Our trip to Crete........ oh yeah and EGYPT!!

Well we just got back from our vacation from Crete and have officially done every side of the island.  It was awesome and just so damn beautiful.  But the "one in a lifetime experience" was when we decided to take a day trip to Cairo!!      Yes, me!!  For those of you who know me this in itself is amazing.  Can I just tell you what a bizarre country!!  The sights I saw and experienced makes me thank god everyday that I live anywhere but there..  What an insane place.  Our guide, Salwa was telling us that there's a baby born there every 24 seconds and that because they don't believe in birth control the overpopulation is a major problem in Cairo and has nothing to do with religion.  I thought London was crowded.  Cairo's population was if I remember was 18 million just in the city!! 

The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx are truly inspiring.  I can't even come up with a word to describe what I saw.  We had armed security with us everywhere but also went out on our own on many occasions and they knew I was American without me even talking.  Some guy went up to Glen asking if he was willing to trade me for 20 camels    "I give you 20 camels for your beautiful wife.  You very lucky man" were his exact words.  The men there are so freaking brazen and such balls.  Completely staring at me for 10 minutes at a time right in front of Glen.  No respect whatsoever.  If he were to do that to another man's wife forgetaboutit!!

I have so much to do.  Have to unpack still, get ready to start my new job on Wednesday so I'll try and post some pictures up.  I can't believe some of the pictures we got!!  Really amazing!!

Sounds like you had such a great time!!! Im so jealous. My entire life I wanted to visit Egypt! Did you see any cat mummies? I read somewhere there are thousands of mummified cats there. What kind of souveniers did you bring back? Cant wait to see pics!
Pebs 

Oh you just brought memories of my trip to Egypt 4 years ago flooding back! Yep people there tend to be of the opinion that women in western dress are fair game - to them if your arms and legs are bare you're a harlot. I remember being in the main museum in Cairo when one of the security guards asked if he could touch my friend's breasts! I suppose he asked at least. I learned a very handy Arabic phrase from my Rough Guide to Egypt: "sibne la wadi" - don't touch me!! I don't know why the men are so gross there, I have been to Sudan and Dubai as well and it was completely different there, no hassles from anyone at all, although you would expect particularly Sudan to be more "hardcore." My funniest Egypt experience was when I was haggling with a shop owner and he suddenly said "you look like Shania Twain." Think it was a compliment!

Anyway, sorry didn't mean to hijack!  glad you had a good trip and I am looking forward to seeing your pics.

LOL, 20 camels!! OMG. We spent 2 weeks lazing on a Crete beach a few years back, I was in heaven. (Airfare and hotel for 2, £360 through www.just.co.uk) Glad you had such a wonderful trip.

Yep people there tend to be of the opinion that women in western dress are fair game - to them if your arms and legs are bare you're a harlot.

Funny thing was that I was completely covered up from head to toe.  Our trip advisor told me to cover up because I was American.  So I did.  The only thing showing was my neck and my face.  I even brought my bikini wrap to wear as a hijab!  So why all the catcalls I don't know.    Granted I wore all white cotton clothes, loose fitting to boot.  Yes, you were able to see my lace thong underneath and my lacy bra but hell what was I suppose to wear underneath nothing!!    I had to go out and buy an outfit when we were in Crete 'cause all my summer stuff is made up of hot shorts, mini's, halter tops, etc.  You should have see what some of the women were wearing.  I thought to myself how stupid can you be.  This one Russian gal (I swear was a prostitute) anyway was wearing hot shorts with her a$$ cheeks sticking out a tight shirt, etc. going to an Islamic country... Ummm, not too smart!  I was the only Western women (and only American to boot) to dress conservatively.  I did bring a halter top to change into if I felt comfortable enough and in the end of the night changed into it cause it was so damn hot even for me.

Will definitely post the pictures once Glen downloads them.

Well here are some pictures I thought I would share.  I still can't believe we were in Eqypt.  Some of the pictures look like they're reproduced by Photoshop.  But I swear there're the real deal..  



That's the pyramid we went into.  Oh MY GOD!!  We thought that it would be cool.  You figure like a basement.  Forgetaboutit..............Freakin' like you're in a microwave or something.  To boot you're literally had to walk down a plank bent over.  Glen being 6'3 was somewhat uncomfortable.


  Giza Pyramids


  Me and Glen





Here's the guy who said you're American without me even saying a word.  For every picture they took they wanted some cash....  Persistent buggers they are.












I made Glen wear all white cotton.  He complained at first but glad in the end.





