Red Sea Cruise – Egypt, Jordan & Sinai – Jan. 17 – Feb. 1, 2011

     Besides seeing the Great Pyramid from our hotel and visiting the Sphinx and St. Sergius Church reputed to be built on the spot where the Holy Family rested at the end of their journey into Egypt, we had several other adventures in Cairo.
     One night our guide suggested a restaurant “within walking distance” of our hotel.  What he failed to mention was the non-stop traffic and  the high curbs which are a challenge for me.  After dinner a security guard walked with us, helped me at the curbs and put his hand up to stop the cars.
     I think that home hosted visits are always educational and our dinner at a home in 6th of October  was particularly meaningful – not only because of the authentic Egyptian cuisine but also because of the family’s genuine hospitality.
     On the 25th of January, I was sitting outside the Egyptian Museum (Paul and I visited it in 1988) when I heard chanting in the street.  Suddenly MANY police appeared, and when our bus was heading toward the airport via an elevated freeway, we saw huge crowds of people below heading toward Tahir Square where they joined others in staging a protest over the high prices imposed on food and gas by the government.
     Only later we learned that the crowds we saw were the beginning of the “Arab Spring.”