More Ain Sukhna

Here are some more pics!

Ain Sukhna

Here is the first round of pictures from our 4-day weekend at the beach in Ain Sukhna, on the Red Sea coast. It is a popular vacation spot for Egyptians and expats because it is just an hour and a half from Cairo via a new paved (but not lighted) road.

We went with some friends, and had a terrific time. Maya learned to float with her arm floaties without hanging on to mommy or daddy, as long as we were within close range, that is. She also built sand castles, tortured a 5-year-old boy, discovered footprints in the wet sand, snatched toys and shoes from our friends' kids, saw a starfish, and generally had a great time.

Going to the beach!!

We are heading to the beach tomorrow for four days of fun in the sun. I am so happy to finally have some time off to relax, as between getting ready to move apartments and work and everything else we have been seriously run ragged.

Tomorrow is the Prophet Mohammed's birthday and a national holiday in Egypt, then we have two weekend days, then I'm taking Sunday off. Some people in Egypt get Western Easter off -- Mike, for example -- but unfortunately not me. But I'm taking it anyway as a holiday.

We've got our swimsuits, sand toys and floaties all ready and we are going to have some fun. We're going to be at Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea coast, just a 1 or 2 hour drive from Cairo. I'll post some pictures when we get back.

Wadi Degla

We went on an organized bus trip out to a place called Wadi Degla in the desert today with some friends including the Egypt4 family and a bunch of other Cairo expats. It is basically a big valley in the desert with some nice rock formations, a little bit of wildlife, and unfortunately lots of trash, like plastic bags, all over the place.

We had a good time though, being outdoors and traipsing around and breathing fresh air. Maya had a blast. She latched on to a very nice 5th grade girl and followed her around everywhere, and basically got lots of "how to be a big girl" lessons from her new friend. Here are some pictures.

Maya at the monasteries

While I was working the weekend shift today, Maya and Mike and Mike's parents went off on a tour of the Coptic monasteries of Wadi Natroun. They had a blast and Maya seems to have enjoyed having lots of open space to explore.

The park

We took a break from tourism yesterday to go to the park. We were going to take Josh and Avni to Sakkara to see the step pyramid. But the day before, we had gone to Coptic Cairo to see the Hanging church and the Ben Ezra synagogue.The whole time we were there, Maya would look up longingly at us and say: "Playground?!?!?".

So yesterday we gave in to her wishes and had a day just for Maya. We spent the morning at the club, where we ran into her pal S. Maya and S. commandeered a ride-on car and spent the morning pushing each other around the park and fending off other kids who sought to take over their stolen vehicle. I don't know where the owners were. S's dad commented that the two of them were like Bonnie and Clyde. And I have to agree. They like to make trouble together.

After the park, Maya came home and took a nap, and Josh and Avni went off shopping at the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Then the adults had a nice night out together. On the downside, Maya appears to have caught a cold.

Anyway, these pictures are not from yesterday. I don't have any from yesterday. But to get you in the spirit, here are some pictures of Maya at the park last week, eating a banana on the slide.

A Day at the Pyramids

Mike's brother Josh and his wife Avni are visitng. So we took them to the pyramids to see Egypt's most famous attraction. Since Maya was with us, we basically zoomed through the plateau at lightning speed. Think a 5-minute walk by of the great pyramid, another 10 minutes in the solar boat museum, and then a quick walk to the Sphinx, and then back to the car.

We did, however spend quite some time looking at the "neigh neighs", camels and donkeys at the pyramids. So hopefully while Maya was watching the animals Josh and Avni got at least a little time to see the pyramids.

Maya liked the pyramids, and now knows how to make a pyramid sign with her hands by putting the tips of her fingers together. She also understands that pyramids are NOT mountains, or at least I hope she understands that.

She was not impressed by the Sphinx. I think daddy set up unduly high expectations when he told her we were going to see a lion. The whole time we were at the Sphinx, Maya was saying: "Daddy, I want lion". She was not impressed when he kept telling her to look up at the Sphinx to see the lion. Poor Maya.