I arrived on New Year's Eve about 8am, got to my hotel (as posted on 'train' thread) and crashed out for 3 hours. Posted on ES, then never went near a computer again until this afternoon back home in Cairo
I decided to brave a walk along the Corniche - with a year of living in Cairo under my belt I was interested to see how I could deal with the touristic hassle. It wasn't too bad - "where you from" 'Cairo' usually resulting in 'happy new year and have a nice trip'. The rest of the time a polite but smiling 'la shokran' or a little bit of banter in my proto-arabic was enough. There were a couple of more persistant types but I got away with wallet unscathed.
I then met up with another Well Known Denizen of ES (WKDES) for a while and we had coffee and chat.
New Year's Eve - well what can I say - the party never happened, I rang the guy and said 'where the party' and he was asleep in bed so I saw the New Year in with 1 other guest at the hotel sharing a packet of biscuits, some koshari and a bottle of mango-flavoured Fayrouz - it was nice though watching the fireworks and listening to all the car horns going off at midnight and one of the hotel discos was giving it some welly.
On New Year's Day I met up with someone else and we decided to go play tourists and visited Luxor Temple. In the evening, we met up with a WKDES and went for koshari falafels and schwarma at a place in Television Street.
Next day (Friday) a new 'friend' gave us a trip around some of the East Bank villages in a micrbus and we went to his sister's house and she made us omlettes - it was very relaxing and pleasant. However the sticky subject of money was broached then and later (I had been led to believe by my new friend that he owned the microbus and it was a freebie - but suffice to say it wasn't his microbus, and ended up costing 100LE!! So beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts.... or Luxor men in this particular case and if you do get offered 'freebies' they probably aren't.)
We had a lovely felluca ride courtesy of another WKDES and I had a great evening with the two WKDES just chillaxin.
Saturday - I was definately ready to come home to Cairo, for some reason I found it harder to be relaxed about the corniche and found myself getting a bit tetchy once or twice when the 15th person asked if you want a felluca ride.
We went to the mummifcation museum (which is small so don't think it will take half a day or anything) and we went over to the West Bank on the Ferry (1LE each way).
Wandered up the hill and took a left through the 'town'. We found a really great place to spend the afternoon - Pizzaland. Absolutely no hassle at all, very reasonable prices, I had a huge chicken fateer which I couldn't finish - I think it was about 13LE and my companion a smaller one for a bit less. We relaxed and chatted there until about 4pm then made our way back as I wanted to go back to my base for 5pm to change ready for the coach departure at 630pm.
It was a lovely relaxing little break and it was great to meet up with 3 ESers I never met before. Waving.... you can reveal yourselves if you wish Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Shanta Qadeama: I then met up with another Well Known Denizen of ES (WKDES) for a while and we had coffee and chat.
In the evening, we met up with a WKDES and went for koshari falafels and schwarma at a place in Television Street.
........and I had a great evening with the two WKDES just chillaxin.
I own up to these bits
Was great to meet you SQ,
I see you didnt mention the rather flamboyant African and the 16 year old and the other WKDES Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Shanta Qadeama: I then met up with another Well Known Denizen of ES (WKDES) for a while and we had coffee and chat.
In the evening, we met up with a WKDES and went for koshari falafels and schwarma at a place in Television Street.
........and I had a great evening with the two WKDES just chillaxin.
I own up to these bits
Was great to meet you SQ,
I see you didnt mention the rather flamboyant African and the 16 year old and the other WKDES
Yes I did (not the 16 year old though hehehe)- let discretion ever be my watchword
Other WKDES:
"We had a lovely felluca ride courtesy of **another WKDES** and I had a great evening with the two WKDES just chillaxin." <- this meant the evening round yours
Flamboyant African person (not Egyptian):
"I saw the New Year in with 1 other guest at the hotel sharing a packet of biscuits, some koshari and a bottle of mango-flavoured Fayrouz"
It was great to meet you Ayisha and I'm waiting for you to tell the story ....... Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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shanta, you really want ME to tell the story?
I am glad you didnt tell about the 16 year old, the other WKDES should tell that one, if she dare
"Flamboyant African person (not Egyptian):
"I saw the New Year in with 1 other guest at the hotel sharing a packet of biscuits, some koshari and a bottle of mango-flavoured Fayrouz"
you call THAT a story? I can see I need to work on you a little more shanta dear, you have to learn to spice it up a bit, like subtle hints there was more to the packet of biscuits and bottle of Mango flavoured fayrouz. Give it a proper romantic setting like the rooftop garden, stars, etc. You got the fireworks in but forgot stars, moon, soft music and stuff, car horns just doesnt 'do it'. Some of these guys need more of a push to the imagination than that
-------------------- If you don't learn from your mistakes, there's no sense making them. Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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Well the rooftop garden the stars, me and a guy....
told me he thought I was 26 LOL.
