Off to Paris, Arrived at around 11:00am.
Feels nice as there is a little overcast and cloudy. Kind of fresh!
Went for a walk from Eiffel Tower to the Louvre for something to do.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
June 8 - Heliopolis, Khan Al-Khalili, prep for flight to Paris
Caught a tram to Heliopolis, an Egyptian English teacher spoke to me and bought my ticket for me. It was a nice gesture but the 25 piastres ticket works out to about 5 cents ;-). He was helpful in where to get off too.
I saw the Uruba Palace, where Mubarak has offices. Heliopolis is supposed to be a trendy area of Cairo. Passed by the Amphitrion open air cafe and carried on to see the Basilica which is an impressive church. I actually missed seeing Baron's place which is supposed to be impressive. Probably just too much walking under the sun that I forgot.
The main thing I came to see was the October War Panorama. This was built with the help of North Korean artists. It is just a look at the 1973 'Victory' the Egyptians had over the Israelis. When I got there, which was a 2km walk out of the way, they said there would be no show unless there were 15 people at least. There was a family of 4 waiting and then I came, no show until more showed. So I hung out for a while, and a group of school kids eventually came by to justify a showing. I don't see the big deal about turning on a movie for less, but the attendants, who were doing there military service there, said the rules were the rules. So I was quite happy to see the kids arriving to justify a showing.
Sort of glosses of the fact that the Israelis severely pounded them back very shortly after. But it gave the Egyptians leverage to get the Israelis to negotiate with them. I listened to some English commentary and it layed it on pretty thick about rising up against severe injustice and all that. Typical propaganda style documentary a la World War II/Eastern Bloc style. But still pretty good.
Went back to Khan Al-Khalili for a few more souvenirs before leaving. I have arranged a taxi to pick me up at 4am to take me to the airport for my Paris flight. I will be staying at the Hotel du Printemps there. Will be a refreshing change of weather as I have had as much heat as I like and would like somewhere a little cooler. Egypt & Jordan have been great!
I saw the Uruba Palace, where Mubarak has offices. Heliopolis is supposed to be a trendy area of Cairo. Passed by the Amphitrion open air cafe and carried on to see the Basilica which is an impressive church. I actually missed seeing Baron's place which is supposed to be impressive. Probably just too much walking under the sun that I forgot.
The main thing I came to see was the October War Panorama. This was built with the help of North Korean artists. It is just a look at the 1973 'Victory' the Egyptians had over the Israelis. When I got there, which was a 2km walk out of the way, they said there would be no show unless there were 15 people at least. There was a family of 4 waiting and then I came, no show until more showed. So I hung out for a while, and a group of school kids eventually came by to justify a showing. I don't see the big deal about turning on a movie for less, but the attendants, who were doing there military service there, said the rules were the rules. So I was quite happy to see the kids arriving to justify a showing.
Sort of glosses of the fact that the Israelis severely pounded them back very shortly after. But it gave the Egyptians leverage to get the Israelis to negotiate with them. I listened to some English commentary and it layed it on pretty thick about rising up against severe injustice and all that. Typical propaganda style documentary a la World War II/Eastern Bloc style. But still pretty good.
Went back to Khan Al-Khalili for a few more souvenirs before leaving. I have arranged a taxi to pick me up at 4am to take me to the airport for my Paris flight. I will be staying at the Hotel du Printemps there. Will be a refreshing change of weather as I have had as much heat as I like and would like somewhere a little cooler. Egypt & Jordan have been great!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
June 7 - Citadel in Cairo and Khan Al-Khalili
Today, I tried to get up early and start the long walk to the Citadel. After asking many Cairenes who were not much help, I did finally get there. The streets were sometimes hard to navigate with my map. Pretty warm out too.
I got there and it the Citadel is a large walled complex with Mosques and Museums inside. The exhibit on the Malmuks was closed. 2 fairly nice mosques, a Police Museum, and a Military Museum. It was one of the last things I had to cross off my list in Cairo before I go to Paris.
I then proceeded to Khan Al-Khalili, which is the market place for the tourists to get the standard souvenirs, etc. Bargaining is something that I don't usually like because I know I am going to get ripped off a bit. But I find if you talk with them, then walk away not interested, they will come down and chase after you. That gives you some info for the next vendor. Then you can hopefully find the bottom price range. Pretty hot and I found a few things.
I headed back to the hotel for a nap, went out to eat. Bought some cigarettes for my Dad, I really shouldn't do it though.
Tomorrow, I will try and head out to the Heliopolis suburb, do a little shopping back at Khan Al-Khalili. Then get ready for the flight to Paris the next day.
I got there and it the Citadel is a large walled complex with Mosques and Museums inside. The exhibit on the Malmuks was closed. 2 fairly nice mosques, a Police Museum, and a Military Museum. It was one of the last things I had to cross off my list in Cairo before I go to Paris.
