Salam ala khum!! That means hello in arabic (literally it means peace to you. which is very 70s of them to walk around saying peace to each other all the time). Today Alex and me visited the west bank side of Cairo in order to see the tombs and an old monastery. In order to get to the tombs we had to take a 'ferry' to the west bank and then hike up a forever long hill of sand to reach the tombs (I'm sure my legs and butt will be sore tomorrow, walking in sand is a lot more exhautsting then it looks). Most of the tombs were little caves in the mountain side with a lot of garbage in them (apparently the locals must consider people's graves as a dump site), occasionally there was a tomb full of bones and there were two tombs that we entered that were full of hieroglyphics and were deeply carved into the mountainside. They were definitely worth the hike. From there we caught a ferry to the Monastery. Well actually we caught it at the bottom of the monastery, so we had another very long walk up a mountain of sand. On the return walk back we visited a famous mausoleum before catching a ferry to the Nubian beach Restaurant which is by far my favorite place I've ate at so far. Its very secluded and only accessible by boat. the best part was that the boat will pick you up and drop you off for free (a rarity in Egypt, I thought they were going to rip us off hardcore, but they were great). The food was simple, but delicious and nicely priced. The restaurant over looks the Nile so we ate outside and enjoyed our last sunset in Aswan, before heading back to the east coast to have another cup of tea with Mohammad (as promised).
Tomorrow I leave for Luxor and Alex is going on a Felucca ride up the Nile, so I'll no longer have an escort, but I should be fine. I've learned how to deal with the aggressive sales people and Luxor only has 500,000 people and is full of tourist so I shouldn't be hassled to badly. I catch a bus tomorrow morning at 7:30am (another convoy) and we'll stop at a couple of temples on the way to Luxor, so I should have a very busy day. TTYL. LoveYa.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Cairo Pictures
The marketplace where the terrorist attack had occurred a couple of days before.
Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo
Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Pictures weren't allowed inside.
This was the view of downtown Cairo at night taken from the window of my hostel.
View of downtown Cairo at sunset as seen from the window of my hostel
Some hieroglyphics that I illegally took photos of in Saqqura.
Step pyramid at Saqqura
Giza Pyramids and the Sphnix.
The pyramid that I illegally climbed
My camel I rode to the Giza Pyramids. I named him Lorenzio. Ain't he sexy!?
Giza Pyramids
Giza Pyramids
Giza Pyramids
Giza Pyramids
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Aswan and Abu Simbel Temple
Waz up!? We arrived in Aswan around noon from the overnight train. We quickly made our way to our hostel to check in, so we could explore Aswan. We decided to spend the rest of the afternoon visiting Elephantine Island which is an island that seperates the west and east sides of Aswan. In order to get to the Island we took a Ferry. That's what they call it, but its actually similar to a small metal fishing boat with a little engine that smokes when they start it. Elephantine Island has the ruins of the ancient Abu and the Aswan Museum (which is one of the smallest and crapiest museums I've ever seen). The ruins were pretty fun to explore. Your able to climb all over them (because no one really cares or even watches to see what you are doing...I could have carved 'katie was here' on one of the pillars and no one would have ever known) and since no one was watching us we visited the 'off limits area' (by accident because they had it roped off on one side and not the other) where I pocketed some pottery fragments from the excavation area (don't get mad at me, there were tons of fragments discarded just lying around everywhere). Upon exiting the ruins we wondered through the village and were invited to join in on a game of soccer (they were rather impressed with my soccer skills). It was great fun to join in and mix and mingle with the locals. Upon arriving back at the 'ferry' dock we returned to the east side of the Nile to explore and do a little haggling (I got a great deal on a 'sheesah' bong for gift, but I won't say to who because they might be reading this). We were planning on turning in early because we had to be up by 2:50am in order to catch a convoy to Abu Simbel the following morning, but we ended up not returning to the hostel until almost midnight.