I told him I had been mistaken for 25 by an older lady a couple of months ago so as she was a lady I knew she wasn't just a guy flattering me - and he said in a very arch way 'and I'm a guy not flattering you either' (why does the song - I'm a Little Teapot http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FkNxBEO1vmg - suddenly spring unbidden in to my head ) - I said 'I know, I guessed' so there was lots of 'oh my, flouncing, scarf swinging etc.
I gave him a new year kiss on the cheek - and he went 'oh my oh my I been kissed by a girl' - 'bet that's a first for you' I said - 'no' he said 'but its been a very long time'
LOL. He was hilarious.
Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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Very romantic and all, but to go all the way to Luxor and not see the Karnak nor the Luxor temple on the east side, then nothing at all about the valley of the kings, Ramses II and Tut Ankhamun's temples or the valley of the queens on the west side ??!! no Hatshepsut temple ??!! nothing !!!! come on!! Historians will pay fortunes for a glimpse of those treasures, what microbus ride ? no bazar, no karkadeh, aswan peanuts, dried skooti dates...I'm very disappointed at you Shanta !! Posts: 3219 | From: Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone. | Registered: Nov 2005
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DZ I've been to Luxor 4 times before (and before I started writing my trips up here)!!! I did Valley of the Kings, Queens, Hatsepchut, Karnak & Luxor Temples, Luxor Museum alabaster factory, Qurna, Banana Island, Crocodile Island just over 3 years ago! And some of them twice!
This was just a 3 day break from Cairo - especially catch with an Egyptian friend who is leaving Egypt for the US in the next few weeks
Yes I did go on a microbus from Television St to the train station and down the bazaar. Didn't do the peanuts or dates though. Didn't have kirkadee this trip but I've had it before.
Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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Oh ! that's better now, or else you would have been dethroned from your 'Egypt Lover' title and wouldn't be the Shanta I had in mind. Posts: 3219 | From: Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone. | Registered: Nov 2005
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Anyway, doesn't the fact that I got in a half day trip to the villages including visiting with an Egyptian family at home count Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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Sure it counts..now that you're back how did the kids meet you at home ? are they sulking ? hope not. Posts: 3219 | From: Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone. | Registered: Nov 2005
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Not sulking now, but their protest was registered by dragging their dinner over every available surface. Luckily there does not appear to have been a 'dirty protest' this time - unless the cat-sitter hasn't told me!
Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Shanta Qadeama: "We had a lovely felluca ride courtesy of **another WKDES** and I had a great evening with the two WKDES just chillaxin." <- this meant the evening round yours
Ok, so I own up to being this WKDES!! At least I would do if I knew what a WKDES was!
Um, whats this about a 16year old?? And am i allowed to tell the story about the felucca mast?
Great to meet you Shanta!!! I hope to get the chance again!!
Posts: 1196 | From: www.spiritofthenile.com | Registered: Jun 2002
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PS in the post above for Pizza Land - take a RIGHT on the West Bank not a left! Only just noticed!
Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Shanta Qadeama: PS in the post above for Pizza Land - take a RIGHT on the West Bank not a left! Only just noticed!
hahahahahaha now YOU cant tell left from right
I led shanta a merry dance insisting she take a left turn to my house but she ended up 'on a main road' coz I meant take a right turn She eventually got here and shinnied up the felucca mast.
Hope you didnt get splinters on the way down though, you did fly down that mast a bit faster than you got up it Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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yes, all those daft 'management training away weeks' with the shinning up the telegraph poles attached to zip wires sure paid off getting to yours Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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ooooh shareen you know very well whats this about a 16 year old, in fact you know better than any of us Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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Actually the felucca mast was carted all the way from the Corniche by a posse of strapping lads because while Shanta was happily lazing away the afternoon on the river, word got out that Ayisha had yet again been locked in the flat while hubby went away for the next 6 months, and Shanta took the decision to mount another rescue operation. Not to rescue Ayisha I hasten to add, but to rescue the remainder of the Christmas cake that was still lurking in the fridge! Shanta helped to dismantle the mast by hoisting her knickers up the mast and using the elastic to pull the top of the mast down to ground level, thereby allowing said strapping lads to haul the mast out of its mounting. Mounting? Who mounted what? I was waiting outside the flat, with a desperate Ayisha crying over the balcony. She had run out of koshari and cross stitch kits and was desperate. Shanta and strapping lads eventually arrived on a donkey which had a huge grin on its face after a very successful mounting, and proceeded to attempt to place the mast alongside the balcony. One of the lads had to climb the mast to close the sail as it was now flapping wildly in the wind, and Ayisha's neighbours thought their washing was blowing away! Eventually Shanta and I reached the balcony to find ourselves pushed back down because we had forgotten the koshari! We returned with koshari in a basket, and were allowed to enter the flat. Coffee was served, but the Christmas cake was out of bounds.
