Monday — Off to Ain El Sokhna

The morning comes and it appears I am the first one up. About 5 AM I woke up and did my regular morning things and laid back on the bed. About 6:20 Bonnies phone started buzzing. She had set a wake-up alarm but she did not hear it. I turned it off and about 5 minutes later rousted her out. I was the first to go to bed last evening and after I turned in it was decided to take all of the luggage to Sokhna instead of just what was needed for the trip. Secret plans are in the making and we have no idea what they are. Bonnie finished getting everything repacked. We had a quick breakfast and then began packing the luggage in the vehicles.

Megan and Ephraim with additional help got all of the luggage out to the cars and began the process of fitting them all in the trunks. It was certainly a Tetris game to make it all happen. They did get the bags for four people traveling internationally and two locals in the trunks with no luggage in the back seats of the vehicles. It was an amazing feat.

With the luggage all in we were off to Ain El Sokhna. I was told it was an hour and a half drive but then I forgot that Egyptians don’t really know how to tell time. Three hours later we pulled into The Coral Sea Beach. It was 100+ degrees on our arrival. We got the luggage out of the cars and it was carried in for us. Then for some reason everyone wanted to stand around in the heat to wait for the drivers to park the cars. 70 degree temperatures were only a few feet away and we were standing in the heat. I suggested we go inside and finally we did.

Ezzat began the checkin process and it turns out that check in time is 2:00 PM. We arrived at about 12:30. While we were waiting for our rooms to be prepared the check in process was completed. I asked about internet access and it is not included in the room price. it’s 50 Egyptian pounds per day per device. That’s roughly $7 a day. It certainly is in line with costs in the U.S. but I think it should be included. So we sat around and roamed around to kill the hour and a half we had to wait.

Once we got our room assignments we spent most of the afternoon napping, reading, watching TV, or playing Words with Friends. Much more napping was done than anything else.

We got together for the evening meal at 7 PM. By 7:30 everyone had arrived. We did not wait for everyone before we got into the “buffet” line. There was an incredible amount and variety of food. There were way too many choices and everything that I had was very tasty. The meal was excellent and so was the company.

Forty-five minutes after the evening meal we all got together in Ephraim and Kaja’s room for a kind of gift opening. Melanie and Megan gave Nana and Ehab our card and the card from the people at church. She was very appreciated both very much. Kaja gave Nana and Ehab the gift from her parents. It was a nice fondue set. Nana and Ehab had no idea what it was or how to use it but they like it just the same. Then Kaja gave Bonnie and Susan some natural body cleansing solution for showing that was made by one of the people she knows in Poland. It was very thoughtful of her. Then Ezzat and Susan got a special photo album from Ephraim and Kaja that they just loved.

Everyone had a great time. There was much laughter, hugging, and talk. We found out that for an Egyptian couple to spend the night in an Egyptian hotel in they same room they must be able to present a marriage certificate before they will be permitted to share a room. It make no difference of age or if one person is a foreign national. If a man and a woman want to share a room in an Egyptian hotel and one of them is Egyptian they must be able to prove they are married. If you are both foreigners it’s not a problem. Bonnie and I didn’t have to show proof but Ephraim and Kaja did as well as Ezzat and Susan. A strange but true fact from Egypt.

A good time was had by all and now off to bed.

Sunday (June 7) - A day of rest?

Today was mostly a day of rest for Bonnie and I. Melanie, Megan, Ephraim, and Kaja set off sometime “early” in morning. Kaja was dropped at a friend’s home and the others went on to the Pyramids of Giza. The girls and Ephraim had a great time from all descriptions that were received. If you look at Melanie and Megan’s  Facebook pages you will certainly see a summary of their adventures.

Bonnie and I didn’t arise until 11:30 AM on Sunday. I guess it was a rest catch-up day. We have been going to bed late and rising early most mornings since we arrived. No one certainly seemed to be in a rush. While we were getting breakfast together Bonnie noticed one pair of my pants had a tear in it. She was going to fix it but Ezzat took it to a taylor a few blocks away and when he came back told me it would be done in two hours.

On and off yesterday and after I got up today I have been texting with Aya Abdelaziz. She is a young lady that spent a year in Anchorage about 10 or 11 years ago as an exchange student. The year we had Maral and Finanda, Aya was also attending Dimond HS and spent a lot of time at our house. We wanted to get together with her and her husband Amr before we left Egypt. They were married last year and had invited us to their wedding. Unfortunately my job got in the way and we weren’t able to make the trip but that should not happen again.

