Madrid

Left the hotel in Cairo this morning at 6.15am.  To get to the airport in time for the 9.45am flight we needed to leave then because of traffic.  Of course we got there at 7am and then I waited.  We boarded the plane at 9.20am and waited then for another hour and a bit for clearance as it is difficult for the plane to get out of the busy airport!  Hmm.  The seats in the 737 didn't recline at all.  All in all very uncomfortable.  But I did find my way through another airport.  This hotel is five star so they say.  We have had our briefing by the 'lady' from the tour group.  There are 4 Aussies in all out of about 30 I think.

I have decided not to do the Madrid by night trip which is optional because I am dead tired.  We are off to Toledo at 7.45am in the morning.  The big story we got from her is to be very aware of pickpockets and thieves.  She made it sound worse than Egypt and Turkey.  Anyway tomorrow will be a whole new day and we shall see.

Cairo

Today has been a very busy day in and out of the bus and travelling around Cairo with lots of horn beeping and lane changing - well I assume lane changing as there doesn't really seem to be any.
First stop at 8am this morning was the Pyramids of Giza - 4 in total and the Sphinx.  We went down into one of the pyramids into the burial chamber but of course there was no body there.  The French had already taken it years ago.  The Sphinx was large and actually carved from limestone, not built out of two and half ton blocks like the pryramids.  The guide told us that at the present rate of decay there would be no Pyramids or Sphinx in 60 years.  Sounds like they might have to get a bit busy about looking after them a bit better.
All around the Pyramids and Sphinx is urban development etc - even a golf course.  It just sits on a few big hills.  Not what you expect at all.  I thought at least there would be plenty of desert as depicted in comic books and magazines - but no not at all.  The area is very dusty of course and hawkers every where.  There are the obligatory horse and cart rides and of course the camels.  Poor things, not well cared for at all.  When I came back to the hotel this afternoon I could feel the dust and sand on my face.
On the way back the bus passed the Israeli Embassy.  The place was bristling with military for streets around.  Today there wasn't much of a demonstration at all and it was in Tahrir Square which is a bit of a way away.  The Marriot hotel is actually on an island.  The Australian Embassy is also on this island.

My modelling career - the latest Chanel jacket for winter

Belly dancing in Turkey

Horticulture on Aswan Dam

Tomorrow morning after a 5.45am start I am off to the airport to fly to Madrid.   Not sure what the internet situation will be but we will see I guess.

Back in Cairo

I have been off the air for a few days as I have been on the Nile River cruise where the signal has been too poor to even try to email or blog.  We arrived back in Cairo from Luxor this morning.  I have seen such places as the Temples of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and King Tut's tomb and the Aswan High Dam and granite quarries.  On cruise each night there was dancing or music.  One night was Galabea Night where we dressed Egyptian and danced and sang.  Another night we had a belly dancer and what they called Whirling Dervish, but having seen the real thing, he looked more like a man spinning with circus lights all around him.
We flew to Abu Simbul which is the temple cut from rocks that was saved before being flooded by the dam.  Incredible sights.  The internal flights have all been without hassle.  Our guide is very good at managing such a diverse group of strange tourists.  There are very few tourists so things are not too crowded.  The riot here last Friday was the usual Friday gathering - Friday being the day of prayer.  They were a little cross at the Israelis so had a rumble outside of their embassy.  There are no problems though.
Tomorrow the trip moves to the Sphinx for a close up view and the Pyramids where we actually are allowed to go down.  Many of these places are camera free unfortunately.  Some still have colour on the walls.  A trip to Memphis, the old capital of the ancient world is also on the agenda.
So far I have been lucky and not had the cold or the dreaded Egyptian belly.  Some had that on the cruise but I have had a strict handwashing programme and didn't eat anything off the boat so think that may have helped.

Abu Simbel

I have the key of Life

Our boat for the trip

I have had a great time with the bargaining at the stalls. 
When the Galabea night was going to be on we were going through the locks up the Nile.  Small boats came out with the guys throwing their goods up in a plastic bag and then bargaining.  The money or the goods were then thrown down to them in their little boats.  Sometimes the goods went into the water.  It was a spectacle to watch from the top of the boat.
On Saturday morning I am being collected and taken to the airport to go to Spain.

Cairo Marriot

This photo is taken near the Omar breakfast room.  Notice the beautiful rug on the marble floor.

This the the hotel pool.  You must walk down to it as it seems to be at a lower level.

I want my brother's wife to note how they display clocks here.  Wonder if you can get one of these hall tables in Australia.

A stained glass window, one of many.

