An Amazing Day
Ocean Princess is sailing north east this morning toward the Aegean Sea destination Piraeus Greece. We had a 12 hour day / tour in Egypt thru Port Said, Ismailia, Cairo, New Cairo and New New Cairo. There are huge contrasts in wealth, property, transportation, dress style, and occupations. As we left the port, the presence of the Egyptian Army was obvious and based on their locations, they have been there for some time. It has been 2 years since the revolution and many of the changes the people wanted have not happened. The Arabic language and the Muslim faith is strong as we were awoken by the minarets and the call to prayer. Shortly after that a fishing boat smashed into another fishing boat. The drivers here are the best we have seen or perhaps the worst. At one place, a car cut in front of our bus and as soon as the bus saw an advantage, he forced the car off to the side of the road.
The ancient Egyptian structures at Giza are beyond words. The gift the Ancient Egyptian people gave humanity is phenomenal. The structures and their stories are some of the earliest in history. We first visited the Step Pyramids at Saqqara followed by the three great pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza. The flooding of the Nile is what gave the Egyptians their fertile ground and the abundance of food. While the Nile flooded, the people had the time and resources to create religion, art, science, writing and the pyramids.
We found good bargains including a silver cartouche and a King Tut charm plus something for Mary, our AZ neighbour. We sent Post Cards to our four grand children in Calgary.

The vendors are horrid and definitely the worst - anywhere. Our guide said security and regulation managed it all much better before the revolution and then she said "Pray for us"