Felucca, family, home

January 1^st, 2012:the start of a new year, and everyone here hopes, a new page in history for Egypt. We spent a lovely quiet New Year’s Eve with Sarah and Mark Mineart, enjoying gourmet hamburgers, warm company, refreshing beverages, and their 42-inch TV and dvds. Home well before midnight, the way we like it, and contented. Bruce, Ryan, Daniel and Katie McCombie arrived the afternoon of the 1^st from Istanbul, where they concentrated their sightseeing and partying. We quickly repaired to the Ma’adi corniche and a felucca for two hours of quietly cruising the Nile and enjoyed an Egyptian dinner prepared by Kiki.

Sunset on the Nile, New Year's Day

Katie and Daniel McCombie on the felucca

Harris looking fetching on the felucca

As often happens when you travel, we spread a bug around amongst us, probably the norovirus, which resembles food poisoning in all its pleasant effects. Poor Katie seemed to be the last affected, and I’ve worried about her trip back to the US, hoping all stayed quiet. Harris and I got sick, as did Andrew and Ryan. ISA, no one else got it. Wash your hands often!

Bruce came along when I walked to our local grocery store, and enjoyed something we have come to take for granted: freshly squeezed juices. Pretty much every store has a place out front where you order juices to be squeezed while you shop. Oranges are in season, and though I know it’s healthier to eat the fruit than just drink the juice, it is so addictive and wonderful that I indulge. Ryan and Daniel quickly grew to love it. You can order a mix, like orange and pomegranate, or single juice like grapefruit or lemon, and depending on the season, juices like mango are available. Another little place I love is Sally Sweet, a bake shop on Road 233, the funky shopping area near us. Every day around 3:30, the croissants come out, cheese, chocolate, and plain, and if you judge by the crowds, they are laced with something addictive. For 18 LE per dozen, you can’t go wrong. Speaking of fruit, Tarek introduced us to his way of eating a banana: peeled, with lots of salt and a sprinkling of pepper. Try it.

Fresh juices!

and fresh croissants every day, after 3PM....

Harris and I depart for the Maldives for a dive trip on the 6^th so during this run-up, we are doing a lot of laundry, sorting scuba gear, and packing. This trip is just us, though we will be living on a boat (the MV Carpe Diem) with what looks to be a bunch of UK divers. We are flying via Qatar, a first for us, and overnighting in Doha in an airport hotel en route. The itinerary promises to be sharky and manta-filled, with maybe a chance to see one great creature we’ve never laid eyes upon: the whale shark. My sister and I have a long-standing promise that I will call her when I’ve seen the creature no matter the time difference. Ann, let’s hope that phone rings at 3AM sometime soon!

Atlas Silks makes gorgeous stuff

Harris ordered me a few kameezes from a lovely shop in the Khan called Atlas Silks. They are custom-made and I went in for a fitting the other day. One is black medium weight cotton with black silk trim; another white hankerchief cotton with white trim; and the killer one is silk and cotton pinstripes of black on black with gray silk trim. Can’t wait for them to be ready! Atas is  third-generation concern and their fabrics are exquisite, all hand-loomed, and remarkably reasonable. Harris also got me a gorgeous cotton shawl that feels like silk, and two pillow covers of antique silk and cotton with embroidery. I might have “helped” him make those choices….

Tuesday brought a reception for Bryn Mawr college alumnae in Cairo with a group of alumnae traveling here, so we repaired to the Fairmont downtown and got to dress up a little. It was fun to be with such a bright group, and made me proud to be an alumna of the college.

Us at the Bryn Mawr College reception, downtown Cairo. We clean up okay.

The week ended with a festive dinner at our favorite Chinese place, “China Winds,” with our pals Sarah and Mark Mineart. It was the perfect send-off for our vacations—Harris and I diving in the Maldives, Sarah and Mark on safari in Kenya. I’ve planned one more short trip for January, back to Aswan to view the great statues of Abu Simbel; we will be home and settled in well before the anniversary of the revolution on 25 January.