Here's the bellydancer we saw while having lunch on the nile.  By the way, she's an American studying in Eqypt!!!  And a total sweetheart.



Insteresting architecture.  That's a mosque.  We walked past it on the side.  So I decided to look in.  All I heard from Glen was don't look in, don't look in.  Of course I'm gonna look in.  The doors are open.  If they don't want women looking in then they should close them was my answer.  Seriously though women are "trained" not to look in the mosque when the doors are opened.  Guess I wouldn't make a good wife there 

  And here's a quick picture of the bazaar and let me tell you that is the right name for it in more ways than one.  Again Glen blasted me because we were told not to take pictures of the general public because they don't like it.  But how could I not.    We'll never be back there again.  Had to take it for posteriority.


So that's the best of them.  Our album is going to be so cool.  Can't wait.  We heard the Red Sea is a great place to vacation or Red Riveria as they call it!! 

oh damn for some reason i can't view your pics, they are not downloading properly on our pc, i was really looking forward to seeing them too; about the mosque ... when i was in cairo with my friends (3 female, 1 male) we visted a mosque no problem, i forget the name of it, it was a more touristy one (they charged us for looking after our shoes when we went in and it was more for foreigners- i said damned cheek - they said "money for god" - i said "not MY god!") but anyway it was a working mosque and there seemed to be no objection to women going in there - i think they make it up as they go along!

i will have to go and dig out my own photos now since i can't seem to see yours! did you buy anything at the bazaar? how did you get on with the bartering? at first i thought it was fun but by the end of my 10 day holiday when i was trying to just buy a few gifts to take home for people it got really wearing and i was just saying to them "look just tell me HOW MUCH?"

I remember being fascinated by the place when my family went years ago.

I was 12, probably about 5'11", and had loooooooong, very bloooooooonde hair.

Stares?  Comments?  Holy cow.  My mom did not let go of my hand, let alone out of her sight. 

did you buy anything at the bazaar?

Actually the tour guide took us to a bazaar shop in Cairo (I guess they grease the palm of their hands for the sales).  There I brought a mother of peal jewerly box, Glen surprised me and brought me a diamond ring (princess cut) with ten diamonds going across in white gold.  I was completely taken back and had no clue.  We also brought some oil paintings on papryus.  One of them titled the "Wedding Card" it's absolutely beautiful.  We plan on framing it and putting up in front of our bed (when we move to NY and have a real king sized bed in the real sized master bedroom).  The other two are titled the Calendar and "The Final Judgement".  I

Glen was going to buy his name in hieroglyphics (sp) but decided not to and now regrets it.  He actually said he would have like to have it in my name to wear.  So Mohammed (we made friends) said for us to call him anytime if we want anything else.  So I'm going to surprise Glen with one once I speak with Mohammed.

Sounds like you had a fantastic trip!  Unfortunatly I can't see the pics   

Okay. Sounds like you had an absolutely fabulous time. I really want to live vicariously through your pics but this is the second try on this computer AND on my work computer. What am I doing wrong? Why can't I see them???

Sounds fabulous ... but I'm having trouble seeing the pictures too; I've p.m.'ed NYSOM as I think the problem relates to the server on which the pictures are stored and not to the individual users.  I think she's come back right into the thick of things, so don't expect a near-instant fix;   I'll pump this thread back to the top as / when the pics are visible to all. - Graham

sorry guys, don't know why.  I posted them on Yahoo maybe that's the problem.  When I have time on the weekend I'll repost ---- as I'm a working woman now!!!! 

A BIG, HUGE THANKS TO GRAHAM !! for helping me out and letting me use some of his space for a bit so everyone can see the pictures.


  One of their many mosques.  I don't know which one though.  We went by so many.

  That's the pyramid we went into.  Oh MY GOD!!  We thought that it would be cool.  You figure like a basement.  Forgetaboutit..............Freakin' like you're in a microwave or something.  To boot you're literally had to walk down a plank bent over.  Glen being 6'3 was somewhat uncomfortable.

  Giza Pyramids

  I made Glen wear all white cotton.  He complained at first but glad in the end.










  The Sphinx

  Insteresting architecture.  That's a mosque.  We walked past it on the side.  So I decided to look in.  All I heard from Glen was don't look in, don't look in.  Of course I'm gonna look in.  The doors are open.  If they don't want women looking in then they should close them was my answer.  Seriously though women are "trained" not to look in the mosque when the doors are opened.  Guess I wouldn't make a good wife there 

These photos are absolutely fabulous!  I'm a newbie here....and I must say the comaraderie on this board is wonderful!  Thanks for posting these - and thanks for all being so nice.

Jill