Habitat for Humanity - March 2009

Dave and I had the opportunity last month to join a weekend Habitiat for Humanity trip in Minya, about 245kms south of Cairo. This was my second Habitat trip and Dave's third. We had a great group of 8 volunteers, half were from the university and half from my church. We assisted at two build sites, moving bricks, sifting sand and brick laying at one site, and nailing the wood boards for the roof at the second site.

Me helping with nailing the roof.


One of the Habitat staff working on the roof.


Our team with the homeowners and family on the completed roof.

While in Minya we had a sunset felucca ride on the Nile. I really enjoy felucca rides, but this was made even more interesting by the police presence on the boat, as well as the water police escort that followed us around on the Nile!!

Just two of the police/security that followed us around all weekend.

The water police following us on the Nile (taken in secret, hence the funny angle).

Police/security escorts are a fact of life for foreigners 'on tour' in Egypt. Thankfully we personally don't have to deal with them on a daily basis.

Our first OB visit

Last week we finally got around to having our first obstetrician's visit. It all went pretty smoothly and the doctor confirmed the due date that I had already worked out with the help of the internet - Sept. 1. The exciting thing about the visit was that we had a scan done and got to see the sprog moving around. I might be biased but I think OUR baby scan is clearer than anybody else's I have ever seen. Look for yourself.

Our first baby photo.

New campus inauguration

Recently the new main campus out in the desert of AUC (American University in Cairo) was inaugurated. The main ceremony on Feb. 7th included special guest and alumnus, the first lady of Egypt, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak. This was an 'invitation only' event, for which Dave declined attending.

The campus scrubs up pretty well.

We did attend an event a few days later - the opening of the Sharjah Art Gallery and the Malak Gabr Arts Theatre. The Sheikh of Sharjah, Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, donated a significant amount of money towards the buidling of the art gallery and then allowed pieces of his personal collection to be shown as the inaugural exhibition.

My invitation to the Sharjah Art Gallery opening and dinner.

The exhibition showcased some wonderful oils and water-colours of various middle eastern scenes, that the Sheikh has spent years collecting.

After the opening there was a dinner. It was quite the spread, and to be quite honest, more than I could eat at 9pm on a 'school night'.

And then we were three ...

I can finally announce that David and I are expecting our first child. Now the questions begin - what doctor? where to have the child?? names???

Weird and Wonderful Egypt - pt.2

During Dave's recent bout of the 'flu his doctor prescribed a handful of pils and potions, among them these tablets. Would you take something labelled Retard??????

Byblos & Harissa

Byblos
Byblos is an ancient city, beautifully situated on the Mediterranean Sea, with a Crusader castle and Roman ruins. Byblos is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited town. Byblos was called Gebal in the Bible and the Crusaders salled it Giblet. Its ancient name, Byblos, is thought to derive from bublos, the Greek word for papyrus, as the town was a stopping off point for papyrus shipments in Phoenician times.

Crusader Castle at Byblos.

Byblos Harbour at sunset.

Harissa
Harissa is only about 20 kms from Beirut, but is 650 metres altitude from the coast. We took the popular Teleferique (cable car) up and down the mountain. It gives a fascinating view going up, even going between some apartment buildings, allowing a view inside as you glide past.

The view about 1/2 way up the mountain - the cable car 'station' is way off in the distance, by the coast.

National Museum of Beirut

On Boxing Day (Dec 26th) we made our way to the National Museum of Beirut. Our Lonely Planet guidebook listed this museum as a 'must see' and we would have to agree. It is nicely laid out, well lit and has a wonderful array of artefacts from around the country. If I had to make a criticism it would be that the museum could do with MORE pieces. It's a far cry from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo which is more like a dark, overstuffed warehouse.

An ornate sarcophagus from the southern city of Tyre. The frieze depicts the legend of Achilles.

A beautiful 4th century mosaic.

A colossus taken from the ancient city of Byblos.

One of my favourite pieces in the museum - a carved marble head atop a sarcophagus.