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.
June 2 - Petra (Wadi Musa)
Well, Bojan and I got up early to get a mini bus to Wadi Musa so we could catch the sites at Petra. The driver was on Arab time, so real slow. We got to Wadi Musa and stayed at the Cleopetra hotel for the night. Got ready then went to get ticket so to visit the Petra site.
I tried to get information on swimming in the Dead Sea, but is pretty much impossible to do on a tight timeline, so that is the first thing I could not do in this trip.
It is a huge hike in the Petra area. The Treasury is the most famous site at Petra, there are many others too. I spent about 5 hours hiking around taking photographs. The photos will speak alot more about the site than my mere words. Truly impressive!
Plans sort of changed, despite buying a 2 day pass to Petra, I have decided to go onto Wadi Rum for the next day and Aqaba to start heading back to Cairo.
I must say that things are a little more expensive in Jordan but the people are nicer. The Egyptians are all over you to buy stuff and it is really annoying after a while. Jordan is a nice change.
I tried to get information on swimming in the Dead Sea, but is pretty much impossible to do on a tight timeline, so that is the first thing I could not do in this trip.
It is a huge hike in the Petra area. The Treasury is the most famous site at Petra, there are many others too. I spent about 5 hours hiking around taking photographs. The photos will speak alot more about the site than my mere words. Truly impressive!
Plans sort of changed, despite buying a 2 day pass to Petra, I have decided to go onto Wadi Rum for the next day and Aqaba to start heading back to Cairo.
I must say that things are a little more expensive in Jordan but the people are nicer. The Egyptians are all over you to buy stuff and it is really annoying after a while. Jordan is a nice change.
Monday, June 1, 2009
June 1 - Mt. Sinai, Ferry to Aqaba
The hike up Mt. Sinai started around 2:00am and we reached the top before 5am. Basically a dusty camel trail up to the top. There are lots of people climbing of various nationalities. Some who find it too difficult can commandeer a camel to carry them up most of the way. There are little tea/drink huts along the way. You have to be careful because when the camels pass you on the path, you really want to make sure you are on the inside of the path.
Up near the top, you must climb up stone steps to a little church like building on the top. They rent out mattresses and blankets if you feel the need to keep warm up there. There were some nuns singing as the sun was rising. Everyone takes photos and watches the sun rise from the top. After we descend to St. Katherine's Monastery. They have a bush which they say is a descendent of the original burning bush. I took a photo with it.
Once done that, the hotel arranged a bus for a few of us to take our luggage directly to Nuweiba. This is to catch the ferry to Aqaba, Jordan. It was late, kind of frustrating, but oh well. Glad I got Mt. Sinai in when I had the chance. So I am splitting a room with Bojan, a phd engineering student at Laval University. He and I just had dinner. It was too late to go to Petra today, so we crashed here. The plan is to take a bus to Petra in the morning. We will see.
Up near the top, you must climb up stone steps to a little church like building on the top. They rent out mattresses and blankets if you feel the need to keep warm up there. There were some nuns singing as the sun was rising. Everyone takes photos and watches the sun rise from the top. After we descend to St. Katherine's Monastery. They have a bush which they say is a descendent of the original burning bush. I took a photo with it.
Once done that, the hotel arranged a bus for a few of us to take our luggage directly to Nuweiba. This is to catch the ferry to Aqaba, Jordan. It was late, kind of frustrating, but oh well. Glad I got Mt. Sinai in when I had the chance. So I am splitting a room with Bojan, a phd engineering student at Laval University. He and I just had dinner. It was too late to go to Petra today, so we crashed here. The plan is to take a bus to Petra in the morning. We will see.
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