It’s Still Egypt but…

25 Jan 2012 3 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , , , , , ,

Egyptian Taxi

A year after the Egyptian revolution, it hardly looks like things have changed.  The decrepit taxis still run and negotiate for every pound they can.

The streets are still crumbing.

Ministry of Interior Building off the 5th of May Bridge

The burned out Ministry of Internal Affairs Building, a monument of the Arab Spring, like the other old buildings, temples and monuments, still graces the banks of the Nile.

Laid off Egyptian Refinery Workers protesting January 22 2012

People continue to protest.

Outside Prime Minister's office

The men in power surround themselves with soldiers.

Egyptian mosque and blue sky

Still – while driving through the Cairo, I was surprised to feel a lightness in the air.  I felt hope not darkness.

The young keep living and dancing.

It’s still a place where the sweet potato street vendor can leave his cart in the middle of the intersection under the peace cranes.

And still some Egyptians believe the Americans understand their cause and their desire for democracy.

Flying Into Cairo – Views from the Air

24 Jan 2012 2 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , , , ,

The fields watered by the life-giving Nile River surround the crowded communities on its shores.

This view was south of Cairo as we flew towards the airport which is east of Cairo.

Shanties are holding their ground on the desert cliffs surrounding the city.

With 17 million people living in Cairo and the suburbs immediately surrounding the city center, from the air Cairo’s high-rise apartments resemble a Monopoly board in overdrive.

View of Cairo’s famous traffic along main arteries around the airport.

Do You Know the Way to Nearest Pyramid?

23 Jan 2012 2 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Do you know what this is?

Flying during the day has its advantages.  Looking out the window I knew the Gulf Air pilot was going the right direction because there were several very visible landmarks.

North of Riyadh were the crop circles.

Crop Circles North of Riyadh

When I was growing up in Saudi Arabia I never really questioned where they grew the fresh alfalfa we fed to our Arabian horses.  It was so green, it had to be dried in the sun before the horses could eat it.  The Saudis grow wheat and alfalfa using water from ancient water reserves created during the Pleistocene era – after the dinosaurs but just as homo erectus started wandering around.  It was quite amazing to see this green in the desert.

Obviously the water will not last forever. My father used to be involved in figuring out ways to bring water to the desert.  During a family dinner he told us about an idea to tote an iceberg from Antarctica.  That was never done.

Sarawat Mountains

As we turned west we flew over the Sarawat Mountains.  These look like mini volcanoes with something hiding in the center.   I think it was sand but maybe inside are secret UFO landing sites.  Supposedly millions saw UFOs over Riyadh in 2009.

Saudi Arabia Meets the Red Sea

The Red Sea looked extremely blue next to the brown desert.

Over the Red Sea

I enjoyed how the land and the sea intertwined creating a beautiful view that can only be seen from above.

Importance of the Nile

Over Egypt the Nile’s water keeps the desert at bay.  The human settlements are only within the areas the water reaches.

Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara

Outside of Cairo we flew over the oldest pyramid in Egypt – the Djoser at Saqqara.    It is a step pyramid built around 2,700 BC about 300 years after the stone pyramid in Peru.  Imhotep the founder of medicine was the architect who designed the pyramid.  In artwork he was associated with the Goddess Hathor.

Click on the photo to enlarge it.  The pyramid is at the top of the photo.

All the photos were taken with my Ipad.  I will start using a better camera soon but I can only learn so much technology at a time.

Tomorrow Cairo!

Golden Anniversary

21 Jan 2012 3 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , , , ,

My In-laws wedding photo from 1962

Fifty years ago today, my in-laws got married.  Technically they signed the “kettel khitab” or marriage contract.

Today we are in Cairo at the Pasha Restaurant on the Nile celebrating with family and friends.

This is the second Golden Anniversary I have celebrated.  The first was my grandparents.

I wonder whether Mojo and I will celebrate our 50th?  I wonder what the world will be like in 35 years.

Riding the Lions in Zamalek

18 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , , ,

Susan’s First Visit to Cairo, Sitting in the Garden with her Nana

When we visit Mojo’s family in Cairo, we always stay at the Marriott on Zamalek island.

The Marriott was once the palace of Khedive Ismail.  It opened in 1869.

We like the hotel for its location and the garden.  During our stays, we usually eat every meal on the terrace.  It’s the place to meet and greet your friends.

At the entrance are two marble lions.  Susan and the boys always climb up on the lions when we enter the hotel.  And as it is in the Middle East, no one ever scolds them.

Susan riding the marble lion.

Last year as we walked in, Susan said, “I didn’t know the lions were so small.”

We are off to Cairo for a few days.  I will let you know -whoever you are – what she says this year.

Moment of Twin Truths

15 Jan 2012 1 Comment

by Eva the Dragon in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel, When Dragons and Rabbits Make Me Laugh - Humor Tags: , , , , ,

"Who pushed the green button?" Outside the Royal Automobile Museum, Amman, Jordan

Good luck seldom comes in pairs but bad things never walk alone.

– Chinese Proverb

Misery Loves Company.

– English Version

Next time don’t listen to your brother.  Ask yourself – is this a good idea?

– Mom’s Version

Arabian Motifs an Artist’s View

14 Jan 2012 4 Comments

by Eva the Dragon in Island Tales - Expatriate Living, Stories about Oman, Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: , , ,

Arabian Motifs Exhibit at World Beat Fitness Center Saar

Today photographer and designer Mairi Thomas opens her exhibit at the World Beat Fitness Center in Saar.

Mairi has lived in the Gulf and traveled around the Middle for many years.  She only moved to Bahrain a few months ago but she has already created a new portfolio of photographs.

View from Crowne Plaza Balcony Muscat Oman

I ran across Mairi’s work last year when my friend Goldi and I visited Oman.  We stayed at the Crowne Plaza as it was on the seashore and quite convenient to the sites.  The photos decorating the hotel lobby depicted Oman in a modern way that really appealed to me.

Mairi has an excellent eye for design.  Looking through her portfolio I can tell she traveled to Dubai, India and China.  But her perspective and ability to capture life in the buildings and landscapes is what makes her photos unique.

The opening is 4pm – 6pm on Saturday January 14th.  Arabian Motifs will run through February 16th at World Beat.

You can check out Mairi Thomas’ other professional projects at Mairi Designs.

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