Camel Market

WARNING: This post may contain images not suitable for certain audiences.

Hi! So, last weekend we thought it would be a great idea to check out the Camel Market in Birqash. We read that it wasn't for the faint of heart, but decided that nothing would change the camel market either way-- so why not see it?

Getting TO the market was the first issue. No one in civilized Cairo knows what or where that is. So, we took a taxi to Imbaba airport, and from Imbaba airport, we hailed a tuk-tuk. We rode the tuk-tuk for about an hour until we reached the camel market in Birqash.
Of course when we got there, we realized that it wasn't a place for American girls. What's new?
We are brave and maybe a little stupid, so we decided that we would trek on, and I'm glad we did. It was a very interesting experience.
Come to find out, they DO beat the camels, that much was obvious. However, it was a little more than beating. Pieces of camel lay on the ground, and road leading up to the market was lined with dead camels. Ick. Not to mention, the camels were really not in a good way health wise.

I saw there some of the biggest camels I have ever seen in my life.

I will post more (as in, edit) later... Off to class I go!

Where Did She Go THIS Weekend!? (October 14th-16th 2010)

Where am I?
Climbing mountains with friends. :-)
Where ELSE!?


My attempt in sneakily petting a camel. The camel said: "No."

The beautiful view around 5:45-6:20 a.m.

We started out at 10:00 p.m... Got to the mountain, and climbed... and climbed... In the dark... Without flashlights... You get the idea. We reached the top of the mountain around 4:30-5:00 a.m. Perfection. It was just in time for sunrise! Yes, it was cold. Yes, we were tired. Yes... It was DEFINITELY worth it. Mt. Sinai is a trip that cannot be missed.

More to come!

<>

-Steph

Goodbye Athens, Hello Cairo!

Out of the airport and into a cab! --Whoaaaa, not too fast!
"Bikam?"
"Meya."
"LA!"
Oh jeez. You try telling a cab driver at the airport that you only paid (and over paid) 50L.E. to GET there from campus. L.E.100 is absolutely ridiculous.
So, we finally got a guy down to L.E.60. Again, still ridiculous.

Now, I'm finally settled in back in Cairo. I have been back in my re-newed old routine for about five days now. I'm also in midterms. Woohoo!!! .............. Ick.

Last night, after not buying more than L.E.5 per day for the past five days, I went to Meeting Point to grab a pizza with Ellen. On the way back-- whoa! Hello sexual harassment!
One thing that contiues to amaze me, is how men here fail to see anything wrong with touching girls as they please. ANY GIRLS. Now, given that on Muslim holidays it's the worst (go figure), we felt slightly more at peace walking back to the dorms in a pair now that Eid and Ramadan are over with. Two extremely tall men in Galabeyas follow us down the road and take a grab at me. Yes, you read it. Two men in dresses slapped my rear. Laugh it up.
There, in reality, is nothing funny about it. I only joke to assure you I've not been emotionally touched by the whole incident-- only slightly annoyed by it all.
Either way, one of the men tried to hold my hand (huh!?), so I slapped it away and put my hand on the inside of my jacket. Ellen and I didn't even look at them, which seems to work most of the time.
The two men laughed and walked out into the desert. Yes, very funny guys. Thank you.
Haha! Back to campus life! Pizza still in tact. We eat. There's nothing like a good adrenaline rush to stir up a nice appetite. :-)
By the way, if anyone that reads this is ever in the New Cairo area... I highly suggest the cafè on top of Meeting Point. The "Pizza Quatro Formage" is fabulous. They also have an Italian chef (high-five), which of course makes it that much better! I only know this because he thought I was Italian and came out to introduce himself. No one thinks I'm American. What's up, Egypt? Haha...
Moving on...

It's 100 degree F today and I'm headed out tonight to Sinai. Wish me luck! (For anyone who doesn't remember, my plans were canceled last week due to a severe sandstorm that rendered all modes of transportation fairly useless). I will be back on Sunday.

