Day 14 London Departure, Flight to the USA

As I mention in an earlier post, my ticket from Houston to Cairo, Cairo to Houston was booked with Frequent Flyer miles.  This pretty much means you take what you can get when you can get it. In my case the only ticket I could find was a mix of economy, business class and First Class.  Yes it burned up all my FF miles that I saved for the last 4 years but I knew it would be worth it.  Booking this way gets you where you’re going, but in our case the family needed to split up from London to Houston.  Grace and the kids on Continental, direct to Houston and I end up on Air Canada doing the milk run. London, Toronto, Chicago, Houston.  This also presented a challenge at the Airport in London because the flights were leaving from different terminal that are 20 minutes apart and my flight was leaving  20 minutes before Grace and the kids.  Logistics, Logistics.  Wouldn’t like it easy.  Rise and Shine family at 5:00 AM we have lot to do.   Grace pumped everyone full of tea and we kissed Grace’s Mom as she will be staying in London. My kids are troopers after 4 hours of sleep I drag them into 30 degree weather and not a single bitch. In fact they were laughing at each other, because they both fell asleep on the bed without even getting under the covers, and then chased each other around the bed all night trying to find some warmth.  After a 15 minute bus ride we arrived at terminal 4 and check in Grace and the kids. No issue as it went  smooth just like clockwork.   Next it was time for the travel briefing.   Kyle is my secondary navigator and in charge when I’m not around.  Getting everyone to the gate on time and in Houston he is responsible to make sure that they find the right baggage claim, exit the ground transportation door and seek out the Hotel bus.  Why Kyle you might ask, as he is the youngest member of the family.  Because he can navigate all those darn video games in his sleep and that requires jumping, dodging, leaping, reading, avoiding and in some cases shooting.  Well at least the first five add some value to the situation.  Anyway he has proven time and time again that he can find his way thought subways, Buses, Trains and Airports.   Plus he can see more than 20 feet without glasses which count Grace and Ti out of the picture.   After getting them squared away I’m off to my terminal.  London’s airport terminals are connected by buses and trains. In my case I needed to catch a train from terminal 4 to terminal 3. They do something in London I have not seen before as the train approached they prevented everyone from boarding until a cabin search was performed.  Yes London has had some train and bus bombing in their past so I welcomed the extra security. 

Getting to the terminal was effortless as I just followed all the well marked signs and in about 30 minute I was standing at the Air Canada check in counter.  Well at the end of a long line that ended at the counter.  All the self service terminals were down and I don’t think they were staffed to deal with the issue so it took another 30 minute to get check in.  No problem I stayed true to Graces wishes and arrived at the airport with at least 2 hours before departure.  This morning we arrived an extra 30 minutes early to accommodate my terminal change and a few minute for weather related delays.   Checked the watch and I have 7:45.  30 minute before the gate will open for my 9AM flight.  Looked at my boarding pass and could not tell if breakfast was include so I stopped at a takeout and order a breakfast plate thinking McDonald big breakfast size. Boy was I wrong they serviced up a large dinner size plate with 1 sausage,3 large strips of bacon. (The size you would serve if you killed the pig yourself) 2 eggs, 2 hash browns, bowl of beans, two slice of toast.  I had trouble choking all this down and I can eat.   For a tip well, I did not have Euro’s, English pounds or US dollars so my waitress received (you got it) Egyptian pounds equal to about two dollars. No problems there are exchange booths all over the airport and I didn’t what to leave her empty.  She needs that money to purchase protein powder to build some muscles to carry those big plates.  After walking to the gate feeling like a sumo wrestler who has been stuffed to fattening size, I was pleasantly surprised to find that…. hey this leg was a first class leg. Up to now I was so busy with everything else so I didn’t bother to look.  I must say Air Canada does First class in style.  These seat look like your own self contained cockpits with all the controls included.   I have included some pictures and a snap shot of the seat manual.   