Abu Simbel
We awoke at 2am in order to shower and get ready before our bus met us at 3:15am to take us to meet our convoy which left Aswan at 4am (the convoys leave early in orfer to beat the heat of the day at the temples). Its necessary to take police lead convoys south and north of Aswan. They haven't quite explained why to me, but apparently people are crazy drivers (we watched a head on collision while we were returning today and we almost had a head on collision with another bus). The plus side to taking a bus so early in the morning is that we got to watch the sunrise over the desert which had breath-takingly beautiful colors. The temples of Abu Simbel were awesome!! Basically Ramsis II built a huge temple for himself for other people to worship him at and built a smaller one for his favorite wife close by. The man was obviously in love with himself. The outside of the temple is guarded by four huge statues (built right into the mountain) of himself sitting in his thrown. Inside the temple are drawings of him as different gods and squashing his enemies. What is most interesting about the temples is that they weren't originally in that area. They were moved from their originally location which now sits at the bottom of Nassar lake (the biggest man made lake, formed by the creation of the High Aswan Dam). How they moved a mountain that large shocks me, but they did it.
After leaving the Abu Simbel temples we visited the High Aswan Dam and then Philea Island which has the ruins of the Temple of Isis. What is great about the ruins in Egypt is that they are much bettered preserved then the ruins in Italy and Greece (and they are thousands of years older). Not only are they mostly intact, but they are covered in hieroglyphics and colors that have lasted throughout thousands of years (lots of the pyramids and temples I've visited were built between 4000-2000bc). In order to reach the island we had to take a 'ferry' boat through Lake Nassar, so the ride there and back were quite beautiful. From Philae Island we headed to the unfinished Obelisk on the outskirts of Aswan before being dropped off at our hotel. We ended up taking naps after this voyage since we'd only had two hours of sleep. This evening we went and got supper (egyptian pizza, which is similar to regular pizza, but the top is covered with bread too, kind of like pie), hit up a sheesah place to smoke and play some dominoes, then we headed to a souvenir store we had visited the day before to have some tea with the owner. He was very nice and explained all about the history of the places we'd visited that day and gave us advice for our future trips to Kom Ombu and Luxor. We bought a couple more souvenirs (he always gives us the best prices with out having to haggle and its all made in egypt, not china souvenirs which I like) and he gave us a couple of free gifts and made us promise to join him for some tea again tomorrow. He was very interesting to listen too, so I'm sure we'll see him again before we leave. Its great to interact with the locals (when they aren't hassling you for felucca rides or to buy things).
Tomorrow we are headed to the tombs on the west bank of Aswan. It should be interesting. I'll try to post some more pictures tomorrow. LoveYa.
Abu Simbel
We awoke at 2am in order to shower and get ready before our bus met us at 3:15am to take us to meet our convoy which left Aswan at 4am (the convoys leave early in orfer to beat the heat of the day at the temples). Its necessary to take police lead convoys south and north of Aswan. They haven't quite explained why to me, but apparently people are crazy drivers (we watched a head on collision while we were returning today and we almost had a head on collision with another bus). The plus side to taking a bus so early in the morning is that we got to watch the sunrise over the desert which had breath-takingly beautiful colors. The temples of Abu Simbel were awesome!! Basically Ramsis II built a huge temple for himself for other people to worship him at and built a smaller one for his favorite wife close by. The man was obviously in love with himself. The outside of the temple is guarded by four huge statues (built right into the mountain) of himself sitting in his thrown. Inside the temple are drawings of him as different gods and squashing his enemies. What is most interesting about the temples is that they weren't originally in that area. They were moved from their originally location which now sits at the bottom of Nassar lake (the biggest man made lake, formed by the creation of the High Aswan Dam). How they moved a mountain that large shocks me, but they did it.
