Breathing Deep

Week two in Cairo has come and gone and I feel much more comfortable in my surroundings.  Still no real routine to speak of except for my daily arabic lessons.  Julie and Jennifer, two MEDA staff were around for four days having discussions about new potential projects in the country.  We had dinner with them one night and had a couple meetings.  One of those was meeting the accountant and his family at their home.  It was a great evening with some of the most hospitable people I've met here.  Egyptians are in general very hospitable and this was another experience of that.  He also works with MCC in Egypt and so I may have a chance to connect with them while I'm here which could come in handy when I'm looking for traveling companions as there will be no shortage of things to see here.

The highlight of the week was a day trip to Alexandria with Carolyn (Rachel's roommate and therefore mine for the time being) and a few of her coworkers.  It's a three hour train ride north to the sea.  We got there at 11 am and booked a return trip for just before 9 pm and then set off to explore the city.  As a place that has been held by many different civilizations including the romans, and being just across the water from Greece, it has a much more European feel.  There was still lots of traffic, but less than Cairo, and most of all no smog!  There were a few clouds in the sky, but otherwise it was clear, and hot enough to get a little extra sun on my face.  We grabbed a coffee at a square near the water and then sat along the corniche (the street along the water no matter which city you're in).  We also got to see the great library (from the outside) that they have there, as well as some catacombs and Fort Quaitbey.  The catacombs were discovered when a donkey fell through the ground of an archeological dig and were at one time the resting place of 300 mummies.  In use since roman times you can see from the carvings on the walls which period different areas were from, Christian, Roman and Egyptian.  We sat along the water to watch the sun set and then ordered fresh fish at a restaurant before catching our train back to Cairo.  All in all a relaxing day withr room to breathe, sea breezes, and good company.

Saturday was a down day, and then Sunday I met with Richard (my sometimes in-country manager) to discuss some logistics, both regarding my move to Aswan and getting started on my work here.  Yesterday and today have involved a couple more meetings, a my new phone up and finishing up my Arabic lessons.  I can now successfully get around in taxis on my own, buy food, the essentials.  Sunday night Rachel and I also visited the Khan al-Khalili market.  It consists of both a tourist and regular market and is in the old, Islamic part of Cairo with lots off ancient architecture, mosques that make it feel like a maze of narrow streets.

That's all for now.  The next time you find something new here I'll be in my new home since yesterday we finally secured a flat for me to live in in Aswan! (a flat is an apartment for those of you who might be confused)  Yesterday I went and got a flight so it's now official and I'll be on my way there Thursday evening.  That will be when the heat really begins....clean air to breathe, 42 degrees and sunny, here I come! 

Stay posted for pictures...we're leaving the cafe before they finished uploading so I'm going to try from home tonight.