Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from January, 2009

I kissed a camel!

Well we are in Petra now....just back from visiting the ancient city of Petra Wow. It would take you days to see it all so we had to content ourselves with visiting a bit of it. Fantastic. The highlight was seeing the treasury....a beautiful rose colour. 200 photos later.....of course a lot were of donkeys, camels, a puppy - heck even a cat. really a highlight in my life seeing this place. Amazing. It's one of the seven wonders of the world - modern that is. In another hour or so I will be going to a turkish bath - a first for me. No modesty allowed so should be interesting. And yes I kissed a camel - he was a nice one. we were in Wadi Rum yesterday - gorgeous red sand and sandstone monoliths. wonderful. please excuse the lack of capitals - this keyboard is probably clogged with dust as it"s everywhere here anyway we took a four wheel drive tour of the place and it was great fun> our hotel here leaves a bit to be desired _ they are fixing my shower now>

Hello from the desert

Starkness of Sinai region Hotel pool Am in St. Catherines right now - having a very quick and expensive internet session. Thanks everyone for your emails but I probably won't be able to answer them until I am in London now as internet access will be limited. We are in the Sinai which is beautiful in a very stark way. Staying in a beautiful hotel with a huge pool. I am the only one not climbing Mt Sinai in the morning so will be able to enjoy the hotel. With my bad knees no way am I climbing and they start at 3 a.m. to see the sunrise. I've seen the pictures and it does not inspire me. I am saving my knees for the Monestary at Petra. I am looking forward to enjoying the facilities here especially as none of us liked our hotel in Cairo. The buffet tonight was wonderful. Funniest sight today.....two camels kneeling in the back of a pick up truck. No one had time to pull out their camera as they whizzed by too quickly unfortunately. Yesterday we had a tour of Christian and Muslim

Hello from Cairo

Amazing Abu Simbel Well back in Cairo after an overnight train journey from Aswan. Yesterday afternoon we had a ride on a traditional Nubian felucca (sailboat) which was fun - we had a picnic on board with some good bread (finally - so far it's been nothing but white sweet bread) and lots of dips and cheese. Yum! The felucca had a huge mattress on it so I spent most of the time laying down and relaxing after our early morning. We had a break at a Nubian coffee shop where I had a ginger coffee - espresso with ginger. Delish! The rest climbed a sand hill while there but I gave my knees a rest. I did hold a baby (3 years old) crocodile though - long enough to get my picture taken. Cold, soft and wet - shudder. Well he was kind of cute in a repulsive slimey way. We had gotten up at 2:45 am to head out for Abu Simbel - it was a three hour journey each way and we had to go in a convey of vehicles for safety reasons. It is close to the Sudan border so they don't want any Sudanese reb

Sailing on the Nile part 2

Doing this in two posts in case the computer crashed. Anyway after a couple of dances most of our group sat on the deck and had a discussion with Carolyn, our group leader on Islam women, customs, etc - all very interesting. Our group is great - we all get along really well and have a lot of laughs. The markets are interesting - Carolyn pointed out some good places to buy in the market in Luxor so I got some scarves as well as some jewellry made out of local stone - nothing expensive. She pointed out the "manic t-shirt guy" and he was - I did not want any of the t-shirts that he had and he was chasing us across the street. Not in a scary way - but in a funny way. The sellers can be a pain though and they are like flies that won't leave you alone. One guy said "I have lots of good rubbish at good price" - have to laugh at that - another one was "how can I take your money". And at the end of the day they are just ordinary people trying to make a living

Sailing on the Nile

Our boat - the "Melodie" Our "flasher" Rocky and me Well actually we are finished our sail and are now in Aswan. Still living on our boat but not going any further south. It's been a terrific few days. Our donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings and back was great fun. When we were nearly at the Valley it was the Donkey Derby as they knew we were getting into the home stretch. My donkey who I named Mr. Higgins (sadly they had no names other than Mr or Mrs. Donkey) was very open to suggestions so a click of the tongue or "alla" from someone else would send him trotting. He also liked pushing in between other donkeys. Coming back my donkey ("Rocky" - I should have named the one going there Rocky!) was much more sedate although he did steal some clover from a wagon. The trip back was through villages which was fun. We toured three tombs in the Valley of the Kings - unbelieveable. I had to buy a small book as we could not take photographs and I