I then proceeded to Khan Al-Khalili, which is the market place for the tourists to get the standard souvenirs, etc. Bargaining is something that I don't usually like because I know I am going to get ripped off a bit. But I find if you talk with them, then walk away not interested, they will come down and chase after you. That gives you some info for the next vendor. Then you can hopefully find the bottom price range. Pretty hot and I found a few things.
I headed back to the hotel for a nap, went out to eat. Bought some cigarettes for my Dad, I really shouldn't do it though.
Tomorrow, I will try and head out to the Heliopolis suburb, do a little shopping back at Khan Al-Khalili. Then get ready for the flight to Paris the next day.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June 6 - Day Trip to Alexandria
Today, I took a morning train to Alexandria to check out the sites there. As you visit Alexandria, it gets you thinking obviously of Alexander the Great's pursuits and accomplishments. They had a world renowned library around 400 BC or so. Egypt had 2 of the 7 wonders of the world in the Pyramids and also the great lighthouse they had at Alexandria. But unfortunately the lighthouse suffered due to an earthquake in the 1300s. It was about 115 to 135 metres tall which back in the day was pretty amazing! It was on the Pharos island at Alexandria, Alexander's town was pretty amazing.
I spent a good portion of the day walking for sure.
Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqafa where some interesting underground tombs. Pompey's Pillar & the Sepapeum were interesting Roman ruins with a large pillar. Apparently when the Library of Alexandria grew to big, they opened up a daughter library here to store the overflow.
Went to the relatively new and impressive Bibliotheca Alexandrina (new library) and saw the planetarium outside. Went to the Chatby Necropolis which is some more tombs. Visited the Alexandria National Museum as well, had a great collection of Egyptian items as well as items on Alexandria.
Visited the Roman Amphiteatre as well, it was a lot of walking that day. Caught the train back to Cairo.
So after Alexander was buried in Alexandria, his general Ptolemy took over Egypt and this blood line eventually led to Cleopatra. Travelling makes you think about the bigger timelines and I find it very interesting.
Tomorrow planning to visit the Citadel, before maybe hitting the Big Market for some deals and hope I don't get ripped off too much.
I spent a good portion of the day walking for sure.
Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqafa where some interesting underground tombs. Pompey's Pillar & the Sepapeum were interesting Roman ruins with a large pillar. Apparently when the Library of Alexandria grew to big, they opened up a daughter library here to store the overflow.
Went to the relatively new and impressive Bibliotheca Alexandrina (new library) and saw the planetarium outside. Went to the Chatby Necropolis which is some more tombs. Visited the Alexandria National Museum as well, had a great collection of Egyptian items as well as items on Alexandria.
Visited the Roman Amphiteatre as well, it was a lot of walking that day. Caught the train back to Cairo.
So after Alexander was buried in Alexandria, his general Ptolemy took over Egypt and this blood line eventually led to Cleopatra. Travelling makes you think about the bigger timelines and I find it very interesting.
Tomorrow planning to visit the Citadel, before maybe hitting the Big Market for some deals and hope I don't get ripped off too much.
Friday, June 5, 2009
June 5 - Cairo
Woke up, changed hotels for the next 4 nights at the African Hostel. Went to the Pyramids of Giza again because I love them so much.
Got a haircut at an Egyptian barber.
Thinking about going to Alexandria tomorrow too!
Got a haircut at an Egyptian barber.
Thinking about going to Alexandria tomorrow too!
June 4 - Aqaba to Cairo
Well mostly travel, woke up in Aqaba, caught the ferry to Nuweiba, took a long busride to Cairo, found a hotel that I split with a Swiss guy I was travelling with for the day.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
June 3 - Wadi Rum Desert Scape
Well, got up real early and got the mini bus to Wadi Rum. Usually you have to arrange the tour in advance. But I decided to wing it. I got on the bus and there were 2 Malaysian ladies and I joined them on their tour for some cost savings too.
You basically get a guide at Wadi Rum and then you go around in a 4x4 and tour the desert for the interesting sites there. Including some sites that Lawrence of Arabia visited. Again pictures will do it more justice than my descriptions.
The Malaysians returned to Petra but I got dropped off on the highway and waited for a service bus to pick me up and get to Aqaba.
In the Amira Hotel in Aqaba, tomorrow try and get to Dahab, then the next day return to Cairo.
You basically get a guide at Wadi Rum and then you go around in a 4x4 and tour the desert for the interesting sites there. Including some sites that Lawrence of Arabia visited. Again pictures will do it more justice than my descriptions.
The Malaysians returned to Petra but I got dropped off on the highway and waited for a service bus to pick me up and get to Aqaba.
In the Amira Hotel in Aqaba, tomorrow try and get to Dahab, then the next day return to Cairo.
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