The temperature today in Cairo is a sweltering 106 degrees.

Another Amazing Weekend!

Only a few weekends left until I return to the States for the first time in six months, so I thought I would take advantage of all that Cairo has to offer.

I started off with some friends from work on a horseback ride through the Saqquara Plain. A lovely American woman runs a stable there with well-fed, well cared for horses (and many birds - including an enormous adult male turkey!) We started off in the desert at Abu Sir. At one point we crested a hill next to the Abu Sir pyramids and could see the Giza pyramids behind us, Saqquara in front of us, and the Darshur pyramids off in the distance. Afterwards, we rode about another hour through fields and along dirt roads of villages in the countryside. It was breathtaking.


and hot. very very hot.

So what better thing to do than go to the pool with some of my favorite gals?

After a brief, post-pool nap; a friend called: Fellucca? she said. FELLUCCA! I replied. H. and C.brought a guitar and tabla, A. brought Pimms, and the rest of us just tagged along with the music and relaxing post-sunset along the breezy Nile.

The next morning, feeling contented and relaxed after a good night's sleep, T. and I did some gift shopping and enjoyed a coffee in the neighborhood - a very relaxing morning. Later on, we met up for a Garden Party / Music Jam (titled the "homemade jam") where many musicians brought their instruments and we lounged on poofs around 4 low tables set out upon oriental rugs in a friend's backyard and sang and sang and sang. It was a relaxing night filled with great music and friends and a great way to kick off the last week of grading.


speaking of grading...I better go!

Post-Obama Day

The bars, busses, facebook devotees, and classrooms of Cairo (at least the ones I was in) were all a twitter yesterday discussing Obama's speech - and I'm sure they will be for some time.

This is in no way a political blog and will not be blogging about my reactions to the speech or the reactions of my Egyptian, British, American, and Canadian friends. This is a travel blog, a blog about what it's like to live and work in a part of the world so different from Baltimore Metro Area where I grew up.

In that spirit, then, I do want to share this brief quote:

"All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort — a sustained effort — to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings." - President Obama, Cairo, 6-4-09

Also, let me mention that I will be trying to get my hands on some of those "Obama/Tutankhamun" tee shirts I saw all over the American media as a really cool souvenier of the times.

Obama Day!

Tomorrow is Obama Day here in Cairo!

Unfortunately, I didn't even know someone who knew someone - no ticket in hand. I also have to work.

Still, it's exciting.