More to come! Woohoo!!!!
<3
-Steph

Greece: The Site List

Hey all!

I hope someone has been enjoying these random videos and other short posts. Here is a list of awesome things I got to do/see/go while in Greece. :-D


In and Around ATHENS:
Hotel Grande Bretagne
Ancient Cemetery (at the new metro entrance)
Peisistratos Aqueduct
Syntagma Metro Station (Atricfacts inside)
Parliment
Changing of The Guard (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier)
National Gardens (Where I saw many turtles... Hmmm)
Zappeio Palace
Panathenaic Stadium (Where the first modern olymic games were held. Samia and I ran laps.)

Temple of Olympian Zeus
Hadrian's Arch
Church of Agia Ekaterini
Lysikrates Monument
Street of Tripods
Church of St. George of the Rock
Anafiotika quarter
Church of Agios Simeon
Old Athens University
Klepsidra Cafè
Roman Agora
Turkish Baths
Tower of The Winds
Gate of the Muslim Seminary
Fethiye Mosque
Hadrian's Library
Athen's Flea Market (in Monastiraki)
Athens Cathedral
Church of Agios Eleftherios
Centre of Folk Art & Tradition
Church of the Metamorphosis
Athens Olympic Complex
Climbed Areopagus Hill

Climbed Lykavittos Hill (Did NOT take the funicular)

Chapel of Agios Georgios
Had a DELICIOUS hot chocolate at Orizontes
Church of the Holy Apostles
Acropolis
Propylaia
Temple of Athena Nike
Parthenon
Erechtheion (and it's Caryatids)
Theatre of Dionysos
Asclepion & Stoa of Eumenes site
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Panagia of Hrysospiliotissa
Plaka
Took a taxi and DIDN'T get ripped off.
Took a bus
Took the metro
Took a train
Stayed at Easy Access Youth Hostel (in Omonia)
Explored Omonia, Sytagma, etc.

In Piraeus:
Took a ferry here on our way back from Santorini
Took refuge in a Greek Orthodox church
Flea Market


Took buses from
Athens to Delphi
Delphi to Lamia
Lamia to Trikala
Trikala to Kalambaka
Stayed at "Alsos House"
Taxi to Meteora

In Delphi:
Sanctuary of Apollo:
(Roman Agora, Sacred Way, Votive Offering of Lacedaemon, Athenian Treasury, foundations of the bouleuterion/council house, Temple of Apollo, Delphi Theatre, Stadium, Castalian Spring, Gymnasium, Circular pool)
Sanctuary of Athena:
(Tholos)

In Meteora:
Moni Megalou Meteorou (Grand Meteora Monastary)
Moni Agiou Stefanou

In Santorini (Thira):
Rode a Donkey down the Fira Port (in Fira)
Rode the cable car (Fira Skala) back up
Caldera
Took a taxi to Oia
Watched the sunset

I took lots and lots and lots of pictures! :-) I'll have to sort through them at some point and post them.

<>

Where in the world is Stephanie? Pt. II

Santorini, Greece.

(Video taken on Saturday, October 9th 2010)

(Samia & I [beginning to look like bums... check out my ridiculously unbrushed hair. Oh yea.])

<>

-Steph

What does it look like in places were monks dwell?

Meteora Monks (Greece):

Ein Sokhna Monks (Egypt):

...I hope that you all are enjoying my videos. I'm a big fan of monks.

(TBA-- Mt. Sinai Monks)

<>

-Steph

Where is Stephanie?

<>

-Steph

Cairo, Egypt - Athens, Greece

I'll be out of the (Egypt) country for a few days.

I'll be right back!

Headed to Athens for a short, cheap, mid-semester holiday.

<3

-Steph

10/2/10

Time for an update!

