May 10, 2010 - 9:00 pm
Last night was so much fun. We went back to the Esquire, and I had my first legal drink - a buy-one-get-one Pharaoh (vodka, orange and pineapple juice) that cost 30 LE (around $6...or $3 per cocktail - the group covered my tab). Isaac and Ezra, the owners, bought me a beautiful cake and the night was just incredibly fun. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday in Egypt! They also brought me a free birthday drink, which was passed around the table.
Egyptians are big jokers - and Isaac is no exception. He was teasing a guy in my group, Matt, by taking his plate away just as he was grabbing for it. Somehow, a spoon was flung in this interaction, and it hit me hard in the forehead! Oops! I have two bumps on my forehead now, but they're barely noticeable and haven't bruised. It was a great night overall, everyone had lots of fun!
Today, we woke up early again and went to Karnak temple, the world's biggest temple! It's actually a complex of temples, and included lots of different temples dedicated to different pharaohs and gods - they were all built under different pharaohs, each adding an addition to the complex. There was a man-made pond that connected the Nile with a series of underground tunnels, and a scarab statue that brought good luck if you walked around it. A bunch of my group members went around 7 times, the number for the wish of a happy life.
Next, we quickly visited a papyrus shop and saw how papyrus paper was made. We learned how to tell the fakes in the suq.
Finally, we went to Luxor temple, which (along with Karnak temple) was right in the city of Luxor! I was amazed at the Luxor temple because it features not only a classic phaeronic temple, but also a mosque, early Coptic Christian painting, and Egyptian-inspired engravings for Alexander the Great - complete with his own cartouches!
After Luxor temple, we checked-out of our hotel rooms at noon and hung out in the hotel lobby until 7. Ugh! It was hot and sweaty there, but I was able to get glimpses of Internet, so all was not lost. We filled the lobby and we all had our laptops out, working on our "snap writing assignment" about feeling like a tourist or a student AND a 3 page book review of The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit, both due tomorrow. We've been running around so much, it would be nice to have one more day...
At 7 we boarded a bus for Luxor Airport, which was a tiny airport with only a few gates - so Egypt. Our flight was a little over an hour, and it was on a very nice little EgyptAir plane (no propellers!) which was MUCH nicer than the alternative - that overnight train!
Now it's 1am and we're back at the Flamenco in Cairo. We got a smaller room this time, but we should be able to handle 4 more weeks here as we settle in. I'm excited to not travel again for a little while.
2 comments:
You look so happy in those photos. :)
Been to that airport, so can trade stories. Your camel and birthday pictures and stories are great! So glad, you are having such a good time and sharing in such detail. I love reading and seeing everything.
Post a Comment