Just shy of a month ago I was embarking on my journey to Cairo - a place I'd never imagined I'd see, or become so enchanted with.
The richness of the culture, the taste of the amazing food we had at every turn, the sights, sounds, smells and more that dazzled the senses.
Ancient cultures and civilizations have always captivated my imagination as I try to fit myself into my own tiny blip of life in the timeline of this world.
My friend Terri and I in front of the Four Seasons on the Nile.
It was an 11 hour flight - and we look pretty good all things considering!
Interesting thing about our hotel - we were impressed with the abundance of security evidently on hand to make US feel safe and secure. (RIGHT?!)
It turns out that FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden was also in Cairo for a wedding and some other international affairs and was staying in our hotel!
This was evidenced by her wardrobe rolling by on clothing racks - each of the garment bags displaying FLOTUS in plain view.
One thing can be said for all o the security detail - She likely didn't have the exciting time we had with nearly 40 travelers on our bus. I'd choose our tour over hers any day.
Captured from the bus window -
I'm not sure what I thought Cairo would be - but much of it is under reconstruction with older buildings coming down and new ones being built in their stead. There is improvement happening everywhere.
Most of the time I didn't know what I was seeing, but there were crumbling buildings right next to newer built ones. Little by little the city is changing.
Ever present mosques and minarets.
A minaret is a tall tower attached or adjacent to a mosque. It is designed so the call to prayer, issued from mosques five times a day, can be heard loud and clear throughout a town or city.
And hear them we did.
This was my first view of the big marketplace in Cairo - vendors setting up their stalls, selling all kinds of everything.
I don't remember what the orange flower tress were called - but their bright blossoms brought so much color to the surrounding city streets.
Just the day previous there had been a HUGE sand storm that left us with gritty skies - the cars were all covered with it.
More mosques and minarets - one under reconstruction.
City of the Dead
The City of the Dead, or Cairo Necropolis, also referred to as the Qarafa is a series of vast Islamic-era necropolises and cemeteries in Cairo.
We wondered what these clusters of little "houses" were - and it turns out that the numerous tomb enclosures (called a hawsh), with their own entrances, usually contain tombs of a same family.
We would pass by the City of the Dead several times as we made our way around Cairo for the first few days of our tour, seeing it from all different angles.
Outside of the walls, there would be women with carts selling flowers and arrangements for family members to place on the graves of their loved ones.
The new and the old coming together.
One of the marketplace streets busy with people.
From the overpass through the bus window -
Older buildings and street view.
There are market stalls in the shade beneath those covers.
More marketplace.
The hustle and bustle of the market and city buildings beyond.
Still on the bus -
Great view from up on the highway!
My first glimpse at daily life in Cairo -
So different from my rural mountain surroundings in Southwestern Virginia!
Our Egyptology guide Yusef at the mic, telling us everything!
My first glimpse at the mighty Nile.
More city views.
Some monument.
I can't remember what it is now!
The beautiful tree with the orange flowers -
And finally - checking into our rooms at the Four Seasons! Click to Play:
The Nile from my little balcony -
You can see that the sandstorm was still hanging on in the sky -
It would be a couple of days before that cleared up.
I was really here! In Cairo on the Nile!
Our welcome dinner - delicious!
Road weary but so happy to be here - ready to start this adventure together!
My first view of the Nile at night.
Now that I'm home, there is more time to share parts of these adventures with you.
My next retreat group, Judy's Stitchers, arrives Thursday 7/6/23 so over the next week I'll be sharing more from both the Egypt and Ireland tours.
And just to let you see that things are returning to normal -
It's been quite a while, but settled in, feet up in my comfy chair and put some quilting stitches into my Amishy Baskets quilt last night.
For my viewing pleasure - Outlander season 7 on Starz!
It's so good to be home!
LAST DAY!
30% Off ALL PDF patterns through June 30th using coupon code DIGITAL30 at purchase!
Please note that code MUST be used at time of purchase to receive the discount. No code - no discount. And I'm not going to be around to issue refunds.
This discount applies to all PDF patterns available in both the Quiltville Store and the Quiltville Etsy Pattern Shop.
Your 30% discount will be applied after you use the code DIGITAL30. Again, code must be used for discount to happen.
TODAY is the LAST DAY!
Quiltville Quote o the Day -
Between winning and learning, I'll choose learning every time.