Needless to say the flight was easy.  I watched three different movies, enjoyed some good French wine and enjoyed life... When Grace reads this I will need a flack jacket to shield myself from the comments. What's a man to do, it was a free ticket. Kyle will dig the seat manual. Tronto is a big and very nice Airport. After sleeping on the London to Toronto flight I'm ready for a nap. My flight to Chicago looks to be a small commuter plane so that's good.   I'm often asleep before they take off because the smaller engines vibrate more that the big ones do.  Once on board the flight we were informed that because of snow in Chicago we would be taking off 30 min late, it ended up being 45 minutes. Once in Chicago I could see what caused the delay. Snow and more Snow, This also delayed my next flight to Houston by another hour and I was lucky.  I started to see canceled flights to snow prone areas like New York.  My day day really grew.  I was schedule into Houston at 5:30 PM and the Airline added the Chicago leg to my flight so I was now scheduled to arrived in Houston at 7:30. Well I finally arrived at 9:00PM after all the delays then waited another 30 minutes for the Lugage and the Hotel bus.  Long day after starting in London very early this morning.  Off to bed it back up at 5AM to catch another flight.. One more flight and I will be ready for a good swim at Ko Olina.

Day 13 Depart Egypt to London, Snow. did you say.

We got up in the morning and did one last walk around the Cairo neighborhood. It was our intention to make a video of us crossing the street but one thing happened that we did no plan on. In Egypt Fridays are holidays and nobody is out in the mornings.  Well I found a youtube video for you to watch because this really is a street crossing that must be witnessed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKjGzj5f6u0

We decide during our walk that we really deserved a decent cup of coffee so we looked for the most upscale coffee shop we could find and stopped in.  Boy did they make a good cup of coffee. Their coffee rivaled Starbucks

After the coffee it was back to the Hotel  to check out and head to the Airport. Our tour guide Mohammad showed up promptly at 1PM and so did a security police with an Uzi submarine gun under his sport coat. When I asked what he was for the security police stated protection. Not wanting to cause trouble I thanked him and asked the front desk to exchange more money because I was sure this was another tipping situation.  A short time later I witnessed a heated argument between the security police and the van driver.  In Egypt you see this a great deal so I didn't pay much attention.  It just seem to be a form of communication and rarely lead to a major confrontation.  Ok so we are all packed up and all the right people are tipped and we are off security police and all. About 3/4 of the way the airport the police gets out and waves us good by. So much for security as we traveled all through Egypt without him.  When we enter the Airport area both Kyle and I noticed a very big plane and thought it to be a AirBus A380 but could not see the second row of windows. Why is this important. Because Kyle and I both have riding on an A380 as a must due buck list item. We look for this plane at every airport. Anyway it turned out to be a Russian  Antonov 124.

Big plane but not our baby.

Egypt is one country that it take more time to get out of than into.  On arrival we purchased a visa from the Bank. yes the bank and move through customs pretty quickly.  Departing there was extra paper work and extra time in the discussion with customs.  Board the BMI flight when uneventful off we went with a 30 min delay.   We tried to see the Pyramids on the flight out but it was to smoggy or foggy.  Landing in London was a wake up as exiting the Airport into 30 degree weather with snow on the ground tends to slap you in the face a bit. We jumped on the Hotel bus and to the kids surprise there was snow on the ground at the Hotel. Now you must understand our kids are Pacific Island kids. Sand and water no problem, Snow they have never seen except in a movie.   A few scoops of snow and I heard the oh so familiar moan.  IT SO COLD.  A few minute of playing in the snow and they were done.  We settled into the Hotel around 11:00 PM and our wake up all is at 5:00AM.  I can't sleep as I'm to jacked up with coffee, Egypt and just travel Logistics in general. After a Rambo movie with death and destruction I get to bed at around 2 AM. 

