felt so at home in her apartment. It was really nice and not decorated in Egyptian style (not that Egyptian style is bad, just different than what I'm used to). More like I'm used to from home and in a taste that I like as well, so I felt really comfortable there.
We stopped at a place near home to look for some clothes but I couldn't find anything I liked, so we'll look some more tomorrow insha'Allah.
Tomorrow will be a busy day and we have some irons in the fire that we're not sure how they will turn out but if they turn out good then I will have some nice news.
That's it for now.
There's always more on my mind and thoughts and sights to post about, but never seems to be enough time.
I hope to really get alot of this stuff down in the next week or so though insha'Allah.
Happy weekend everyone!
=)
It's late!
Just a quick post as it's after 1 a.m. and I'm a bit tired.
We had a long but good day alhamdulillah!
We went to Al Azhar and I got my "official" certificate of shahadah (declaring my faith as Islam).
The traffic going there took about 45 minutes and coming back took 50 minutes. And this was not quick moving traffic, it was just stop and stare and sit around waiting for who knows what. I guess there are just too many people on the roads here.
Then tonight we went to Ahmed's cousins house for dinner. Well, Ahmed's parents and brother and sister and Ahmed and I. His cousin is married with a son and daughter so there were 11 of us (including Ahmed's aunt from Kuwait).
They live in an area on the top of a hill and it's called muqatam (I know I spelled that wrong). Anyways, they have a really nice house (they call them villas here) and the dinner was really great. She made me a sweet and sour vegetable dish and some other dishes as well for me specially since I don't eat meat!
Ahmed's whole family has been so nice and welcoming and I really feel at home here.
Oh yeah, it took an hour and twenty minutes to get to his cousin's house but only 25 minutes to get back home. The traffic there was just horrendous and I'm glad we don't have to drive in that all the time!
Tomorrow, it will be lunch for Ahmed and I with another aunt of his and then we will meet a friend of mine that I know from online. It should be nice insha'Allah.
And then perhaps some more shopping tomorrow as well. We'll see.
Okay! Enough for now
Everyone smile!!!
We had a long but good day alhamdulillah!
We went to Al Azhar and I got my "official" certificate of shahadah (declaring my faith as Islam).
The traffic going there took about 45 minutes and coming back took 50 minutes. And this was not quick moving traffic, it was just stop and stare and sit around waiting for who knows what. I guess there are just too many people on the roads here.
Then tonight we went to Ahmed's cousins house for dinner. Well, Ahmed's parents and brother and sister and Ahmed and I. His cousin is married with a son and daughter so there were 11 of us (including Ahmed's aunt from Kuwait).
They live in an area on the top of a hill and it's called muqatam (I know I spelled that wrong). Anyways, they have a really nice house (they call them villas here) and the dinner was really great. She made me a sweet and sour vegetable dish and some other dishes as well for me specially since I don't eat meat!
Ahmed's whole family has been so nice and welcoming and I really feel at home here.
Oh yeah, it took an hour and twenty minutes to get to his cousin's house but only 25 minutes to get back home. The traffic there was just horrendous and I'm glad we don't have to drive in that all the time!
Tomorrow, it will be lunch for Ahmed and I with another aunt of his and then we will meet a friend of mine that I know from online. It should be nice insha'Allah.
And then perhaps some more shopping tomorrow as well. We'll see.
Okay! Enough for now
Everyone smile!!!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Sleeeepy
I don't know why but I'm so tired today!
We got up by 11 and I got showered and ready, but instead of going to Al Azhar as planned, we decided to do that tomorrow and we would just go shopping today. But, we decided to have lunch first (around 2:30, and that was early by usual standards of 4 or 5 p.m. for lunch) and then go shopping around 5 or later.
After lunch we had a nap. I really wasn't intending to have one but Ahmed wanted to lay down so I said I would lay down for just a bit and then I was going to use the computer. However, I guess sleep had other plans for me, as we woke up to his cell phone ringing at 4:45!
So, Ahmed is off picking up some stuff from a shipping company (some of the stuff we had with us in Alex, he shipped back to Cairo with a shipping company so we didn't have to carry so much), and after he's done, he'll pick me up and then off we go!
I have some shopping to do for friends in the states (per request, and I don't mind). I hope I can get the right stuff and that they'll like it. And I have shopping for me to do as well. :D
We decided to stay here at Ahmed's parent's house for the rest of my stay. His mom and sister were sad that I'll be leaving in a few days and wanted us to stay here, and I am happy with staying here, as I'll miss them as well.
So, I told Ahmed, since we weren't staying in a seperate apartment, he would have more money to spend on me for shopping. Yay! lol
I think tomorrow we'll go to Al Azhar in the morning, and then to the khan al khalili after that. It's a shopping area but it's all outdoors, but because of canopies and such, it almost seems like it's inside. We went for a short bit before we went to Alexandria and I really liked it. I'll do some shopping for family and myself I suppose. And I will try to get some pictures of it. I really liked the atmosphere.
Speaking of pictures, I will probably upload alot of the videos to youtube, but I don't know who wants to see them and if everyone has high speed internet. If anyone wants the videos/pictures on a cd after I get home, and they are not within hand delivery area, let me know (send me an email with current mailing address) and I can just snail mail a cd with vids/pics.
My son told me that the time went forward last weekend. I guess I can look forward to shorter darker days when I get back. Fall and winter are here for sure! I just got hungry for pumpkin pie thinking about that. lol
Yum!
Speaking of yum, today mom made rice and artichoke hearts in a white sauce for lunch. Well, that was what I had. The meat eaters will also have kofta which is meat in a red sauce (though there could be different ways to make kofta, I'm not sure?).
The artichoke hearts were so yummy, I really love them. I'm not sure what was in the sauce but I don't think it was much. Flour and lemon and some kind of liquid, perhaps milk or some butter.
But I was definitely full when I finished eating.
As promised the weather is cooler today and I'm thankful for that!
Now, off to get ready to go shopping.
Adios mi amigos!
We got up by 11 and I got showered and ready, but instead of going to Al Azhar as planned, we decided to do that tomorrow and we would just go shopping today. But, we decided to have lunch first (around 2:30, and that was early by usual standards of 4 or 5 p.m. for lunch) and then go shopping around 5 or later.
After lunch we had a nap. I really wasn't intending to have one but Ahmed wanted to lay down so I said I would lay down for just a bit and then I was going to use the computer. However, I guess sleep had other plans for me, as we woke up to his cell phone ringing at 4:45!
So, Ahmed is off picking up some stuff from a shipping company (some of the stuff we had with us in Alex, he shipped back to Cairo with a shipping company so we didn't have to carry so much), and after he's done, he'll pick me up and then off we go!
I have some shopping to do for friends in the states (per request, and I don't mind). I hope I can get the right stuff and that they'll like it. And I have shopping for me to do as well. :D
We decided to stay here at Ahmed's parent's house for the rest of my stay. His mom and sister were sad that I'll be leaving in a few days and wanted us to stay here, and I am happy with staying here, as I'll miss them as well.
So, I told Ahmed, since we weren't staying in a seperate apartment, he would have more money to spend on me for shopping. Yay! lol
I think tomorrow we'll go to Al Azhar in the morning, and then to the khan al khalili after that. It's a shopping area but it's all outdoors, but because of canopies and such, it almost seems like it's inside. We went for a short bit before we went to Alexandria and I really liked it. I'll do some shopping for family and myself I suppose. And I will try to get some pictures of it. I really liked the atmosphere.
Speaking of pictures, I will probably upload alot of the videos to youtube, but I don't know who wants to see them and if everyone has high speed internet. If anyone wants the videos/pictures on a cd after I get home, and they are not within hand delivery area, let me know (send me an email with current mailing address) and I can just snail mail a cd with vids/pics.
My son told me that the time went forward last weekend. I guess I can look forward to shorter darker days when I get back. Fall and winter are here for sure! I just got hungry for pumpkin pie thinking about that. lol
Yum!
Speaking of yum, today mom made rice and artichoke hearts in a white sauce for lunch. Well, that was what I had. The meat eaters will also have kofta which is meat in a red sauce (though there could be different ways to make kofta, I'm not sure?).
The artichoke hearts were so yummy, I really love them. I'm not sure what was in the sauce but I don't think it was much. Flour and lemon and some kind of liquid, perhaps milk or some butter.
But I was definitely full when I finished eating.
As promised the weather is cooler today and I'm thankful for that!
Now, off to get ready to go shopping.
Adios mi amigos!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Back in Cairo
Back in Cairo and happy to be so alhamdulillah.
Except for the fact that I'm being eaten alive by mosquitos. I only got 2 bites in the two weeks we were in Alexandria.
Mom made mashi for dinner (vegetables stuffed with a rice mixture) and it was really good and I ate too much!
That was four hours ago though and I guess I'll want a snack before bed. lol
I swear if I lived in this house I would get toooo fat!
Well, that's it for the day. I'm on dial-up and I don't want to take too long on the computer.
I'll try to post more tomorrow.
Oh yeah. It's hot here!! Isn't this November?? Thankfully I'm told that the weather will cool off starting tomorrow.
I hope everyone is well and my love to you all.
Except for the fact that I'm being eaten alive by mosquitos. I only got 2 bites in the two weeks we were in Alexandria.
Mom made mashi for dinner (vegetables stuffed with a rice mixture) and it was really good and I ate too much!
That was four hours ago though and I guess I'll want a snack before bed. lol
I swear if I lived in this house I would get toooo fat!
Well, that's it for the day. I'm on dial-up and I don't want to take too long on the computer.
I'll try to post more tomorrow.
Oh yeah. It's hot here!! Isn't this November?? Thankfully I'm told that the weather will cool off starting tomorrow.
I hope everyone is well and my love to you all.
Monday, November 5, 2007
So long Alexandria
Well, it's only 4 and I'm here at the cafe that has the keyboards that don't work so well. The place I like was full.
Ahmed is off at the train station buying our tickets for the trip back to Cairo tomorrow. There are actually different trains for the different classes. It cost us 50 pounds to go from Cairo to Alexandria on first class. I guess it will cost the same going back. The trains are nice enough. They have a/c and bathrooms (I'm not sure how nice they are) and the seats recline a little bit I think and they have footrests. During stops, vendors hop on the train and try to sell you food. There's also a regular drink cart that goes while the train is running.
I took some video out the train window on the way to Alexandria. I guess I'll try to take some more on the way back to Cairo. There's a lot of green areas and farming between the two cities.
I'm having some stomach issues. Not sure what it's from. Possibly parasites? I've been careful not to drink the water, but I do brush my teeth with it. And there's a chance I just ate something that didn't sit right. Who knows. But I hope it gets better before I have to fly home. Being nauseated while flying for 17 hours doesn't sound like all that much fun!
Oddly enough, I've been sick in one way or another for most of my trip here. Mostly it hasn't bothered me too much. The cough was getting old but that finally left. Though there is still some ranges in my voice that I don't have back yet. I guess my lungs really took a beating?
We were watching a movie in the bedroom the night before last. It was half past midnight. And yelling started outside. Not just "normal" yelling, but knock down drug out bar brawl kinda yelling. Except there was no bar and no alcohol involved (I'm fairly sure about that).