Vintage polyester double-knit hexagon star quilt found in Kentucky.
Happy last Friday of June!
Thanks for the tour and pics. Egypt looks wonderful. The Nile is so wide.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to do some handwork and relax .
I'm plugging away on the mystery blocks, just got my machines back from the shop.
Enjoy the day.
Blessings 💞
what a wonderful post about a place I know little to nothing about. Look forward to the next adventure.....
ReplyDelete"Poinciana" tree! They grow here in The Cayman Islands too. Have a huge red one in my backyard. They also come in orange and yellow. The leaves remind me of mimosa trees. Love all your photos and comments from your trips and on your blog. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI thought that was them,got them as street trees here in Australia too.
DeleteI think the beautiful tree with the orange flowers is called a Flamboyant Tree.
ReplyDeleteBonnie that beautiful tree is a Poincianna. They are abundant in South Florida.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a view of the Nile on your Tour. Thanks for taking us along. Always learning is Good. I have a double knit Polyester Quilt we used for picnics. That stuff never wears out.
ReplyDeleteWere the buses that we could see in the picture labeled hustle and bustle of the city, ones like you would tour on? They look really large!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I havenot been to Egypt but traveled to many of the middle eastern counties for work. I loved the people, history and of course the food. The markets were quite an experience. One evening my coworker and I got lost in the city of Sanaa and a nice man got us a taxi back to our hotel. People in the middle east are very nice.
ReplyDeleteI spent a full day in Cairo working, demonstrating our product to about 50 people, most of them smoking. After about 12 hours of that, my coworkers, concerned that I'd never been to Egypt before and hadn't seen a thing, promised me on the taxi ride back to the hotel they'd work something out. My Tunisian co-worker was able to communicate with the taxi driver, who called his "cousin", who went back to his business and waited for us. After more than an hour in traffic, we arrived at the outskirts of town, on the edge of the desert. After touring a little souvenir shop, the owner took us out back, where 2 camels and 2 horse had been saddled and were ready to go. There was no moon that night, and we were led into the desert. What we didn't know is a couple times a night the Great Pyramids of Giza are lit up for a few minutes. Imagine being in the desert on a camel not being able to see the city and that suddenly appears before you! It was a magical moment and one that I will never forget.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bonnie, fascinating!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your travels with us. I am so enjoying them!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you guys had so much fun! Years ago I took a tour of the mid-East and we went to Egypt and I LOVED it. I, too, never really had a desire to go there but there wasn't a single place we went that I wasn't fascinated with. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI was in Morocco in March and loved listening to the prayer calls from the tops of the minarets. As a musician and person of faith- I enjoyed their song-song chants. And the weavings and tapestries were stunning. Thanks for sharing your travels!
ReplyDeleteI see some old traveling friends with you :0), looks like a great time!
ReplyDeleteThe orange tree is a Royal Poinciana tree. We have them in Florida too.
ReplyDeleteI sure missed you when you weren’t posting, but I’d think…Bonnie’s on an adventure and it might be reflected in the mystery quilt….how cool is that!
ReplyDeleteCheryl B
I am so happy you had a great time on your trip. I am looking forward to hearing more about it. Glad you got home safe. Mary_in_AZ
ReplyDeleteWent to Egypt in 1995 with an adventure group from the UK. Not anywhere as nice as yours but an adventure. Crossed the Nile on a ferry with animals, people and everything. Rode donkeys to the Valley of the Kings and watched the AC buses roll by. Spent a whole day in the old Museum and there were NO tourists so we got right up to the gold face mask. Wonderful spot.
ReplyDeleteas smany others, i am glad you had such a fabulous time and are sharing it with us AND missed you while you were 'adventuring' -- I think i might have collapsed in that heat, so doubly glad to have some shares, thank you... your photographic skills are only exceeded by your needlework and teaching... what a nice collection. Happy for your safe return and double security at the Four Seasons... what a trip!! xo xo Cats in caarlsbad ca
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you share pictures and stories from your travels. Your blog is so unique as not only do you share great patterns, quilting info , etc. but you share the world and your home and environs with us. I so enjoyed watching a travelers guide to love after you mentioned it. Many years ago, I go to go to Cairo and also took a Nile cruise. Such an interesting area. Vietnam, Ireland and many other destinations are on my bucket list.
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