I was supposed to be in Sinai today, but due to an unexpected sandstorm the trip was cancelled.
I'm still hoping to go there, but I'm not sure when. So, instead of climbing a mountain I went into Islamic Cairo to visit some mosques and other historical sites. Samia and I just went straight out of the Lonely Planet Egypt book for this trip (pp. 130-134). Here's a list of all the places we went to:

"North of Khan El Khalili"
Sharia Al-Gamaliyya
Mosque of Gamal & ad-Din
Khanqah & Mausoleum of Sultan Beybars al-Gashankir
Bab al-Nasr
Bab al-Futuh
Mosque of al-Hakim (Look this guy up. Very strange)
Sharia al-Muizz li-Din Allah
Garlic & Onion Market
Mosque of Suleiman Silahdar
Darb al-Asfar & Beit el-Suhaymi
Mosque of al-Aqmar
Sabil Kuttab of Abdel Rahman Katkhuda
Qasr Beshtak
Bein al-Qasreen
Madrassa & Mausoleum of Barquq
Madrassa & Mausoleum of An-Nasir Mohammed
Madrassa & Mausoleum of Qalaun
Bein al-Qasreen to the City Center

That's right! Who needs a stinkin' tour guide?! Haha. It was a lot of fun-- but a whole lot of walking, and a bit of baksheesh here and there.

Today, I woke up extra early (kindof), and snuck onto the ALI's trip t Saqqara and Memphis. Okay, so I wasn't allowed to go technically but... once the bus started moving my thought was-- they can't just kick me off, right? Right.
So, it eventually became obvious that my name was NOT on the list, and there was light commotion. I still got there, stayed on the tour. I just had to pay for the tickets to get in the areas. Win-win I'd say! And only L.E. 50 with free school transport. Muahahaha.

I'll have to make the list of all that we did there later. I did get a chance to see the Step Pyramid and go into some other pyramids along with a great variety of mastabas.

Love ya!

-Steph

Some awesome singing in the shower.

I was on the computer when I heard something... So I opened the door...
This is what I heard from the bathroom.

Enjoy!

...rotfl.

Mini-update

Enjoy! (Sorry about the music.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_Saint_Anthony

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuweiba

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Catherine%27s_Monastery,_Mount_Sinai

Hmmm...

tbc

Jeep Adventures

The bug...

Does anyone know anything about Egyptian bugs?

There was one on my room mate this morning, I told her it was behind her ear. She flicked it off. It flew on me. I flung it off of me, it flew back. I smacked it away and it flew on her. This went on for about fifteen minutes before we ran.

We found refuge in the laundry room. Or so we thought. The bug reappeared on my arm. I flung it, it came back. It was for this reason that I thought that it may have been a spider. That's how it got back to us so fast. -I found it again. It had wings. AH!

I flung it outside, and we both vowed to kill it if it reappeared. Ick.

How gross. It's like a boomarang or something.

<3 Steph

Egypt is confusing...

So, today a few things happened that were very... Egyptian.

First of all-- I STILL don't have an e-mail account here at AUC. I sent my reference number and soft copy of my acceptance letter to the support e-mail address twice before I got any response. Today I finally got an e-mail saying that my e-mail had been activated. LIES! So, I went to the office directly. They said my e-mail would be activated in twenty-four hours.

"Your e-mail adress will be activated." -Woman
"...Okay thanks. When?" - Me
"It will be activated in 24 hours, so... On Monday." -Woman
"...Wait... I'm sorry could you say that again?" -Me
"Yes, it will be done in 24 hours." -Woman
"But... today is Wednesday." -Me
"Yes, and it will be ready by Monday" -Woman
"... ... ..." -Me
"Well, you see 24 hours puts you into Eid, so... On Monday it will probably be done." -Woman
"Can I talk to someone about this? I have homework on my account." -Me
"Sure. Talk to (name here)." -Woman

Not like I need to say this again but... after all of this-- my e-mail will be ready on Monday. (sigh) Of course, without an e-mail I cannot access internet on my laptop. Here I sit in the computer lab.

Another interesting experience I've had is trying to get my bus pass. They conviniently allow you to pay almost 2,000 pounds for it, but then tell you it will be available when classes start. No big deal! Classes have started, so I made my way down to the correct building.