Anyway, we got together with them for a nice meal and wonderful conversation. Her husband seems to be a wonderful young man. They met one another at medical school and their lives together took off a little while later. Amr plans to join his father’s surgery practice when he complete his residency (5 years). Aya will be a dermatologist and has one year of residency that she just started. I know she will be a wonderful doctor. Once again renewing old acquaintances has been a special experience.

We got back to the flat about 11 PM that evening and began the task of preparing to go to Ain El Sokhna for the next few days. Kaja informed us that we would need to be up at 7 AM to get going on this trip and she would be mean if she had to be.

Saturday - Nana Gets Married

Nardeen was supposed to up today at 7 AM. When we went to bed last night I wished her luck. They were out of the house by about 7:30 but I did not hear them leave. Bonnie and I got up some where around 9 AM. Breakfast was “light” this morning. Kaja and Ezzat put it together but no one was really excited about eating. There was a strong suggestion that we be out of the house by noon. I thought it was a pipe dream but we made it by 12:30.

12:30 it was off to the church for the 2 PM wedding. There were at least 4 pastors maybe 5 “officiating”. Ehab’s family was in the narthex of the church greeting people as they entered. Bonnie and I were kind of just hanging out there and many people thought we were greeting too. Father Philemon came in made a specific effort to introduce himself to Bonnie and I. He was from the Orthodox Church in Port Said and surely talked with Nana’s pastors before coming to Cairo. He was very kind and wished us well. It was amazing that we were in the midst of strangers and yet felt welcome and part of the family.

Nardeen insisted that during the processional we should follow her parents into the church. We again were very honored. Melanie and Megan followed her brother and sister-in-law into the sanctuary. Nardeen is a very beautiful young lady and today she was radiant. I was very proud. There were six people from Ehab’s church that sang many numbers during the ceremony. During the second pastoral presentation one of the singers slipped in the pew next to Melanie and asked if we understood what was happening and offered to translate for us. Her name is Holla and she was really amazing and friendly. We could not thank here enough to her kindness. Nana’s pastor from the last time we were here talked about how special she is because she has two fathers, two mothers, and special sisters and a brother. She is a very special lady.

There is an interesting side note here. Nana is from Port Said and the wedding is in Cairo. Ehab lives in Cairo and that’s why the wedding was held here. In order to accommodate the church members and the family from Port Said that wanted to attend the wedding Ezzat charted two buses to bring the people to the wedding. Parking in Cairo is terrible and all of those cars would have made it so much worse around the church. It was also very much safer for all the people that attend the wedding. The buses also transported them to the reception and back home again on the same day. I will have to keep something in mind like this for future events.

The reception while still in Cairo seemed like forever away from the church. Cairo is a huge city geographically as well as in population. The venue was well of the main road, quiet, and lovely. It was quiet until we arrived. They loudspeakers seemed to make everything from the music to the people speaking deafening. But that is the way things are in Egypt. We were able to renew many acquaintances from our last trip during the reception. Talking again with Andrew Adel was very enjoyable. The pastor’s wife from Port Said spent a lot of time talking with Bonnie and I. She was in Montreal when we were in Egypt 7 years ago. Once again we felt very welcomed by everyone at the reception. It was a wonderful party.

When the buses were getting everyone together to go back to Port Said the party pretty much broke up. All were ready to return to their homes as many had a long drive ahead of them. The party was really delightful. I got to dance with the mothers of the bride, the bride, and especially with my wife.  A good time was had by all and now it is time to say good night.

Friday - Shopping and Lunch at Samia’s

Every day seems to be a late day. We go to bed with good intentions but end up just poking around for way too long a time. We have been waking up between 6 and 7 most mornings but we never get going until after noon.

We went to the mall today. I have no idea what the name of the mall is but it was sure huge and had underground parking so finding a parking place was no problem. The girls went shopping and I sat in Starbucks having coffee and updating the blog. I got caught up on the blog and the ladies got their shopping done. One added bonus was the AC. It was hot outside and cool inside wonderful.

Bonnie and the girls bought a beautiful platter for Samia as a gift for all that she has done for us since we have been in Cairo. She has spent a many, many hours preparing meals and helping out at Nana’s house. With 10 people staying in the house there is much to be done every day and with the wedding preparations everyone was very busy.

After the mall we went to Samia’s house for lunch. Many of Ezzat’s brothers and sisters were there and Samia prepared a wonderful meal. There is always so much to eat. A few of the people spoke English so we didn’t have any trouble talking with one another through a translation. Had a wonderful time.

