MORE EGYPT

Temple of Philae

Internet is faster this morning so uploaded a couple of more pics from Egypt. An outside and inside view of the Temple of Philae. Philae is near Aswan - this temple complex was flooded by the (Russian built) Aswan dam. After a few years the United Nations and nations of Egypt, US, France and Great Britian funded building a dam around the temple site, dismantling the temple, and moving it to an island close by. The US and France were given some antiquities as a Thank You gift (a small, but complete, Egyptian temple that is in a NY museum) - Britian got nothing as they already have lots of stuff from Egypt. To get to Philae we had to go by boat to this island. Saw the Aswan dam the same morning - very interesting!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

At the Pyramids

Had a great Christmas, hope you did too. Returned from Egypt on Dec. 21 - had a great vacation! Only have one picture up as Middle East internet access has been dicey since 3 underwater cables were cut on Dec. 19. No one will say when our internet speed will return to normal, but last time this happened it took about 2 weeks. Took a long time for this one picture to load.

We were in Egypt 13 days and had a great time! Started off in Cairo, took the overnight train to Aswan (visited the dam, much bigger than Hoover Dam), then a cruise down the Nile to Luxor (my favorite part of the trip) seeing monuments and the Valley of the Kings, then flew to Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea where the kids and I enjoyed the beach and Andy went diving. We visited these camels our first full day in Egypt. I wasn't going to ride but the guide literally picked me up and put me on the camel. Riding a camel isn't so bad, it is getting off the camel that is terrifying (ask Grant to tell you that story!).

Will try to get more pictures up later.

ONE MORE POST

Khalifa Stadium Tower under gray skies


Flooding in the streets

before we head to Egypt! Had to put up pictures of yesterday's rain and the aftermath. Blue skies today.

RAIN!

Wow - the first rain at our house since February! Actually had a short thunderstorm (maybe 30 minutes). Erin and I went to the mall towards the beginning, the streets were already flooded. Inside the mall (which is only about 18 months old) stores were closing due to flooding - in those stores! In a few places we could see water dripping from the ceiling - but in other spots there were huge lakes - looked like the water was coming up through the floor.
Glad to see this rain, maybe it will knock some of the dust down. Andy and I are on allergy medicine full time now. No pollen - just lots of dust with the natural winds and all the construction going on around us.
I will not be posting until just before Christmas. We leave Monday for a 2 week vacation in Egypt. Will be nice to get away and see something different!