Yeah Toto you're right - definitely not in Kansas

Anyway the boat is okay - nothing fancy. My room is okay - should be intersting to take a shower later today as there is really no shower area - the whole tiny bathroom is one. Anyway we went on a tour of the Karnak temple this morning which was AMAZING. Everyone was blown away. 134 decorated columns which had your mouth wide open plus too many statues to mention - it's something else. We all agreed that this was MUCH better than the pyramids! Plus we had an excellent guide who was a real character. Said he was a direct descendant of King Ramses and he nominated me as his queen so I had to stand beside him mostof the time. :) Unfortunately he was about 65 years old. I guess he was in a Bond film so must rent it and look for him. I reminded him of a friend so that's why I was chosen as his queen - anyway he was full of knowledge and my head is still spinning from all the stories. Finally he let us loose for 45 mins. to look around and take photographs - and that I did. It'

Hey Toto we're not in Kansas anymore

Well here I am in Luxor as I am typing this. In an internet cafe listening to some funky latin type music and smelling...well you don't want to know.... The flight over was good and the tour rep was right there to meet me which was great - he helped me get a visa and get through customs and got me to the hotel. I was woken at 5 a.m. the next morning by the call to prayer - fell back to sleep and an hour later was woken up bya rooster of all things! In the middle of this huge city. Next morning early we were off to see the pyramids. I knew they were in the suburbs but when you can see them through a satellite dish well it's a bit shocking. I was underwhelmed I must admit - I mean one part of me is saying holy shit little old me is seeing the pyramids and the other part was saying well there they are - now what? Most of the group went into one of the pyramids but they were not for the weak of knee (me) or claustrophobic type (me) so I walked around and got harassed by all the cam

Saturday in London

Well woke up this morning to absolute pouring rain so snuggled back under the covers. I had told Simon, the B & B host that I wouldn't be having brekky until tomorrow as it gets a bit boring having the same thing every day. Anyway once I knew the people I share the bathroom with were gone I got up and had my shower. Looked out the window and blue sky! Had a banana, some seveille orange and cream yogurt and some delish cox apple juice for brekky - man I wish we could get that juice at home - love it. Headed to the Borough Market which was near London Bridge. A foodies paradise. I'd never been there before and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Had sausage and fried onion in a bun and eyed some brownies but resisted - next time! And had a cappucino at Monmouth coffee - it was very very good. Now I know why there was such a line...er...I mean que - or however you spell it. Once I managed to tear myself away from the market I walked over London Bridge to Covent Garden. L

Quiet day in London

Well for me anyway. I decided to make this a "rest day" and hang around the area. This morning I did another 10 pound (as in price) laundry in preparation for the Middle East on Sunday. Then this afternoon I walked around Hampstead Garden Suburb a bit as for all the times I have stayed at this B & B I haven't explored the Central Square or some of the little parks. There is actually some Woods but didn't go too far as it was starting to look gloomy and the paths were wet enough as it was. I then looked in some shops and walked back here - in the rain - will order a cappucino in a bit. I am getting quite hooked on my afternoon cappucino! The Thriller show last night was pretty good. At first I wasn't sure but it got better as the show went along - it ended with Billie Jean and Thriller of course. The fellow who was Michael in the later years was a lot heavier so it was a bit strange but he did the moon walking thing and could really boogy. I am g