When it was time to leave Ezzat and I took the Metro home. We started walking to the station and Ezzat asked if we should take a tok-tok. So we did. Nearly got on the wrong train at the metro but got squared away before the error was complete. Bonnie and I road on the Metro the last time we were in Egypt to go downtown to the museum with Aya. The trip was quick and uneventful. When we arrived at our station we go on another tok-tok and were dropped at our door. We beat the ones who were driving by at least 15 minutes. I wouldn’t travel the Metro alone though as most of the signs are in Arabic. The station names have both Arabic and English except for one that I saw and perhaps that is because there is no English translation.

Once we all arrived home we chatted for a while and then turned in for the night.

Thursday - Back to Cairo

The plan was for Melanie and Kaja to play squash at 11 AM this morning and for the rest of us to do other activities including a walk on the beach in Port Said. Well the best laid plans oft go other ways. Today the plans did that as well. Instead we headed back to Cairo much earlier than we had planned. Not sure what the changes were but about 1 PM off we went. The trip was pretty uneventful except for the stop at the hyper market where we had lunch. When we arrived in Cairo one car went back to the house and the other went on to other activities. At the house was Nana, Ezzat, Susan, and myself. On to other activities was Bonnie, Ephraim, Kaja, Melanie, and Megan. Among other things one of the activities was bowling. Megan was the winner. Back at the house we were supposed to be resting but no one really did. Nana laid down for a bit but don't think she really rested.

At about 8:50 PM we were off to the church for the rehearsal. This was pretty standard even in the U.S. Practiced walking down the aisle got instructions on where to sit and stand. The music as selected and then we were done. Took about an hour. The wedding is Saturday at 2 PM. Looking forward to it.

After the rehearsal Bonnie, Ephraim, Kaja, and I (the four) went back to the house. Ezzat, Susan, Nana, Melanie, and Megan went to Nana's house to do some more work getting it ready. I think the four had a much better time than the others. We certainly spent some quality time with Ephraim and Kaja and got to know them better. They are a delightful couple and we are very glad to know them. We now have a great reason to go to Poland as well. We are looking forward to more time together. While we were chatting some laundry was done and hung out to dry. About 2 AM we finally got ourselves to bed. Looking forward to Friday.

Wednesday - On to Port Said

 
Another day with a late start, off we go to Port Said. It's about a four hour trip from Cairo to Port Said, Port Fouad though my brother Ezzat and his son Ephraim with tell you that it's about 3 at the most. About 50 km out of Cairo we stopped at a new Hyper-Market A hyper-mall is like a WalMart super store on steroids. I mean this place was huge and you could I think get everything under the sun though I didn't see a lumber yard but then I wasn't looking for that. Unlike super stores in the U.S. there are employees all over the place to help you find things even if they don't speak English. I'm sure they do much better than most Americans would helping a foreigner find things at Fred Meyer.

After the hyper store it was the long haul to Port Said for a party for Nana. Since she is not getting married in her home town she wanted to have a party for the people that would not be able to attend the wedding. We were able to renew some old acquaintances and made some new ones while we were there. Nana's brides maids all lined up and introduced themselves to me and I promptly forgot all of their names except the last young lady. Her name is Maggie and I told her I got that one. The rest of the names were more difficult. The party was fun. We ate, talked, ate, and talked some more and a good time was had by all.

Bonnie and I were both surprised by one young man we met when we were here seven years ago. His name is Ravey. He was just a little kid running around and annoying his brother and now he is in high school and seems to be smart-as-a-whip. He speaks English amazingly well, obviously taking after his brother. He is a very pleasant young man and I look forward to the next time we will see him. I was hoping to see his brother Andrew but it looks like we will miss him. We spent a lot of time together the last time we were in Egypt.

After this party, Bonnie and I went back to the house in Port Fouad. The others went onto another surprise party for Nana. She was really surprised and all had a great time. I spent much of the evening both at the party and when we got back home talking with David Milad Beniameen. We played table soccer for a couple of hours the last time I was here and had a great time. We had a wonderful reunion as well.  He is at University now studying computer science so we have a natural discussion platform.

The weather was cooler by the Mediterranean Sea than in Cairo so we had a nice respite from the heat. Another late night so will sign off for now.

Tuesday - Turned out to be a day of “rest”

 
So the Pyramids and the picnic will wait for another day. We had a supposed day of rest. Went to Nana’s new home sometime after breakfast (exceptional by the way). Her home is very lovely. It even smelled new. It has been completely renovated. In the States people would refer to it as taking it back to the studs. We were shown pictures of the rooms with just a piles of rubble in the middle of the floor but you never know it if you saw it now. The transformation of the house was incredible.

After deciding not to go to the Pyramids, we suggested going to Port Said this day to help with preparations for tomorrow’s party. We did not get there today either. But then there is always tomorrow. This is a short entry because after all it is a day of rest. Just a little side note: it is Saturday number two this week.

We will see what tomorrow brings.