welcome to egypt

This is our current substitution for a pet-less house

We have been here a week and visited the Egyptian antiquity museum. This museum is PACKED FULL of artifacts. So full they can't control the inventory, organization and security. This in itself is an experience as you struggle to understand many of the pieces in the museum. They are labelled, but they are labelled poorly.  Actually, i'm pretty sure that most of the inventory has last been recorded when it was first found (ie: 1800's) There is no store so there is no book about pieces in the museum.  Luther ws frusterated but when he found something he recognized from his studies he would gather a small crowd by explaining its importance. (The Narmer Stone, for example)

After the museum, we walked about Tahir square past the AUC (American University of Cairo) and the leftovers of the riots and revolutions of 2010 and 2011.  They've done a great job cleaning up, but in true 'Egyptian' style- there is still garbage everywhere. Then again, theres garbage everywhere.  This isn't a bad thing, just not what we are used to in Canada.  Along the way, we bumped into a well-dressed man claming to be a doctor on his break from the museum. When we told him we were from Canada he recalled a few of the Egyptian exhibitions touring through Canada. He also said he was angry w/ National Geographic and their touring exhibitions because they are taking jobs and money from Egypt. 

We also bumped into lots of little kids.  They LOVE to speak english (the little english that they know. 'WELCOME TO EGYPT!' 'how are you?' and 'i loooooooooove you!') and they love my blonde hair, and the really teeny ones cannot stop staring.  A few have touched my hair and at one point some older ones (perhaps 12-13) asked if they can take a picture with Luther.  Then they wouldn't stop shaking his hand.  Then they ran to their friends and kept pointing at him so i think they must have thought he was a celebrity.  As we walked away they continued to whisper, point and take pictures of him.



The museum experience is certainly amazing.  Luther said he will definitely be back once his classes begin and he has a better hold on some of the treasures the museum has to offer.  He certainly should be back.  It costs a mere 30.00 LE. (5.00 CDN) for students.

We made our way back to Maadi on the metro and me and some of the girls were forced to sit down because we were females.  Here in Egypt, standing room is for males.  Men are expected to give up their seats for women, children and seniors.  We came home and grabbed some Arabic fast food just before it closed for evening prayer. Chicken talook for myself and Beef Kofta for Luther. 

Today we are running a few errands and i will hopefully be posting pics of the apt.
Til' then!