Doggies galore

Tuesday January 13th - Well this morning I walked through Alexandria Park which is in North London - somewhere I barely knew existed. There is a palace there as well but not a royal one - it was built for the people and now houses an indoor ice rink and is host to community events. Anyway I saw a bunch of dogs as in six tied up to a post outside a cafe so had to stop. The lady came out and we struck up a conversation - turns out she is a dog walker/sitter so I told her so was I. She was dumbfounded but excited so she has given me her number and wants me to call her when I get back to London in early Feb. Maybe I will get a connection to my dream of dogsitting (and free accomodation) in London yet!! The cafe was amazing too and the smells coming out of there were to die for - I wasn't hungry so had a cup of tea but must time my visit with a meal the next time. I guess the area is a haven for dog owners and Janet, the dog walker told me I should come at the weekend when there are may

Boogying with Whacko Jacko

Yep that will be me tonight - well with a fake one. Okay I confess I like Michael Jackson - so sue me. I think he is strange but harmless. He is quite the cutie patootey back in the early 1980's and too bad he messed it up with surgery. I LOVE his music so am quite excited. I got to see him in Vancouver with my niece Erin in 1984 - performing with the Jackson 5 and it was awesome! Right Erin?!!! Anyway seeing fake ones tonight will be fun and I plan to BOOGY. This afternoon I am going on a walking tour of the sites of the Davinci Code and Occult London so that should be fun. On that subject...the atheists have billboards out saying "There is probably no God. So Stop worrying and enjoy your life". I have only seen small versions on the tube and never been in the right place to take a photo but hoping I see it on the side of a bus. Right on! Words to live by!!!! Take responsibility for your own life.

Visit to an old friend

Well yesterday (Wed. the 14th) was bittersweet...went to Bedford which is about 50 minutes by train from central London. The reason for going there was to visit a dear old friend - Tom who is 93 and has been a friend of my family since the 2nd World War when he came to Saskatchewan to train for the RAF and befriended my grandparents, my parents and aunt and uncle. He and his wife were friends from that point on and every trip to England I have visited him and his wife - his wife Jean passed away in 1982 but I still have seen him. He is my "uncle" in England. Anyway he fell (slid off his bed) in November and broke his hip and it's been downhill ever since - he now has pneumonia and a chest infection. He is in the rehab unit of a hospital - an area to get patients ready to go home although he will never be going back home to his beloved bungalow... He knew me and was so pleased to see me and even though he is profoundly deaf and cannot see well we managed to communicat
Well yesterday I ended up doing exactly what I had planned to do - a coffee in Notting Hill and catching up with my journal and then a short tour of the British Musuem which was very enjoyable. The British Musuem is HUGE - you could spend years in there - seriously! I have been there several times but it is all so overwhelming that I didn't grasp too much. So the guided tour (by the same lady who we went to Oxford and the Cotswolds with) was ideal - saw some very interesting artifacts left by Anglo Saxons in East Anglia, the Elgin marble statues and tablets from the Acropolis in Athens, the Rosetta stone which was amazing as from there scholars were able to translate other documents from the Egyptian period. In a few minutes I am heading off to do a walk in Alexandria Park which is a new area for me then going to the British Library this afternoon as it is supposed to rain. I am thinking of ideas to do this evening so it could be a ghost walk but depends on the weather. I m

I don't know what to call this post

Well a dull Monday (weatherwise that is - London is NEVER dull!) in London but hey I will take it. Still enjoying the city and nice to relax and enjoy it at a slow pace. I think I will be going to the British Musuem this afternoon after a look in the shops in Notting Hill. Yesterday I went for a walk from Victoria station through the Lambeth area of London which was new to me - past the War Museum but didn't stop - no interest in seeing a museum about any war - and on to London Bridge via the Southwark area. I had a roast lunch in the George Inn which is an old coaching house that Shakespeare used to visit. The meal was okay - had my first brussel sprouts since I got here so that got me excited but it could have been better. For the price I was hoping to have one of those meals that you want never to end and just want to say YUM YUM YUM. (okay maybe that's just me....) I walked along the south side of the Thames until it clouded over and got cool. My walking boots

