Horseback Riding at the Pyramids

 A few of our friends went horseback riding last Friday and made it sound so fantastic that when they invited us to join them this Friday we couldn't pass up the opportunity.

(This stable also offers camel rides - Bri, we'll take you for sure when you get here!)

Becca looks good on that horse doesn't she?!

This is Kate's horse - love those freckles

is this thing a standard or an automatic? ..... where are the brakes?....

The gang: Jillian, Geisuppe, Nicole, Kate, Mike, Chris, Becca, Sarah, Rachel and Jillian's husband (when I finally
learn his name, I will correct this caption. Sorry Jillian)

Seconds after her horse ride. Love that smile!

So it was like the first time I’ve been on a horse since my 8^th birthday! When the guy told me to come and get on this horse I was like ummm… it’s really high up… haha but it was easier than it looks! J a few people got on their horses then mine started walking and I kinda freaked out haha but then it was all good! I think my horsed liked being in front cuz for the first little bit we were first but then a few other people who knew what they were doing came and went in front of me which I thought was a good thing J when we got to the actually desert part it wasn’t as hot as I thought it was gunna be!  And we didn’t just walk the whole time! We trotted a lot then we were galloping and I liked that a lot better than trotting cuz it doesn’t hurt your butt as much! Rachel told me she was REALLY impressed by how well I was doing since I’ve never been on a horse in like 6 years and a few people asked me if I’d done it before cuz I guess I was pretty good at it! And I felt pretty proud of myself haha J . I really like it. I hope to do it a lot while I’m here! And get good! Then maybe when I get home I can start doing it J!!!  ... Becca

The Good: I didn't realize horseback riding was such an aerobic sport - yay for burning calories
The Bad: In some spots in the desert where you are out of the wind - there are flies on your face, even after applying Off
The Ugly: I understand why there are special boots and pants for riding now ... we're all very sore. ouch!

Khan el-Khalili

El Marg is the direction to get into the City

While Mike and Becca are at school, Pauline and I have been exploring with our friend Chris’ help.

On Sept. 18^th, temperatures soared to 38 degrees and we decided it was a good time to check out the Khan El-Khalili market in downtown Cairo.  

We started out with a walk down to road 9 to catch the Metro, Cairo’s subway system. You can purchase a one way ticket for 1 Egyptian pound. (aprox. 17 cents)  p.s. The metro isn’t air conditioned.  The train came on schedule. Each train has two cars designated for women only. We didn’t use these cars on this day because Chris wasn’t confident enough that we’d get off at the right stop … we agreed with him 100%.  On the way to the Sadat stop, the train was fairly full but not packed. We were able to sit together. Once at Sadat, we transferred to another train to go two stops to Attaba and got off.

We went from El Maadi to Sadat, then
transferred to another train. Sadat station is
directly below Tahir Square!

We emerged into a different world. Busy busy busy and it was still early, 11am! Most stores don’t even open until noon. We walked along a busy street where we passed vendor after vendor selling clothing, juice, bikes, hardware, appliances, rope, books …. And we hadn’t even reached the “khan” section yet.

Once at the Khan market, there were streets and side streets and alley ways all packed full of vendors selling their wares. We didn’t come with the intention of purchasing anything, just to look. I was trying to take some photos but found that some vendors do not want you to take photos. Some will let you for a price. Some didn’t notice because I’m fast with my SLR. It’s hard to even look at the goods because they want you to stop and look, touch, ask how much … they want to bargain or haggle with you over the price. It was recommended to us that we find out how much is a fair price for what we want to buy before trying to haggle with anyone. I saw some slippers that I’d like to purchase, but I have no idea how much they should be so I have a bit of homework to do before going back again.

Fresh squeezed Mango juice, a heart pillow with your name in Arabic, A man selling Juice - he
gives it to you in a bag with a straw, some material, Shisha pipes for sale and one of the streets
plugged full with vendors. 