Day 12 West Nile Virus or something like that, Al-Khan Kalili Market

Did I drink Nile water or what.  The morning started... On the pot at 6AM and then back in  bed until 9AM.  We decide to got to the hotel breakfast that last for me about 3 minutes. 1 minute to walk down to the restaurant, 1 minute to get my food and 1 minute to run back up to the room to go back to the porcelain palace that I would call home until lunch.  Ok so I felt marginally well and was ready to try to get back to normal. We are in Egypt no time to waste right.  During one of our taxi rides Grace saw a music store a few block from the hotel and wanted to return to this area an find it.  We  set off walking and found the store about 1/2 mile from the hotel.  As Kyle and I waited outside the store we saw a 31 flavors ice cream shop. I figured ice cream would be a good starter for the old stomach.  It felt really good going down and I figured I was out of the woods, so once Grace was done with the music store we decided to go to KFC or better known in Egypt as Kentucky Fried Camel.  One smell of the food sent me to the restroom and in Egypt that is enough to make you sick with out the vile Nile (or whatever I had).  I returned as whiter than sheet and thought I'm going to pass out here in KFC and wake up in an Egyptian hospital.  I did a controlled dive into the nearest bench seat and rolled over like a dead cockroach.  I'm sure the KFC staff did not know what was going on or what to do. After 30 minute Grace and the kids collected me and we walked back to the hotel. I spend the remainder of  the day back in bed or at the porcelain palace. Grace and the kids evacuated to the other room until my recovery at about 5PM.  They were chanting Khan Kalili, Khan Kalili.  Back to the Market for more shopping.

As we drove back from Kalili Market we came across this big bill board. . Check out what kind milk they are selling.

I could not wait to get back into bed so this day was pretty uneventful.

Day 11 Train, Khan Al-Khalili Market

 

Day 11 Train, Khan Kalili Market

No surprise the train was late getting in so we arrived at 11:00 AM instead of 9:00 AM.  I think I have now change my recommendation to plane flight and skip the train altogether.  As we pulled into the station the porter showed up in our cabin stating that we had extra rooming during the train ride because he put another passenger in another cabin and we should now tip the passenger who was displaced.  I ignored him and continued packing our bags and getting ready to depart the train.  Well at least he told us when to get off the train and I did end up tip him for helping us with the luggage.  As we exited the train our Cairo based guide (Mohammad) was standing on the platform with a big smile and a welcome back to Cairo.  We exited the training station in record time to find our Cairo based driver also welcoming us back to Cairo.  As we have done many time before we jumped into the crazy Cairo traffic where no rule apply and stop light are just pretty Christmas light adding to the Cairo skyline.  

We check into the Hotel and everyone went down for a much need nap and then it was off to Khan Al-Khalili Market.  

 As I have mentioned before this market was founded back in the 14^th century and is frequented by tourist and locals alike.   Being that we are at the end of our trip it was time to pick up those last minute souvenirs. 

 I found this really cool turquoise and silver scarab.  In Hollywood movie The Mummy the scarab is something that crawls up your body and penetrates your skin. Needless to say you don’t fair very well when this happens.   The Egyptians see the scarab as a good luck symbol and often carry one in their pocket.  For me I just thought it was a cool and picked it up to remind me of Egypt.  

The market sells almost anything you can think of and all with the Egyptian flare.  Everything starts at double the price that they will take, so you start off at 1/2 of the total price quoted. 

Another set of Egyptian men who offered me a number of camel for Titaina's hand in marrage.  This was the running joke in all the markets as she received proposals for marrage over and over again. All in good fun we made jokes about it with everyone. 

An Egyptian shop keeper have some fun with us.  Grace and Ti are getting ready for next Halloween so he was modeling some Egyption wear for them.

Day 10 Luxor, Balloon Ride, Felucca and the train

Day 10 Luxor, Balloon Ride,

The day started early again with a 6 A.M. pickup at the boat dock in front of the Hotel.  We took a boat much like the one we rode to the Nubian village from the East bank to the West bank.  This was an opportunity to get take a picture of all the cruise ships lined up at the Luxor pier.  In talking with our guide he stated that 200 cruise ships, work the Nile and that there is a moratorium on any new ones, because of the strain on the docks and locks.    New docks are being constructed almost everywhere we stopped.  

In this picture alone I counted 19 cruise ships.

I learned so much about what it take inflate launch, fly, land and de-inflate a hot air balloon.

- Put down large cloth tarps to protect the balloon

- Place the balloon at the far end of the tarps.