Ahmed tried to hear what was going on. Apparently, some guy wanted to park in a spot on the street and the building maintenance guy wouldn't let him, so the driver punched or kicked or hit the maintenance guy. Well, after that, I guess there must have been at least 10 people (at a minimum, really) out there all yelling at each other. Including the wife of the driver (I think, I can't remember). It was so loud and honestly I was slightly freaked out. I could hear the anger in their voices. But maybe I'm just not used to hearing people yell. I can't remember how long it lasted, but at least 10 or 15 minutes.
The next day, as we were walking to the net cafe, the group had gathered up again to start the fight back up. Though it was a little more sane. However, people had gathered to watch and listen. Which seems odd. Really, there are some crazy people here. lol
The one thing I will miss about the neighborhood that we're in is the bird that sounds like a slide whistle. It's really nice to hear. Other than that, the neighborhood could pretty much disappear and I think everyone would be better off!!!
I will miss the walks along the corniche. And the cafe that we sat at while Ahmed induldged in some shisha.
We never made it down to feed the cats on the corniche. We didn't make it to the fort. Or the museum.
I guess we could have done something today if my stomach wasn't so "off".
Well I think after this I'm home for the evening. I don't think walking is a great idea. At least my stomach is telling me that.
We'll be busy in Cairo. I have shopping to do (for myself and others), meet up with a friend from online, have dinner at Ahmed's cousins house (kind of another small wedding party for us), go to Al Azhar, etc., etc.
I'm happy that we'll stay with Ahmed's family tomorrow night before we stay at another apartment for the rest of my stay. I miss his family and I'll be happy to see them again.
Okay, honestly I rambled too much today.
I hope everyone had a great weekend!
=)
Ahmed is off at the train station buying our tickets for the trip back to Cairo tomorrow. There are actually different trains for the different classes. It cost us 50 pounds to go from Cairo to Alexandria on first class. I guess it will cost the same going back. The trains are nice enough. They have a/c and bathrooms (I'm not sure how nice they are) and the seats recline a little bit I think and they have footrests. During stops, vendors hop on the train and try to sell you food. There's also a regular drink cart that goes while the train is running.
I took some video out the train window on the way to Alexandria. I guess I'll try to take some more on the way back to Cairo. There's a lot of green areas and farming between the two cities.
I'm having some stomach issues. Not sure what it's from. Possibly parasites? I've been careful not to drink the water, but I do brush my teeth with it. And there's a chance I just ate something that didn't sit right. Who knows. But I hope it gets better before I have to fly home. Being nauseated while flying for 17 hours doesn't sound like all that much fun!
Oddly enough, I've been sick in one way or another for most of my trip here. Mostly it hasn't bothered me too much. The cough was getting old but that finally left. Though there is still some ranges in my voice that I don't have back yet. I guess my lungs really took a beating?
We were watching a movie in the bedroom the night before last. It was half past midnight. And yelling started outside. Not just "normal" yelling, but knock down drug out bar brawl kinda yelling. Except there was no bar and no alcohol involved (I'm fairly sure about that).
Ahmed tried to hear what was going on. Apparently, some guy wanted to park in a spot on the street and the building maintenance guy wouldn't let him, so the driver punched or kicked or hit the maintenance guy. Well, after that, I guess there must have been at least 10 people (at a minimum, really) out there all yelling at each other. Including the wife of the driver (I think, I can't remember). It was so loud and honestly I was slightly freaked out. I could hear the anger in their voices. But maybe I'm just not used to hearing people yell. I can't remember how long it lasted, but at least 10 or 15 minutes.
The next day, as we were walking to the net cafe, the group had gathered up again to start the fight back up. Though it was a little more sane. However, people had gathered to watch and listen. Which seems odd. Really, there are some crazy people here. lol
The one thing I will miss about the neighborhood that we're in is the bird that sounds like a slide whistle. It's really nice to hear. Other than that, the neighborhood could pretty much disappear and I think everyone would be better off!!!
I will miss the walks along the corniche. And the cafe that we sat at while Ahmed induldged in some shisha.
We never made it down to feed the cats on the corniche. We didn't make it to the fort. Or the museum.
I guess we could have done something today if my stomach wasn't so "off".
Well I think after this I'm home for the evening. I don't think walking is a great idea. At least my stomach is telling me that.
We'll be busy in Cairo. I have shopping to do (for myself and others), meet up with a friend from online, have dinner at Ahmed's cousins house (kind of another small wedding party for us), go to Al Azhar, etc., etc.
I'm happy that we'll stay with Ahmed's family tomorrow night before we stay at another apartment for the rest of my stay. I miss his family and I'll be happy to see them again.
Okay, honestly I rambled too much today.
I hope everyone had a great weekend!
=)
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Less than a week!
Well, as the day is almost done here, it is less than a week til I come home! boohoo!!!
We had a really nice day yesterday. We left the apartment around 3 in the afternoon and walked west on the corniche for about half an hour til we got to a beach area that looked nice. We went down and just sat and watched the sea and talked until the sun set at just after 5. *sigh*
After that we walked/took a taxi down to starbucks and Ahmed tried a frappuccino. He liked it but I guess it won't be a regular on his menu. Mostly because I don't know if they have a starbucks in Cairo. I think they do, but anyways, I don't guess he'll become addicted like most of America seems to have.
On the way home, we stopped and got some sweets at a bakery called La Poire. I guess that means pear in French? Ahmed said it's his favorite bakery and I can certainly understand why. We got a couple of boxes of pastries for breakfasts. Yum. I had a croissant and some other little things for breakfast this morning.
After that we stopped by a restaurant called GAD on our way back to the apartment. I got a pizza that was horribly greasy. Yuck. And Ahmed got some stuffed grape leaves (I'm blanking on what they're called at the moment, but I don't like them), and some more chicken shawerma. I decided that I really like the shawerma and it's possible I'll even eat it if I can find any back in the states. I am shocked. Meat. But still, it's so good, if you had some you'd understand. It's meat that been roasting on a spit for hours and hours and they put in some tomato and bell pepper and spices and either wrap it up in a tortilla like thing, or put it in a roll. If you ever get a chance to try it, you should. Yum yum yum!
We didn't leave the house til 9:45 tonight. Is it bad to be that lazy? lol
The only thing that really bothers me about that is that I miss the daylight and all the days start to run together into some weird twilight everlasting night.
Tomorrow will be our last full day in Alexandria. We might go to the fort but I'm not sure. Then we're leaving Tuesday morning for Cairo. We made a list today of things we need to do when we're back in Cairo insha'Allah. I hope we can get it all done.
One of Ahmed's friends called yesterday and said it was hot in Cairo. I hope it cools down by the time we get back. It's still been humid here in Alexandria but not so bad.
Okay, that's it for today.
Not sure if I'll post tomorrow night or when.
love to you all.
We had a really nice day yesterday. We left the apartment around 3 in the afternoon and walked west on the corniche for about half an hour til we got to a beach area that looked nice. We went down and just sat and watched the sea and talked until the sun set at just after 5. *sigh*
After that we walked/took a taxi down to starbucks and Ahmed tried a frappuccino. He liked it but I guess it won't be a regular on his menu. Mostly because I don't know if they have a starbucks in Cairo. I think they do, but anyways, I don't guess he'll become addicted like most of America seems to have.
On the way home, we stopped and got some sweets at a bakery called La Poire. I guess that means pear in French? Ahmed said it's his favorite bakery and I can certainly understand why. We got a couple of boxes of pastries for breakfasts. Yum. I had a croissant and some other little things for breakfast this morning.
After that we stopped by a restaurant called GAD on our way back to the apartment. I got a pizza that was horribly greasy. Yuck. And Ahmed got some stuffed grape leaves (I'm blanking on what they're called at the moment, but I don't like them), and some more chicken shawerma. I decided that I really like the shawerma and it's possible I'll even eat it if I can find any back in the states. I am shocked. Meat. But still, it's so good, if you had some you'd understand. It's meat that been roasting on a spit for hours and hours and they put in some tomato and bell pepper and spices and either wrap it up in a tortilla like thing, or put it in a roll. If you ever get a chance to try it, you should. Yum yum yum!
We didn't leave the house til 9:45 tonight. Is it bad to be that lazy? lol
The only thing that really bothers me about that is that I miss the daylight and all the days start to run together into some weird twilight everlasting night.
Tomorrow will be our last full day in Alexandria. We might go to the fort but I'm not sure. Then we're leaving Tuesday morning for Cairo. We made a list today of things we need to do when we're back in Cairo insha'Allah. I hope we can get it all done.
One of Ahmed's friends called yesterday and said it was hot in Cairo. I hope it cools down by the time we get back. It's still been humid here in Alexandria but not so bad.
Okay, that's it for today.
Not sure if I'll post tomorrow night or when.
love to you all.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Yay it's Friday
Actually, when you're on vacation, everyday is pretty much Saturday. Sorry!!! =)
Ahmed went out this afternoon and got some fish/shrimps and rice for himself for lunch. I had some of the rice but only a small bite of fish and NO shrimp. I had some ramen, which before coming to Egypt, I hadn't eaten in years. However, it's fast and easy and fills me up.
When we were at the grocery store the other day I found something which is not quite a cookie but more than a cracker. I guess maybe they're British? But they're called digestives. I really like them and I'm hoping I can find them when I'm back home. Anyways, I had some of those too.
Actually... lol... my breakfast this morning consisted of 2 of the "digestives", an Egyptian banana and some chips! How's that for healthy.
However, it isn't always that bad.
And one morning Ahmed made me french toast. I can't remember if I wrote about that or not?
He has a friend who works in import/export and somehow the subject of french toast came up. I guess his friend had heard about it and wanted to know if I knew about it. So Ahmed and I talked about it and Ahmed thought it sounded good and wanted to try it, but understandably, they don't have maple syrup here in Egypt on every store shelf. I doubt if they import it at all actually.
So, I made sure to bring a small bottle of maple syrup with me on my trip, and Ahmed finally had "real" french toast.
I thought we would make it together but it ended up that he made it and served me in bed. How nice is that? :D
He had made it several times before my trip, but just used other stuff on top instead of the syrup. Apparently it tastes okay with jelly, but not quite as good as syrup.
I think we might go to the museum tomorrow. Not sure if we'll end up visiting Fort Quaitby (not sure how it's spelled) or not. Still have to go back to the mall for some hijabs that I wanted. And there is a Starbucks here where the mall is. It's the only Starbucks I've seen in Egypt. I want Ahmed to try a frappuccino. I can't drink them because of the caffeine, and I can't be bothered to have it caffeine free. But I used to drink them on occasion and they are so yummy that I want him to try one.
Time is swiftly running out on my trip. I'm eager to be back home to everything I know and am used to (can't say I'm eager to get back to work though, lol), but I am not looking forward to leaving my new husband behind. We hope that he will be able to come visit by spring or early summer. But it really depends a whole lot on visa issues and there's no way to predict that. If he can't get here easily anytime soon, then I will be back in Egypt sometime within a year insha'Allah. But, I am not looking forward to waiting so long, even spring seems a long time away.
I was leaning on the bedroom window this afternoon, looking out at the street and the activity.
