One more thing...

I was reading the blog of a fellow photo dialogue member, Victoria (view her blog here), and I realized that I should fill you all in on how I'll be keeping in touch. I'll primarily be using this blog, email, and the photo in Egypt website (which is hosted by me until we get a proper domain from the school - I'll update the link to that when it changes).

Anyway, It's important for you all to know that I will not have my cell phone with me, because firstly, it's ancient and won't even accept any kind of international sim card, and secondly, because it's much much much easier to just email all of you, because I'll have Internet access pretty reliably. I haven't decided if I'll buy an Egyptian cell phone yet. If I do, it'll mean buying minutes and dealing with International calling rates. So, we'll see. I can definitely be reached by email (aogle89@gmail.com), or by comment on this blog. I'll also be checking facebook. :)

The Egypt dialogue leaders, Denis Sullivan and Cynthia Rapp, will also be keeping a blog of our activities (their blog looks just like mine...hmm.) That blog is here.

Finally, if anyone wants a postcard (be prepared to receive it months from now), email me your address!

Itinerary

This is posted on the photo in Egypt website (click here to visit it), but I thought I'd also include it here. It's a rough schedule, but it's pretty close to what we'll be doing out in Egypt.

Flights: All specific flight info will be available upon request.
Housing: We will be spending the first week in Northern Egypt (which is geographically more south, but because the Nile flows south to north, it's considered Northern). Then we'll be traveling to Cairo, where we'll have several smaller trips planned. As such, there will be a number of different hotels we're staying at.

Cairo: Flamenco Hotel, on the island of Zamalek in Cairo - visit their website
Aswan: Isis Corniche Hotel
Luxor: Iberotel Hotel in Luxor - visit their website

Tentative Itinerary:
Revised versions will be posted on the photo website as they are available.

5/3: arrive at Logan at 1:15pm, depart at 4:15pm
5/4: arrive in Cairo at 2:55pm, optional walking tour of Zamalek
5/5: morning free, overnight train to Aswan
5/6: Aswan - free to discover islands, town, suq
5/7: Aswan - High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple
5/8: travel to Luxor; Kom Ombo, Edfu
5/9: Luxor - Karnak Temple at 8am, Luxor Museum at 4pm, Luxor Temple at 6pm
5/10: Luxor - West Bank at 6am (Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings, Medina Habbu); fly to Cairo
5/11: leave hotel at 8:30am, Giza and pyramids; group meeting at 7:30 to discuss book #1 (history)
5/12: classes 9am-1pm, U.S. Embassy at 4pm, Egyptian Museum
5/13: classes 9am-1pm, afternoon free, Egyptian Museum
5/14: free day, Egyptian Museum
5/15: Coptic Cairo and Muqattam; lunch at Abduh's house at 2pm, Felucca at sunset
5/16: morning free, ICRC Mr. Frederic Fournier 3-5pm, Cairo University dialogue at 5:30
5/17: classes 9am-1pm, Arabic 3-5pm
5/18: classes 9am-1pm, afternoon free, group meeting at 8pm to discuss book #2
5/19: classes 9am-1pm, Arabic 3-5pm, Zar Music at Makan at 9pm
5/20: classes 9am-1pm, AUC dialogue at 5pm
5/21: free day
5/22: Islamic Cairo
5/23: Nahdet El Mahrousa; Hania - health and gender
5/24: classes 9am-1pm, Arabic 3-5pm
5/25: classes 9am-1pm, afternoon free, group meeting at 8pm
5/26: classes 9am-1pm, Arabic 3-5pm, Whirling Dervish at Ghouri at 8pm
5/27: classes 9am-1pm, afternoon free, Arab League at 7pm
5/28: day trip to Suez Canal or free day
5/29: free day, possible dinner at Abduh's house
5/30: day trip to Alexandria
5/31: classes 9am-1pm, Arabic 3-5pm
6/1: classes 9am-1pm, afternoon free, group meeting to discuss book #3 at 8pm
6/2: classes 9am-1pm, Arabic 3-5pm
6/3: classes 9am-1pm, afternoon free
6/4: depart for Boston

Getting ready

I moved back home yesterday, which unofficially marked the end of my Spring semester.

I've got about a week now to finish preparing for my trip to Egypt. I'm getting really excited about the trip, but I've got some butterflies already. I know I won't sleep at all Sunday night.

I've got lots of shopping, reading, and organizing to do before I leave on Monday. I still can't believe I'm flying to Egypt in less than a week!