Monday, June 8, 2009
Two days in the states
Today will be our second full day in the states. I am already finding myself missing everyone and everything we saw. I know what some of you are thinking, but no its not just cause of Hurghada, I really enjoyed the whole experience. After coming back I have a huge urge to learn Arabic in order to return to Egypt one day and not rely on someone to translate, I did not enjoy that. I don't really know what else to say except that I had a blast and would return in a heartbeat! Miss you all.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
3 more days till we're officially back in the States!
This far, the trip has been amazing.
We've seen tons and tons of things and traveled like crazy. The best parts of this trip would have to be seeing the pyramids, swimming/snorkeling the red sea, seeing the library of Alexandria (omg I totally fell in loooove!), climbing sand dunes and seeing beautiful sunsets, camel rides, riding on the nile, taking a train overnight for the first time ever (I'm not too fond of it!), riding a jeep through the desert, and the reactions of Egyptians when they see Americans.
I am having a blast and sort of wish this doesn't end, but I am definately ready to go back home. I miss home food and my family and friends.
Wish that you were all there to enjoy it with us!
Farewell and signing off from an internet cafe in Alexandria, Egypt,
Mai Yer Vang
We've seen tons and tons of things and traveled like crazy. The best parts of this trip would have to be seeing the pyramids, swimming/snorkeling the red sea, seeing the library of Alexandria (omg I totally fell in loooove!), climbing sand dunes and seeing beautiful sunsets, camel rides, riding on the nile, taking a train overnight for the first time ever (I'm not too fond of it!), riding a jeep through the desert, and the reactions of Egyptians when they see Americans.
I am having a blast and sort of wish this doesn't end, but I am definately ready to go back home. I miss home food and my family and friends.
Wish that you were all there to enjoy it with us!
Farewell and signing off from an internet cafe in Alexandria, Egypt,
Mai Yer Vang
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Finally in Cairo, Egypt!
So as you have guessed from the title of this blog, we're here! The flights took forever and the layover in Amsterdam was a drag. It took a lifetime to get here- well it felt like it! We got into the heart of Cairo very easy because there was no traffic at 3:00AM. On our way to our hotel, we passed by a few mosques. They were very pretty and had amazing exterior designs. Our hotel is not bad. I wish I could post up photos but it is very unlikely that I will because I have no usb cord to load photos onto here. So sorry for those who would like to look at pictures!
Well first off, the room is quite big for me. There's the bed to your right as you come in through the door, then closet to your left. There's a desk and a TV stand. Two chairs and a coffee table. And a bathroom. I think the bathrooms a plus cause it's pretty big! Did I mention that my view is of the city? As you walk into the room and look straight out there's door to the balcony. The view is amazing! You can see people moving everywhere and cars taking over the streets plus the sound of horns going off every second. Something to wake up to.
Talk about waking up, my roommate and I were an hour late to our first meeting today. It was and wasn't our fault. I remember that I for sure set the alarm yesterday night. But it never went off! So Phil came and knock/opened our door to tell us that we were late, very late. Yikes. Anyway, after that we had lunch at the hotel. Omg, the food was great! But I was super full with a few bite. Then just a little after our tour guide talked to us, I discovered a little stomach problem. I wanted to check out the city with everyone else, but I was afraid that if I went, my stomach would fail me. So here I am, in my hotel room, blogging my first day in Egypt away.
Until then, I should probably start on reading this thesis paper... 70 pages??? :(
Well first off, the room is quite big for me. There's the bed to your right as you come in through the door, then closet to your left. There's a desk and a TV stand. Two chairs and a coffee table. And a bathroom. I think the bathrooms a plus cause it's pretty big! Did I mention that my view is of the city? As you walk into the room and look straight out there's door to the balcony. The view is amazing! You can see people moving everywhere and cars taking over the streets plus the sound of horns going off every second. Something to wake up to.
Talk about waking up, my roommate and I were an hour late to our first meeting today. It was and wasn't our fault. I remember that I for sure set the alarm yesterday night. But it never went off! So Phil came and knock/opened our door to tell us that we were late, very late. Yikes. Anyway, after that we had lunch at the hotel. Omg, the food was great! But I was super full with a few bite. Then just a little after our tour guide talked to us, I discovered a little stomach problem. I wanted to check out the city with everyone else, but I was afraid that if I went, my stomach would fail me. So here I am, in my hotel room, blogging my first day in Egypt away.