Last night, I had been talking with Ahmed about the subject of homesickness, and if he ever got it. He used to when he was younger, but he has traveled so much for work that he doesn't get it anymore. I wonder if it's like that for everyone? So as I looked out the window this afternoon, I saw a plane passing over and it was headed north, maybe to Italy, or Germany or France or who knows where. But I was thinking, what if I just kept on traveling? What if I went to Italy after I left Egypt, and stayed there til I felt homesick, and then moved on to some other place after Italy, and just kept traveling. Would that feeling of being homesickness eventually go away? Would I still feel like I had a single home somewhere, or would everywhere feel like home?
Well, I guess I won't find that out, at least not on this trip. Life back home awaits.
Enough pondering for now.
Still need to post about driving. And the honking of horns is actually a big subject and fairly amusing.
Also, I'm pretty sure we live in the loudest neighborhood in all of Alexandria. I'm pretty sure everyone here is crazy. lol
Ahmed went out this afternoon and got some fish/shrimps and rice for himself for lunch. I had some of the rice but only a small bite of fish and NO shrimp. I had some ramen, which before coming to Egypt, I hadn't eaten in years. However, it's fast and easy and fills me up.
When we were at the grocery store the other day I found something which is not quite a cookie but more than a cracker. I guess maybe they're British? But they're called digestives. I really like them and I'm hoping I can find them when I'm back home. Anyways, I had some of those too.
Actually... lol... my breakfast this morning consisted of 2 of the "digestives", an Egyptian banana and some chips! How's that for healthy.
However, it isn't always that bad.
And one morning Ahmed made me french toast. I can't remember if I wrote about that or not?
He has a friend who works in import/export and somehow the subject of french toast came up. I guess his friend had heard about it and wanted to know if I knew about it. So Ahmed and I talked about it and Ahmed thought it sounded good and wanted to try it, but understandably, they don't have maple syrup here in Egypt on every store shelf. I doubt if they import it at all actually.
So, I made sure to bring a small bottle of maple syrup with me on my trip, and Ahmed finally had "real" french toast.
I thought we would make it together but it ended up that he made it and served me in bed. How nice is that? :D
He had made it several times before my trip, but just used other stuff on top instead of the syrup. Apparently it tastes okay with jelly, but not quite as good as syrup.
I think we might go to the museum tomorrow. Not sure if we'll end up visiting Fort Quaitby (not sure how it's spelled) or not. Still have to go back to the mall for some hijabs that I wanted. And there is a Starbucks here where the mall is. It's the only Starbucks I've seen in Egypt. I want Ahmed to try a frappuccino. I can't drink them because of the caffeine, and I can't be bothered to have it caffeine free. But I used to drink them on occasion and they are so yummy that I want him to try one.
Time is swiftly running out on my trip. I'm eager to be back home to everything I know and am used to (can't say I'm eager to get back to work though, lol), but I am not looking forward to leaving my new husband behind. We hope that he will be able to come visit by spring or early summer. But it really depends a whole lot on visa issues and there's no way to predict that. If he can't get here easily anytime soon, then I will be back in Egypt sometime within a year insha'Allah. But, I am not looking forward to waiting so long, even spring seems a long time away.
I was leaning on the bedroom window this afternoon, looking out at the street and the activity.
Last night, I had been talking with Ahmed about the subject of homesickness, and if he ever got it. He used to when he was younger, but he has traveled so much for work that he doesn't get it anymore. I wonder if it's like that for everyone? So as I looked out the window this afternoon, I saw a plane passing over and it was headed north, maybe to Italy, or Germany or France or who knows where. But I was thinking, what if I just kept on traveling? What if I went to Italy after I left Egypt, and stayed there til I felt homesick, and then moved on to some other place after Italy, and just kept traveling. Would that feeling of being homesickness eventually go away? Would I still feel like I had a single home somewhere, or would everywhere feel like home?
Well, I guess I won't find that out, at least not on this trip. Life back home awaits.
Enough pondering for now.
Still need to post about driving. And the honking of horns is actually a big subject and fairly amusing.
Also, I'm pretty sure we live in the loudest neighborhood in all of Alexandria. I'm pretty sure everyone here is crazy. lol
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Italian food?
Well, hello to all!
=)
We got out of the house around 4:30 today. We took a microbus down the road a bit to a restaurant called Portofino. It's part cafe and part restaurant. The restaurant part where we were seating was really nicely decorated (even the bathrooms were nice, probably the nicest I've seen in Egypt! lol).
Well, the food was all "Italian" by the menu, but the actual food itself I'm not so sure about.
I had minestrone soup to start and it looked and tasted like no minestrone I've ever had. It had so much pepper I was pretty sure I was going to start breathing fire by the time I was done with it.
The bread was good though. Not too hard and with a light taste.
For my main food I had penne alle primavera or something. Penne pasta with some veggies in a nice red sauce. It was pretty good and I admittedly ate too much!
Ahmed had "potato skins" which weren't like any potato skins I've seen in the states, but I guess they tasted okay. And he had spaghetti which he said was good but which I didn't taste.
Anyways, it was a nice meal and we sat and relaxed and talked after. We were right on the corniche so we could watch the sea as the sun set and watch the people walk by.
When you're in the mood to sit and relax, finding a nice cafe on the corniche is a great way to do it.
We walked for about 15 minutes after we left the restaurant before we caught a taxi and headed for home. After letting dinner settle at home for a bit, here I am!
Still no joy with internet at the apartment but Ahmed is determined! I will be happy to never be on the opposing side from him. lol
We had a nice talk over dinner about the differences between Alexandria and Cairo, and other places in Egypt, like Hurghada and places in the country like Shebin el Kom (I think that's how it's spelled).
We tried to compare the good with the bad for all areas. I guess they all have good things to them. And all have bad as well.
I don't know what the future will bring or if I'll move here at some point or where we'll live.
I know I'm not ready to give up everything in the states just yet. But who knows. I will be happy when Ahmed and I can finally just start our home together, wherever that will be insha'Allah.
I don't think we have any real concrete plans for the rest of our stay here in Alex. We're leaving sometime Tuesday, perhaps early morning, it depends on what we need to do in Cairo, and we're still waiting to hear about a couple of things.
I guess we'll do some more shopping. And some more cafe sitting. And some more being lazy and relaxing.
Life is rough huh? lol
We will be busy when we go back to Cairo because we will only have a few days there before I leave to go back to the states and there is a list of things that we need to do.
Insha'Allah we'll be able to get it all done.
I guess I won't finish writing here before I come home. There's alot to post still, information, impressions, etc. So I'm not sure when I'll finish writing but I'm guessing it will be sometime after I'm back in the states.
I told Ahmed today that I wanted to bring some food with us and go down to the corniche and sit by the sea and feed the cats. If we do it, I'll have him take some pictures. It's crazy all the cats here.
Okay... enough.
Happy first of November to all.
=)
And happy almost Friday!
=)
We got out of the house around 4:30 today. We took a microbus down the road a bit to a restaurant called Portofino. It's part cafe and part restaurant. The restaurant part where we were seating was really nicely decorated (even the bathrooms were nice, probably the nicest I've seen in Egypt! lol).
Well, the food was all "Italian" by the menu, but the actual food itself I'm not so sure about.
I had minestrone soup to start and it looked and tasted like no minestrone I've ever had. It had so much pepper I was pretty sure I was going to start breathing fire by the time I was done with it.
The bread was good though. Not too hard and with a light taste.
For my main food I had penne alle primavera or something. Penne pasta with some veggies in a nice red sauce. It was pretty good and I admittedly ate too much!
Ahmed had "potato skins" which weren't like any potato skins I've seen in the states, but I guess they tasted okay. And he had spaghetti which he said was good but which I didn't taste.
Anyways, it was a nice meal and we sat and relaxed and talked after. We were right on the corniche so we could watch the sea as the sun set and watch the people walk by.
When you're in the mood to sit and relax, finding a nice cafe on the corniche is a great way to do it.
We walked for about 15 minutes after we left the restaurant before we caught a taxi and headed for home. After letting dinner settle at home for a bit, here I am!
Still no joy with internet at the apartment but Ahmed is determined! I will be happy to never be on the opposing side from him. lol
We had a nice talk over dinner about the differences between Alexandria and Cairo, and other places in Egypt, like Hurghada and places in the country like Shebin el Kom (I think that's how it's spelled).
We tried to compare the good with the bad for all areas. I guess they all have good things to them. And all have bad as well.
I don't know what the future will bring or if I'll move here at some point or where we'll live.
I know I'm not ready to give up everything in the states just yet. But who knows. I will be happy when Ahmed and I can finally just start our home together, wherever that will be insha'Allah.
I don't think we have any real concrete plans for the rest of our stay here in Alex. We're leaving sometime Tuesday, perhaps early morning, it depends on what we need to do in Cairo, and we're still waiting to hear about a couple of things.
I guess we'll do some more shopping. And some more cafe sitting. And some more being lazy and relaxing.
Life is rough huh? lol
We will be busy when we go back to Cairo because we will only have a few days there before I leave to go back to the states and there is a list of things that we need to do.
Insha'Allah we'll be able to get it all done.
I guess I won't finish writing here before I come home. There's alot to post still, information, impressions, etc. So I'm not sure when I'll finish writing but I'm guessing it will be sometime after I'm back in the states.
I told Ahmed today that I wanted to bring some food with us and go down to the corniche and sit by the sea and feed the cats. If we do it, I'll have him take some pictures. It's crazy all the cats here.
Okay... enough.
Happy first of November to all.
=)
And happy almost Friday!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Where is my pumpkin cupcake???
Alright, I'm back at the internet cafe that has a bad keyboard and the t key doesn't work so well, so if you see some funny words, they're probably just missing the t.
We slept too late again today. I think it was somewhere just before noon when we got up.
After getting ready, we went to the library (finally!). What a neat building. I took some video inside so I'll eventually post that up. Probably at the same time as all the other videos and I'm guessing it won't be til I'm back home.
It was only 4 pounds to get into the library, but they wanted an additional 20 pounds to see the museum area and I got irritated about that, though in all reality, 20 pounds isn't that much money.
On the way to the library, we took a micro-bus. This time we got to sit in the front seat. I was in the seat right next to the door. It must have been at least 20 minutes to get to the library and it was such a nice ride. You sit higher in the busses and we were in the front seat and I had a perfect view of the sea off to the right, and of everything in front of us. It was so nice and I felt so mellow and at ease. Alhamdulillah.
After the library we took a taxi and went to the mall that is where the Four Seasons hotel is. The mall is not in the hotel, but next to it?
Anyways, the mall is 5 stories or so (small areas for each story though) and also had a food court at the bottom and a movie theater at the top.
We finally went shopping!!!! yay!!!
Ahmed bought me some hijabs and I found some more that I liked that we will go back and buy insha'Allah.
After shopping we went down to the food court and got some food. He let me pick and so I picked someplace called something like Wok City or something such. Chinese fast food. It is the first chinese food I've had in over 3 weeks and it was sooooooo good. Maybe not by normal standards but it was just a nice taste from home and it made me so happy.
Alhamdulillah!!
