Gator Tells All

Well we made it and are having a great time!

We had a short layover in Amsterdam and had enough time to take in a canal tour and a local meal. The Girls did wonderful on the plane, but Abby was cranky on the boat tour.

Eric Scott, our friend here, picked us up at the Cairo airport about 2am and then took us to their apartment. We had a tour of the Pyramids and the Sphinx at 11am so didn't get much sleep, but it really helped us get on a local schedule. I highly recommend the Eric & Angela Scott Bed and Breakfast (and Lunch and Dinner). Angela is cooking up a storm and we had forgotten how much we missed her spaghetti meat sauce. We give this facility 6 stars.

Everyone, but Abby got to climb down into two Pyramids. She was still on Houston time. It is incredible how precise ancient civilizations were with their work.

The second day we went 4 wheelin' to the desert with some of their friends. It is the buddy system when you are so far from anywhere. We went to a dry lake bed, where a still existing lake had receeded, and got to climb around a temple to the crocodile god that has stood for thousands of years with no motar holding these stones together.

Then we drove to see a Pharonic road built from a Basalt quarry, volcanic rock for those not with a geologist tour guide, to what appeared to be a pier near what should have been the lake. The upper part of the road used petrified wood since it was plentiful, while the lower part used bassalt.

We then drove to a Roman ruin which was a pottery factory to hold all the wine produced from the vineyards which once graced the hills. This was so much fun for the kids because there were tunnels and rooms to explore. Outside the ruin must have been the pottery trash heap because there were tens of thousands of shards to inspect. We decided to try to pick the place up a bit and grab some shards for Mack's school friends.

Today we went to the Egyptian Museum to see Tutenkamun's artifacts and some mummies. Abby's comment about the mummies, was "that's not nice." Lots of sarcaphoguses and coffins. Then to the Citadel fort/old seat of government and kings, built by Saladin in the 12th centurty to guard Cairo against invaders. Inside this fort Mohammed Ali built a beautiful mosque back in 1850's. When he was king it was said that he floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee......

Tonight we travel by train to Luxor where we will see the valley of the kings, some museums, and Luxor and Karnak temple. More when we get back.