-         Off load the basket and turn it on its side.

- Use very large fans (4 of them) that have propellers like an airplane to inflate the balloon with cool air. 

- Keep inflating until the balloon is 3/4 full then attach the propane tank to the basket burners and shoot hot air into the balloon until it turn the basket upright.

- Now you that you have balloon upright the caption arrives you board the basket and receive you instructions. 

Enjoy……. Very cool.  Our ride was 45 minute over the Nile valley west bank.  The ride is smooth and silent except when the Captain inflates the balloon to keep it up in the air.   None of us said a thing almost the complete ride except for awesome.  When you land they make you get down in the bottom of the basket and brace your self just in case the basket tips over.  The Captain told us in advance.  I do not know where we will land and I do not control the wind. 

The landing went pretty much like this.

-         Deflate the balloon so it's about 15 feet off the ground.

-         Drag the basket thru sugar cane so that it just touches the bottom of the basket.  This was very cool it made you feel like a bird slowly sailing over the landscape looking down.

A look straight up into the Balloon.

-         Find spot that you want to land.  Want is the important word here.

-         Cast off the lines to the farm workers below so the can attempt to keep you out of the crops.

-         Land in the crops anyway because the (Farmers) can not control the direction of the big balloon when the wind blows.

-         The truck arrives with and army of people that hold onto the lines and the captain inflates the balloon again so they can tow the balloon to a better place for de-inflation.

-         Thank the tourist that would be us, and ask for tips for the ground crew.

We gave 100 Egyptian pounds about $19.00 US. Much of the time in Egypt you must give tips and they are expected.  The wages are so low that the workers can not really live on their salaries.  Knowing this I understand the need for tipping but the constant pressure to tip starts to wear on you.  You are always opening your wallet during the trip. The tip for the ground crew was given gladly and with a smile.   We also tipped the Captain, driver and tour guide etc. etc. etc. 

-           Pay a landing fee. Not us but the Balloon Company.

We landed in a farmer's field and the crew told me they will pay a landing fee to the farmer.  I wondered why the farmer looked so happy after we had just smashed his crops.  

-         Deflate the balloon and pack everything up to do it all over again.

You need the army of men to do this.  Lay out all the traps again, Deflate the balloon and pack it. I can only imagine how heavy it is once it's packet up. Lift the very heavy basket on the truck as well as all the propane tanks.

Our van showed up and the returned us the Hotel for breakfast.  Yes we did all this before 9AM. 

After the balloon ride and some breakfast we were ready for more so we board a carriage again for a site seeing tour of Luxor.

(Sorry Kids) Time for school….

Next stop was at an Internet Café so they could get some school work completed.  There have been only a few opportunities for the kids to study for the classes they are missing.  Once some home work was completed we jumped on another Felucca for a sunset cruise with some Egyptian tea to keep us warm.

This is one of the boys how ran the Felucca and he also made our tea.  Yoseph was his name.  

Another colored Nile sunset with a felucca mast in the background.  

Last train ride we had we were tired forgot water and enough food. This time are better prepared for the trip back to Cairo on the train.  We tried to upgrade to sleeper train for the return trip but the price kept changing so I detected monkey business and stopped the deal.  We stopped at a super market in the back streets of Luxor to stock up on food for the train. This shop had barcodes and fixed prices so this was a welcome site.  Getting the so call tourist price for everything in Egypt is a problem and out of control.   Finding a place with the prices posted is a welcome site and you end up paying ½ the price for everything.  The shopping list included; Water, Bananas, Pomegranates, Pistachios, Crackers, Cheese and Chips.   We should be better prepared this time.

Entering the train stations.  

Everyplace you go including the tours sites has a metal detector at the door which is completely ignored.  Sometimes you put your bag in it and sometimesyou don’t either way your bag is never checked.   Crazy why bother.

Below is Luxor Train Station during the day.   