:D
After eating we went to the grocery store in the mall and picked up a few things before catching a cab back home. Actually, Ahmed dropped me at the internet cafe and he went home and put our stuff away.
The regular internet cafe that we go to, the lines weren't working well, so we are at one I don't like as well (mostly because the keyboards work so badly).
After we're done here we'll go home and watch a movie insha'Allah.
The other night we watched The Thomas Crowne Affair. I hadn't seen it before and I really liked it. I was really surprised at the ending.
Alright, I'll make a post soon about driving/drivers here in Egypt. And about crossing the street. lol
I'll be home in less than two weeks insha'Allah.
love to you all
We slept too late again today. I think it was somewhere just before noon when we got up.
After getting ready, we went to the library (finally!). What a neat building. I took some video inside so I'll eventually post that up. Probably at the same time as all the other videos and I'm guessing it won't be til I'm back home.
It was only 4 pounds to get into the library, but they wanted an additional 20 pounds to see the museum area and I got irritated about that, though in all reality, 20 pounds isn't that much money.
On the way to the library, we took a micro-bus. This time we got to sit in the front seat. I was in the seat right next to the door. It must have been at least 20 minutes to get to the library and it was such a nice ride. You sit higher in the busses and we were in the front seat and I had a perfect view of the sea off to the right, and of everything in front of us. It was so nice and I felt so mellow and at ease. Alhamdulillah.
After the library we took a taxi and went to the mall that is where the Four Seasons hotel is. The mall is not in the hotel, but next to it?
Anyways, the mall is 5 stories or so (small areas for each story though) and also had a food court at the bottom and a movie theater at the top.
We finally went shopping!!!! yay!!!
Ahmed bought me some hijabs and I found some more that I liked that we will go back and buy insha'Allah.
After shopping we went down to the food court and got some food. He let me pick and so I picked someplace called something like Wok City or something such. Chinese fast food. It is the first chinese food I've had in over 3 weeks and it was sooooooo good. Maybe not by normal standards but it was just a nice taste from home and it made me so happy.
Alhamdulillah!!
:D
After eating we went to the grocery store in the mall and picked up a few things before catching a cab back home. Actually, Ahmed dropped me at the internet cafe and he went home and put our stuff away.
The regular internet cafe that we go to, the lines weren't working well, so we are at one I don't like as well (mostly because the keyboards work so badly).
After we're done here we'll go home and watch a movie insha'Allah.
The other night we watched The Thomas Crowne Affair. I hadn't seen it before and I really liked it. I was really surprised at the ending.
Alright, I'll make a post soon about driving/drivers here in Egypt. And about crossing the street. lol
I'll be home in less than two weeks insha'Allah.
love to you all
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Almost Halloween
Well, it's hard to believe that tomorrow will be halloween. Mostly because I haven't seen any sign of it this year since I've been here in Egypt.
I've been blissfully saved from the early start to Christmas sales as well.
The only thing (aside from the chocolate) that I miss about halloween is that it is always a reminder that the seasons are changing and Autumn is here.
I'm not sure how I'm managing it (actually I know very well) but I am actually losing weight on my trip. I was so sure I would gain weight but I'm just eating differently here and not as much. Well, when we were at Ahmed's parent's house and I was eating his mom's cooking, I'm sure I wasn't losing anything. If we had stayed there the whole time I probably would have gained weight.
Dad, don't worry, I haven't lost that much, just a few pounds.
I have to say, I am truly blessed with a wonderful husband (and a great mother in law!).
When I was talking to Ahmed about him doing all the "cooking" since I've been here, he said that he had been talking to his mom about what kind of pots and pans to bring with us to Alex that I might need to use, and she told him that since I normally do all the cooking at home, he should give me a break and do all the cooking while I was here on vacation. Way to go Ahmed's mom!! lol
Anyways, not only has he been fixing all the food, he has done the cleaning and laundry as well. Though the laundry is probably just because I have no idea how to work the washing machine.
I'm sure all this will change when we are finally able to settle down in our own apartment and start our life together, but for now I am sure enjoying being spoiled.
And he really does spoil me. If he even thinks that something might be wrong he will find out what it is and "fix" it for me.
*sigh*
I love my hunny bunny.
lol
Okay, enough of that.
There were some more noised today that I can add to the list.
bicycle bell
electric staple gun
carpets being beaten out the window
Not sure what we'll have for dinner tonight. Ahmed was talking about getting shawerma, and he'll get chicken I guess so I told him that I would try it.
The third matrix movie will be on tv so I guess we'll watch it. We both like the matrix series.
And it was toooo humid today. It's 7:15 p.m. now and it's about 75 degrees and 78% humidity. Too much for my liking. Ahmed was telling me that in Kuwait, where his aunt lives, they get humidity in the high 90%'s for months at a time. I guess that's one place I won't be living insha'Allah!
There are stray cats everywhere here in Egypt. More than you would possibly believe. Here in Alexandria, there are many that are at the beach and along the corniche where people are eating. But they are also all over in the neighborhoods. I'm not sure how the "problem" got so out of hand, but I guess they aren't big here on spaying and neutering.
In any case, I have seen some of the cutest possible cats and kittens. Sometimes I want to hold or pet them so much, but even the cutest ones are mangy looking and dirty. The ones that aren't cute look even worse. So no touching the cats, just looking. The kittens are just too cute though. I love seeing them.
I think the most common color of cat are the orange/white ones, and then the gray or gray/white ones. For the most part they just look like the common house cat. I have seen a couple of all black cats and I saw one today that was all white except for the tail, which was orange.
There's no way to tell you how many strays there are, but honestly they are just everywhere.
There are not as many stray dogs but I do see them (and hear them) as well.
Okay, Ahmed is off buying us dinner and I guess I'm done rambling here for the day.
So long, farewell....
I've been blissfully saved from the early start to Christmas sales as well.
The only thing (aside from the chocolate) that I miss about halloween is that it is always a reminder that the seasons are changing and Autumn is here.
I'm not sure how I'm managing it (actually I know very well) but I am actually losing weight on my trip. I was so sure I would gain weight but I'm just eating differently here and not as much. Well, when we were at Ahmed's parent's house and I was eating his mom's cooking, I'm sure I wasn't losing anything. If we had stayed there the whole time I probably would have gained weight.
Dad, don't worry, I haven't lost that much, just a few pounds.
I have to say, I am truly blessed with a wonderful husband (and a great mother in law!).
When I was talking to Ahmed about him doing all the "cooking" since I've been here, he said that he had been talking to his mom about what kind of pots and pans to bring with us to Alex that I might need to use, and she told him that since I normally do all the cooking at home, he should give me a break and do all the cooking while I was here on vacation. Way to go Ahmed's mom!! lol
Anyways, not only has he been fixing all the food, he has done the cleaning and laundry as well. Though the laundry is probably just because I have no idea how to work the washing machine.
I'm sure all this will change when we are finally able to settle down in our own apartment and start our life together, but for now I am sure enjoying being spoiled.
And he really does spoil me. If he even thinks that something might be wrong he will find out what it is and "fix" it for me.
*sigh*
I love my hunny bunny.
lol
Okay, enough of that.
There were some more noised today that I can add to the list.
bicycle bell
electric staple gun
carpets being beaten out the window
Not sure what we'll have for dinner tonight. Ahmed was talking about getting shawerma, and he'll get chicken I guess so I told him that I would try it.
The third matrix movie will be on tv so I guess we'll watch it. We both like the matrix series.
And it was toooo humid today. It's 7:15 p.m. now and it's about 75 degrees and 78% humidity. Too much for my liking. Ahmed was telling me that in Kuwait, where his aunt lives, they get humidity in the high 90%'s for months at a time. I guess that's one place I won't be living insha'Allah!
There are stray cats everywhere here in Egypt. More than you would possibly believe. Here in Alexandria, there are many that are at the beach and along the corniche where people are eating. But they are also all over in the neighborhoods. I'm not sure how the "problem" got so out of hand, but I guess they aren't big here on spaying and neutering.
In any case, I have seen some of the cutest possible cats and kittens. Sometimes I want to hold or pet them so much, but even the cutest ones are mangy looking and dirty. The ones that aren't cute look even worse. So no touching the cats, just looking. The kittens are just too cute though. I love seeing them.
I think the most common color of cat are the orange/white ones, and then the gray or gray/white ones. For the most part they just look like the common house cat. I have seen a couple of all black cats and I saw one today that was all white except for the tail, which was orange.
There's no way to tell you how many strays there are, but honestly they are just everywhere.
There are not as many stray dogs but I do see them (and hear them) as well.
Okay, Ahmed is off buying us dinner and I guess I'm done rambling here for the day.
So long, farewell....
Monday, October 29, 2007
That many??
Alright, from the time I woke up (10:45 a.m.) until three hours later, there were no less than 9 carts passing by on our street that were all trying to buy people's old junk. Nine in three hours!!!
Ahmed and I laugh sometimes at the noise. We'll be laying in bed, just lazy and half sleeping.
And some noise will just make us laugh because it's so loud. It's become a joke, what will the next noise be?
Some of the noises that we hear on our street/in the near vicinity (this will change based on what neighborhood you live in, but will, I assume, be fairly similar in most neighborhoods)
cars
mopeds
motorcycles
car horns
moped horns
children running
children screaming
men talking
the donkey carts (selling or buying)
car horns
the gas man who bangs on the empty metal gas canisters (for the kitchen) to let you know he is there and you can buy
arabic music from someone's apartment being played very loudly
hammering
car horns
a bird that sounds like a slide whistle (someone's pet)
empty glass bottles (rattling around) being picked up at the corner grocery store
men arguing
babies crying
car horns
an electric drill
the quran being played loudly in a store or someone's apartment
a siren
another bird that doesn't sound like a slide whistle (again, someone's pet)
car horns
did I mention car horns?
The call to prayer (this happens five times a day)
car radios playing very loudly
oh yeah, and car horns
I know there are some sounds that I'm missing but that's all I can think of at the moment. If I can think of any more I'll add them in another post.
It's 10 p.m. now and I guess we're off to get some dinner and then go home and watch a movie insha'Allah.
See you all tomorrow insha'Allah.
Ahmed and I laugh sometimes at the noise. We'll be laying in bed, just lazy and half sleeping.
And some noise will just make us laugh because it's so loud. It's become a joke, what will the next noise be?
Some of the noises that we hear on our street/in the near vicinity (this will change based on what neighborhood you live in, but will, I assume, be fairly similar in most neighborhoods)
cars
mopeds
motorcycles
car horns
moped horns
children running
children screaming
men talking
the donkey carts (selling or buying)
car horns
the gas man who bangs on the empty metal gas canisters (for the kitchen) to let you know he is there and you can buy
arabic music from someone's apartment being played very loudly
hammering
car horns
a bird that sounds like a slide whistle (someone's pet)
empty glass bottles (rattling around) being picked up at the corner grocery store
men arguing
babies crying
car horns
an electric drill
the quran being played loudly in a store or someone's apartment
a siren
another bird that doesn't sound like a slide whistle (again, someone's pet)
car horns
did I mention car horns?