Until then, I should probably start on reading this thesis paper... 70 pages??? :(
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Feelings Before the Trip
As the days get closer and the nights get colder, I have mix feelings about this trip. I'm sad, then mad, then glad, and on top of that I'm sick. I'm nervous about leaving the country, but I know Egypt has to be something. I mean I am going on this trip to see what life has to offer outside of the United States, it's time to get out from within these gates. Only time will tell how I feel about it all. We leave Sunday night and there is no turning back, right now I don't know how to act. I mean we are taking a week of classes, oh so boring. But it feels good to be learning. Its so much information in the three hours we meet, I can barely stay awake and sometimes I want to go to sleep. There is so much information to take in within these days of learning, thats why it gets so boring. Well, these are my feelings before the trip, I'll tell you how i feel once I'm there. This is me signing off. Peace!!
Bedouin Politics
My topic is to give a presentation about Bedouin politics in Egypt. So I ask myself, what exactly is the politics of Bedouin? Why is politics important to the lives of these people? What does politics mean to them? Why does anyone need to know why their politics is important for them?
I guess we're all going to have to find out after the presentation!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Blogging from Egypt
Asalamu a’alaykum!
(Peace be upon you!)
This is the place where Augsburg College students and professors will be blogging while in Egypt.
We are scheduled to leave from Minneapolis on 17 May, and return on 6 June. We'll be traveling to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Alexandria. Stay tuned for more.
Phil Adamo
Associate Professor of History
(Peace be upon you!)
This is the place where Augsburg College students and professors will be blogging while in Egypt.
We are scheduled to leave from Minneapolis on 17 May, and return on 6 June. We'll be traveling to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Alexandria. Stay tuned for more.
Phil Adamo
Associate Professor of History
ITINERARY
Sunday, May 17
Depart the Twin Cities for Amsterdam.
Monday, May 18
We will have a layover in Amsterdam with a possible visit to the city then fly to Cairo, Arrive Cairo late night where you will be met by our Rep at the Airport who will assist you through the Airport Formalities then transfer to the hotel for the rest of the night. In-flight meals
Tuesday, May 19
Have a late breakfast, free day to recover the flight, late afternoon we gather for Orientation of the tour then go for dinner in a local restaurant, nearby. (B. D)
Wednesday, May 20
Today we take the Subway (METRO as we call it) to visit Old or Christian Cairo. First we will visit the Church of Abu Serga, where according to tradition the Holy Family rested after fleeing from King Herod; it has an icon dating to the 11th century, and then, we visit the beautiful Ben Ezra, where, according to legend, Jeremiah was buried and where the Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses in the basket in the reeds, and where Mary found water to wash Jesus .Finally we visit the Al-Muallaqa Church, called the Hanging Church built atop of a Roman fortress; it is one of the oldest churches in Egypt then we ride the Metro again to go to Maadi district where we have lunch Egyptian Feteer and have a walk to the Church of virgin Mary right on the Nile, according to traditions , the Holy Family took the boat to Upper Egypt. Then we ride again the Metro to the Hotel for dinner & Overnight. (B, L, D)
PS: If Pope Shenouda III, the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox is giving his Audience, then we will drive to the Cathedral to attend it, we have instant translation to English.
Thursday, May 21
After breakfast, we will drive to The Citadel, whose construction was begun by Salah ad-Din in 1176 and from which rulers governed Egypt for 700 years. We will explore the Alabaster Mosque build by Mohammed Ali and the Al-Gawhara Palace and Museum with its diorama of palace life, and then we visit the AUC, in their new Campus, which is huge and built in a very highly architectural taste. We will have a tour of the campus seeing the different schools, Library, Auditoriums, Dormitory and also the book and gift stores, probably have time to set and talk with students.
Here is our Schedule at AUC
12:00noon arrive at new campus Gate 1 Visitors Gate
12-1pm: Tour of New Campus (will be met at Gate 1)
1-2:30pm: Lecture on “Ancient and Modern Egyptian Identity” (lecturer and class room to be announced)
2:30-3pm: free time, (mingle/bookshop/gift shop, etc)
3pm: Depart New Campus. Then, we visit the City of the Dead and having a Walking Tour between the Tombs. Late Lunch and return to the hotel for overnight. ( B, L, D)
Friday, May 22
After breakfast, we will visit St. Andrew United Church and get to know their Refugees service who come from various African countries and how they help them fit and adjust in Cairo, then we drive to Al Jamaliya, Khan El Khalili, and El Azhar Mosque, the Oldest Islamic University in The Whole World then have free time. We stop for lunch and make a visit to the garbage collectors district, where they live and work on sorting out the garbage for recycle, also visit the house of Charity of the Indian Sisters of Mother Theresa and the beautiful rock –cut Monastery of St. Simon with its beautiful carvings on the mountain side Made by a Polish Artisan named Mario who came to the area 15 years ago. Then we go to spend some time in El Azhar Park, a very beautiful Park in the heart of Islamic Cairo overlooking the whole city, with many restaurants, cafes lots of families visiting will give better understanding to the way of life for different classes of Egyptians. (B, L, D)
Saturday, May 23
Today we see one of the wonders of the world: the Great Pyramids of Giza. As we marvel at the human imagination and energy they display, we will find it will difficult to avoid being overwhelmed as these pyramids survived for 4,500 years, seeing dynasties come and go and surviving Egypt’s many foreign invaders and conquerors. A visit to a papyrus institute provides the opportunity to purchase gifts for others and treasures for ourselves. Then we drive to the railway station to take the overnight Sleeper train to Aswan. (B, L, D)
Sunday, May 24
After we get off the train we will go on the Aswan tour of the High Dam & Lake Nasser, the British Dam. Then we visit the Temple of Philae.