By 12:30 I was dehydrated. (I was hot, very thirsty, had a headache and my hands were swollen) Chris found an wonderful air-conditioned restaurant for us to duck into and we quickly drank two 1.5 litre bottles of water between the three of us.  At the restaurant Chris ordered us a traditional Egyption lunch of babaghanoush, falafel and kofta served with pita bread.  I loved it! I don’t think it was because I was starving and dehydrated, I think I really liked it. I have ordered falafel since and enjoyed it just as much. However, I do blame the dehydration for the fact that I did not take a photo of the food. I promise to get one for you next time.

After lunch, we took a different route through the market alleys with the intent on touring a mosque nearby but the mosque has decided to start charging 100LE per person for a tour. We decided to just admire the architecture from the outside instead.

Minerates from a mosque, comforters, Pauline took a photo with me in it!, outdoor seating
at some of the restaurants, a busy corner.

Bags! another item I have to research the price of, the slippers I noticed (top left corner of the
second photo), Belly Dancing costumes (this one is for you, Amanda!), grain bags
filled with something, more outdoor seating, a magazine rack (all Arabic unlike in Maadi where
you can usually find at least one magazine in English) and fun magnetic Egyptian bottle openers!
(everyone should own one of these)

On the way back to the metro I was spotted by a young man who thought that he would help me get to the metro … for a tip of course. He stayed with me for only a couple of minutes before he was positive that I wasn’t interested. He moved on to Pauline next who rejected him as well. If I was there by myself, and lost, he would have been a huge help. But then again, people in North America will generally give you directions for free.

If I thought I was hot before, I had no idea what I was getting into getting back on that subway after 2:00 in the afternoon. It was PACKED. We waited for a second train to come … it was packed too but at least we could get in the door. We had to stand holding on the loops that hang down from the ceiling. Bodies were everywhere. Let me remind you that the subway is NOT air-conditioned and that the temperature outside was 38 degrees. I have never been so hot before in my life. (can you imagine the smell?) I wasn’t this hot at the pyramids. That was nothing compared to this. On the bright side, the trains were running smoothly and on time. We arrived back in Maadi and made a stop at the corner stand for more WATER.  When I got home, I collapsed on the couch and fell asleep. 

Lori Farrington, I thought of you while I was at the market … I was “overstimulated” for sure.

Golf

Last Thursday Mike went with 3 friends to a golf course. They only ended up playing 6 holes because it gets dark so early here. The good news is that there is golf here. Lots of options. Lots of price ranges.

Mike at the Dreamland Golf Course.

On Monday, Pauline and I went on a CSA (Community Service Association - for expats) free trip to the Katameya Golf Course with 9 other women for an introductory golf lesson. It was free, so why not!

We didn't actually get to see the golf course (they have 2; a 9 hole and an 18 hole "championship" course), we spent our time outside, in direct 36 degree sun, on the driving range. There was a pretty steady breeze so the heat wasn't too bad. We met Steven, the golf pro there, who spent almost 2 hours with us on the range and then we headed inside for coffee and a "chat".

The driving range at Katameya.
Steven said they dump a million gallons of water on the course each day. 

View of the club house from the driving range. 

The out door area where we had
coffee and a chat.

During our little chat (read that with a Scottish accent, Steven is Scottish) Steven gave us a package explaining memberships and fees at the club. To give you an idea of how expensive it is to be a member here - I had an escort to go to the washroom for 2 reasons 1) so I could find it and 2) so I didn't go wandering where I wasn't allowed. He also stressed the importance of lessons for any new golfer. Basically, you're not getting out on the course if you can't play. He told me that I would be in an intermediate group which would be 4 lessons. On the 4th lesson, we would get out on the course. It's very tempting, but I don't have a job to pay for these things so one free lesson for me will have to do.   

The pool. What a glorious beautiful inviting looking pool.
It is possible to swim here if you aren't a member - for a fee. 

Interesting and Unusual

Flowers are everywhere despite the sand and garbage. 

Villa on Road 84

I went for a walk with my camera around our little area of Maadi. There are many beautiful sights, like this flower and villa but I was more interested in capturing the unusual and interesting. 

