Category: BONUS!

For those who have been to Cairo, the traffic is… utterly indescribable. (**Previous picture of Cairo traffic deleted at the request of its owner** Above left: from http://www.stanford.edu/group/ccr/blog/2009/10/traffic_in_cairo.html; above right: from http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/1999/444/eg13.htm) Between the pedestrians, the blackandwhite taxis, the other drivers, myriad delivery scooters, the police “directing traffic” (often while sleeping), the occasional donkey carts… Continue reading Traffic

GARAGOS!!!! Cairenes will recognize this name. Others will need to be informed. Garagos is the name of a small town outside of Luxor that is renowned (at least in Egypt) for their pottery. Just 25 kilometres outside Luxor lies the small town of Garagos. It is the heart of a thriving pottery industry started by… Continue reading Christmas in Cairo means…..

One of the “draws” for coming to a place like Cairo, and a large(ish) university like AUC, was the access to unusual events and opportunities. I’ve been calling these posts “Bonuses” because in the realm of my life in Cairo, that is how I view them. They are unexpected and wonderful additions to my experience… Continue reading Unusual opportunities

16 February 2008 Another BONUS was a recent trip to Sakkara, where we DID NOT go to the Step Pyramid of Zoser. Dr Alain Zivie, an archaeologist and visiting professor at AUC, has been working on the “Lesser-Known Tombs” of Sakkara. His discoveries have included the (potential) tomb of Maia – the wet-nurse and governess… Continue reading “Off the beaten path” tombs at Sakkara

4 April 2008 Frequently one has opportunities thrust upon them, merely by chance, right-place right-time, connections, whatever. I realized today that I have had a number of these while in Egypt, that seemed “normal” due to the circumstances, but really aren’t. I’ll eventually catch up with posting some of them, but I’ll start with today.… Continue reading Lucky Girl