sprovost

Monday Jan 31, 2011 Easy and carefree times at the Stella Di Mare resort, here in Sharm El Sheikh. Guests mill about, planning excursions, sunning pale white skin and gather in mass at buffets. Hard to believe that this peaceful oasis exists while the rest of the country is being torn apart by protests and heavy handed government reaction. Serenity, as the rest of the country's tension grows, like a branch being bent, closer and closer to the point of fracture. This face of benevolence is deliberate and self preserving. Truths are bent and lies are told (Everything in the country will be restored to normal in 2 days; There are no more protests in Cairo) so that tourists will stay and continue to spend their vacation money. Without them, the economy would collapse here. In ... read more

Mohmed greeted us this morning, obviously relieved that we were safe. He had worried all night after dropping us off in downtown Luxor, in what turned out to be a hornet's nest. Cairo's protests were apparently massive. The army was called in to protect the Egyptian Museum after looters had attacked. A curfew was in effect from 1600 until 8 am and would last at least three days. The result of all this? Mubarak has dismissed his Prime Minister and his domestic ministers. This seems to have satiated Mohmed, who sees this as real, historic change. I wonder if the masses will be similarly satisfied? Will this appease the man who stopped long enough to yell "Mubarak" while slashing across his throat with his finger? Of note, while writing this at 1600, cell phone service was ... read more

Our tour guide, Melanie, met us in the hotel lobby. Our destination was Giza, again. This time we were to ride horses around the pyramids. T's experience with horses is long. She grew up in Canada on a ranch. Her family owned them and she rode them throughout childhood and adolescence. My experience is much less extensive. I've ridden a few times, mostly on docile animals that could have probably been ridden as successfully by a sack of flour. A horse whisper I wasn't. Traffic wasn't too bad. Before long we were in a neighborhood next to the pyramid grounds. In an US real estate advertisement this neighborhood would be given the affluent moniker of "horse property". In Egyptian reality, it was as densely packed as the rest of Giza, many brick and cement block buildings ... read more

On December 17, twenty six year old Mohamed Bouazizi stood in front of the provincial headquarters building in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia and set himself on fire. This action was in response to authorities who had confiscated his unregistered vegetable cart, slapped him, spit in his face and insulted his family. Mr. Bouazizi tried to complain, but was refused an audience by officials. This self immolation stood as a rallying cry for disenfranchised Tunisians who protested against unemployment, rising food prices, corruption and limited civil liberties. The massive protests resulted in the country's president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, fleeing his country on January 15, 2011, after 23 years in power. This "Jasmine Revolution" inspired similar protests though out the arab world, including Jordan, Yemen and Egypt. On January 24 T and I departed for Egypt, starting ... read more

09-05-2005 1830 Headed to the Field House and Pete Maravich (P-Mac) Arena at LSU, where all the action seems to be. Last night at Kmart was very quiet after midnight. A few patients trickled in. Not much action and spent the greater part walking around trying to stay awake. After our shift, WS and I stayed with a wonderful retired couple in Zachary, just north of Baton Rouge. A shower and 8 great hours of sleep. Shrimp creole for breakfast/ dinner.... read more