Saturday, October 28, 2006
28/10 UPDATE Met the tour group and visited Coptic Cairo
Met my Intrepid group this afternoon. 8 of us. 6 women, 2 men. 1 of the men is the teenage son of one of the women. The other guy is married to one of the women. We are all Oz and Kiwi. Guide is an Oz male who speaks Arabic. Heading into the Sinai together tomorrow.
Had a wonderful afternoon with the group. Visited Coptic Cairo with a local lady guide who was very frank, open and honest - and a lot of fun. She also took us to the remaining synagog and one of the oldest Mosques. While we were at the mosque we had a Q&A session and that was really good. Talking to her over the afternnoon and listening to her commentary - she is from a liberal family who are encouraging her to study and work, rather than marry and she had some interesting comments about the strength of Egyptian women.
The synagog and Coptic church both still had their original painting on walls and ceiling. The decoration is extremely colourful and geometric patterns. It struck me that this is the sort of decoration that would have addorned the early churches and cathedrals of England and Scotland before the reformation - and possibly many castles as well.
We also went out with our guide to a local cafe for dinner. Fantastic flaffel, pita bread, tahini, babaganoush, hommus, and a bean dip/paste - faul. Hot, fresh, fantastic and I'm feeling absolutely stuffed!!!
Met my Intrepid group this afternoon. 8 of us. 6 women, 2 men. 1 of the men is the teenage son of one of the women. The other guy is married to one of the women. We are all Oz and Kiwi. Guide is an Oz male who speaks Arabic. Heading into the Sinai together tomorrow.
Had a wonderful afternoon with the group. Visited Coptic Cairo with a local lady guide who was very frank, open and honest - and a lot of fun. She also took us to the remaining synagog and one of the oldest Mosques. While we were at the mosque we had a Q&A session and that was really good. Talking to her over the afternnoon and listening to her commentary - she is from a liberal family who are encouraging her to study and work, rather than marry and she had some interesting comments about the strength of Egyptian women.
The synagog and Coptic church both still had their original painting on walls and ceiling. The decoration is extremely colourful and geometric patterns. It struck me that this is the sort of decoration that would have addorned the early churches and cathedrals of England and Scotland before the reformation - and possibly many castles as well.
We also went out with our guide to a local cafe for dinner. Fantastic flaffel, pita bread, tahini, babaganoush, hommus, and a bean dip/paste - faul. Hot, fresh, fantastic and I'm feeling absolutely stuffed!!!
# posted by The Essence of Good Taste @ 12:23 PM 