All payphones are covered in sand and only take credit or calling cards.
This is a good one - it has a receiver.  The one on the corner by
Volume 1 (book/stationary store) doesn't have a receiver. 

Cotton Candy anyone? These boys were walking the streets selling candy after school.

This is a water station. Fill up your cup for free!
I'm afraid to fill up my cup at one of these.
Maybe someday if I'm desperate. 

This is a bank machine for the Arab Investment Bank.
Can only be used by their customers.
No cirrus sticker on this one.  

Notice the wild dog sleeping under the cart. These dogs are EVERYWHERE and they are always looking for food.

This is Nada. She read two children's books to us in Arabic and
then translated it for us.  She is 10 years old.  We learned "hi" and
colours but the only thing that stuck for me was "hi" -  Marhaban

The Maadi Public Library is a beautiful building with lots of books including an English section for adults and children. It has multiple computer labs, activity rooms and a cafe. Too bad everything on the activity board is in Arabic. A membership is 65LE which seems reasonable. Must supply your own photo for photo ID. They will let anyone come for a visit for 5LE.

This bench isn't going anywhere!

I feel safe walking around with my camera. Most of the time, the people like to pose. The kids LOVE to pose and then see their photo on the back of your camera right away. I want to print a few photos for the kids. There is a Kodak store close. I will put that on my to-do list. Photos of the kids will be a separate blog on it's own. I have so many already!

Mohammed's shoes. He takes care of our building.
Sometimes he wears shoes. We have a LOT of
photos of his adorable children.  

WE'RE SAFE

Several of our blog followers are wondering about the events in Egypt at the moment. As you know, an anti-Islamic movie was made by someone calling himself Sam Bacile (Im Becile?) and there have been several protests in Egypt and other Muslim countries. So far, all of the protests are taking place around Tahir Square in the heart of Cairo and we are a good distance from there. We have been warned to take extra precaution wherever we are but here in Maadi things are calm. I compare it to perhaps being in Oakville during the G8 protests two years ago in downtown Toronto. It's a relatively small group of rabble rousers doing what they do best while 99% of the country carries on with their lives. We went to our usual place for coffee this morning and the owner seemed to be going out of his way by saying, "You are welcome here." Of course most of the anger is directed towards Americans but we could certainly be mistaken for residents of that country. We appreciate your concern but at this point everything here is calm and peaceful.

The map below shows the Google driving directions from our street to Tahir Square. What ever it says, double it unless you're driving there at 6am when there isn't any traffic or triple it if you're driving there anytime after 6pm.

Arabic Number Lesson

On the day that we moved into our apartment, a friend taught Becca and I how to read numbers using licence plates. Becca picked it up really quickly. The next day, we were cleaning the floors and Becca was shaking the dry mop out the window to get rid of some of the dirt and the mop head fell off. It was a fancy new mop. I sent her down to find it. It took her a few minutes to figure out how to get to the side of the building and when she got back to the lobby, the lobby door had closed, locking her out of the building.
I was just about to go downstairs to find her when the phone on the wall rang. I picked it up and said hello ... and Becca was on the other end. "Mom, I'm locked out". I didn't know how to open the door from the phone so I went down to let her in and asked her how she buzzed our phone. She showed me the panel on the wall. It's written entirely in Arabic. She knew our flat number and found it on the list. Mike and I were very impressed. I might have panicked in the same situation, but she didn't. She's AWESOME!

more to come ....

Becca's 1st Day Of School at CISE

Becca came in the door at 3:50pm and said,“I have 5 new friends!” – music to a mother’s ears!

Becca was up and dressed early. She was excited about her first day of school in Egypt. The bus arrived at 7:15am. Good news – there was a cute boy on the bus! Anyone who knows Becca will know this started her day off on the right foot.

Becca sitting down in the 3rd window.
Cute Boy in the 4th window.

