Thought I'd send a quick update on our journeys in Egypt so far. We got to Cairo Saturday (what day is it today?? it was 3 days ago). Unbelivable how smoggy and dirty this city is. We are staying in a little french b&b on the top floor of a building downtown and looking out the window you can't see the skyline 5 blocks away. Cough cough. But we love it and are so excited to be here regardless.
Cairo was not a place I thought I would love, but oddly I really do. The people are really friendy and the city is so interesting.
Went to the Egyptian Museum and saw King Tut! The history is just mind blowing! Although the museum is a cluster of ancient ruins and feels like a warehouse, everything is just sitting around dusty, most of it isn't even labeled and some if they are labeled are handwritten in arabic. Not the best preserved museum I've ever seen but I guess this stuff lasted thousands of years in the desert so who cares about a little dust and thousands of tourists touching the sarcoufagi, right? Enlightening to see the pieces of history fit together weaving an Intricate beaitiful story.
I (Tara) went off on my own Sunday morning to check out Coptic Cairo (christian area). Coptic is the term for Egyptian Christians. The service at The Hanging Church was interesting. Coptic orthodox are very into icons and ceremony, so it was interesting to see the priest performing this intricate ceremony that lasts 2 hours and while he is performing the rites an alter boy is chanting and the congregation is so familiar with the words and process that they mostly chant along. It was all in Arabic so they could have been repeating the same words over and over again for all I know, but I was nevertheless very impressed with the paeticipation. I only lasted about 15 minutes before I went to go explore some of the other churches and sites that are all in clumped in this Coptic area. So the coolest thing I saw was this cave inside one of the churches that is thought to be where Mary & Joseph took the infant Jesus when they went to Egypt to flee King Herod's proclaimation to kill all the first born sons in israel. (Matthew 2:13-15). That is the most incredible thing about this trip for me, is just how all the history fits together with our faith and becomes so much more real.
We also visited the pyramids at Giza and took all the required photos kissing the Sphynx and riding camels. We'll send loads of photos out once we get back, for now you'll just have to trust that we were there and yes the pyramids are enormously huge.
After a day of pyramids sighting last night we left Cairo on a sleeper train (photo is of our tiny but cozy compartment) which contrary to Carrie & Samantha's experience was absolutely romantic and charming except from the dinner that could have included chicken or fish, still not sure which. Arriving in Aswan for a few relaxing days on the Nile.
Ok, guess that wasn't so quick. ;-). Thanks for staying tuned and for all your comments and emails. It's so wonderful to stay connected - I love the worldwideweb!
Much love,
Tara
Tara
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