I'm looking for a door. Aha! Found one! It's locked. ALL of the doors are locked. Sheesh. I see a man working in his office, and the window is open.

"Excuse me. Sorry to bother you but uh... Do you know where I can get a bus pass?" -Me
"Oh yes! Umm... Well... you see...ahh... Okay!" -Man
(He's point left and right at the same time.)
"Wait, which way?" -Me
"Yes well... Okay yes. Come in here." -Man
"Wait... Through the window?" -Me
"Yes, Yes. Do not be afraid! Just come in through here! Much easier this way you see." -Man
"Oh... Well... I dunno... Okay." -Me

(I give him my bad and climb through the window and onto this guys desk.)
"Ah. Thanks. So... Where to?" -Me

Yea... He pointed me in the right direction. I got there and walked in. Semi-exhausted.

"Hi. This is where I get a bus pass?" -Me
"Yes. Bus pass?" -Man
"Yes... Bus pass." -Me
"Yes. Well, come back next week." -Man
"What? Why?" -Me
"Yani... This week isn't really the week for bus passes. Come back next week." -Man
"Next week..." -Me
"Mumkin." -Man

(Mumkin means something like "Possibly")

AWESOME. lol. Actually it's not a big deal or any deal at all because the buses are still free. I posted the whole thing more because of the fact I climbed through a window than to express my frustration with organization or lack thereof.

Really, I'm loving Egypt. Everything does run late, and the time system is absolutely insane but all in all it's amazing.

I still don't have any concrete information regarding itinerary for the Luxor/Aswan trip. I have heard everything from 1:00 a.m. (an hour and a half from now) to 5:00 a.m. Friday morning. It's all a mystery. And they usually call if someone is missing who paid and signed up. I'll call someone in the morning.

Change of plans. I made myself nervous and called the activities director. That solves that! We're actually leaving at 3:00 a.m. Friday morning.

Whoot! Pictures to come.

-Steph <3

Classes begin...

So, as classes begin I am learning so much more than I ever thought I would. Not strictly in class-- but just about the culture and odd school policies. Some of which are slightly interesting (or irritating, whichever word you want to use). I'll have to settle some of the things I read in the handbook but, until then... I'll keep my thoughts to myself on that one.

Classes are good though! A lot of the professors seem nice and my Arabic class is WAY ahead of me. It's scary but at the same time a very good thing, just because I know I'll learn far more in this class that I would have a Drexel. (Which I'm hoping means I'll test in at a higher level when I get back to Jersey/Philly.)

Oh! I forgot to mention that I have a pretty awesome room mate. Her name is Ellen, and she's from Maine. She transfered to AUC for her entire degree. CRAZY!

Anyway-- not much new other than that! I'm headed to Luxor and Aswan over Eid.

I'll probably come home with a mad tan line right above the elbow.

-Steph

Alexandria

I really think I should write travel guides.


We did Alexandria, Egypt in two days for less than $50.

• L.E. 50 - Train ticket from Ramsis Station




• L.E. 30 - Hotel room




• L.E. 13 - Coffe & Tea @ Arous el Zilzila




• L.E. 6 - Montazah Palace Garden Tickets




• L.E. 40 - Fish dinner with a gand assortment of salads @ Abu Ashfraf




• L.E. 30 - Taxi rides




• L.E. 4 - Shwarma Sandwhich




• L.E. 7 - Mango Juice @ Al-Qobesi




• L.E. 15 - Tickets to Catacombs of Kom Ash-Shuqqafa




• L.E. 15 - Tickets to Pompey's Pillar




• L.E. 35 - Train ticket home




• L.E. 5 - Various other food & drink.
  
  = L.E. 250
  =Less than $50

(if you count the exchange rate at $1 - L.E. 5... When actually $1 - L.E. 5.7)

Anyway, I had a FANTASTIC time! We hung out at ahwahs for hours, went to fish markets, ate a delicious iftar, spent a ton of time at the Sea, etc. Things seem to be cheaper in Alexandria. I'm not sure if that is because of the fact that it's off tourist season or what, but either way... A definite plus!