The call to prayer (this happens five times a day)
car radios playing very loudly
oh yeah, and car horns
I know there are some sounds that I'm missing but that's all I can think of at the moment. If I can think of any more I'll add them in another post.
It's 10 p.m. now and I guess we're off to get some dinner and then go home and watch a movie insha'Allah.
See you all tomorrow insha'Allah.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Just another day
Well... let's see... we left the house for the first time today at around 7:30 p.m.
It's not that we were doing anything particularly interesting in the apartment. There were some movies on tv and we napped. Time just seems to pass differently here.
Still no internet at the apartment and we will not be able to run a cable from the internet cafe so we are still trying to get the phone line working. There is some problem in the line. Honestly, at the rate things go here, I doubt it will be fixed before we leave on the Tuesday after next. Who knows though, miracles do happen.
I got a picture today, actually a short video, of one of the donkey carts that goes along the street. This particular guy, instead of yelling, has some sort of megaphone. I don't have to tell you how loud that is do I? Of course everyone leaves their windows open, and we're on the second floor, but it's close to ground level.
The donkey carts who go around the neighborhood either sell or buy things. The things they sell are generally vegetables. Lemons, potatoes, tomatoes, etc. And then the guys that buy, they want your old junk and they'll pay you for it (not much I imagine).
The problem is, they go by at least twice a day. Every day. How much junk can one neighborhood have? I really don't understand it. I guess it's more than one guy going around buying, because I think we heard one that was just yelling, not using a megaphone.
Anyways, this guy is so annoying I had to get a video of it. I'll upload it sooner or later to youtube or something so everyone can see.
I'm not sure the total number of carts that go by in a day with the buying and selling but it's quite a few. I guess they have routes worked out for all the neighborhoods. And I doubt there's any kind of union for them, but they must have some system worked out with each other.
When we were in Cairo, at Ahmed's mom and dad's place, there was a donkey cart which sold foul, which is a bean mixture. Similar in texture at least to refried beans, though not exactly. Taste is different though. And it's pronounced more like fool (fuul?), not foul. Ahmed will show me how he makes it before I go home, though he makes it a bit different than his mom. Both kinds are good. I know it's simple to make, I watched him make some the other day, but I can't remember the exact spices he used and how much.
Yesterday when we were out, we took a microbus. It was the first time that we had taken one. They're all over and very popular. They're cheaper than taking a taxi, though in my opinion, the taxis are pretty cheap as well.
Anyways, the microbus we were in was going pell mell down the corniche (street that runs along the sea). I think that's the fastest I've gone in a vehicle since I've been in Egypt. He probably wasn't going any faster than maybe 45 or 50, but usually the streets are so full that you can't go that fast.
The microbuses just go from one end or area of the corniche to another, back and forth all day. It must get really boring driving that but I guess it's a living of some sort. I think it cost us 15 piasters each for our ride. I don't think that's even like a penny in cents? Very cheap.
We ate at Little Ceasers when we were downtown and it was okay. I had spaghetti (since I eat pizza so often) and because the sauce that it usually comes with has beef in it, I just had it with some red sauce on the side. The first bite I took my eyes got wide. Ahmed took a bite and said it's what they use for the breadsticks or something. It's a tad spicy and opened up my sinuses.
The cheesy garlic bread was good though.
And I had a sprite but it was from a fountain. From what I remember of fountain drinks, they put in a syrup and it mixes with water to make the soda. I was trying to tell Ahmed, because I didn't want to drink it if it was mixed with tap water, but he talked to the waitress and she said it was just like regular soda and they didn't use water.
I didn't believe it but what can you do. I said bismillah and drank it anyways.
Alright.... I guess that's it for now. I feel like I want to write but I'm not sure I have anything interesting to say.
Not sure what we're doing tomorrow.
I'll try to post insha'Allah.
love to you all
miss you!
It's not that we were doing anything particularly interesting in the apartment. There were some movies on tv and we napped. Time just seems to pass differently here.
Still no internet at the apartment and we will not be able to run a cable from the internet cafe so we are still trying to get the phone line working. There is some problem in the line. Honestly, at the rate things go here, I doubt it will be fixed before we leave on the Tuesday after next. Who knows though, miracles do happen.
I got a picture today, actually a short video, of one of the donkey carts that goes along the street. This particular guy, instead of yelling, has some sort of megaphone. I don't have to tell you how loud that is do I? Of course everyone leaves their windows open, and we're on the second floor, but it's close to ground level.
The donkey carts who go around the neighborhood either sell or buy things. The things they sell are generally vegetables. Lemons, potatoes, tomatoes, etc. And then the guys that buy, they want your old junk and they'll pay you for it (not much I imagine).
The problem is, they go by at least twice a day. Every day. How much junk can one neighborhood have? I really don't understand it. I guess it's more than one guy going around buying, because I think we heard one that was just yelling, not using a megaphone.
Anyways, this guy is so annoying I had to get a video of it. I'll upload it sooner or later to youtube or something so everyone can see.
I'm not sure the total number of carts that go by in a day with the buying and selling but it's quite a few. I guess they have routes worked out for all the neighborhoods. And I doubt there's any kind of union for them, but they must have some system worked out with each other.
When we were in Cairo, at Ahmed's mom and dad's place, there was a donkey cart which sold foul, which is a bean mixture. Similar in texture at least to refried beans, though not exactly. Taste is different though. And it's pronounced more like fool (fuul?), not foul. Ahmed will show me how he makes it before I go home, though he makes it a bit different than his mom. Both kinds are good. I know it's simple to make, I watched him make some the other day, but I can't remember the exact spices he used and how much.
Yesterday when we were out, we took a microbus. It was the first time that we had taken one. They're all over and very popular. They're cheaper than taking a taxi, though in my opinion, the taxis are pretty cheap as well.
Anyways, the microbus we were in was going pell mell down the corniche (street that runs along the sea). I think that's the fastest I've gone in a vehicle since I've been in Egypt. He probably wasn't going any faster than maybe 45 or 50, but usually the streets are so full that you can't go that fast.
The microbuses just go from one end or area of the corniche to another, back and forth all day. It must get really boring driving that but I guess it's a living of some sort. I think it cost us 15 piasters each for our ride. I don't think that's even like a penny in cents? Very cheap.
We ate at Little Ceasers when we were downtown and it was okay. I had spaghetti (since I eat pizza so often) and because the sauce that it usually comes with has beef in it, I just had it with some red sauce on the side. The first bite I took my eyes got wide. Ahmed took a bite and said it's what they use for the breadsticks or something. It's a tad spicy and opened up my sinuses.
The cheesy garlic bread was good though.
And I had a sprite but it was from a fountain. From what I remember of fountain drinks, they put in a syrup and it mixes with water to make the soda. I was trying to tell Ahmed, because I didn't want to drink it if it was mixed with tap water, but he talked to the waitress and she said it was just like regular soda and they didn't use water.
I didn't believe it but what can you do. I said bismillah and drank it anyways.
Alright.... I guess that's it for now. I feel like I want to write but I'm not sure I have anything interesting to say.
Not sure what we're doing tomorrow.
I'll try to post insha'Allah.
love to you all
miss you!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Am I homesick?
The last couple of days I have been missing many things from back home. Oddly enough, most of it seems to be food, but the food I'm eating here isn't that different (I've been eating alot of pizza since we came to Alex - lol).
If I had the food from home here, would I still be feeling a bit homesick? Probably. Things are so different here. I'll miss it when I go home, but I miss home while I'm here.
Could I live here? I think so. But with trips a couple of times a year back to the states. I guess I'm not ready to give it all up yet.
Of course, there's many things I haven't experienced in Egypt, and there may be things that would help me feel more at home, but with such a short visit, it's hard to even start to experience everything that Egypt has to offer.
Things that I miss (in no particular order)
Togo's sandwhiches
IHOP
Being in a car without 18 million other people next to me on the road
Driving
Quiet
My son (parents, friends, etc)
Washing machines that do more than just wash (they don't even rinse! and no dryers either!)
Screens on windows
Cars that don't spew exhaust
My routine
A bed that doesn't hurt my back
Shower heads with decent water pressure
Incandescent lighting (no matter how bad it is supposed to be)
Frozen organic veggie foods I can get at any grocery store
The thing about being homesick is that it isn't about any one particular thing. I know there is more than what I put on that list, but I can't think of anything right now.
But the feeling - I guess everything is so different here. It's like stepping off a plane into a whole different universe.
I'm not sure how I will feel about things when I get home. Maybe I will go back to taking everything for granted. I hope not.
All I can say is alhamdulillah.
love to you all
Will try to post again tomorrow. Internet situation still not quite worked out, but insha'Allah I'll have internet at the apartment sometime tomorrow.
If I had the food from home here, would I still be feeling a bit homesick? Probably. Things are so different here. I'll miss it when I go home, but I miss home while I'm here.
Could I live here? I think so. But with trips a couple of times a year back to the states. I guess I'm not ready to give it all up yet.
Of course, there's many things I haven't experienced in Egypt, and there may be things that would help me feel more at home, but with such a short visit, it's hard to even start to experience everything that Egypt has to offer.
Things that I miss (in no particular order)
Togo's sandwhiches
IHOP
Being in a car without 18 million other people next to me on the road
Driving
Quiet
My son (parents, friends, etc)
Washing machines that do more than just wash (they don't even rinse! and no dryers either!)
Screens on windows
Cars that don't spew exhaust
My routine
A bed that doesn't hurt my back
Shower heads with decent water pressure
Incandescent lighting (no matter how bad it is supposed to be)
Frozen organic veggie foods I can get at any grocery store
The thing about being homesick is that it isn't about any one particular thing. I know there is more than what I put on that list, but I can't think of anything right now.
But the feeling - I guess everything is so different here. It's like stepping off a plane into a whole different universe.
I'm not sure how I will feel about things when I get home. Maybe I will go back to taking everything for granted. I hope not.
All I can say is alhamdulillah.
love to you all
Will try to post again tomorrow. Internet situation still not quite worked out, but insha'Allah I'll have internet at the apartment sometime tomorrow.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Is it Friday?
Funny how the days seem to pass when you're on vacation. If I wasn't looking at the computer right now I'd have no idea what the date was.
At another internet cafe, but this one, blessedly, has a working keyboard where every single one of the letters works! Alhamdulillah. lol
Ahmed was just talking with the manager here and trying to see if he could get a line put over at our apartment. It's across the street and about half a block down, and I'm not sure how they would manage it, but Ahmed knows I'm not happy about having to come to a net cafe every time I want to use a computer, so he's trying his best to fix it and make me happy.
=) (does that make me sound horribly spoiled or what?? lol)
Didn't do much today. This is actually the first time I left the house (it's now 7 p.m. ish). Ahmed went out earlier and got some fish and calamari. I ate some of the fish, which was okay, but I didn't want any of the calamari. He had me try some yesterday that was battered and fried? But I can't say I cared for it and figured even if the stuff today was cooked differently, it would probably still be rubbery. Who knows, maybe I missed out on the best calamari I could have ever had.
I will have to make a post here soon about the noise. You wouldn't believe how loud it is here. 24/7. It makes San Francisco seem like the countryside. lol
It's really amazing. I'm sure I'll miss all the sounds when I get back home. The signs of life.