Result? A backwards shimmy down the mast and a quick exit to play with the strapping lads and the mast!
Sorry, Ayisha, no Christmas Cake........ no rescue!
Oh, and the 16 year old was ...... um...... interesting
Posts: 1196 | From: www.spiritofthenile.com | Registered: Jun 2002
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can someone shimmy up with some bread?? shareen I saved you a crumb
-------------------- If you don't learn from your mistakes, there's no sense making them. Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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This all must have happened while I was out meeting the family and settling on a price (in camels) for the future marriage of our dear Sahnta to the one eyed man. He declares they will live forever in Happy Village, eating omellettes and bread every day. BTW Shanta, I already have the camels in my posession so we are awaiting your return The 16 year old has already met another Brit aged 63 so I hope you are not too heart broken over that bit of news Posts: 929 | Registered: Jul 2008
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How many camels? I'm not marrying anyone for less than 12 camels no matter how many eyes he's got. Do you think that's the one we saw on the boat? The 16 year old 'man' with the 63 year old woman?
Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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If you'd have known you still wouldnt have got any saving that for hubby coming home
-------------------- If you don't learn from your mistakes, there's no sense making them. Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Mira Sol: This all must have happened while I was out meeting the family and settling on a price (in camels) for the future marriage of our dear Sahnta to the one eyed man. He declares they will live forever in Happy Village, eating omellettes and bread every day. BTW Shanta, I already have the camels in my posession so we are awaiting your return The 16 year old has already met another Brit aged 63 so I hope you are not too heart broken over that bit of news
I thought she dumped the 16 year old for the lovely African of New Years Eve? He had 2 eyes though, but that was before he spent New Years Eve with shanta Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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Urmmmm I'm a bit lost now - do you have to get married to eat marzipan in Egypt? Do they even HAVE marzipan in Egypt?
Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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They have marzipan brought back from UK, its on my cake I think so anyway, will have to ask Shareen, im sure I remember a discussion about marzipan, or Christmas Pud or something
forget the marriage offer, I have no camels to offer and you can't cook anyway
-------------------- If you don't learn from your mistakes, there's no sense making them. Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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I can too cook. Just coz I hate cooking and loathe and detest it with every ounce of my being doesn't mean I can't do it Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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I am afraid the cake was homemade in the UK, the white marzipan was shipped in from the UK, and the ready to roll royal icing was also shipped in from the UK. I have one quarter of the cake left, complete with marzipan and icing, and I am not sharing it with anyone! Who is the one eyed man?
Posts: 1196 | From: www.spiritofthenile.com | Registered: Jun 2002
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The one eyed man? Well actually he does have two eyes but one of them is a glass marble. And you know he doesnt have that many camels to throw around, I have two camels and am keeping 1.5 of them as a finders fee.
And yes, even though you were in denial at the time your 16 has already taken his new bride to live with his family on the West Bank. She may look every day of 63 from the front, but from the back she looked as good as any 30 year old.
Posts: 929 | Registered: Jul 2008
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cbrbddd, I will put the word out, im sure you will raise a fair few camels and maybe a donkey or 2.
-------------------- If you don't learn from your mistakes, there's no sense making them. Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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Sorry, right out of marzipan, but still have some pud left if anyone wants to start making bids! Its not cheap though.
And I am totally confused now, which 63 yr old went to the West Bank? Was it the one my taxi man nearly ran over on Zenatti last night? Or is she nearly 90?
Posts: 1196 | From: www.spiritofthenile.com | Registered: Jun 2002
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And I am totally confused now, which 63 yr old went to the West Bank? Was it the one my taxi man nearly ran over on Zenatti last night? Or is she nearly 90?
That was me ya silly moo Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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so I saw the New Year in with 1 other guest at the hotel sharing a packet of biscuits, some koshari and a bottle of mango-flavoured Fayrouz - it was nice though watching the fireworks and listening to all the car horns going off at midnight and one of the hotel discos was giving it some welly.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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saving that for hubby coming home ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
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. . . but i think i need to go down to Luxor to check on things!
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