3:50 am CST
11:50 am Egypt, Delta
Wow. This day has been pretty amazing, and it’s not even lunchtime. Working backwards… We just left Samannud, where we visited a Coptic church, the Church of St. Abanoub, that is about 200 years old, with older relics within. When we disembarked, we didn’t know we were going here, however. And to get to our destination, we had to pass through a busy marketplace. Finally! I get to walk through a suq! Total sensory overload. Sights, smells, sounds. We were hustled through by our armed escorts, drawing even more attention to us Americans.
The church warranted a stop for several reasons. There is a well where it is said the holy family stopped on their way. The well still has water, so I bought a bottle for one Egyptian pound for Gramma. Also, the relics within the church were “pieces” of St. Abanoub and St. George.
Leaving the church was even more of a scene. We all stopped to take photos, and the people in the market happily agreed to be photographed. I think we created quite the spectacle, as people gathered around our bus and convoy, watching us watching them. I think I got some really great shots of vendors and people walking. Even posed with a lovely young girl selling bananas. She looked so happy, had a great big smile. Then an old woman and a child passed and smiled, so I took their photo, too. I’m a little overwhelmed right now. Those people were so kind and warm and curious, living such a simple life. Amazing.
Before that, we visited a temple site, Behbeit el-Hagar, that, like Bubastis, was a giant rockpile, though this one was purposely destroyed and you can see how the blocks sort of fit together. The Greek name was Isiopolis, The City of Isis. I loved it, perhaps solely for the fact that I got to climb all over a giant bunch of boulders. Love it! Crawling across rocks, finding new routes, reaching the top. My favorite. I will hurt tomorrow.
Before that, we were at the Sonesta Hotel Port Said at the mouth of the Suez Canal. Hisham, somehow, got me into one of the suites. I had a wide entry foyer with a side table and a counter with cabinets and bar. That led to the living room, with a dining table and minibar & TVs number one. The huge balcony looked out over the canal and the Mediterranean. Separate bedroom had minibar & TVs number two. Bathroom had two sinks, a toilet and bidet, bathrobe, slippers, shower tub with a mirror inside. However, if I had paid the $350 a night for that, I’d be super pissed. I bet it was nice twenty years ago. This night, it was more than a little dingy. The complimentary fruit bowl was full of near-rotting fruit attracting, duh, fruit flies. The tub was filthy, like literally dirty and full of, I think, dead fruit flies. Stains and what looked like burn marks on the drapes and headboard. Peeling woodwork. Rusty chairs on the balcony. But whatever, we were there for about 12 hours.
The hotel also had internet, woo! Checked my email for the first time in a few days. Nothing of note, surprise surprise. I did manage to send an email letting some folks know what was up with me. However, I’m realizing how silly I was not to bring a jump drive or CD to burn, because there is no way to transfer all of this to another computer. (Really doubt I’ll be able to directy plug in my computer anywhere…) Oh well! It’ll have to wait until I get home.
Hmm… we’re pulling over. Wonder what’s up. Nothing! Just letting some cars pass. Still en route to Alexandria. Going to a monastery founded by a female now before the hotel. Our convoy today consists of a police car in front (that likes to blare the siren) and three trucks of openly armed men following close behind. Two years of military service is required of all Egyptians, and this is the type of duty they’re assigned.
Gentleman and his machine gun, part of our convoy:
We’re staying in Alexandria for three nights, which will be nice. There’s a lot of moving about coming up real soon.
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