It's finally done! Egypt trip blog

[amity]

It's finally done!



Grab a cup of shay (tea), let the pages load, and enjoy!



Cairo

http://www.raq-on.net/Egypt2.htm



Amity

[nasila]

this is fantastic!! living vicariously...

but, most of the photos on the bottom of page 1 aren't showing up.

[amity]

weird, they show up for me and I can't see anything wrong with the coding...

[bintbeled]

Wow, what a great journal!! Thanks for posting.

[carolabrie]

Thanks for sharing, it is delightful to read!

[amity]

Sorry it's not in perfect grammar...

[Vahana]

Oh, Amity, I enjoyed reading your blog on your trip so much! You are a good writer because I felt as if I was actually experiencing Egypt too.

What a dream come true for you!

Thankx so much for sharing.

[outi]

Hi Amity! (Where is the waiving form the another continent - smiley? I can't to seem to find any appropriate smileys today )


It looks like you were happy about your trip.

See you soon, Insh Allah!

[bellydancewear]

Hi Amity,
I very much enjoyed your blog :) I think it is great you rewarded yourself after you worked so hard in school...Good for you!! I go to Egypt about twice a year so I have been there more times then I remember, but I must say you really did pick up a lot about the culture in the short time you were there.

I know what you mean about the tea, everybody everywhere offers it to you and I shake all the time from the caffeine. And of course you can't refuse because that will be insulting them. Don't you just love those circa 1970s Fiats they have for taxis? It always amazes me how they keep them running.
I think you are brave to go and stay in a flat your first time there, I still prefer 5 star hotels because they are clean and comfortable and the food is safe to eat at them. Plus sometimes you run into people, like I got to see Hakim sing at a wedding at the Hyatt, and Dina dancing at a wedding at the Ramses Hilton. Finally I just want to mention Khan el Khalili, that is my favorite place and I have many friends that work there (yes I drink gallons of tea there visiting each one at their shops). I think the best part is the spice market, did you go there? I just love the rich smells of the spices and herbs that are sold there. Well, again thank you for taking the time to write about your trip. There is something about that place, I don't know what it is, but you always want to go back. Maybe why I have been there so many times. I was just there for a month in Oct and Nov and already thinking about when I can go back. Ahhhh the Nile, it has magical powers they say, it draws you back to Egypt time and time again. Maybe I will meet you there one day ....insha allah.

[ejaghana]

I had fun reading this Amity! I'm even more excited about my trip in March!!!

[Nepenthe]

I read the whole thing last night while ignoring the democratic debate. It was so fascinating to read. I wish I was just going to take dance classes like you did. Maybe next time.
I can't wait to go shopping and see some shows.

[eshe]

I can't open the second page. :(

I know what you mean about Mme Raqia's knees. She kept telling me to stop plieing. I didn't understand what she meant at first.

The Eman Zaki apartment next door is empty. Mme Raqia has a studio in there too but it had nothing else in it other than the stereo and a few couches.

[Dheisha]

Thank you so much for sharing, Amity!
I'm curious, how did you get in touch with your 'guide' and how did you get the apartment? I/m currently in Cairo and would LOVE to have someone like Ahmed to help out with practical things...not much fun to go around and talk to doormen by myself (the egyptian way of finding a flat)

[Monica]

Amity, I enjoyed reading your travel journal so much. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[amity]

Ahmed and Karem: ahmed_elgentel97@hotmail.com


Leyla Lanty Recommended them to me!

Ahmed prefers only to help with buying/negotiating, but Karem his son I think is willing to help out with anything. He does take a small cut from bargaining, but you still get better prices than alone! Tell them I said hI!

[Annie]

I enjoyed this, Amity! Perfect timing for me, too: I'm planning my first trip right now and am reading everything I can.

[tigerb]

Great blog! I was glued to it!

[Dheisha]

Thank you so much, I will say hi from you! And if you want to hear "news" from Cairo, check out my blog at Marta in Cairo, which I SHOULD start writing today

[sagira]

Wonderful blog Amity, thoroughly enjoyed it. I am planning on going to Cairo, onto Alexanfria and then Morrocco in Jan09, so I will be making notes of the places you visited and I think staying in a flat is a great idea. I will have to stay in hotels in Cairo as I will be with 2 others who would freak out at the idea of flatting. I am very use to travelling alone to strange places so for me travelling alone and renting an apartment would be fun!

Hopefully I can organize some lessons as well. Now I really can't wait to go!

[leylalanty]

Originally Posted by amity

Ahmed and Karem: ahmed_elgentel97@hotmail.com


Leyla Lanty Recommended them to me!

Ahmed prefers only to help with buying/negotiating, but Karem his son I think is willing to help out with anything. He does take a small cut from bargaining, but you still get better prices than alone! Tell them I said hI!

Tell them "hi" from me too! Amity's right! I've been using Ahmed's services for 8 years now, I think. And Karem has started working with him 2 years ago. I'm sure either Ahmed or Karem could help you find a flat that you'll like and at a reasonable price. Just send them email, tell them you'd like some help and ask for their phone number. (or you can PM me for it) I'm not too enthusiastic about posting numbers on discussion boards which are open to the public at large.

[leylalanty]

Finally read your blog and looked at all your pictures! Loved the one of you and Karem in the tomb! I smiled all the way through, recognizing many places and scenes. But I've never tried bowling!!! It was so much fun reading your impressions on your first trip to Egypt. It took me right back there and reminded me of my first trip. Thanks for sharing it all with us. Your "cheat sheet" on dancing in Egypt at the end of the blog shows that you really learned a LOT about the essence of Egyptian dancing in a really short time. Welcome to the club of those who would jump on the next plane to Cairo in a heartbeat!

[mwendouce]

Hey Amity! It's Victoria, from Plattsburgh. I actually came across your blog by accident and read it word for word! It was fabulous! It reminded me so much of my trip and how much I want to go back! I can't belive you went on your own!!! Let me know if you do plan on a return trip!

How did you find the guides? What a smart idea!

[azhaar]

FABULOUS blog - thanks so much for sharing!!!