pyramids and sphinx

why I do what I do

So I have been hearing a lot of comments about why I insist on going to other countries when there is so much that needs to be done in our own country.  My response to that is that until you have been to these countries and experienced their daily life first hand, not from a tourist point of view but from a local point of view, then you do not truly realize how great their need is.  I agree there is a lot of work to be done in our own country, but the need in third world countries is almost unbelievable.  It takes someone who feels the calling to abandon the luxuries of life that we experience here and fully embrace another culture, the good and the bad, for everything it is worth.  God created us all differently, with different passions.  If we were all the same then there would be no progress in our world.  In order to improve civilization and humanity we must not forget those who need help the most.  You can make the strongest link of a chain stronger, but if you do not help the weakest link, the chain will still be weak.  My passion is global health and international humanity.  If we help out or "try" to help out in areas that we are not passionate about, then we will make a fraction of a difference that we would in places where our hearts truly lie. 

THE PYRAMIDS

So thanks to the help of my new found friends...Mary and Joey...I went off to brave the desert sand and see the pyramids. I hopped in a taxi....literally...and drove for about 2o minutes southwest of Cairo to Giza. It is weird because Cairo is such a huge major city and as we were leaving all the sudden there were the pyramids. I guess I imagined them being farther away or something. It was like here you are in civilization with concrete and buildings and now all the sudden you are in the sand for miles. The pyramids were amazing upon first view...I could not take my eyes away. As you drive closer, they appear out of no where. At first glance the second pyramid, the pyramid of Khafre appears larger. Upon longer inspection however, it is the first pyramid, the pyramid of Khufu (the great pyramid), which sits on lower ground and is indeed larger. I was able to crutch up the stairs to the entrance of the Great Pyramid and overlook the city of Cairo. Even through all the smog that the 17 million people living in Cairo create, it is a breathtaking site. After descending the stairs, I crutched over to the the second pyramid, which has a different appearance of its other two neighbors, in that the original casting of the pyramid still sits on the top. After marveling at the architecture and trying to be convinced by tourist traps to ride camels and donkeys we were finally able to make our way to the third and smaller pyramid of menkaure. This pyramid is much smaller, but no less impressive, although most tourist skip looking at the pyramid all together. While standing next to the pyramids I was able to stop and think and marvel in its wonders. I looked at the blocks of stone that surround me. Each stone is close to my height, 5'8", and each stone weighs more than 2 tons, and there are over 2.3 million stones in the Great Pyramid. Even thinking about all the equipment that we have now, it would be impressive to build with the exact dimensions that are necessary, but can you imagine building these massive structures without modern technology. Each of the stones had to be cut out of a rock quarry or casted, and then somehow dragged, lifted, or rolled into place. The backbreaking labor and efforts that it cost people to build such a structure to be be a resting house for the King. Around the Kings pyramids there are smaller pyramids that house the wives and women of the Kings. In front of the second pyramid, and down a slope sits the Sphinx. It is an equally impressive structure, although often times text books and pictures make it seem deceivingly larger than in really is. To enter the Sphinx you must go through the Temple of the Sphinx and then finally you are able to see close up the creation, which is the largest monolith statue in the world standing 241 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 65 feet high. It is also the oldest known monumental sculpture. There are many hypotheses about why the Sphinx was created, however no one knows the real reason. After crutching around for 3 hours, in sand, which I must say, was a rather difficult task, we were finally able to sit down for lunch. It is random but right across the street is a KFC and Pizza Hut. I am not sure what I was expecting but it was not that, I can say. We went to Pizza Hut, which was the best view I have ever had from a Pizza Hut. I mean who can say that ate pizza overlooking the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids, the only ancient wonder of the world that is still standing. After that we went downtown to walk around. Joey and I ate some ice cream/sherbet at one of the most famous pastry shops in all of Cairo. I went with the chocolate and strawberry, he went for the chocolate and mango. I must say I have better taste because the strawberry was by far the best. After going around town for awhile we made our way back to the apartment so that we could rest up for the rest up before the rest of the night. After resting we made our way back downtown joined by Caitlin. For dinner we split up since me and joey are much more adventurous. Pigeon is a delicacy in Cairo so we decided we would eat pigeon. It was not actually that bad, and no it did not taste like chicken! The restaurant was a hole it the wall, but was supposed to be one of the best in town. They pluck of the feathers, stuff the bird with rice, and then fry the bird. It is severed on a plate, the entire pigeon, including the head. It is served alongside some lettuce, onions, pickles, tomatoes, bread, and sauce. There is not much meat, except on the breast. All of the meat is dark meat. We were not sure how to eat it so we stuffed our bread with everything on the table. It was actually pretty tasty I must admit. Served with the pigeon is a pigeon broth drink, which tasted like pigeon stock. I was curious about the head so I took it off the body to inspect. As I did this the eyeball split open and the skull cracked. I became even more curious as I saw the brain. Joey and I made a bet that I would not eat it, and of course knowing me, I would never back out on a bet, so I ate it, and yes it was not good at all. Initially it was not bad, but the after taste was terrible, and of course there was no water to wash it down with. I will saw after that experience I am all for pigeon, but never that brain...unless I was dared again of course. For winning the bet he had to buy me juice. Juice is really big deal in Egypt and it is delicious. You can get any favor and mix any flavor. He got me one that had everything mixed it...it was amazing juice. You could taste the blend of the different ingredients. So we sat outside with the others drinking our juice and enjoying the streets of Cairo. After juice we met up with some of Joey and Caitlin's friends to go on a felucca ride on the Nile River. A felucca is simply a boat ride. We were it a small boat with a sail on it. We brought some red and white wine, and simply went down the Nile River. We originally planned 1 hour but then that turned into 2 hours. It was amazing just sitting in a boat, drinking wine, in the Nile River, with friends, overlooking the Egyptian night. It was so peaceful, and brings back goods memories to write about. I hope that is one thing people could do. While on the boat I did touch the Nile River, because I mean come on, how could you not. At the same time it was gross...it was green, and full of pollution, and basically gross, but it is the Nile. After the felucca ride, we went to some friends apartment and hung out and talked until 2 am....by then I was exhausted. I have never crutched so much in one day. I believe I crutched close to 6 hours that day and it was time to sleep and prepare for the next day of adventure!

