I ran out of steam over the last two days in Egypt and didn't write a post to cover the est of the adventure, so here is my summary.
First, let's ponder the phrase "Egypt, it's just normal."(see previous posts). You can have a look at the slide show of street scenes and make up your own mind. I wasn't able to capture th3e flock of sheep being herded down main streets of Cairo in the traffic... but you'll see how Egypt is far from "normal".
Add to the fact that the entire country is bristling with antiquities and the capital is surrounded by massive pyramids. It's amazing to see the very distinct divide between the Nile delta and the desert.
Despite the travel warnings, the country being in a "state of emergency" after the recent bombings there are still plenty of tourists, especially from China. They are a special people, the Chinese. After trying to photograph a sculpture in Singapore and trying to avoid including the Chinese tourist doing some exercise/stretches, I thought I might develop a collection of funny Chinese tourist shots.
While at the Sphinx, one lady tried to push past Zeinab where there was no room... you have to laugh. This lady just slowly appeared in my shot.
We went to visit the oldest pyramids in Saqqara: world's oldest substantial monumental structure to be built of dressed stone
The little brown hut to the left is...
So I call this shot:
The Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha or Alabaster Mosque is huge and situated on a hill over looking the city and the pyramids.
Zeinab told me about an American tourist she was taking around the mosque who got upset and asked her "Do you celebrate 9/11?" Zeinab perplexed, told her, "of course not, what are you talking about?", to which the tourist pointed at this:
First, let's ponder the phrase "Egypt, it's just normal."(see previous posts). You can have a look at the slide show of street scenes and make up your own mind. I wasn't able to capture th3e flock of sheep being herded down main streets of Cairo in the traffic... but you'll see how Egypt is far from "normal".
Add to the fact that the entire country is bristling with antiquities and the capital is surrounded by massive pyramids. It's amazing to see the very distinct divide between the Nile delta and the desert.
Despite the travel warnings, the country being in a "state of emergency" after the recent bombings there are still plenty of tourists, especially from China. They are a special people, the Chinese. After trying to photograph a sculpture in Singapore and trying to avoid including the Chinese tourist doing some exercise/stretches, I thought I might develop a collection of funny Chinese tourist shots.
While at the Sphinx, one lady tried to push past Zeinab where there was no room... you have to laugh. This lady just slowly appeared in my shot.
This sculpture is amazing, overlooking Singapore, but this lady was doing her exercises. I thought the look on the sculpture's face is hilarious.
We went to visit the oldest pyramids in Saqqara: world's oldest substantial monumental structure to be built of dressed stone
So I call this shot:
The remains of those on the throne are buried behind those who bury their remains on the throne.
To be honest anything I write at this stage would not do the history justice, so I'll just post some brief highlights.
Seeing the distinct line between desert and delta is astonishing.
I was taken to a carpet making school and was shown many beautiful rugs I could not afford. I however buy a small rug for a wall hanging.
I wonder why the girl is not in school, the man told me she is finished all her exams - but, I don't know.
I was taken to a Christian Coptic church, a Synagogue and the Mosque. The christian church identies the location where Mary and Joseph fled with Jesus to Egypt during the rein of Herod.
And this is the holy handkerchief.
Old Cairo. Full of cats and picturesque-ness.
I was stopped by a couple of girls who wanted selfies with me. We ran into each other again, so I asked them for selfies too... with pink hair you are a celebrity everywhere you go!
Zeinab told me about an American tourist she was taking around the mosque who got upset and asked her "Do you celebrate 9/11?" Zeinab perplexed, told her, "of course not, what are you talking about?", to which the tourist pointed at this:
Unbelievable. (They're Arabic characters for those who are confused, not 911)
Anyway we had lunch at a restaurant amid the markets and I was send back to the hotel with a bounty of two rugs, three cat figurines and various other object d'art.
The two wonderful ladies who guided my visit to Egypt will remain lifelong friends - I had a brilliant time and lots of laughs. Amira gave me Basboussa and Malban (turkish delight) as a farewell gift which I ate as I watched the sun go down for the lat time from my balcony.
It was amazing!
No comments:
Post a Comment