Pictures and Videos to come

<3

-Steph

Arabian Horses

??: "So, I don't think I'm going to go with you guys tomorrow. I mean, riding horses by the pyramids is cool, I guess... but I really think that riding camels would be cooler."

Good friend: "Really? But it's the culture of the Arab world! The camel is a pack animal! It carries heavy things. Arabs are KNOWN for breeding horses, and we're getting the chance to RIDE Arabian horses through the cliffs in Giza! AT NIGHT! C'mon!"

??: "You guys are riding ARABIAN horses??"

Good friend: "Well... We're... in Arabia... and... on horses... So... WHY NOT"

...lol. Anyway, I'm super excited to post some of those pictures. I just have to take them first. Tonight!

"Left my fears by the side of the road, I hear you speak... Won't let go..."

Iftar on the Nile...

The CItadel.

Recap of this week:

Hey all!!! So, a few days ago... I tried to cook for myself. So, I don't really cook at all when I'm back home, but it's not COMPLICATED. Well, that's what I thought. Cooking itself is not that difficult, cooking well can be a challenge (I'm sure), cooking without utensils, a pot, or pan is nearly impossible. I was at that last stage, so I used the microwave to make some noodles. It was after that, that I realized my lack of a fork, spoon, or knife... So I used pens just like chopsticks. Thank you Steve.

Although... My lack of talent made that very messy. So instead, I created this spoon out of an old toothbrush container. Check it out:

Yea, you know you're impressed. Hahaha...

So luckily!!!! I got to a grocery store! Whoot!!!!!

Mmmmm hmmmm! And I MADE that rice too!!!!

Later on... I ate that rice!!!

It was at this point that I found some mouse poo in there... Yum! :-( Hahaha...

Well anyway! I did make mac and cheese the other day (it was the most expensive thing that I bought all day).

Other than this food thing, I LOVE Cairo. I went with the school on a few trips. Old Cairo, Felluca rides, A dinner boat on the Nile, Khan El Khalili, The Citadel, City Stars... Okay a few of them I just went on my own with Samia. Tonight I'm going horseback riding "in the cliffs" near the pyramids in Giza... Hmmmmm.... Sounds exciting!

I'll post pictures later.

Day #3 (8.2710)

Hey there!!!

So, today I ate some noodles-- as you may have seen on my facebook video! Well, something that's not included on there is how I may have eaten a peice of the plastic off that toothbrush wrapping. Anyway, I hope not.

I am having a GREAT time in Cairo. Yesterday we went on a tour of Old Cairo, and afterwards we all went to the other dorms in the city. Samia and I went out on our own to do some exploring. We sat by the nile for about an hour, maybe two and then tried to get back to where we were supposed to be.

I've gotten lost quite a few times already. Haha...

I love this weird little can. Slightly more difficult to open than American cans... but definitely more exciting!

Moving on...

In Old Cairo (I know I'm jumping around a lot, but a lot has happened.), we went to a mosque... I took this video-- it's kindof weird, but I really loved the floor.

We went into many many ancient churches yesterday along with a synagogue and a few mosques. It was a lot of fun, and really very interesting. I love seeing all of this stuff. It's so awesome!!!!

Today... I think we're going to City Stars or Rehab... I have heard rumors of both so, I'm not sure which one is true.

I am so stuffed. Cup Noodles are really filling. I think I won't eat for the next few days. Ick.
I'm slightly worried because Samia just called me. She's sick and in bed. Great. I'm pretty sure I ate everything she ate, and drank everything she drank... I don't feel sick other than being overly full. Yikes.
Around 5:00 p.m. is orientation, and 9:00 p.m. is a Nile ride. Whoot!

LOVE!

-Steph

First post:

Good morning! (3:26 a.m.)

I finally made it into Cairo! Shew! Time for bed. More tomorrow.

<3
-Steph