TURKEY DAY…….but, not in Egypt!
Ahhhh……what another gorgeous day it has been…….especially here in southern…upper….Egypt!!!! Here in Aswan, alongside the Nile River with the white sailed Feluccas going back forth across the river……the day was cloudless and cool. YEP….I said…COOL!!!! We sat out on our balcony for a few minutes this morning just simply admiring the beauty of this view from up here!!!!! The Nile is soooooo blue and the palm trees around the river…….on the various small islands……it is just beautiful picture.
We had a great breakfast in the Nefateri Room…….wonderful pastries, all kinds of Middle Eastern foods, fruits, juices, eggs, meats, etc., etc. GREAT to be able to eat again after the past three days of suffering from TUT’s TUMMY!!!
Finishing the rather tooooo large meal, we head out of the gated complex and up the street about a 10 minute walk to the beautiful Nubian Museum. A completely new building and landscaped gardens around it……the museum is wonderful in it’s presentation of the history of the ancient Nubian Tribes. I learned soooo damn much, but after two hours, it became overkill. I just couldn’t absorb all of it with sooooo many names, tribes, etc. dating back to 6000 BC!!!!!! Interesting to learn how they fought, then centuries later…joined with the ancient Egyptians who lived just to the north of their home, which is now mainly in the country of Sudan. Statues, hunting artifacts, early stonework, bowls, and then hundreds of years later….gorgeous baskets. We had to leave before we actually were ready as our driver and transfer agent was to pick us up a bit after 12 noon to take us to the airport for our flight this afternoon back up to Cairo.
As usual, they were right on time……….what service we have had from the STI Travel Tour Agency!!!!!!! WOW……treated like royalty!!! We were loaded and soon on the road to the Aswan Airport…..a brand new facility. The usual wait time at the airport, however, our agent took care of checking us in, handling the luggage, getting our boarding passes…..while we sat and had a cup of tea. Hmmmmm……I could get used to being waited upon like this!!!!!!!
We soon boarded the plane………you must take a shuttle bus out to the plane as they are not parked very close to the terminals. And before much longer, we were in the air, heading north for about 300 miles or so……..arriving at Cairo International in less than an hour.
Again…..we were met and greeted by our agent in Cairo…..and whisked into the city…….not one piece of luggage was handled by us. Within 45 minutes we were escorted into the Ramses Hilton Hotel…….our agent took care of our luggage with the bellman, he then checked us in at the desk……and OMG……he got us a wonderful room in the Executive Level of the Hilton…..on the 27th floor…..again, overlooking the city and the Nile River. All of the tour groups were in line trying to get their rooms….and within 5 minutes of being escorted into the hotel, we were on our way up to the 27th floor to our room. SERVICE……and a great tour company.
The 1st Lady and I had dinner here in the hotel, as we were not able to get together with the lady from here in Cairo who we were going to meet for dinner. It was a good meal……and a wonderful presentation. She had duck…..and I had prawns…..huge ones to say the least.
I mentioned SECURITY the other evening. Well……….it is very tight here….and that is great. From the time we boarded in New York to our arrival here, to the trip to the hotel…..and to every where else……there are armed guards and police everywhere. To get to the hotel, the vehicle must be checked and go through several inspections before we reach the main entrance. Then we go through a metal detector…and then careful eyes watching everyone in the lobby. AND…….THIS IS ALL GREAT!!!! After the first time, you don’t think anything about it…..and you get very used to seeing the guards with the machine guns, AK-47’s, etc., etc.
When boarding the planes, you go through two metal detectors, and then perhaps a pat-down is given to you. When the cruise boat was parked overnight…..there were armed guards on both sides of the boat. When we were at the temples and tombs in the south of Egypt, they were standing on top of the sand dunes, the cliffs, etc., etc. watching everyone. The Egyptians are bound and determined that nothing will happen here if they can do anything about preventing it. 80% of their national economy is based on tourism…….and that says it all!!
No matter where we walk, where we shop, who we talk to……..everyone is soooooo appreciative of us being here……..welcoming us all of the time……thanking us for being here……and requesting us to come see them again. They are all sooooo friendly!!!!!!!!
And……we are NOT alone here!!!! There are thousands and thousands and thousands of tourists here from all over the world!!!! Just unbelievable……..soooooo many!!! Which country has the least that we have noticed????? THE USA!!!!! The French are climbing all over everyone….there are soooo many here from France. From Asia…..from South America…..from Africa’s other countries, from the Middle East, from Europe……but, we don’t see many Americans. Has George Bush and the media made everyone afraid to visit this wonderful country?????? FEAR???????? Hmmmmmm……..
And sooooo, another day has gone by….our 9th day on this adventure. Tomorrow…Friday? We go to Alexandria by van…to tour this city and to see their new, wonderful Library….and other places that are so well known. A great day ahead…..and, this only makes is certain that ……
LIFE IS GREAT!!!!!!…..And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
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