Skip to main content

Up, Up and Away

Image
By
December 22nd
The aerial balloon ride was a once in a lifetime experience. Our skilled Egyptian pilot flew us to a height of 1500 feet to catch the wind that gave us a 360 degree view of the sun coming up over the Nile and the moon going down behind the Theban Hills.  Descending over farmland, our gondola brushed the tall blades of sugar cane which Barb feared hid snakes -- we deftly landed just on the other side on an unplanted portion of the field.
We had two nice surprises while leisurely exploring Luxor later that day -- running into a Palestinian family from the cruise in the Luxor Museum, and later finding newlyweds Ankit and Parul, also from the cruise, in an Egyptian fast food joint. We took them with us back to the rug shop and Parul was master at demanding her price for several rugs, as well as a "proper bag" (not plastic) for her purchases. India had taught her well.
We enjoyed our last evening at Desert Paradise Lodge with a long talk with Farida over a delicious meal. Just before we left, we met an incoming family from the U.S. -- from Armonk NY, no less.
The local See Egypt agent waited with us in the train station and got us on the tourist sleeping car - again a nice service during the well planned trip. Our two cabins were small but well appointed (cleanliness, towels, sink and water, hangers for clothes, storage area for bags.) Disappointingly, the train car itself was bad -- constant jerking as the brakes grabbed and didn't release properly (we presumed) so a good night's sleep was impossible.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My COVID journey, finally

By
11oct22 story of Covid: I flew to Des Moines for a mini-reunion of Thomas cousins; flew back on Monday the 3rd.  I did not wear a mask.  Evidently I should have worn a mask, as I later came down with Covid.  The infection could come from anywhere, typically airborne virus shed by someone in the communicable phase of the disease.   Throughout my airport and flight experience was quite calm and uneventful, so my guess is the most likely vector for the virus was the deplaning time – people are really eager to get out,  they are talking, pressing close together, straining to grab bags from the overhead compartment and coordinate with their partners, thus breathing heavily.  Very few people wore a mask.  I do not remember anyone coughing or sniffling or breathing heavily around me, but that deplaning process is always rather hectic.  I did not press to go quickly, but I did not want to delay my windowside seatmate, so I joined the crowd.  As it was, when I arrived at baggage claim, my suit
Post a Comment
Read more

Montpellier

By
  [23mar22] Another walking day: to the A rc de Triomphe , passing through quaint quiet attractive old neighborhoods, particularly the P lace de Marché des Fleurs.  Arc de Triomphe is spectacular, next to an equally impressive Palais de Justice , and the Promenade de Peyrou that has a great view of the surrounding hills and the aqueduct built by Peyrou to supply the city's fountains.  The Jardin des Plantes – oldest botanical garden in Europe – opens at noon, so we walk around to the Cathedral St.Etienne, with its obscure side entrance, but huge interior space, really huge and rather stark, in keeping with its 13 th century origin – though of course several later kings and bishops added chapels, stained-glass, and organ.  While there, the organ started up, providing appropriate sonic accompaniment to the surroundings (ref. My video).   We return to the garden to await its opening, chatting with some Chicago tourists (go Bears!).  The garden is very nice place for sauntering, and
Post a Comment
Read more

Riding the Bus often

By
From 201010 Saudi scenes It is ironic that this land of cheap gasoline has so much group transport -- buses. From 201010 Saudi scenes Our housing compound has a Toyota-Coaster bus that takes some to/from school (we usually go earlier and return later, on a similar bus that the school provides). Driver Yahya takes residents on the 90-minute trip down to the Big City shopping every Thursday morning. The above picture shows our group one Thursday, usually going to Ikea or the new Lulu's Hypermarket , or the Dhahran Mall. Coleman rides a different bus every day to and from school -- usually 100 minutes there, 80 minutes back.  His bus is evidently an old tourist bus, usually comfortable but a bit dusty.  The air-conditioning usually works too well.  I've ridden it with him several times, to attend business meetings at the district office. From 201010 Saudi scenes There he is, at 5:45am every morning, at the start of the bus run. Fortunately only about 20 students
2 comments
Read more