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Sultana · 10-06-2005, 09:31 AM

OK, I can't get access to making a journal, and I'm limited on time, so I'll post here.
#1: Oct. 3, 2005:
OMG! I just wrote up this beautifully detailed message and it was deleted when I tried to spell check it! Moral: never spell check in Egypt.

OK, sorry, I have only 20 minutes left, it's the middle of the night here, and I'm locked in a filthy internet cafe with two guys I don't know--and I'm glad to be here! I haven't had internet access before now.

OK, quick story:
After about 17 hours of travel, Air France lost Jack's luggage. Just found out today they went on strike. 5 other's luggage was also lost. Unhappiness. Our camera chargers (and Jack's phone charger) was in Jack's luggage (not my idea, lol).

God, the other email was so great, I hardly have the heart to re-do it.

After spending 4 more hours in the airport for the one piece of paper needed to make the loss official (Welcome to Cairo!), we went straight to a fancy dinner club (in our travel clothing of the past 24 hours). Had great food, saw a terrific belly dance show. I mean terrific.

Next day we toured the Citadel, where Muhammed Ali and Saladin are buried. A few of the ladies including myself had to wear a green superhero cape to be allowed in the mosque (To cover our revealing Wester clothes).
When I entered the site through the everpresent metal detectors that always go off and no one ever stops anyone at, the guard smiled hugely and said to me, "Your top...is very small." Uhhhh yeah. I was wearing a sweater over it!!

After that we toured the MindBlowing AMAZING Egyptian Museum, where we saw the famous mask of Tut, and his coffin of solid gold, among many many other incredible trinkets. Toured the Mummy Room. Tried to get accustomed to haveing to tip someone every time we use the facilities. Yes, they're in there, waiting for you!

Then we went to Khan el Khalili, the 100-yr-old bazaar. I was too overwhelmed to shop--astounding, yes.

Then I and several others went to a famous belly dance costume maker's apt. I ordered something custome, who knows what scandelous costume I'll get!

From there we boarded the train. Our sleepers were roughly the size of my closet. No lie. No one slept. It was hard.

In the morning we arrived in Aswan. We toured the Ruins of Philea, and can I tell you , the instant I laid eyes on the 30-foot-high figures, the ancient hieroglyphs...it's all worth it. I touched the carven hand of Isis. I hugged the stone lion guardians. I over-tipped the local natives who rushed into every photo shoot and asked for baksheesh (tips). But hey, one taught me how to wrap the perfect turban for this 110+ degree, 75% humidity weather.

We're now ensconced on the boat. I've been running and running. I'm literally falling asleep here at the keyboard, so I'll try to give you a better re-write tomorrow if I get the chance. I didn't even get to tell you how I was chased by a cabbie driver and his horse, lol!

I'm thinking of you all, and...yeah. I am! You can't make me not, you are not the boss of me. :P

Gotta go, getting kicked out.

HUGS

10-06-2005, 09:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Sultana Falling Angel Location: L.A. L.A. land	Sultana's Egypt Travel Journal OK, I can't get access to making a journal, and I'm limited on time, so I'll post here. #1: Oct. 3, 2005: OMG! I just wrote up this beautifully detailed message and it was deleted when I tried to spell check it! Moral: never spell check in Egypt. OK, sorry, I have only 20 minutes left, it's the middle of the night here, and I'm locked in a filthy internet cafe with two guys I don't know--and I'm glad to be here! I haven't had internet access before now. OK, quick story: After about 17 hours of travel, Air France lost Jack's luggage. Just found out today they went on strike. 5 other's luggage was also lost. Unhappiness. Our camera chargers (and Jack's phone charger) was in Jack's luggage (not my idea, lol). God, the other email was so great, I hardly have the heart to re-do it. After spending 4 more hours in the airport for the one piece of paper needed to make the loss official (Welcome to Cairo!), we went straight to a fancy dinner club (in our travel clothing of the past 24 hours). Had great food, saw a terrific belly dance show. I mean terrific. Next day we toured the Citadel, where Muhammed Ali and Saladin are buried. A few of the ladies including myself had to wear a green superhero cape to be allowed in the mosque (To cover our revealing Wester clothes). When I entered the site through the everpresent metal detectors that always go off and no one ever stops anyone at, the guard smiled hugely and said to me, "Your top...is very small." Uhhhh yeah. I was wearing a sweater over it!! After that we toured the MindBlowing AMAZING Egyptian Museum, where we saw the famous mask of Tut, and his coffin of solid gold, among many many other incredible trinkets. Toured the Mummy Room. Tried to get accustomed to haveing to tip someone every time we use the facilities. Yes, they're in there, waiting for you! Then we went to Khan el Khalili, the 100-yr-old bazaar. I was too overwhelmed to shop--astounding, yes. Then I and several others went to a famous belly dance costume maker's apt. I ordered something custome, who knows what scandelous costume I'll get! From there we boarded the train. Our sleepers were roughly the size of my closet. No lie. No one slept. It was hard. In the morning we arrived in Aswan. We toured the Ruins of Philea, and can I tell you , the instant I laid eyes on the 30-foot-high figures, the ancient hieroglyphs...it's all worth it. I touched the carven hand of Isis. I hugged the stone lion guardians. I over-tipped the local natives who rushed into every photo shoot and asked for baksheesh (tips). But hey, one taught me how to wrap the perfect turban for this 110+ degree, 75% humidity weather. We're now ensconced on the boat. I've been running and running. I'm literally falling asleep here at the keyboard, so I'll try to give you a better re-write tomorrow if I get the chance. I didn't even get to tell you how I was chased by a cabbie driver and his horse, lol! I'm thinking of you all, and...yeah. I am! You can't make me not, you are not the boss of me. :P Gotta go, getting kicked out. HUGS __________________ "Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come." - Matt Groening My goal? To fulfill my potential.