Digging through our two remaining large suitcases, we pulled out our Africa clothes. In in After all, tomorrow we will be Africa, an appropriate time to wear our lightweight bug resistant pants and long sleeve shirts.
The ship’s excursion staff explained in our daily bulletin that no matter the temperature when visiting Egypt and the Middle East, we must not have any exposed shoulders, knees or cleavage.
With the recent donation of our three large suitcases, I began worrying that I didn’t have a remaining pair of “below the knee” Capri pants in a light color. We both only have shorts and blue jeans.
Tom to the rescue! He dug out the suitcases to reveal the new clothing we’ve yet to wear that we’ve been saving for going on safari in Africa; lightweight, cool, made of natural fibers and, the bonus of insect resistant with a non toxic fruit derived substance.
Our clothing, shoes and desert hats (that cover the back of the neck) are neatly stacked for an early morning start when our group will gather in the Savoy Theatre at 7:15 am in preparation to disembark the ship and board the awaiting air conditioned buses for the 3 1/2 hour drive to our destination.
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download his daily Minneapolis StarTribune newspaper on his Nook app. I have been trying to buy one of our precious young grandsons a birthday gift but unable to bring up Amazon.com since we left
Barcelona on Monday.
Without photos, I can post by continuing to try to get connected, however weak throughout the day. Going to any website with photos is a lost cause. From time to time, we can receive and send email.
consuming and frustrating. It’s difficult to get the login page to appear.
One of the ship’s officers approached us as we sat in our familiar comfy booth this morning, apologizing for the poor service. He explained that even “the bridge”
was having difficulties with the satellite signal which is vital for their navigation.
From time to time, we get an unexpected steady green light, as a sign of life on our Xcom Global MiFi.
When the light is a steady hot pink, we’re fully connected. The steady green allows us to get email but unable to open web pages.
see how that goes.
The thought of an opportunity to visit a Bedouin Tribe was appealing until we talked to others having experienced this excursion on other cruises.
authenticity of their lives is lost in the cruise-lines-designed commercialization.
Perhaps, while we’re in other parts of Africa for nine months beginning August 31, 2013, we’ll encounter opportunities to visit various
tribes in their natural habitat in a less contrived manner.
it makes sense for the sake of safety to go along on the excursion rather than
venture off on our own.
We’ve heard enough horror stories on the news of wandering tourists being snapped up in life threatening scenarios. That won’t
be us, carelessly wandering about in a high risk area during political unrest. We’ll always chose safety over adventure.
excursion. The endless array of trinkets, wall hangings, pottery and jewelry,
although appealing to many tourists, have no place in our stuff free lives.
For example, tomorrow’s tour requires approximately 5 hours of driving time, 3 1/2 hours of walking to see the exhibits, 1 1/2 hours for lunch in Cairo, ending in what may prove to be a full 2 full hours of shopping.
craftspeople striving to earn a living as they spend the better part of each
day in the sweltering heat.
In one of two seminars we attended yesterday, we were told not to give money to beggars and to keep our sunglasses on when shopping. Apparently, one’s dilated
pupils are a dead ringer for expressing interest in an item. The vendors have learned to read this sign resulting in their relentless pursuit of making the sale, hoping desire for the item will win over desire to negotiate.
political unrest).
As a result, their economy has greatly suffered leaving many vendors scrambling to feed their families. Haggling seems petty when us tourists have been able to spend $1000’s to go on a luxury cruise.
In an effort to keep our eyes wide open, we try to learn as much as possible from our fellow travelers and visitors to our blog,
many of whom email us as opposed to posting in “comments” available at the end of each post.
or sharing your own stories, we are able to share them with all of our readers on our site. We love hearing from people we meet, family and friends and our readers from all over the world.
Last night we joined our new friends for dinner in the Sound of Music dining room for yet another good meal, impeccable service and attention to every detail in my limited diet.
Last night for the third night in a row, I slept
through the night, a full seven hours.
This is a rarity for me. No melatonin, no Tylenol PM and no Formula 303 was necessary to get me to drift off into much needed oblivion.
The comfortable bed, blankets and pillows, coupled with the smooth seas must be a
factor in this uncommon phenomenon.
This, my friends, is how we’ve envisioned ourbtravels…full of wonder, swept up in the rich history of each area all the while in awe of its people and cultures that helped shaped our world.
Joyfully, we carry on…