Finally.... Egypt... We are here!

Typical Building on e would see from highway from airport out to 6th of October. People actually live in this one. Most are empty.

People are always hanging off the back end of vehicles. There is no regard to safety. Seat belts? Come on get real!

Another look at the typical way to drive down freeway at 70 mph. One hand is good enough to hang on. No problem!

All too common sight along road and streets of Egypt. Apparently anywhere is a good enough spot to put garbage.

We live like kings. Our villa from the terrace rooftop. Our lovely pool and green sanctuary where the four of us are fortunate enough to live. Safe, beautiful, lush and nothing at all like most of the area around us. We will be having many parties. One already. 

A beautiful Mosque near our villa. One night when the ac was not working Donna and I slept outside on the terrace. at 4 we were woken up with the blare of the morning wake up call. At 4:30 the first call to prayer. We had a lot to learn!

Lest one would think there is nothing but concrete and rubble the most beautiful birds are here as well.

If it's not bad enough to live 5 minutes from the Mall of America now we live 5 minutes from the Mall of Arabia! Not much different other than twenty miles away thousands are protesting, churches that have been around for 1300 years are being burned to the ground, and people are getting killed. Where we are we may as well be near the Mall of America. 

Another sanctuary for me. Two lovely golf courses within ten minutes of our villa. My friend Charlie tends the flag for me. We were the only ones on the course. Golf in midsummer in Egypt gets a tad warm for most golfers here but it was great to play the Allegria and Dreamland courses. 

So! Finally a few photos. It is early in the morning and my internet "stick" (a usb stick the size of a pack of gum put in usb port to provide internet.We have been here for a week now. WE are sequestered in our villa or at the school or taken to the shopping areas or the golf course. Our here where we live one has to take taxis everywhere. We are lucky to have two great taxi drivers that help us out for a small fee. My reflections so far.... for starters how could a people be so kind, friendly, warm, open, and gracious? The Egyptian people have shown me that they are intelligent people with a gift of laughter. I feel already honored to be amongst them and only hope that I can return their gifts. We are guests in their country and must show how to be good guests. We are trying to learn arabic. I am terrible with languages but am trying. School will start soon and despite curfew and the national state of emergency and all the troubles they intend to start on time. In the meantime we will continue to soak in the warmth of this amazing place. Out here in the sprawling suburbs we will attempt to find a sense of place and community. We feel lucky to be here. All is well. (except for being bedridden with a nasty case of King Tut's revenge! Horrible and you don't want to hear about it). Till next time....