Into Egypt

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Exploring Egypt

First and foremost, we're throwin' out a BIG Happy Birthday to Mom! Yes, she is a year older on April 14th but doesn't show it a bit! She doesn't sell her secret, but her recipes are occasionally negotiable for trade. So for all those in Akron, give her a big b-day hug for me!

As some have gathered, but others don't know the blog entries thus far have been all thanks to Ryan's wit and charm, with occasional editing (only when time permitted) by me, Katelyn. However, Ryan is on vacation this week, and I will be your blogger for tonight.

Egypt: a country of living contradictions at first sight, all of which you come to love. A chaotic mess of cars in Cairo speed past you on the city streets, then a cart and donkey pass carrying stick wooden crates of tomatoes, with a small boy driver to steer. The Nile river feeds lush green pastures and garden paradise along its flowing banks, while a stark sea of vast desert lies just beyond, desperately thirsty, the movement of heat it's only waves. So with smog in our lungs and sand in our shoes, we've found a peaceful balance between the polar and ride through the days with the buoyancy of a boat, wearing camels' grins all the while.

You read about Egyptian men passing time in tea cafes, puffing away at the sheesha pipe, shared among friends. But it seems over these century's of tobacco smoking tradition the sweet aroma has claimed every males lungs we've met. Aside from the traditional café smokers spilling out of the open-air shops with their glass sheesha pipes, I have yet to meet a man who doesn't have a cigarette in hand on the streets. And some boys so young lighting up with ease, as if a solution of nicotine to oxygen is needed in the blood to consider oneself a man in this land. Ryan was advised upon arriving to grow his beard out as an in with the locals, but unless he starts asking for a light, we'll stay obvious outsiders while in Egypt.

The other Egyptism, is the people's desire to give you a taxi ride. Ryan and I walk everywhere so we have to turn them down continuously. Taxi, taxi, taxi. We quickly learned "la, shukran" ( no, thank you) but for some reason after turning down the taxi driving by, the one just behind thinks we might just need his taxi! This extends beyond the taxi drivers though. Shop keepers, fruit stands, camel rides, horse rides, children selling souvenirs, the list goes on and on, but the taxi drivers are our favorite. Especially now in Dahab, a small town we walk the length of twice daily. Sandwiched between the Red Sea and the bare mountains of the Sinai, where would we go? It gives us something to laugh about each day!

While in Dahab Ryan found a new calling. After a refresher SCUBA dive he found himself roped into a 2 day Advanced Open Water course. This involved learning how to navigate underwater, diving to over 100 feet, a night dive, and learning about the marine life. He was able to catch a glimpse of an octopus, squid (which changed color as he got closer), and tons of other species.

Well, that's all I have time for today, but tune in next week, for more from Ryan! And to all our family and friends out there, keep in touch! We want to hear from you too!

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