After leaving the Abu Simbel temples we visited the High Aswan Dam and then Philea Island which has the ruins of the Temple of Isis. What is great about the ruins in Egypt is that they are much bettered preserved then the ruins in Italy and Greece (and they are thousands of years older). Not only are they mostly intact, but they are covered in hieroglyphics and colors that have lasted throughout thousands of years (lots of the pyramids and temples I've visited were built between 4000-2000bc). In order to reach the island we had to take a 'ferry' boat through Lake Nassar, so the ride there and back were quite beautiful. From Philae Island we headed to the unfinished Obelisk on the outskirts of Aswan before being dropped off at our hotel. We ended up taking naps after this voyage since we'd only had two hours of sleep. This evening we went and got supper (egyptian pizza, which is similar to regular pizza, but the top is covered with bread too, kind of like pie), hit up a sheesah place to smoke and play some dominoes, then we headed to a souvenir store we had visited the day before to have some tea with the owner. He was very nice and explained all about the history of the places we'd visited that day and gave us advice for our future trips to Kom Ombu and Luxor. We bought a couple more souvenirs (he always gives us the best prices with out having to haggle and its all made in egypt, not china souvenirs which I like) and he gave us a couple of free gifts and made us promise to join him for some tea again tomorrow. He was very interesting to listen too, so I'm sure we'll see him again before we leave. Its great to interact with the locals (when they aren't hassling you for felucca rides or to buy things).
Tomorrow we are headed to the tombs on the west bank of Aswan. It should be interesting. I'll try to post some more pictures tomorrow. LoveYa.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Cairo Marketplace
Hello everyone. So I didn't make it to the Suez Canal yesterday (but maybe I'll make it there some other day), instead Alex and me went to the big tourist Marketplace called Khan Al-Khalili. Yes, that's the same marketplace that the 17 year-old french girl was blown up a couple days ago. I didn't realize it when we left to go there that it was that same market. The people at our hostel informed us that, that was the area to buy souvenirs when we asked them. Not until we had been there for a couple of hours was I informed that it was the same market where the terrorist attack had taken place a few days before. But that explained why there were cops checking purses and bags when we entered. It was a pointless attempt at making the marketplace more safe, because they only had guards at a few of the main entrances that only the tourists use, so I'm sure the terrorists would probably not use the tourist entrances anyways (I think they were just there to make the tourists feel safer). So basically I spent the day practicing my haggling skills, which if I do say so myself are 'amazing'! We headed back to the hostel after having completed our souvenir/gift shopping in order to grab our bags and head to the train station for our overnight train to Aswan.
The overnight train sucked. Originally I was planning on taking a sleeper train, but discovered that if I took this other train it would only cost me $20 instead of $50. Unfortunately the flaw of taking the train we ended up taking is that we only had reclining seats, not beds (and the seats didn't really recline, they were more like a little slant that was not quite parallel to the wall, but almost), so I didn't sleep very well (not to mention the car was freezing cold). But I've arrived safely in Aswan which was my goal, so I can't complain to much. TTYL. LoveYa.
The overnight train sucked. Originally I was planning on taking a sleeper train, but discovered that if I took this other train it would only cost me $20 instead of $50. Unfortunately the flaw of taking the train we ended up taking is that we only had reclining seats, not beds (and the seats didn't really recline, they were more like a little slant that was not quite parallel to the wall, but almost), so I didn't sleep very well (not to mention the car was freezing cold). But I've arrived safely in Aswan which was my goal, so I can't complain to much. TTYL. LoveYa.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Egyptian Museum and Coptic Cairo
Hello everyone. I can't write a very long message right now because I have to catch a train to Aswan shortly. It's a 14 hour train ride so I'll arrive in Aswan around 12pm tomorrow.
Yesterday Alex and me went to see the Egyptian Museum which is suppose to take up to two days to explore but it only took us a little under three hours. The best part was the King Tut section where we saw his mask and everything that was buried in his tomb with him (toys of gold, beds of golds, gold thrones, gold everything). After the museum we headed to Coptic Cairo, which is the old Christian area of Cairo. We walked around the area looking at the different christian churches built a long time ago and also visited the 'hanging church' which was originally built suspended over the Nile (but the Nile has since change areas and doesn't run along that area any more). After that we haggled with a taxi driver to take us to the Citadel, but upon arriving we decided not to enter (not worth the price of the ticket) so we caught another taxi to an island in the Nile to get some dinner. The restaurant was awesome. I've been trying lots of egyptian food while I've been here and I really like (but I don't think I could eat it everyday though). Every time I go out to eat I always try something new and so far I've liked all of it. TTYL. LoveYa.
