9-22-09 Travel AH HAH moments

Greetings  fellow travelers!!  Below IN ITALICS is something I wrote on the plane from Amsterdam to Cairo last night and decided to put images of Cairo I took today within the text.  You will see that our entire day was one awakening moment on top of the next as we got our feet wet in this diverse and INCREDIBLE culture!!

ABOVE: No school for any of the kids here..The swine flu caused panic and the malls are overrun with thousands of children having a blast….so much for not gettng exposed at school.  Actually the flu isn’t even an issue here yet

I’ll show you pix of our bday celebration for Steve tonite on tomorrows post.  What a perfect day and a very hot 95 degrees. Steve and I want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of Birthday wishes!! It made his day….AND all your anti headcold vibes chased most of my yucky ickies away too  THANK YOU!!!!

THIS IS THE WAY WE CROSS THE STREET..WOO HOO!!! ITS MORE INSANE THAN CROSSING IN ASIA..THE CARS ARE A LOT BIGGER!

As we are actively planning an itinerary for a special trip and preparing a travelblogue months in advance,I have observed over the years and journeys that I go through a very similar system and set of emotions with all our trips no matter how unique each one may be.

SOME THINGS ARE THE SAME NO MATTER WHERE YOU VISIT.  THIS COUPLE WERE CARVING THEIR INITIALS ON THE TREE ON THE BANKS OF THE NILE.  hOW SWEET IS THIS?

The one emotional punch in the gut that never fails to catch me off guard on every trip….and I think Steve will agree,is when we get the reality check that “Dorothy …we are not in Kansas anymore”!!

I CALL THIS ONE “TIME CAPSULE”.  i TOOK THIS IN THE MALL.  tHE ULTRA MODERN  ELEVATOR FILLED WITH GIRLS IN TRADITIONAL CLOTHING JUST BLEW ME AWAY.  iT WAS oNE SHOT AND WHAT A RELIEF IT TURNED OUT!

That “Ah Hah moment”  sometimes happens just as a journey begins like when we first landed in the middle of the swamp in northern Botswana Africa 2007.   The 4 seater plane traveled half the day with us and the “local” mail to deliver to the tribes. And our one duffle bag and camera gear

wHAT A COOL OFF THE HIP SHOT.  i JUST CLICKED A FEW TIMES WITHOUT AIMING AND GOT THIS

As our pilot Gustav flew over the dusty path we were to land on to get a better look at the direction the shreaded windsock was blowing. we look across the taupe savanna with our mouths gaping. The earth was a virtual kAlidScope of creatures scattering in every direction in a beautiful mosaic of stripes and patches. From zebras to ellies to mama and baby giraffe

This is thAt defining moment Steve and I look at one another in silence. I guarantee that more was said in that silence between us than most of our vocal conversations. A life altering moment

Well today we each had a mini “ah hah” moment but at different times. As we were standing in security for a final clearance to board the plane, stdve out of the blue turns to me beaming from ear to ear and exclaims. “were going to Egypt as in disbelief!!”

Up until now he’s been so busy he has just been going thru the vacation prep motions……but today it finally hit as reality

My “ah hah” was much more subtle but still threw me for a loop. It was completely unexpected. We sat in our plane seats. Got a glass of juice. Steve dozes off as we taxi down the runway. As I am shutting down my pnone and buckling my seatbelt the flight attedant starts to speak in arabic. Of course this strange and wonderful language was music to my ears. Then it happened…..in the middle of one of her sentences out popped a very familiar word ……”Cairo”

THE KIDS AT THE MALL WERE JAMMING THE ELEVATORS TO GET US TO TAKE PHOTOS!! a SECURITY GUARD HAD TO BREAK UP THE WILD HAPPY, pEACE SIGN WEILDING MOB SO WE COULD GET PAST.  tHATS THE POINT WERE THE CAMERA GOT PUT AWAY FOR A FEW MINUTES.

Sitting here in my dutch airline plane seat
I found myself crying. Tears gushing down my face and totally unprepared for that outburst of emotion. We are going to Egypt!!!!! All I could do was turn to look out my window and bite my lip to no make any sound. I felt as if the whole plane of passengers were looking at me but not a soul would have noticed…like I said. It was subtle but in my mind my tears of joy were like a  very loud river.  Travel always does this to me….I’m a hopeless gypsy at heart I guess

THE COOL DUDE IN THE SHADES FOLLOWED US ALL OVER THE MALL TO GET HIS PHOTO TAKEN.

As soon as we get to our hotel in an hour or so(around 3:00am ) I know I’ll get hit with it again. BLAM. A little jet lag. A little headcold. A little overwheimg at times. And the reason I’m hopelessly hooked on seeing as much of this world as possible It’s that adrenaline rush we call LIFE

STROLLING ALONG THE NILE

MY KINDA BLING AT THE MALL

BREAD VENDOR….VIEW THROUGH THE “FOOD COURT” WINDOW AS WE WAITED FOR OUR SHISH KEBOBS

WHOA BABY…THESE KIDS WERE GOING WILD ON THIS CART WITH TRAFFIC WHIZZING BY EVERY WHICH WAY

BIRTHDAY LUNCH!

WONDERFUL MOSAIC ON THE MCDONALDS WALL. ..i’LL SHOW YOU MORE OF IT LATER

NOT THE BEST PHOTO SINCE IT IS FROM THE IPHONE BUT THIS IS THE VIEW OF THE NILE FROM OUR ROOM.  i HAVE MORE ON THE GOOD CAMERAS WE WILL LOAD TOMORROW

AND FINALLY BELOW, ALL PIX WERE TAKEN ON THE BANKS OF THE NILE BY OUR HOTEL