CAIRO EGYPT AFRICA

The elections in Egypt were civil and appeared to be fair.  The mood was optimistic and the people in Cairo were warm and friendly.  I truly hope this first time ever event for the people of Egypt works out well over the next generation and provides human rights for the women, men and children.  Under the past dictator the people have experienced thirty years of brutal oppression with the President and his family and a government that has raped the country of its resources, sold off to multinational corporations for a song, for their personal gain.  For Alex and myself it was a bit scary to be there at this historic time but also exhilarating at the same time.
We toured many sites including observations of a polling station (orderly and peaceful).  My personal thoughts are that the people of Egypt are sick and tired of being sick and tired.  Although the two run off candidates for the final in June are one from the former regime and another the Muslim Brotherhood I think over time a system of democracy will prevail affording rights and basic government services to the people of Egypt.  This will not be an overnight process and will undoubtedly take many generations but the hope that the sacrifices of those who died during last years uprising to oust Mubarak and those that will die in the future formation of a democratic state will not be in vain. 
OUR JOURNEY HOME was fortunately uneventful.  As we left the Egyptian air port and passed through custom check point I was forced to pay a bribe to two of the military police, otherwise we would have been delayed...or worse! The country is under military rule at this time and the military are taking advantage of their position of power and intimidation.  The deal is that once the new President is in power the military will hand over its current role.  Traveling to Egypt is considered risky if you do not know how to "accommodate" the locals.  The day after we left massive riots broke out downtown Cairo and other areas of the country as some people were not happy their candidate was not in the run off coming in June.  I was glad to miss it.
When we arrived in Nairobi Airport things went smoothly and we transferred to our smaller plane to Eldoret (our current home).  The morning we arrived in Eldoret we received news that a bomb was detonated in Nairobi.  The next day there was a large riot in down town Eldoret with only one reported death and many injured.  This is all unrelated to one another, but boy do I feel lucky on this one.
Follow us on our experience and some pics below.

 This was the five star we stayed at in Cairo.  Security was high and service was outstanding!  This was an elite stay!

 A wealthy persons home who worked for the former regime.

 A newer Mosque.  Note the fine stone work still performed.

 There are three Pyramids above Alex's head to your right.  They were for a Prince and other family members like wives and daughters.

 Above in the middle was our tour guide.  She was great.  Archeologist currently taking her Masters in Archeology.  Her husband was also very nice and employed in the military.


 The Great Pyramid of Giza is in the back ground where King Khufu was buried.  The Pyramid in the foreground is his sons burial place.

The temperature hit a balmy 48 degrees Celsius on this day!

This was one of my dreams since I was a small boy.  My Aunt Margaret and Uncle Gary were Canadian Ambassadors stationed at the Embassy here in Cairo during the 1970's.  My Mother and Father June and Dr. Ted Siddall also visited.  Story goes my Mother rode the desert on Camel!

The Sphinx has a tail!

Note the stone work at the back of his head.  4,544 years later!!!  Give or Take!

Who knows what really happened to the nose?

OUR VISIT TO THE CITADEL

Our driver and security.  Former military and just the guy you want!

Alex with two lovely girls in Egypt.  Their parents insisted on the photo and as you can see Alex was not too keen to participate.

 The Citadel is an incredible structure and a fine example of Medieval warfare.  The Citadel was initially built as a nice place that had a good breeze and an incredible view, but in 1176 AD through 1183 AD Salah ad-Din an Abbasid Ruler fortified the area to protect the rising Muslim populace from the Crusaders in the Alexandria region.  God only knows those f_cking Crusaders did their part to pillage, plunder, rape and kill the young, old and infirm!  Look in the mirror recently! 

A good vantage point to piss on your enemies!

The Mosque is absolutely incredible outside and inside!

Arch leading to entrance of Mosque inside the Citadel

Looking out from the Citadel there are two more Mosques with past Kings and family buried.

 This is the area where you wash your hands, face and feet from the fountain behind us prior to entering the Mosque proper.

 This is the view of Cairo from the walls of the Citadel.  The current population of Cairo alone is approximately twenty million!
Dense.

This was where Mubarak and his cronies took their last stand during the uprising last year.  Looks like the people of Egypt had enough of this prick!  Currently his health is very bad and his sons are under house arrest awaiting trail for crimes against humanity.

This is the Museum in Cairo which is right beside the burnt out building above.  No buildings in the area were damaged except where Mubarak was performing his "Last Stand"

 The front entrance of our hotel.

OUR TOUR INTO OLD CAIRO... 

Included meeting some of the younger military. 

The area we were in at this point was mostly Christian.  About 15% of Egypt's population are Orthodox Christians.  The "Burka" style of women's dress actually originated from Christendom. 

Roman period ruins.  This was underground water ways.

Coptic Cairo Christian Church

These are two small doors where water was passed to the poor outside the church.

There were may beautiful murals on walls depicting the Christ.

 For quite some time Christians were only allowed to pray below ground.  We viewed some churches where you could see through the floor boards where Christians would pray.

We also visited the site in Coptic Cairo where it is said the Holy Family fled and stayed at the site of Saint Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga) and the place where the Church of the Holy Virgin (Babylon El-Darog) stands now.  It was certainly something to see.

 The City of 

The Dead...

The City of the Dead is most interesting as it is a burial site for both Muslim and Christian individuals.  Its formation dates to around 450 AD stretches for about four miles wide and as long as the eye can see.  I visited an Orthodox site.
The City is actually inhabited by very poor people who have been displaced by development in other areas.  It is a dangerous place to go but amazing at the same time.  Alex stayed with the driver in the car while I took a walk.  The tombs and mausoleums are fascinating in that the deceased is wrapped and buried below (where you see the steel doors with Cross) and the upper area is where family can come and pray and make offerings. (as far as I understand anyways).  Because the area is vast and families are generally poor, generational burying take place and draining or treatment of bodies is limited so you can smell the decay.

Boat Ride on The Nile...

Alex and I did a boat ride on the Nile with an old fisherman.  Loads of fun.  The motor stalled out about three or four times.  Thought I was back on Lake Winnipeg having one of those days!  No problems though and the contrasts again are amazing.

Its ok to go a little "Social Worky" so here I go again....dissident in me!  When we stop using so much energy/oil in the developed countries then our multinational corporations that rape Africa and prop up the "Successful Failed States" will cease to exist.  The blatant pollution, violence, corruption and disrespect for life in general may change over here.  Or do we force our Governments to regulate such injustices?  Or both?
We will make the changes by pressuring the Governments on either end, the corporations, the NGO's...to be much more socially responsible. The more you drive your car the more you are responsible for a child's death in Africa....and the richer the Governments and Corporations get....I too am guilty.

This was an old Indian Palace almost downtown Cairo.  Not maintained by the former regime and in sad disrepair....

Alex and I visited a horse stable and fed apples to these beautiful animals.

Having my bath!

Last day poolside with my boy.

Alex I love you.

Always....

Note the barbed wire and military in the back ground.  This is a military state and it is suggested one use caution when traveling.
Romantic?  Somewhat but do remember Africa has experienced some 500 years of colonization and now neocolonialist and globalization forces.  About 50% of the population makes less than $1 per day.  But what the heck...lets keep driving our vehicles in Canada for no reason other than to get milk when we could have walked?
Love most of you.  Be kind to one another.