Yesterday Alex and me went to see the Egyptian Museum which is suppose to take up to two days to explore but it only took us a little under three hours. The best part was the King Tut section where we saw his mask and everything that was buried in his tomb with him (toys of gold, beds of golds, gold thrones, gold everything). After the museum we headed to Coptic Cairo, which is the old Christian area of Cairo. We walked around the area looking at the different christian churches built a long time ago and also visited the 'hanging church' which was originally built suspended over the Nile (but the Nile has since change areas and doesn't run along that area any more). After that we haggled with a taxi driver to take us to the Citadel, but upon arriving we decided not to enter (not worth the price of the ticket) so we caught another taxi to an island in the Nile to get some dinner. The restaurant was awesome. I've been trying lots of egyptian food while I've been here and I really like (but I don't think I could eat it everyday though). Every time I go out to eat I always try something new and so far I've liked all of it. TTYL. LoveYa.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Aegina Island Pictures
The coolest Ferry I've ever rode on
View of the Temple of Apollo on Aegina Island
The Temple of Aphaia
View of other Greek islands from Aegina Island
Temple of Apollo
View of other Greek Islands from Aegina Island
Playing in the Sand
Hello everyone. Yesterday I went and visited the Pyramids of Giza, Saqqura and Memphis. We hired a personal driver to drive us around to all these places for the day. It only cost us 250 egyptian pounds, which is $50 (split between me and Alex, so only $25 for a personal driver all day in an airconditioned car). Things sure are cheap here. Our driver was great, not only did he drive us to different places, but he'd point out things along the drive and tell us the history of them. He also helped us find everything we needed to have a great day.
Our day began by being dropped off at a camel/horse stall to rent camels to take us to the pyramids. They were asking 480 for the entire three hour trip, but I talked him down to 420 (which is only 70 euros and that included our tickets into the pyramids and sphnix and personal guides). I've become quite good at haggling with everyone so I get really great deals on taxi rides and souvenirs. The trick is to state a price you're willing to pay, which is 10 pounds ($2), lower then what you are really willing to pay, if they don't agree with your price you start walking away and ignoring them until they yell the price you asked. But the haggling doesn't end there. When you turn around and ask them if they agree to your price, they will state they didn't mean it and state a price 20 pounds higher then your asking price, then its necessary for you to add the 10 pounds to your price so they feel like they beat you at haggling (I use this method with taxis all the time and I can talk down a 65 pound asking price to 20 pounds, yeah I'm that good). They day was the perfect temperature for the trek, but the sun was so bright it was almost blinding without sunglasses on. I imagine its like that everyday in the dessert. The pyramids were amazing and our guide explained how they were built and tons of other interesting facts. I ended up climbing the middle pyramid (even though its not allowed) and went about 12 levels up which was about 72 feet high, before descending to trek off to see the Sphinx. By the time we finished seeing everything by butt was killing me from the camel ride, but I wouldn't have missed that experience for anything (I named my camel Lorenzio, he was super cute).
We left the Giza pyramids and our driver took us to a perfumery shop that showed us how the glasses are blown and let us sample all there scents and explained how each one treats differents things (aromatherapy). Then we were driven to a papyrus museum to be shown how papyrus was made and we ended buying our own legit papyrus pieces of art. From there we headed to Saqqara to see the step pyramid and some other tombs. Here we were actually able to go into the pyramids, climb through the tunnels and different chambers and look at the hieroglyphics and drawings. We weren't suppose to take pictures, but our guide let us take some for a small 'fee/tip'. Upon Leaving Saqqara, we headed to Memphis which was mildly disappointing. What had once been a major hub in Egypt was now nothing but a few statues and lots of stalls selling souvenirs. Our driver then drove us to a restaurant to get something to eat. They brought out a pita bread type thing that is cooked in a wood stove and many types of dips to dip it in. They were all delicious and by the time our food (chicken and beef kebabs) arrived we were full (but still able to finish most of it). The restaurant was great! We sat outside but under a tent and a band was playing Egyptian music and you could watch the bread being made in the wood stoves. It was a very charming atmosphere. After lunch we returned to our hostel.