Then we check into the Hotel for Lunch. Rest of day is at leisure. Dinner & Overnight. ( B, D )
Monday, May 25
This morning we rise very early to join the Police Convoy to Abu Simbel Temples, Two Magnificent Temples built by the most famous Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Return for lunch, rest of day is at leisure. Dinner & Overnight Aswan. (B, L, D)
Tuesday, May 26
This morning, we will explore the Nubian village, one of the homes, the way of life by visiting the Nubian village on the Elephantine Island. Then we visit the Botanical Gardens of Aswan, also visiting the National Park Islands with its beautiful plantations and Birds. Then we have lunch, and start our drive to Luxor, on the way we will stop to visit the dual Temple of God Sobek & Harroris at Kom Ombo. Arrive Luxor, check into hotel & overnight. (B, D)
Wednesday, May 27
After breakfast, our first visit will be the Valley of the Kings, including a tour of tombs with hieroglyphics that recount myths and kings and the journey to the afterlife. After exploring these ancient sites we will drive to an alabaster workshop where we may purchase items of aesthetic quality fashioned from beautiful material. (I will arrange for a visit to A Coptic Nunnery from the 4th century in Luxor, nearby the valley of Queens) As we return to our hotel for lunch we will view the Colossi of Memnon, a pair of statues more than 60 feet tall commemorating Amenophis III. We return to the hotel for lunch, late in the afternoon we will cross the Nile by a motor boat to the west bank villages of Luxor where we have a camel ride between the villages and the Sugar fields ending with having dinner in a local restaurant while attending the Sunset on the roof . (B, L, D)
Thursday, May 28
We will check out of the hotel and visit the Temples of Karnak & Luxor then we have lunch in a nice local restaurant before we start our drive to Hurghada and check into our hotel for dinner.
Dinner & overnight at Hurghada. (B, L, D)
Friday, May 29
After breakfast we will have a whole day Boat Trip to the Gifton Islands, for snorkel and swim with fresh fish Lunch on board to see the beautiful Corals and Colored fish of the Red Sea). (B, L, D)
Saturday, May 30
Today we have a free morning on the beach, enjoy swimming or sun-bathing, after lunch we will start a Safari Adventure to go through the Red Sea Mountains to see local Bedouin camps, how they live and manage water, and enjoy dinner and a belly and Bedouin show between the mountains. Then we return to the hotel for overnight. (B, D)
Sunday, May 31
Drive from Hurghada to Cairo with a stop to visit St. Paul Monastery at the Red Sea Mountains and its 4th century church with a tour of the Monastery guided by one of its Monks. Probably a light Lunch at the Monastery before we continue to Cairo. Dinner & overnight at Cairo. (B, D)
Monday, June 1
After a late breakfast, we will have a free day for relaxation and doing our assignments. Dinner & overnight. (B, D)
Tuesday, June 2
After breakfast, we will checkout of the Hotel and hit the road to Wadi Natrun where we stop first at St. Makarious 4th century Monastery which is renovated recently in the seventies and is the most famous one along the history of the Coptic Church. About 6 of the Coptic Patriarchs where monks form this Monastery, we will have a tour of the monastery conducted by one of its monks who speaks 5 foreign languages. Then we visit St. Bishoy Monastery and Al Saurian which has very beautiful frescos from the 4th – 10th centuries. We will have lunch at a nice restaurant on the road then we continue to Alexandria, rest of day is free. In the evening we will have free tour at downtown area where the local shops & cafes. (B, D)
Wednesday, June 3
Full day tour of Alexandria, The Roman Amphi-theatre, and the New Library of Alexandria with a tour by one of its Girl-tour guides then we end by the fortress of Sultan Quit-Bay. In the evening we will visit an Orphanage for girls (Sisters of the Bible Orphanage) where we will tour the place, sit and talk with the girls, some of them speaks fair English enough to hold conversation. Dinner & overnight. (B, D)
Thursday, June 4
After breakfast, we will visit the Montazah Gardens & Palace and then get to the beach where we spend the rest of day enjoy swimming (it is a private beach and we will reserve tickets for them, the weather will be hot and it will be nice to enjoy the refreshing water of the Mediterranean. dinner & overnight. (B, D)
Friday, June 5
After breakfast, we will have a free day in Alexandria where they can return to the Library again, late in the afternoon we will take the seated train back to Cairo, and then we will go to have a nice farewell Dinner cruise before we get to the airport for our international departure. (B, D)
Saturday, June 6
Flight home.