Once on the platform you stand waiting for the train.  The car numbers and seat are pretty easy but the train number is announced in Arabic over a load speaker.  If you don’t understand Arabic then you will need a guide to help you.   We found our seat and after some tipping we were able to get a curtain for the door. This train was packed and had people sleeping between cars and in the isle.  It’s funny how you evolve during a trip.  Having people all over the floor on the trip coming from Cairo was a little intimidation but now it nothing. You just step over them without much thought and move on.  

Day 8 and 9 Sunrise on the Nile\Edfu temple\Esna Lock\Karnak

Day 8 Sunrise on the Nile\Edfu temple\Esna Lock.

Grace and I woke up early because we heard that the sunrise on the Nile was like no other.  We arrived on the top deck at 5:45 and the waiter doing his rounds brought us coffee made just the way we liked it.   Fresh coffee, cool morning breeze life is good. 

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The Egyptian sunrise on the Nile did not disappoint.   It came up around 6:00 and shimmered in the water a pink color for a few minute then turned yellow.

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During the night the ship cruised to the town of Edfu where the Edfu temple is located.  At 7AM we met our guide at the lobby and disembarked the Ship into a sea of carriage drivers, Street vendor and tour operator all yelling to get your attention.   This was another time that I was thankful to to have a guide as he arranged two carriages to take us to the temple and told us what to tip at the end.

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Edfu temple is the most complete temple in all of Egypt.  It was claimed by the resident of the town and was used as a horse stable unit the 1960, when the government took charge of all the national monuments.  It took the government 5 year to dig the temple out of the debris and sand as only the top of the temple was exposed. This debris build up protected the wall paintings from the elements and some of the 3000 year old color still remains.  Try to imagine this complete complex would have a white back ground on every wall with colored figures and lettering.

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After visiting the temple we sailed to Edna to go through the Esna lock.   For those of you who have never been though a lock, the boat enters a gate and the gate is closed then the water is pumped out to make the level the same height as the water on the other side of the lock.  The second gate is opened and the boat goes out.  

Picture below is of the lock with two cruise ships inside.

The ships entering the lock provide and opportunity for vendor to sell to the passenger on the deck.  There is a lot of yelling and bartering.  It is quite a scene and the transaction are performed by the vendor throwing the goods in a bag three decks up to the passenger.   The passenger then inspects the goods and barters on the price. Once agreed upon the passenger puts the money in the bag and throws it back to the dock. On guy made a deal with a Spanish lady and threw up his two scarfs’, but then the boat pulled away from the dock.  By the time the money was placed in the bag and thrown back over board the ship was too far away from the dock and the money fell in the water.  Not two worry he sent his son in for a swim to retrieve the bag.  The scene is loud and almost too crazy to describe. 

The remainder of the day was spent cruising up the Nile and relaxing, drinking coffee and going to dinner.    I’m always on the go so this was one time that I had no place to go. I was forced to sit and just watched the world (Nile) go by.  It was good, really good.   

Day 9 Luxor, Hatshetup temple, Karnak Temple

Luxor is our final stop of the cruise and it was time to say good bye to the crew of the ship. The Egyptian crew really made our time on the ship enjoyable. Each evening the house keeper (A Guy) would arrange the towels in different figures to scare you as you entered the dark room and turned on the lights. Day 1 was an elephant.  Day 2 a man with sunglasses and Day 3 was a baby using the water bottle caps for eyes.  Funny guys.

Hatshetup the female king created here own temple and tomb this complex is large and beautiful.

Grace stated this was of her statue as she is the greatest queen that ever lived.

The art work on some walls still has very bright colors. 

Karnak temple complex is very very big.  It was worked on for 2000 years by a number of Kings.  At this point Grace and Mom where templed out and they started to fade.   I really wanted to see the hall of columns and the great obelisk created by Queen Hatshetup.

 Remember these from the modern  Mummy movie.

Obelisks are so big that a picture just does not depict the true size and the level of detail.  Each one is made out of one block of stone.

Again more wonderful pictures of the gods in color as they would have been seen thousands of years ago. 

By the end of Karnak temple the ladies were finished so we skipped Luxor temple.  We need to leave something for next time anyway.   The tour guide dropped us off at our hotel the Lotus, this hotel sites right on the Nile with a beautiful pool and bar.