When we returned to the hostel we were planning on resting, but we soon got chatting with the people who run/own this hostel and ended up joining them to a hookah cafe to smoke and play dominos (I was taught a new way to play dominoes and I'll make sure to teach you all too). After returning to the hostel we played some egyptian card games with them and taught them some American ones, before turning in for the night.
I'll post some pictures and tell you about today later. Tomorrow we're talking about going to the Suez Canal and in the evening we catch an overnight train to Aswan. TTYL. LoveYa.
Our day began by being dropped off at a camel/horse stall to rent camels to take us to the pyramids. They were asking 480 for the entire three hour trip, but I talked him down to 420 (which is only 70 euros and that included our tickets into the pyramids and sphnix and personal guides). I've become quite good at haggling with everyone so I get really great deals on taxi rides and souvenirs. The trick is to state a price you're willing to pay, which is 10 pounds ($2), lower then what you are really willing to pay, if they don't agree with your price you start walking away and ignoring them until they yell the price you asked. But the haggling doesn't end there. When you turn around and ask them if they agree to your price, they will state they didn't mean it and state a price 20 pounds higher then your asking price, then its necessary for you to add the 10 pounds to your price so they feel like they beat you at haggling (I use this method with taxis all the time and I can talk down a 65 pound asking price to 20 pounds, yeah I'm that good). They day was the perfect temperature for the trek, but the sun was so bright it was almost blinding without sunglasses on. I imagine its like that everyday in the dessert. The pyramids were amazing and our guide explained how they were built and tons of other interesting facts. I ended up climbing the middle pyramid (even though its not allowed) and went about 12 levels up which was about 72 feet high, before descending to trek off to see the Sphinx. By the time we finished seeing everything by butt was killing me from the camel ride, but I wouldn't have missed that experience for anything (I named my camel Lorenzio, he was super cute).
We left the Giza pyramids and our driver took us to a perfumery shop that showed us how the glasses are blown and let us sample all there scents and explained how each one treats differents things (aromatherapy). Then we were driven to a papyrus museum to be shown how papyrus was made and we ended buying our own legit papyrus pieces of art. From there we headed to Saqqara to see the step pyramid and some other tombs. Here we were actually able to go into the pyramids, climb through the tunnels and different chambers and look at the hieroglyphics and drawings. We weren't suppose to take pictures, but our guide let us take some for a small 'fee/tip'. Upon Leaving Saqqara, we headed to Memphis which was mildly disappointing. What had once been a major hub in Egypt was now nothing but a few statues and lots of stalls selling souvenirs. Our driver then drove us to a restaurant to get something to eat. They brought out a pita bread type thing that is cooked in a wood stove and many types of dips to dip it in. They were all delicious and by the time our food (chicken and beef kebabs) arrived we were full (but still able to finish most of it). The restaurant was great! We sat outside but under a tent and a band was playing Egyptian music and you could watch the bread being made in the wood stoves. It was a very charming atmosphere. After lunch we returned to our hostel.
When we returned to the hostel we were planning on resting, but we soon got chatting with the people who run/own this hostel and ended up joining them to a hookah cafe to smoke and play dominos (I was taught a new way to play dominoes and I'll make sure to teach you all too). After returning to the hostel we played some egyptian card games with them and taught them some American ones, before turning in for the night.
I'll post some pictures and tell you about today later. Tomorrow we're talking about going to the Suez Canal and in the evening we catch an overnight train to Aswan. TTYL. LoveYa.
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