My computer is broken...the screen broke in Tanzania...so when I get it back I will post the pictures!

Tanzania-Kenya-Ethiopia-Sudan-Egypt

So I had to leave my kids today. It was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do. They were all crying when i left and some were just sitting at the table just starring at their paper. It made me so sad, like I was leaving a piece behind me. Of course I will go back but who knows when it will be. I am hoping that it will be sooner than later but you never know. It was also a lot harder to leave the house than I thought it would be. I guess I am one of those people who makes friends easier, and I was starting to get to know everyone. The flight to Egypt was very long. I had to take a taxi to the airport, which was an hour. I saw mount Kilimanjaro though, it was pretty amazing. I then flew to Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Cairo. It was awesome to see the cities at night. My Friends apartment is cool too. I have a view overlooking the Nile River. Her roommates are awesome too! I didn't get into Egypt until 2:30 AM this morning (I am 7 hours ahead) After the initial excitement, I was finally able to sleep around 4:30 AM. I got up today at 8 with a general plan but no specifics. I ended up going to the Egyptian Museum which was amazing. I saw Tutankhamen's tomb and various artifacts throughout Egypt's History (which is very long) I wish I could have taken some pictures but you are no allowed to bring any camera inside the museum. Cairo is really overwhelming at first, especially when you are by yourself, but the longer I walked around downtown the more comfortable I got. Egyptian men are very friendly. I had people try to show me where things were when I asked how to get somewhere. I had one man walk me to this lunch place I was recommended to eat at (which was 30 minutes from where we were) then he ordered the food (which was amazing, beans in bread and then something else in bread) then he took me to tea, and then to get a SIM chip for my phone so I could have an Egyptian number. This was about 2.5 hours of his time. He was a student in University. He wanted to drive me to the hospital but I didn't trust all of that, I mean tea is one thing, but getting in his car is another. I made some excuse and got away. I knew I needed to go to the hospital here to get my foot checked out since the one in Tanzania is well below par, esp considering they never touched my foot. I went to Anglo-American Hospital. It is a private Hospital in Cairo. I walked in and did not have to wait at all. The doctor who did speak English took me right in. The cab driver waited for me, and translated when I first got there to figure out where I needed to be. After the first doctor saw me, another one saw me, then I had to get an Xray again. I ended up having a fissure fracture and now a new blue cast and a set of crutches. Here everything is pay up front as well. It was 250 Egyptian Pounds for the doctor, 50 for the xray, 60 for the cast, 30 for the medication, 75 for the taxi and 470 for the crutches. 1 USD is 5.6 Egyptian Pounds. I guess you could say it was an expensive day, but I fully promote travel insurance. I started crying at the hospital just out of frustration, and everyone got freaked out. The taxi driver told me it is very unusual to see people cry. Also, they do not have crutches at the hospital. The driver had to drive me all the way across town where I had to get fitted for the crutches. I was not prepared for the cost and felt overwhelmed and cried again. Once again the men freaked out, but they bought me a lemonade to try to make me feel better. The taxi driver waited through all this again. He was really nice. I was thinking, if a foreigner came to our country and this happened to them, would we be this hospitable to them...probably not...which is sad. In fact I felt people were more hospitable to me here then most people would be to me in my own country. It is a terrifying experience to be in a country where you know no one, cant speak the language or read the language and have been here 12 hours and now you are are crutches. But on the bright side I guess I will have strong arms. I am going to try to make it though the rest of Egypt. I am going to the pyramids tomorrow and Islamic Cairo. I am hoping I can still do Israel and Jordan but I guess time will only tell. At least here taxis are readily available and not THAT expensive. It is a cool city here though and I hope others do get the chance to explore it, if not for all the sites, simply for the amazing hospitality of the people!

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