Today has been a day of exploring this hotel - and there is lots of it.  I went down to the shops outside, the concierge assured me it was safe.  Hmmm if you consider the streets and traffic I'm not so sure.  There are blocks of cement in the middle of the footpath, taxis asking me if I want a taxi Madam, and 4 lanes of traffic where anything goes to cross without lights and pedestrian crossings.  I'm not sure that pedestrian crossings would work here anyhow.  I have played "Spot the Aussie" today and there are a few who are tripping about.  We will see if they are on the same tour as I am in the morning.  I am going to include some photos ( I hope) of this hotel.  The old parts are rather interesting with furniture from the palace also in place.  Of course the old part is very glitzy,  with gold on most things.  Marble patterned floors of course. 
 Tomorrow is the first day of the tour and I believe we are going to the Museum where we will see Tutenkarmun's artifacts and other wonderful things.  In the evening there will be a light show at the pyramids.

I am going to endeavour to include a video I made of the Whirling Dervishes with this.  See how I go.  Ithought they were rather interesting especially the footwork. I was rather taken by their performance.  This video is of the demonstration of the dance after the real performance which you are not allowed to photograph as it is a religious ritual/ service.   Some said they felt dizzy after the performance.  It was in an underground cave.  If it doesn't show the video you know that the computer battery ran out before it uploaded.
Today I went to a shop that sells papyrus.  It feels interesting, rather fragile.  Some was blank, some painted on and some printed.  I thought I may be able to get some and roll it in a tube but it must lay flat.  They give you a cardboard sheath to put it in but I'm not sure it would stand the trip.  It is very light.
As I do this post I am sitting in a 'lounge ' area in the hotel.  Lots of men in traditional white gear.  Some ladies bu also some in Western clothing.  The waitress has a white shirt, black vest, black stockings, long legs and a black mini skirt on.  It is a uniform.  So there really is a mixture of traditional and Arabic wear.

Goodness I'm In Egypt

Well I think I lost one entry through the hotel server going down on me or something.  I have had a busy time in Ankara, the Turkish capital.  Istanbul was great.  Went to lots of places but there are so many more things to see in that city of 14.4 million people.  There ws very little free time at all unfortunately and at the end when there was I was exhausted. . 

Today I have arrived in Egypt after a 2 hour flight.  It looked interesting from the air.  There are 20 million living in this city.  I have a whole day before the tour starts which will be good  Some sleep and some laundry to be done.  This hotel, the Marriot is on the Nile River.  I will endeavour to include some photos for you but last time I think that was the cause of the lot disappearing.  This site is in Arabic and I just have to guess which button to push.  The writing also goes from right to left across the page as I type so is a little off putting.  All in all things are going well with my navigation through airports

I'm not sure where this is up to so here goes and hope like hell as the writing is skipping from right to left. 

Cappadocia

Today I have travelled around Cappadocia.  This is an area noted once for its horses.  First thing this morning we visited the rock carved churches which contain ancient frescoes.  Afterwards we went underground 4 levels.  I didn't pike out and some of the laneways and tunnels were a tight squeeze for some of the larger men, some scraping their backs.  Once the Christians used to escape into these caves and troglodyte houses to escape the Romans.

Later I visited a hand made Turkish carpet centre.  The rugs were just amazing.  Of course the credit card should have stayed at home but it popped out of the wallet.  There are so many different varieties -wool, cotton and silk and designs.  Of course the ones I purchased are just for an investment, like gold ingots. The one pictured above is called "The Tree of Life".  Rich colours, wonderful texture.  Yes, Patrick it comes with the hooks already to hang it (and the others).
This evening after dinner in the hotel there will be a visitation to an underground cave to see a floklore show with belly dancers, folk dances, singers and music.  Senol, our guide is shouting the drinks.  I don't think he realizes what big drinkers some Aussies are!!!
The area we are in is called Cappadocia but we are staying in a place called Nevsehir.  My Turkish is not improving either by the way.

Pamukkale to Cappadocia

This morning was an early start.  I am feeling religious as I have been to a mosque at Konya along with half of the population of Turkey I think.  It is the Diem and they are holidaying, the mosque is a shrine where the founder of the Whirling Dervishes is buried.  Late this afternoon I went to a 'performance' by the Whirling Dervishes.  It was interesting, different.  It was on my wish list and am pleased that I saw it but not sure I would bother again.  Lots of chanting and whirling around.  I don't know how they can continue to whirl for at least 20 minutes at a time and not get giddy.  I think I was giddy watching them.
This hotel is clean, but the bathroom is small.  We are actually here for 2 nights so there might have to be some domestic chores such as washing etc.

Tomorrow will be a full day again but around this area which will be nice after travelling 700 km today.  We finally sat down to dinner at 8.45pm.  But it was lovely.

This photo was taken from my hotel window yesterday morning.  In the background is the Aegean Sea and the foreground is  the hotel pool.