Depart the Twin Cities for Amsterdam.
Monday, May 18
We will have a layover in Amsterdam with a possible visit to the city then fly to Cairo, Arrive Cairo late night where you will be met by our Rep at the Airport who will assist you through the Airport Formalities then transfer to the hotel for the rest of the night. In-flight meals
Tuesday, May 19
Have a late breakfast, free day to recover the flight, late afternoon we gather for Orientation of the tour then go for dinner in a local restaurant, nearby. (B. D)
Wednesday, May 20
Today we take the Subway (METRO as we call it) to visit Old or Christian Cairo. First we will visit the Church of Abu Serga, where according to tradition the Holy Family rested after fleeing from King Herod; it has an icon dating to the 11th century, and then, we visit the beautiful Ben Ezra, where, according to legend, Jeremiah was buried and where the Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses in the basket in the reeds, and where Mary found water to wash Jesus .Finally we visit the Al-Muallaqa Church, called the Hanging Church built atop of a Roman fortress; it is one of the oldest churches in Egypt then we ride the Metro again to go to Maadi district where we have lunch Egyptian Feteer and have a walk to the Church of virgin Mary right on the Nile, according to traditions , the Holy Family took the boat to Upper Egypt. Then we ride again the Metro to the Hotel for dinner & Overnight. (B, L, D)
PS: If Pope Shenouda III, the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox is giving his Audience, then we will drive to the Cathedral to attend it, we have instant translation to English.
Thursday, May 21
After breakfast, we will drive to The Citadel, whose construction was begun by Salah ad-Din in 1176 and from which rulers governed Egypt for 700 years. We will explore the Alabaster Mosque build by Mohammed Ali and the Al-Gawhara Palace and Museum with its diorama of palace life, and then we visit the AUC, in their new Campus, which is huge and built in a very highly architectural taste. We will have a tour of the campus seeing the different schools, Library, Auditoriums, Dormitory and also the book and gift stores, probably have time to set and talk with students.
Here is our Schedule at AUC
12:00noon arrive at new campus Gate 1 Visitors Gate
12-1pm: Tour of New Campus (will be met at Gate 1)
1-2:30pm: Lecture on “Ancient and Modern Egyptian Identity” (lecturer and class room to be announced)
2:30-3pm: free time, (mingle/bookshop/gift shop, etc)
3pm: Depart New Campus. Then, we visit the City of the Dead and having a Walking Tour between the Tombs. Late Lunch and return to the hotel for overnight. ( B, L, D)
Friday, May 22
After breakfast, we will visit St. Andrew United Church and get to know their Refugees service who come from various African countries and how they help them fit and adjust in Cairo, then we drive to Al Jamaliya, Khan El Khalili, and El Azhar Mosque, the Oldest Islamic University in The Whole World then have free time. We stop for lunch and make a visit to the garbage collectors district, where they live and work on sorting out the garbage for recycle, also visit the house of Charity of the Indian Sisters of Mother Theresa and the beautiful rock –cut Monastery of St. Simon with its beautiful carvings on the mountain side Made by a Polish Artisan named Mario who came to the area 15 years ago. Then we go to spend some time in El Azhar Park, a very beautiful Park in the heart of Islamic Cairo overlooking the whole city, with many restaurants, cafes lots of families visiting will give better understanding to the way of life for different classes of Egyptians. (B, L, D)
Saturday, May 23
Today we see one of the wonders of the world: the Great Pyramids of Giza. As we marvel at the human imagination and energy they display, we will find it will difficult to avoid being overwhelmed as these pyramids survived for 4,500 years, seeing dynasties come and go and surviving Egypt’s many foreign invaders and conquerors. A visit to a papyrus institute provides the opportunity to purchase gifts for others and treasures for ourselves. Then we drive to the railway station to take the overnight Sleeper train to Aswan. (B, L, D)
Sunday, May 24
After we get off the train we will go on the Aswan tour of the High Dam & Lake Nasser, the British Dam. Then we visit the Temple of Philae.