Here is my recollection of what she had to say about her day:

“The bus monitor showed me a girl on my bus that is in grade 10 too. I followed her. I met a girl with a long braid. I can’t remember her name. She was nice and turns out we were in the same science class together so we went to class. The teacher didn’t have my name on her list so I had to go see Mr. Frank with a bunch of other kids. We sat there for almost 2 full periods waiting for things to get sorted out. Finally it was my turn to see Miss Melanie (the principal). She gave me a hand written time table and I went to my Arabic class. I learned a few letters, got some homework to practice them and tomorrow there is a test. (so easy!) Yazmin (girl on my bus) is in that Arabic class. I walked to lunch with the girl with the long braid (I really need to find out her name tomorrow) and met another friend there named Clara. We ate lunch at the lockers instead of in the cafeteria – I got a locker! They are very small. Only a third of the size of my locker at NCC. Hardly anyone at this school uses a locker. After lunch was history and we walked there together because we are all in the same class. There’s a cute boy who sits close to me in history! After history was art. The other kids can draw really well – I’m jealous. The teacher did use my drawing as an example because I was the only one who did it right. That felt good. All the teachers knew I was Mr. Mike’s step daughter. That was nice. The bus ride home was probably my favourite because I sat with Yazmin and we talked the whole way home. I talked to the cute boy too. (must get his name tomorrow) He thinks I sound like I’m from Texas. LOL  … When I got home, Yazmin sent me a text message that said if I needed anything to just ask her.”  

Mr Mike had a pretty good day too; nothing too noteworthy to speak of. Which I think is a very good thing. No news is good news.  

Apartment Tour

Here is a video tour of our apartment in Maadi. Road 221, Building 5/4, Forth Floor, Flat 42.
I recounted the stairs this morning, this time I added in the steps to the front door and the steps in the lobby - Grand total - 90 steamy steps to our flat door.

I tried to load a video from our good camera but either Blogger or our Internet Stick couldn't handle it. I'll try it again once we have our wireless internet hooked up (hopefully next week). This video was taken with my cell phone and will have to do for now. Sorry about the poor quality.

There are cockroaches here!

I didn’t include these photos in our last blog entry but these were taken on the bus ride to Giza. We’ve been told that a building that is unfinished doesn’t owe taxes. So a LOT of the buildings here are unfinished. 

One of the thousands of unfinished buildings we've seen.
Notice the second floor window & balcony. Someone is living there.

Donkeys! The white vans in the background are cabs.

 My Dad wondered what they drive around here. We've seen car dealerships just like home but we’ve also seen some interesting vehicles that we would never see at home.

Another unfinished building on the left.
Check out the little black car!

This truck has cows in the back. COWS!

 Mike went to school this week. The school seems to be in ciaos as many schools are the week before school starts. Becca and I checked it out on Tuesday. The school sent a special bus just for teacher families to come and have a look around. It’s pretty cool and hot there. No photos were taken because it was just too crazy with workers everywhere – painting and moving stuff. The lobby is beautiful and air conditioned. To get to the main classroom areas, you take a staircase beyond the reception area where there is no roof! The middle of the school has no roof! (That's where the "hot" comes in.) Last year it rained for 20 minutes on 5 different days. A roof is not required. On the way to the high school section we passed an outdoor gym and courtyard, a pool and a big soccer field. The high school does have a roof. They have two squash courts! I haven’t seen that in a school before. The classrooms are very basic and all have air conditioners. If they don’t have a smart board, they have an LCD TV on the wall that can hook up to the teacher’s computer. The library and cafeteria area are both very nice. The cafeteria has a coffee shop, a Popa Johns Pizza and a booth that sells some healthier selections like salads and chicken wraps, soups and sandwiches. It looks like Becca will be able to find lots to eat for less than 18LE or $3 Canadian a day. Mike’s room is #17 on the first floor. He has a couple classes with 20 kids, and one with only 6 but numbers are still being finalized and I’m sure will be adjusted a few times in the next couple of weeks. 

Egypt has DELIVERY! You can get anything you want delivered to your door like groceries, food, beer & wine by making a phone call or ordering on-line. I tried to order water from the grocery store, but they were out of water so that didn’t work but we did successfully order chicken wings and quesadillas. They even remembered to put only chicken and cheese on Becca's!