Blogs from Asyut, Middle Egypt, Egypt, Africa

5 dni temu opuscilismy Kair, dzierzac w reku wizy do Sudamu i Etiopii:-) Minelismy Gize z jej wspanialymi piramidami i skierowalismy sie wzdluz Nilu na poludnie. Po synajskiej pustyni, jestesmy oczarowani zielenia i bujnoscia zycia wzdluz rzeki. Jest to magiczna kraina osiolka. Czas sie tu zatrzymal. Ludzie zyja jak zyli ich dziadowie i pra pra x 100 dziadowie. Nic sie nie zmienilo - stroje, obyczaje, menatalnosc no i wszechobecny osiolek ktory jest glowna sila robocza i srodkierm transportu. Jedynymi oznakami tego ze XXI wiek sie tu zakradl sa komorki, motory i samochody ( w tym bardzo polularny nasz PLONEZ:-) Dzis dotarlismy do Asyut. Niestety juz nie sami a w eskorcie policji:-( Niestety taki tu zwyczaj ze dla "dobra" i "bezpieczenstwa" turysty, jedzie sie w konwoju. Jakos do tej pory przemieszczajac sie wzdluz mniejszych kanalow, udalo nam ... read more

Yesterday I experienced what it is to be cared for by others when you are sick. I’ll spare you all the details, but let you know that I had a mild case of heat stroke for which I was finally treated last night with IV’s to restore my fluids. Rest assured that I am feeling infinitely better today. As I waited yesterday for what I thought was a case of the flu to pass, I was attended to, waited on and cared for like a most beloved guest. Hala checked on me every 15 minutes to make sure there was nothing that I needed. Oma felt my skin and held my hand, just like a worried mother. Kadry insisted throughout the day that a doctor should be called. Finally around 7:15 when I was not feeling ... read more

5:54 am If you a light morning sleeper like me, you are apt to be woken up each morning in Amshool by the sound of the animals waking for the day. I first heard the roosters around 4:30 but now there is a full chorus surrounding me. The donkeys are also waking up early this morning so their brays are added to the chorus. I write early on Monday morning from my new favorite place in Egypt - another rooftop - this one at Kadry’s parents home. Every night after we have eaten dinner and done any neighborhood visiting that we’ve been invited to do we come up here to enjoy the cool evening breezes and to gaze at stars like I’ve always imagined one would find in Africa. Our running bet is to see who ... read more

July 11, 1:18 p.m., Amshool, Egypt First things first. We are safely arrived in Upper Egypt. We left seminary with a group of 5 students at 5:45 Friday morning and took the Metro to Ramses Station in Central Cairo where we caught the 7 a.m. train south. Last night was the hottest and most humid night so far which was miserable for sleeping, but probably good preparation for the next week. Even early in the morning we were drenched in sweat by the time we arrived at the train. Thankfully Kadry understands that we are soft Westerners and booked us first class tickets in an air conditioned car. It was perfect. The train ride south was uneventful. We arrived in Dairo (?) around 11:30 and were met at the station by Abu Emad and Om Emad ... read more