But there are times when I really wish I could turn the volume down on it all.
Anyways, post about noise to come soon.
Not sure what we'll do tomorrow. I really want to go shopping for scarves. We might go to the library which we didn't get to the other day.
But it's also the weekend here (their weekend is Friday and Saturday), so some places are closed or have different hours because of the weekend.
But, definitely don't want to spend another day inside, though I needed it today.
Some days you just need a day to be as lazy as humanly possible ya know?
=)
Alright, I think we're off to walk along the sea.
Hope everyone reading this is well.
love to you all
At another internet cafe, but this one, blessedly, has a working keyboard where every single one of the letters works! Alhamdulillah. lol
Ahmed was just talking with the manager here and trying to see if he could get a line put over at our apartment. It's across the street and about half a block down, and I'm not sure how they would manage it, but Ahmed knows I'm not happy about having to come to a net cafe every time I want to use a computer, so he's trying his best to fix it and make me happy.
=) (does that make me sound horribly spoiled or what?? lol)
Didn't do much today. This is actually the first time I left the house (it's now 7 p.m. ish). Ahmed went out earlier and got some fish and calamari. I ate some of the fish, which was okay, but I didn't want any of the calamari. He had me try some yesterday that was battered and fried? But I can't say I cared for it and figured even if the stuff today was cooked differently, it would probably still be rubbery. Who knows, maybe I missed out on the best calamari I could have ever had.
I will have to make a post here soon about the noise. You wouldn't believe how loud it is here. 24/7. It makes San Francisco seem like the countryside. lol
It's really amazing. I'm sure I'll miss all the sounds when I get back home. The signs of life.
But there are times when I really wish I could turn the volume down on it all.
Anyways, post about noise to come soon.
Not sure what we'll do tomorrow. I really want to go shopping for scarves. We might go to the library which we didn't get to the other day.
But it's also the weekend here (their weekend is Friday and Saturday), so some places are closed or have different hours because of the weekend.
But, definitely don't want to spend another day inside, though I needed it today.
Some days you just need a day to be as lazy as humanly possible ya know?
=)
Alright, I think we're off to walk along the sea.
Hope everyone reading this is well.
love to you all
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Whining
Well, hello everyone.
We're still in Alexandria. And I'm once again at a net cafe. We still don't have a working phone line at our apartment for me to be able to get online there, so I haven't even checked email since the last time I posted here.
I have a whole list of things I'd like to gripe about, the first one being that the 't' key doesn't work well on this keyboard and I keep having to go back to type it in.
However, I guess both my time and yours could be better spent then with me whining about stuff.
Though it's possible if we get access at the apartment I might change my mind. lol
I have so much that I want to write and share but it's hard when they keyboard doesn't work well and you're sitting in a not so comfy spot with strangers in a dimly lit spare room.
I might just end up doing some writing with paper and pen just to get things out, and then type them up when I get access again. We'll see what happens.
Alexandria is definitely different than Cairo. I think I like many things about Cairo better. The two things Alex has an edge over Cairo on are the sea and the air quality. Other than that, I'm not so sure. But, time will tell, maybe I'll change my mind.
Okay, that's it for now.
love to you all.
Oh, and I woke up yesterday wanting to go to IHOP so badly. Please, everyone who reads this and has he opportunity, go get a nice pancake breakfast and eat it for me would you?? lol
We're still in Alexandria. And I'm once again at a net cafe. We still don't have a working phone line at our apartment for me to be able to get online there, so I haven't even checked email since the last time I posted here.
I have a whole list of things I'd like to gripe about, the first one being that the 't' key doesn't work well on this keyboard and I keep having to go back to type it in.
However, I guess both my time and yours could be better spent then with me whining about stuff.
Though it's possible if we get access at the apartment I might change my mind. lol
I have so much that I want to write and share but it's hard when they keyboard doesn't work well and you're sitting in a not so comfy spot with strangers in a dimly lit spare room.
I might just end up doing some writing with paper and pen just to get things out, and then type them up when I get access again. We'll see what happens.
Alexandria is definitely different than Cairo. I think I like many things about Cairo better. The two things Alex has an edge over Cairo on are the sea and the air quality. Other than that, I'm not so sure. But, time will tell, maybe I'll change my mind.
Okay, that's it for now.
love to you all.
Oh, and I woke up yesterday wanting to go to IHOP so badly. Please, everyone who reads this and has he opportunity, go get a nice pancake breakfast and eat it for me would you?? lol
Monday, October 22, 2007
In Alexandria
Hello all.
At an internet cafe and they keyboard doesn't work so well so I'm just saying hi.
I've been sick again. Couldn't talk above a whisper for 2 days.
We might go to the library tomorrow.
Should have internet at a new apartment tomorrow.
Illuminating faith - miss you too! =)
love to you all
will post again soon.
At an internet cafe and they keyboard doesn't work so well so I'm just saying hi.
I've been sick again. Couldn't talk above a whisper for 2 days.
We might go to the library tomorrow.
Should have internet at a new apartment tomorrow.
Illuminating faith - miss you too! =)
love to you all
will post again soon.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Heliopolis
Well, we took a short trip to Heliopolis last night.
I had a few things to drop off from a friend in the states to her brother here. Her brother owns a kid's clothing store and the clothes were adorable. We sat for some minutes and had a soda and talked.
After that we walked down the street to a cafe called Groppi. There was alot of people smoking shisha there (water pipes) and while I like the smell passing by, I can't say I appreciate sitting around the smell for any period of time. It's rather sickeningly sweet.
And there was this one group of ladies that came in with too many kids and they were all completely without manners. This one little girl kept walking by and staring at me, and I kept smiling at her but I couldn't get anything from her except blank stare. Whatever.
Shortly before we left the cafe, some band started playing music. I guess a wedding party had come and were right to the side of the building? Something like that, but it was hard to see.
Honestly, though I know it's traditional in Egypt to have a wedding party with a band and everyone together dancing etc., it certainly isn't Islamic and I have to say that I don't approve at all. To each their own I guess.
What strikes me is that even though these people were probably Muslims, it's like... tradition is more important to them than what is right or wrong in this case. I guess I don't understand.
After we left the cafe, we went walking around some of the streets, dodging people and looking in windows. There were many shoe and clothing stores, though I guess more shoe stores. It seems everyone comes out with their families and just walks around. I guess it's better than sitting in the house and it's free.
The smell of shawerma when you're walking down the street absolutely fills your nose with the most delightful smell, but once you get abreast of the place selling it, you can't smell it.
If I had to work in a spot where I could smell that all day I'd be fat or crazy. heh
We left and went back home. It's about half an hour or so, if the president isn't blocking traffic. Thankfully we missed it, though we could see the blockage and cars piled up on the other side of the road as we were leaving. It was the same last week when I went to Heliopolis with Ahmed's mother and sister. You wouldn't believe the backup of traffic just because they stop everything to let the president get through. I think I'd start writing letters every day to complain.
Last night we watched the last 4 episodes of season 4 of the show 24. I had never watched the show before coming here, but they were running all of season 4 starting at Eid and were running 4 shows a night. Somehow I got hooked and so we watched the whole season.
They're starting with season 5 tonight, but only running 2 shows a night.
Now I feel like when I'm back in the states I'll want to rent the first few seasons to watch, but I know I could spend my time more wisely. We'll see I guess.
Alright, off to Alexandria tomorrow insha'Allah!
Not sure what time we're leaving, but by noon or so I guess.
I'll be without computer access for at least 24 hours. What will I do??!!! lol
I guess I'll survive. I'll just have to pester my new husband more.
=)
Much love to you all. I hope everyone is well and happy.
I had a few things to drop off from a friend in the states to her brother here. Her brother owns a kid's clothing store and the clothes were adorable. We sat for some minutes and had a soda and talked.
After that we walked down the street to a cafe called Groppi. There was alot of people smoking shisha there (water pipes) and while I like the smell passing by, I can't say I appreciate sitting around the smell for any period of time. It's rather sickeningly sweet.
And there was this one group of ladies that came in with too many kids and they were all completely without manners. This one little girl kept walking by and staring at me, and I kept smiling at her but I couldn't get anything from her except blank stare. Whatever.
Shortly before we left the cafe, some band started playing music. I guess a wedding party had come and were right to the side of the building? Something like that, but it was hard to see.
Honestly, though I know it's traditional in Egypt to have a wedding party with a band and everyone together dancing etc., it certainly isn't Islamic and I have to say that I don't approve at all. To each their own I guess.
What strikes me is that even though these people were probably Muslims, it's like... tradition is more important to them than what is right or wrong in this case. I guess I don't understand.
After we left the cafe, we went walking around some of the streets, dodging people and looking in windows. There were many shoe and clothing stores, though I guess more shoe stores. It seems everyone comes out with their families and just walks around. I guess it's better than sitting in the house and it's free.
The smell of shawerma when you're walking down the street absolutely fills your nose with the most delightful smell, but once you get abreast of the place selling it, you can't smell it.
If I had to work in a spot where I could smell that all day I'd be fat or crazy. heh
We left and went back home. It's about half an hour or so, if the president isn't blocking traffic. Thankfully we missed it, though we could see the blockage and cars piled up on the other side of the road as we were leaving. It was the same last week when I went to Heliopolis with Ahmed's mother and sister. You wouldn't believe the backup of traffic just because they stop everything to let the president get through. I think I'd start writing letters every day to complain.
Last night we watched the last 4 episodes of season 4 of the show 24. I had never watched the show before coming here, but they were running all of season 4 starting at Eid and were running 4 shows a night. Somehow I got hooked and so we watched the whole season.
They're starting with season 5 tonight, but only running 2 shows a night.
Now I feel like when I'm back in the states I'll want to rent the first few seasons to watch, but I know I could spend my time more wisely. We'll see I guess.
Alright, off to Alexandria tomorrow insha'Allah!
Not sure what time we're leaving, but by noon or so I guess.
I'll be without computer access for at least 24 hours. What will I do??!!! lol
I guess I'll survive. I'll just have to pester my new husband more.
=)
Much love to you all. I hope everyone is well and happy.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Finally, the pyramids
Well, I didn't think we would make it today, as the driver that Ahmed's family uses was supposed to be busy today, so we were going to do some other things instead, but then the driver called (his name is Mohsen) and said he was available to pick us up at 10:30!
So... I finished getting ready and we headed off!
The traffic was light so it only took us about half an hour to get there. We didn't go straight down pyramid street though, his driver kept cutting through the streets in a zig zag pattern. I'm not sure why but we got there just fine.
It was neat driving there. The closer we got, you could see the tops of the pyramids behind all the buildings.
The entrance fee is cheaper if you're Egyptian. I think it cost Ahmed something like 2 Egyptian pounds to get in, but it cost 50 Egyptian pounds for me. And there's no cheating it because you have to show I.D.
Now I had heard and read that you will be assaulted by so many people trying to sell you things and get you to ride their horse/camel.
There were certainly people who asked us, but it wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be.
However, I will say, the people that did ask you if you wanted something never took no the first time Ahmed said it. Like they kept bugging him and he just kept saying shukran (thank you) and leh (no). He said some other words but that was basically the gist of it. I'm sure I would have lost my patience with them after saying no twice. Good thing Ahmed was doing the talking.