Then we check into the Hotel for Lunch. Rest of day is at leisure. Dinner & Overnight. ( B, D )
Monday, May 25
This morning we rise very early to join the Police Convoy to Abu Simbel Temples, Two Magnificent Temples built by the most famous Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Return for lunch, rest of day is at leisure. Dinner & Overnight Aswan. (B, L, D)
Tuesday, May 26
This morning, we will explore the Nubian village, one of the homes, the way of life by visiting the Nubian village on the Elephantine Island. Then we visit the Botanical Gardens of Aswan, also visiting the National Park Islands with its beautiful plantations and Birds. Then we have lunch, and start our drive to Luxor, on the way we will stop to visit the dual Temple of God Sobek & Harroris at Kom Ombo. Arrive Luxor, check into hotel & overnight. (B, D)
Wednesday, May 27
After breakfast, our first visit will be the Valley of the Kings, including a tour of tombs with hieroglyphics that recount myths and kings and the journey to the afterlife. After exploring these ancient sites we will drive to an alabaster workshop where we may purchase items of aesthetic quality fashioned from beautiful material. (I will arrange for a visit to A Coptic Nunnery from the 4th century in Luxor, nearby the valley of Queens) As we return to our hotel for lunch we will view the Colossi of Memnon, a pair of statues more than 60 feet tall commemorating Amenophis III. We return to the hotel for lunch, late in the afternoon we will cross the Nile by a motor boat to the west bank villages of Luxor where we have a camel ride between the villages and the Sugar fields ending with having dinner in a local restaurant while attending the Sunset on the roof . (B, L, D)
Thursday, May 28
We will check out of the hotel and visit the Temples of Karnak & Luxor then we have lunch in a nice local restaurant before we start our drive to Hurghada and check into our hotel for dinner.
Dinner & overnight at Hurghada. (B, L, D)
Friday, May 29
After breakfast we will have a whole day Boat Trip to the Gifton Islands, for snorkel and swim with fresh fish Lunch on board to see the beautiful Corals and Colored fish of the Red Sea). (B, L, D)
Saturday, May 30
Today we have a free morning on the beach, enjoy swimming or sun-bathing, after lunch we will start a Safari Adventure to go through the Red Sea Mountains to see local Bedouin camps, how they live and manage water, and enjoy dinner and a belly and Bedouin show between the mountains. Then we return to the hotel for overnight. (B, D)
Sunday, May 31
Drive from Hurghada to Cairo with a stop to visit St. Paul Monastery at the Red Sea Mountains and its 4th century church with a tour of the Monastery guided by one of its Monks. Probably a light Lunch at the Monastery before we continue to Cairo. Dinner & overnight at Cairo. (B, D)
Monday, June 1
After a late breakfast, we will have a free day for relaxation and doing our assignments. Dinner & overnight. (B, D)
Tuesday, June 2
After breakfast, we will checkout of the Hotel and hit the road to Wadi Natrun where we stop first at St. Makarious 4th century Monastery which is renovated recently in the seventies and is the most famous one along the history of the Coptic Church. About 6 of the Coptic Patriarchs where monks form this Monastery, we will have a tour of the monastery conducted by one of its monks who speaks 5 foreign languages. Then we visit St. Bishoy Monastery and Al Saurian which has very beautiful frescos from the 4th – 10th centuries. We will have lunch at a nice restaurant on the road then we continue to Alexandria, rest of day is free. In the evening we will have free tour at downtown area where the local shops & cafes. (B, D)
Wednesday, June 3
Full day tour of Alexandria, The Roman Amphi-theatre, and the New Library of Alexandria with a tour by one of its Girl-tour guides then we end by the fortress of Sultan Quit-Bay. In the evening we will visit an Orphanage for girls (Sisters of the Bible Orphanage) where we will tour the place, sit and talk with the girls, some of them speaks fair English enough to hold conversation. Dinner & overnight. (B, D)
Thursday, June 4
After breakfast, we will visit the Montazah Gardens & Palace and then get to the beach where we spend the rest of day enjoy swimming (it is a private beach and we will reserve tickets for them, the weather will be hot and it will be nice to enjoy the refreshing water of the Mediterranean. dinner & overnight. (B, D)
Friday, June 5
After breakfast, we will have a free day in Alexandria where they can return to the Library again, late in the afternoon we will take the seated train back to Cairo, and then we will go to have a nice farewell Dinner cruise before we get to the airport for our international departure. (B, D)
Saturday, June 6
Flight home.
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