July 2009 Moms

Ok ladies, we are back!!!! here is the whole story:

OUR VISIT TO CIARO

It started off at the Etihad airways, we had a small plane with no tv, but it was fine because Micheala kept us busy anyway….hehe. She was a darling and played on the floor and took naps with takeoff and landing. Upon reaching the airport we were transported to the hotel with a Mercedes (quite strange to us because the airport was horrible). The driver was telling us about the sights and scenes as we went along. We checked in and got the most beautiful room on the 16th floor overlooking the Nile River. We went to a shopping mall close by and afterwards had a lovely dinner at Pane Vino, an Italian restaurant, in the hotel.

Tuesday we had an early breakfast and then headed out for our full day tour with our personal tour guide, Dhalia. (What a lovely lady). We first went to the Giza Pyramids; we were able to climb onto one and peered inside. We also took a walk to the other pyramids and then the Sphinx. It was truly amazing to see all this in real life. There was a solar boat museum, the boat was found underneath the pyramids and was reconstructed for display. When built everything was fastened with rope, no nails or other methods of fastening….it was underneath enormous slabs of solid Limestone. We took a camel ride with a very enthusiastic guide and took the nicest photos and also had to pose for several photos he took. We then went to Memphis, where the oldest standing pyramid was and saw the statue of Ramses the 2nd lying down, it was spectacular to see it as it was made out of one piece of stone and the details are extraordinary! We were then taken to a Papyrus shop where we were shown how it was made and we had a guide telling us the stories portrayed in the papyrus “paintings”. The memorabilia shop we visited had the most amazing jewellery and most was made out of solid gold and silver….needless to say you had to pay a lot of money if you bought something there! Back at the hotel we had dinner at the Italian restaurant again and headed out to another shopping mall!

Wednesday the tour consisted of a visit to Islamic Cairo, Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo, the Coptic museum and El Khalili bazaars. We saw all the churches and where Jesus was hidden; he was there from age 2 to 6. Every single marking on the wall and painting or pillar had a symbolic meaning, and the tour guide explained them all to us. The museum was wonderful and peaceful with artefacts that amazes you! Back at the hotel we had dinner at a Lebanese restaurant and since we sat until we left food was bought to us……some strange and others delicious!

Thursday we had to return sadly but we went to the Egyptian museum first. No photos are allowed inside sadly, but the memories will stay. We saw real life mummies! And off course King Tutankhamen and all his tombs. All the artefacts are original and there is 120 000 pieces on display…..you need a whole day to see them all! We headed out to the airport shortly after and had a wonderful flight back…..luckily with tv’s this time!

That was the short summery, now little more detail……

When you first see Cairo airport you want to run away, dirty and unorganised is understatements! Going outside everything looks old and never cared for, even the cars look crappy (that is why we were amazed at the Mercedes). Driving to hotel there is some beautiful houses and buildings and in between you see dirt roads, rubbish along the road and simply said chaos! Driving there is a nightmare as there seems to be no road rules…you just hoot and go! Lanes that was made for 3 cars suddenly has 6, and if there is more than 2cm between you and the car in front of you be sure that several cars will get in there! You can actually have a conversation with the person in the car next to you because it feels as if you are sitting on the same seat. Public transport is everywhere, with buses stopping everywhere and anywhere with no prior warning. Needless to say, a few cars will have to have new floor boards inserted where we were trying to step on the brake pedal the whole time!

The hotel, Semiramis Intercontinental, was wonderful. There is strict security and before you enter a dog walks around the car to smell for bombs and drugs, inside your bags are checked every time and you walk through metal detectors. The bed was heaven to say the least with the softest pillows, duvet and mattress known to mankind! There are a few small shops inside and a huge swimming pool, with doctors and a beauty spa also. There are a lot of restaurants and the service everywhere is exceptional. Most of the restaurants have persons playing instruments the whole day, so when you walk in you feel calm and at home! Our room was overlooking the Nile, so in the mornings we went out on the veranda and watched families fishing. The women were paddling, and men throwing the nets, sometimes children were also there helping out. In the evenings there were boats going up and down serving dinner and a cruise, the boats are beautifully lit and a sight to see.

The people in Egypt ADORE and worship children, Micheala was the highlight everywhere we went and everyone was just kissing, touching and holding her! Whenever we entered somewhere there was always a group of security guards (male and female) that wanted to hold her for us while we walked around. We never left her, but the gesture was nice. We were walking in Coptic Cairo inside some churches and a group of girls crowded us…..Morne had Micheala in the kangaroo pouch and after they kissed and blessed her it was photo time! I was pushed to one side and Morne was standing between hordes of girls and feeling so scared and having his picture taken hundreds of times! The poor man was holding Micheala with one hand and his wallet with the other! Little miss happy enjoyed all the attention and couldn’t stop smiling and laughing!

Egyptians live of tips (otherwise known as bribes) they will suddenly ask you to take a photo of them and the next thing you know you are posing for a photo he is taking! You don’t get your camera back unless you tip him…..and it’s like that everywhere! Some people will offer to help you get a taxi (which is only a few feet away) for a tip….and if it is too little they keep on bothering you. At the airports someone will just grab your bags and get a trolley so they can be tipped. It is how some people make a living, but very annoying at times!

The markets and bazaars is crazy! Every second shop someone is dragging you in and complementing you so you can buy their items. They will even give baby a “gift” which you in the end have to pay for because you can’t give her something and take it away! You never pay what they ask and you always ask for lower price, until the price is about half you don’t accept. (You will anyway get the same object at the next shop for cheaper) So bargaining is huge and even then we found things were quite expensive as we are used to the UAE. Also when you enter a shop you are offered something to drink, if you don’t want anything you get something…which makes you feel guilty and then you buy something!

We were taken to a carpet weaving school, there is an art in making carpets……from silk to wool and weaving….there is children sitting and doing everything by hand at alarming speeds! All I can say about that is WOW!!!! SUPER WOW! Even the perfume shops are wonderful, it is pure flowers and oil….you get rubbed with 30 different kinds! You smell lovely for two whole days even after bathing! I could see why some people would just go there to buy perfume!

Tourists are everywhere, and its always crowded…so mainly Cairo is crowded, dirty, messy, just plain deurmekaar, and hectic. But looking past all that and at the cultural side and the beautiful artefacts it is worth a visit. We had a great time and look forward to going again one day and seeing the rest!

Missed you all loads!

Hey ladies

Thanks for your support regarding the job hunting.

I will post a pic of Jane soon. Just need to upload the pics from my cell and camera.

Cinds, be strong, Beautiful J will be rigth as rain.

To all you girls ... enjoy the weekend!!!

The hide thing is cool - makes it seem like FBI stuff

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