=)
So really, it's hard to imagine how big the pyramids are until you are there. You can see lots of pictures and videos but really they are just enormous in size. When you think about individuals building these structures and how long it took and how hard they worked! SubhanAllah, it's just amazing.
We ended up just walking when we got there because I really didn't want to take a horse or camel. And besides which, the camels make a really creepy noise and I didn't want to be on one.
So we walked up the hill to get to the pyramids. You pass the sphinx on the way up the hill. Very neat to see.
And then at the top of the hill there are the three pyramids. I can't remember their names but I know it's easy enough to look them up for anyone who is interested.
We walked around the pyramids themselves. Well, the two big ones we walked around. The third (smallest of the three) was a bit of a walk and neither one of us felt like walking to it, so we just took a couple of pictures.
One of the bigger pyramids was roped off and you couldn't get closer than 10 feet or so. I guess there have been too many accidents with people climbing and falling off.
The other pyramid you could get right up to, but you still couldn't climb it.
Both of them, looking up, they just seem to go up so high. And I had always kind of thought the rocks would be uniform but they aren't. I made sure to get some pictures showing how the sizes of them differ.
Now maybe they were closer in size at one point and they have eroded since their original caps (cover) came off. I'm not sure.
Also, there are the most ginormous ants out there on the ground. Like really huge. I'm sure if you got enough of them together they could carry you away. I should have taken a picture of one of the little buggers but I didn't.
We only stayed just over an hour. Long enough to look around and see and get a feeling for them. Of course Ahmed has been many times, though not recently.
I felt like I should have stayed longer or something but I was ready to go. I had seen them, I had taken pictures, I had been somewhat awed.
I know we were there when it wasn't as crowded as in the high tourist season, but there were still a fair amount of people there.
Perhaps if we had gone and it had been quieter and less crowded, I might have been able to really relax and take them in more.
But I'm not disappointed. I'm happy we went and I finally got to see them.
I was thankful for the breeze. Even though it's not blazing hot here at the moment, it's still fairly warm, and having a scarf wrapped around your head a couple of times seems to keep the heat in. So the wind was nice. Alhamdulillah for the wind!
=)
After we left we stopped by some place on the way back and Ahmed got us some lunch. Little sandwhiches he called them. They were actually like little pita breads. One had falafal and one had foul (a bean mixture for those who don't know). He also got some rice pudding. I like the taste well enough but I'm not too fond of mushy food.
Anyways, I didn't eat in the car, I waited til we got to his parent's apartment, which we had promised to stop by.
So I had lunch there and then ended up taking a nap for a couple of hours.
Ahmed woke me when it was time for the family to have lunch. Mom made chicken and rice and a red sauce. They said it is similiar to what briyani would be for Indians, but not with the spices and maybe the sauce was different. Anyways, I had mine without the chicken. Mom made some mushroom soup for me. It comes out of a packet but I swear it's some of the best soup I've ever had. I'm going to have to bring some home with me for sure.
Before I could eat lunch with the family though, my phone was ringing and I answered it. It was my son. The poor guy broke his arm again, about a centimeter from where he broke it almost exactly a year ago. He was at tae kwan do and doing a double kick and fell and landed on his wrist. Anyways, he said he was fine and he knew what to expect since he broke it last year. He sounded good, and I'm not too worried, just wish I could be there to give him a hug.
But, if everyone reading this could send a good thought his way I would appreciate it.
Almahdulillah he is alright.
Okay, enough for today!
So... I finished getting ready and we headed off!
The traffic was light so it only took us about half an hour to get there. We didn't go straight down pyramid street though, his driver kept cutting through the streets in a zig zag pattern. I'm not sure why but we got there just fine.
It was neat driving there. The closer we got, you could see the tops of the pyramids behind all the buildings.
The entrance fee is cheaper if you're Egyptian. I think it cost Ahmed something like 2 Egyptian pounds to get in, but it cost 50 Egyptian pounds for me. And there's no cheating it because you have to show I.D.
Now I had heard and read that you will be assaulted by so many people trying to sell you things and get you to ride their horse/camel.
There were certainly people who asked us, but it wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be.
However, I will say, the people that did ask you if you wanted something never took no the first time Ahmed said it. Like they kept bugging him and he just kept saying shukran (thank you) and leh (no). He said some other words but that was basically the gist of it. I'm sure I would have lost my patience with them after saying no twice. Good thing Ahmed was doing the talking.
=)
So really, it's hard to imagine how big the pyramids are until you are there. You can see lots of pictures and videos but really they are just enormous in size. When you think about individuals building these structures and how long it took and how hard they worked! SubhanAllah, it's just amazing.
We ended up just walking when we got there because I really didn't want to take a horse or camel. And besides which, the camels make a really creepy noise and I didn't want to be on one.
So we walked up the hill to get to the pyramids. You pass the sphinx on the way up the hill. Very neat to see.
And then at the top of the hill there are the three pyramids. I can't remember their names but I know it's easy enough to look them up for anyone who is interested.
We walked around the pyramids themselves. Well, the two big ones we walked around. The third (smallest of the three) was a bit of a walk and neither one of us felt like walking to it, so we just took a couple of pictures.
One of the bigger pyramids was roped off and you couldn't get closer than 10 feet or so. I guess there have been too many accidents with people climbing and falling off.
The other pyramid you could get right up to, but you still couldn't climb it.
Both of them, looking up, they just seem to go up so high. And I had always kind of thought the rocks would be uniform but they aren't. I made sure to get some pictures showing how the sizes of them differ.
Now maybe they were closer in size at one point and they have eroded since their original caps (cover) came off. I'm not sure.
Also, there are the most ginormous ants out there on the ground. Like really huge. I'm sure if you got enough of them together they could carry you away. I should have taken a picture of one of the little buggers but I didn't.
We only stayed just over an hour. Long enough to look around and see and get a feeling for them. Of course Ahmed has been many times, though not recently.
I felt like I should have stayed longer or something but I was ready to go. I had seen them, I had taken pictures, I had been somewhat awed.
I know we were there when it wasn't as crowded as in the high tourist season, but there were still a fair amount of people there.
Perhaps if we had gone and it had been quieter and less crowded, I might have been able to really relax and take them in more.
But I'm not disappointed. I'm happy we went and I finally got to see them.
I was thankful for the breeze. Even though it's not blazing hot here at the moment, it's still fairly warm, and having a scarf wrapped around your head a couple of times seems to keep the heat in. So the wind was nice. Alhamdulillah for the wind!
=)
After we left we stopped by some place on the way back and Ahmed got us some lunch. Little sandwhiches he called them. They were actually like little pita breads. One had falafal and one had foul (a bean mixture for those who don't know). He also got some rice pudding. I like the taste well enough but I'm not too fond of mushy food.
Anyways, I didn't eat in the car, I waited til we got to his parent's apartment, which we had promised to stop by.
So I had lunch there and then ended up taking a nap for a couple of hours.
Ahmed woke me when it was time for the family to have lunch. Mom made chicken and rice and a red sauce. They said it is similiar to what briyani would be for Indians, but not with the spices and maybe the sauce was different. Anyways, I had mine without the chicken. Mom made some mushroom soup for me. It comes out of a packet but I swear it's some of the best soup I've ever had. I'm going to have to bring some home with me for sure.
Before I could eat lunch with the family though, my phone was ringing and I answered it. It was my son. The poor guy broke his arm again, about a centimeter from where he broke it almost exactly a year ago. He was at tae kwan do and doing a double kick and fell and landed on his wrist. Anyways, he said he was fine and he knew what to expect since he broke it last year. He sounded good, and I'm not too worried, just wish I could be there to give him a hug.
But, if everyone reading this could send a good thought his way I would appreciate it.
Almahdulillah he is alright.
Okay, enough for today!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Rain, rain, rain...
Well, it is still storming this morning. Much thunder and it is raining again.
I guess we won't go to the pyramids today, though I'm not sure what we *will* do.
I don't feel like sitting around all day watching t.v.
Sooo... I guess I'll post later on. Maybe if I get bored I'll post some about driving here or one of the other subjects that I wanted to write about.
I guess we won't go to the pyramids today, though I'm not sure what we *will* do.
I don't feel like sitting around all day watching t.v.
Sooo... I guess I'll post later on. Maybe if I get bored I'll post some about driving here or one of the other subjects that I wanted to write about.
An evening stroll
As an aside, there's an awesome thunder/lightning storm going on now. It's not exactly right where we are but we can hear the thunder and see the lightning lighting up the sky. MashAllah!
I love to watch them.
So tonight we went for a walk. I thought we were just going to walk down to the Nile and Ahmed said that it was just 5 minutes from our apartment.
Well, he was right, the Nile is just 5 minutes away. But we didn't stop when we got there.
We were walking across the first half of the bridge (there's an island in the middle of the bridge where we were crossing), and it actually started sprinkling. I don't know why but I found it so funny that it would rain while I was here. I know it doesn't rain here all that often.
Anyways, after we crossed the first half of the bridge we walked around the Opera House and then on to cross the other side of the bridge to get to the other side of the Nile.
The bridge is sooo crowded full of people walking. We stopped for just a minute to look out at the water. It was pretty windy out and the water was rippling quite a bit.
After crossing the whole bridge, I was pretty tired because we had been walking pretty fast ever since we had left our apartment. We ended up at Tahrir square and found a small cafe in a mall nearby. The mall used to be just clothes and shoes but I guess there are many stores there now for computer accessories. The cafe we went to was called something like... Cafe de Paris or Cafe de Rose or something like that. We just sat for about 10 minutes and I rested.
After we left the cafe we were basically downtown so we just walked around downtown for a while and I tried my best to visually take in all that I could. There's just so much to see. Part of me wanted to window shop and part of me wanted to watch the people and in addition to all that, wherever you happen to be walking, you need to keep at least half an eye on the ground because the pavement isn't even and there are often holes or other things that could trip you up.
I was really surprised by the number of clothing stores, but I guess in a city with so many millions of people, you need more than just a few stores.
Eeek, the storm is getting closer. I can't see the lightning in this room but the thunder is getting louder every time it booms.
So, anyways, we were on talaat Harb (I think that's how it's spelled) and walked around on some other streets that I had heard the names of before.
It's so strange to have read about a place for so long and then finally be there.
It almost doesn't seem real. Or maybe I feel I've known about it so long that it's just anti-climatic to be here walking around.
But not really right?
I mean... this is Cairo!
:D
After walking around a bit downtown we ended up catching a taxi back to our apartment.
I will soon make a post about driving and taxi's in Cairo. It's a big subject and I won't be able to cover it all and I don't know everything there is to know, but it's a subject that interesting, at least coming from outside the area.
I guess that's it. Insha'Allah we'll head to the pyramids in the morning unless it's too windy, and then perhaps we'll go to the khan instead? Not sure. Tomorrow will tell.
I love to watch them.
So tonight we went for a walk. I thought we were just going to walk down to the Nile and Ahmed said that it was just 5 minutes from our apartment.
Well, he was right, the Nile is just 5 minutes away. But we didn't stop when we got there.