Cold day in London

Well think this was the coldest day yet I do believe - sure felt like it anyway. I started off walking in Hampstead in the mist and fog - kind of neat actually. But stopped for a coffee as needed the loo and no public ones around. Was enjoying reading a paper and my coffee until a family came and sat next to me - I could only handle so many "mommay" and "daddays" and I scadaddled out of there. Once I got out again it was so cold that I ended up bussing it to Camden Market and had a look around. Well it's a lot of markets but once you've seen one you've seen them all as they pretty well sold the same stuff - but I enjoy markets so I was happy. Loved the t'shirt "Ipood" with a guy with headphones on sitting on a toilet!! :) I got a pair of wool mitts made in Nepal - I needed them on top of the gloves I got yesterday - being as I lost my others. It was so cold though - would like to go back on a nicer day and maybe walk along the canal

Victoria & Albert & doggies

Well after a very horrible night - my cold having gotten worse - I did not get up in time for breakfast. After a hot shower I did feel a bit better and even better now. I got the tube to South Kensington and joined a walking tour of the Victoria & Albert musuem which is a museum of textiles, ornaments, etc. It was interesting and I am glad I did it - I have been to the V & A museum before a few times but it is impossible to absorb everything in one visit. The guide just picked a few highlights of course but it was very informative. In the afternoon I went to Battersea dogs home again - a trek I do every time I visit London - and paid my pound to visit the doggies. Always breaks my heart in two but I stop and talk to each one of the dogs and say their name and make a fuss. Maybe a bit longer for the cute ones! Generally they rush to the front of the cage with tails wagging and it is so hard but you are not allowed to pet them because of spreading disease. But they are

Restless Prairie Girl feels like shit

Yep, I am sick of all the rotten luck. Not really really ill but enough to feel crappy and not have much energy. I had all these walks planned and now no energy to even think about doing them. I have a bit of a cough except when I talk - traveling on my own I don't talk a lot - just to the girl from Germany at breakfast in the morning and the odd bit. Well I called my friend Judi last night and I finally had to hang up as I was coughing so much. What a pain in the ass. Yesterday I visited the Museum of London only to find they are doing a massive renovation and it only goes up to 1666 until the present. Rats! I have seen it before but I love it so was looking forward to seeing it again. So I went to Costa Coffee and sat and worked on my trip diary - caught up now finally. Then picked up some bits at Tesco's (grocery store) and back to the room at 4 p.m. to rest. Now I am thinking what I should do today...had planned to do a 10 km walk from Highgate to Hampstead up

Traipsing along the Thames

Well decided to do a walk in the Docklands today. It was enjoyable even though I got lost a few times - thank goodness for bin men and bar maids! Stopped for a coffee (came with cookies too) and then a wine at another pub - man four pounds for a glass of wine. As it turned out she gave me a small bottle so drank half and the other half is in my backpack for a night in. :) I was in the true east end so lots of cockneys. It was great - a new part of London I haven't seen. I was on the Thames Path a lot and got some great views of the river as well as saw some unique sculptures. The docklands were run down and heavily bombed during the war and were derelict for years but they have now revitalized the area with housing, walking paths., etc. It was nice to be in an area with few tourists and go into local pubs. I only did half the walk as I was running out of time as I had to get to the Geffrye museum for their "Farewell to Christmas" thingie - it was fun. We all got a glass o

Laundry day in London

Well I am sitting here sipping my cappucino - there is a super new internet cafe near my B & B for a pound an hour and it's WARM. Yay. I just spent nearly $20 on two loads of laundry - yikes - so will be handwashing anything that can be handwashed from now on and do another load just before I head to Egypt on the 18th of January. Snow this morning - it has stopped now and melted almost immediately. This could be the coldest winter in decades - oh goodie. Oh well, beats -45 in Regina!!! I can't wait to get back and change into my (clean) long underwear!! Due to going to a warmer climate I did not bring a winter jacket with me so am coping with my goretex jacket, a light fleece jacket underneath and various tops piled on one another! I did invest in a long sleeved top for 7 pounds but the price of fleeces here is beyond my budget. The fireworks on New Years Eve were fantastic - we watched them from Waterloo Bridge and had a view through the London Eye (huge ferris w