We were walking across the first half of the bridge (there's an island in the middle of the bridge where we were crossing), and it actually started sprinkling. I don't know why but I found it so funny that it would rain while I was here. I know it doesn't rain here all that often.
Anyways, after we crossed the first half of the bridge we walked around the Opera House and then on to cross the other side of the bridge to get to the other side of the Nile.
The bridge is sooo crowded full of people walking. We stopped for just a minute to look out at the water. It was pretty windy out and the water was rippling quite a bit.
After crossing the whole bridge, I was pretty tired because we had been walking pretty fast ever since we had left our apartment. We ended up at Tahrir square and found a small cafe in a mall nearby. The mall used to be just clothes and shoes but I guess there are many stores there now for computer accessories. The cafe we went to was called something like... Cafe de Paris or Cafe de Rose or something like that. We just sat for about 10 minutes and I rested.
After we left the cafe we were basically downtown so we just walked around downtown for a while and I tried my best to visually take in all that I could. There's just so much to see. Part of me wanted to window shop and part of me wanted to watch the people and in addition to all that, wherever you happen to be walking, you need to keep at least half an eye on the ground because the pavement isn't even and there are often holes or other things that could trip you up.
I was really surprised by the number of clothing stores, but I guess in a city with so many millions of people, you need more than just a few stores.
Eeek, the storm is getting closer. I can't see the lightning in this room but the thunder is getting louder every time it booms.
So, anyways, we were on talaat Harb (I think that's how it's spelled) and walked around on some other streets that I had heard the names of before.
It's so strange to have read about a place for so long and then finally be there.
It almost doesn't seem real. Or maybe I feel I've known about it so long that it's just anti-climatic to be here walking around.
But not really right?
I mean... this is Cairo!
:D
After walking around a bit downtown we ended up catching a taxi back to our apartment.
I will soon make a post about driving and taxi's in Cairo. It's a big subject and I won't be able to cover it all and I don't know everything there is to know, but it's a subject that interesting, at least coming from outside the area.
I guess that's it. Insha'Allah we'll head to the pyramids in the morning unless it's too windy, and then perhaps we'll go to the khan instead? Not sure. Tomorrow will tell.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Pyramids ahoy!
Well, we have just been relaxing the last couple of days.
Tomorrow morning we'll head out to see the pyramids insha'Allah.
The weather has been pretty nice since I've been here almahdulillah! I can understand why it wouldn't be as nice here with the summer weather. Although most places seem to have wall mounted a/c's, it's not quite the same if you're used to central a/c everywhere you go.
And being stuck in traffic when it's over 100 out and with taxi's not having a/c, then you can imagine it would be pretty miserable.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to the pyramids. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.
Not sure what we'll do the rest of the week but I think we might go to the kahn al khalili (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) and a couple of other places. Maybe Al Azhar.
My cold is doing better. Just a dry cough now.
And I think I figured out what the smell was that I've been smelling. I kept thinking there was a bbq somewhere but I think it's just the smell of the air here.
Tomorrow morning we'll head out to see the pyramids insha'Allah.
The weather has been pretty nice since I've been here almahdulillah! I can understand why it wouldn't be as nice here with the summer weather. Although most places seem to have wall mounted a/c's, it's not quite the same if you're used to central a/c everywhere you go.
And being stuck in traffic when it's over 100 out and with taxi's not having a/c, then you can imagine it would be pretty miserable.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to the pyramids. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.
Not sure what we'll do the rest of the week but I think we might go to the kahn al khalili (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) and a couple of other places. Maybe Al Azhar.
My cold is doing better. Just a dry cough now.
And I think I figured out what the smell was that I've been smelling. I kept thinking there was a bbq somewhere but I think it's just the smell of the air here.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Mabrookalations!
Well, we got married this evening alhamdulillah!
I'm so very happy.
:D
We will spend the night at our apartment and then tomorrow night we will come back to Ahmed's parent's house and have the wedding party. It will just be some family tomorrow night.
A couple of Ahmed's friends are over right now because they won't be able to come tomorrow night, but since the women and men will be seperate I wouldn't meet them anyhow.
Ahmed's sister is lending me the most beautiful dress to wear tomorrow insha'Allah.
It's pink and long and ties up the back and I feel just like a princess in it. I'll see if we can get some pictures.
We did take video of part of the marriage signing and stuff tonight so I will have that but won't be putting that up online (yes mom and dad I will show you).
However, we did get a few pictures as well and I will post those or send them in emails appropriately.
A special thank you to all of you who helped to get me here.
I appreciate it more than I can say.
Oh yeah. I'm still sick. Cold or throat thing or something but insha'Allah I'll be better within a couple of days or so. Ahmed's mom is being just like my own parents with taking care of me.
:D
I'm so very happy.
:D
We will spend the night at our apartment and then tomorrow night we will come back to Ahmed's parent's house and have the wedding party. It will just be some family tomorrow night.
A couple of Ahmed's friends are over right now because they won't be able to come tomorrow night, but since the women and men will be seperate I wouldn't meet them anyhow.
Ahmed's sister is lending me the most beautiful dress to wear tomorrow insha'Allah.
It's pink and long and ties up the back and I feel just like a princess in it. I'll see if we can get some pictures.
We did take video of part of the marriage signing and stuff tonight so I will have that but won't be putting that up online (yes mom and dad I will show you).
However, we did get a few pictures as well and I will post those or send them in emails appropriately.
A special thank you to all of you who helped to get me here.
I appreciate it more than I can say.
Oh yeah. I'm still sick. Cold or throat thing or something but insha'Allah I'll be better within a couple of days or so. Ahmed's mom is being just like my own parents with taking care of me.
:D
We got the rings
Well, we went out tonight to do several things.
We checked out the apartment that we'll be staying in for the next week insha'Allah.
Ahmed wanted to make sure about anything I wanted for the place.
Then we went and got rings. :D
Simple, silver, pretty. I'm very happy with them.
After that we were driving around trying to find some cookies that Ahmed's mom wanted for Eid, but the first bakery we went to was out of what we wanted, the second one didn't sell it, and the third one, I forget what it's called - Pfeffers or something like that - the place was packed full of people and we couldn't get waited on so we left after about ten minutes and came home.
I keep forgetting to bring my face mask with me when we go out to help with all the car exhaust. Walking isn't too bad but being in a car you get all kinds of muck and it tends to make me a wee bit nauseated.
There were several people tonight who I think were trying to beg money from me. Since I don't speak the language I'm not sure what they were saying, but I guess the signs for begging are fairly international. Ahmed was on the phone both times and didn't see the people asking me for whatever it was they wanted. I just raised my hands to them and shrugged my shoulders.
I'm still feeling like I'm coming down with a cold but insha'Allah I'll be better tomorrow.
When we got back from errands tonight, his mom made me a glass of water with lime in it and a bit of sugar. I guess for the vitamin c, though I'm not sure how much vitamin c is in one of those tiny limes. They're so cute. And yellow. They look like baby lemons.
Not sure if we'll stay up most of the night or not.
I wanted to go to Eid prayers in the morning (around 6 I think) but if I'm still not feeling well then I guess I'll stay home. I missed the Eid prayers last year because of work so I was really looking forward to going this year.
The mosquitos aren't too bad for me. I have four bites on my hands and one or two on my right foot. They don't particularly itch unless I'm rubbing at them, so I just try not to do that. lol
Okay, that's enough for now. I still have a backlog of stuff to post about but I'm tired and I guess that's enough for now.
We checked out the apartment that we'll be staying in for the next week insha'Allah.
Ahmed wanted to make sure about anything I wanted for the place.
Then we went and got rings. :D
Simple, silver, pretty. I'm very happy with them.
After that we were driving around trying to find some cookies that Ahmed's mom wanted for Eid, but the first bakery we went to was out of what we wanted, the second one didn't sell it, and the third one, I forget what it's called - Pfeffers or something like that - the place was packed full of people and we couldn't get waited on so we left after about ten minutes and came home.
I keep forgetting to bring my face mask with me when we go out to help with all the car exhaust. Walking isn't too bad but being in a car you get all kinds of muck and it tends to make me a wee bit nauseated.
There were several people tonight who I think were trying to beg money from me. Since I don't speak the language I'm not sure what they were saying, but I guess the signs for begging are fairly international. Ahmed was on the phone both times and didn't see the people asking me for whatever it was they wanted. I just raised my hands to them and shrugged my shoulders.
I'm still feeling like I'm coming down with a cold but insha'Allah I'll be better tomorrow.
When we got back from errands tonight, his mom made me a glass of water with lime in it and a bit of sugar. I guess for the vitamin c, though I'm not sure how much vitamin c is in one of those tiny limes. They're so cute. And yellow. They look like baby lemons.
Not sure if we'll stay up most of the night or not.
I wanted to go to Eid prayers in the morning (around 6 I think) but if I'm still not feeling well then I guess I'll stay home. I missed the Eid prayers last year because of work so I was really looking forward to going this year.
The mosquitos aren't too bad for me. I have four bites on my hands and one or two on my right foot. They don't particularly itch unless I'm rubbing at them, so I just try not to do that. lol
Okay, that's enough for now. I still have a backlog of stuff to post about but I'm tired and I guess that's enough for now.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Just a few more hours til maghrib here. Not sure if it's Eid yet back in the states, but Eid Mubarak to all who are already and will be celebrating!
=)
I think I'm coming down with a cold or something. We'll see how I feel later.
We're going shopping for wedding rings tonight insha'Allah!
yippeee!!!
I'm still taking notes about everything and it seems as though we'll have dsl in the apartment we'll be staying at so insha'Allah I'll be able to post more in a couple of days or so.
=)
I think I'm coming down with a cold or something. We'll see how I feel later.
We're going shopping for wedding rings tonight insha'Allah!
yippeee!!!
I'm still taking notes about everything and it seems as though we'll have dsl in the apartment we'll be staying at so insha'Allah I'll be able to post more in a couple of days or so.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Assalamu alaykum!
Sorry I haven't made any posts yet.
I've been keeping some short written notes so I won't forget everything that I wanted to write about.
It's just hard to find the time to sit and write at the moment.
Insha'Allah in the next few days I'll get some substance up here.
Hope everyone is well.
And yes I'm enjoying myself immensely, I love it here!
Salaam
Sorry I haven't made any posts yet.
I've been keeping some short written notes so I won't forget everything that I wanted to write about.
It's just hard to find the time to sit and write at the moment.
Insha'Allah in the next few days I'll get some substance up here.
Hope everyone is well.
And yes I'm enjoying myself immensely, I love it here!
Salaam
Monday, October 1, 2007
One week left
Alright, this is the blog I'll keep while in Egypt.
I'm not sure how frequently I'll post but I'll try to check in as much as I can.
Please feel free to leave comments, or you can email me as well.
I'll try to upload pictures online when I can, but the connection will probably be dial-up, which takes a while, so we'll see.
And yay, just one week til I go!!
:)
I'm not sure how frequently I'll post but I'll try to check in as much as I can.
Please feel free to leave comments, or you can email me as well.
I'll try to upload pictures online when I can, but the connection will probably be dial-up, which takes a while, so we'll see.
And yay, just one week til I go!!
:)
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