Egypt -- Depriving the People the Human Right to Tweet

"The rioting in Egypt is an Egyptian problem, but when the country suppresses the people's basic right to communicate amongst themselves and with people throughout the free world, it suddenly becomes a world problem, for which we must stand up and proclaim."

Egypt means a lot to me.  My travels there this summer brought me friends and memories that will never fade as long as the Great Sphinx guards the pharaoh Khufu's Pyramids.

And I made many friends, some who I converse with on Facebook -- others whom I've lost touch with, but they're still deep inside my thoughts today.  Though Cairo with all its congestion and chaos (had to get up at 5:00 AM just to go for a run without choking to death or been run over) was one tough city to hoe, I found Egyptians warm, open and compassionate.  They were smart, savvy, and welcomed me with a strong handshake or even a hug, and they wanted to make a difference, if not for themselves, for their children.

And the children lived and worked in the most abject conditions I hadn't seen since Haiti.

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Though the people got my vote, the government surely lost my trust.

The living conditions for the common people, the children allowed to labor all day for a measly $3.50, the chaotic congestion on the streets and the way their women were pushed around like commodities made me revolt in the stomach.

Thankfully, the women of Egypt are finally saying enough is enough.  We abhor the way we are treated by our men, by our government.  We deserve to be treated more like equals.  Has that voice fallen on deaf ears?

Sailing on a Faluka on the River Nile

There is something magical about sailing on a http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Africa/Egypt/Muhafazat_al_Qahirah/Cairo-2008750/Restaurants-Cairo-hard_rock_cafe-BR-1.htmlFaluka along the River Nile.

The River, like the ancient Pyramids, is magical.  The boat, historic and stable, felt calm and peaceful.

The faluka is Egypt's traditional sailboat.  The Nile is the world's longest river (4,000 miles long) and runs through nine African countries.

As we sail, enjoying the coziness of the boat, we see tall aquatic bullrushes along the majestic shoreline.

Although, my friend Aya and I made a very short excursion near the Hyatt Hotel (where we enjoyed hometown food at the Hard Rock Cafe, we felt as if we were experiencing a true adventure.  It was so magical, romantic and dreamy, all in one.

The Faluka is a wonderful, iron-strong boat, ready for any voyage, short or long.

The whole experience was a pleasant part of the trip that brought me to the mystique of the Pyramids, Hash Runners who became my band of runners and a peaceful night alone in a Saharan Sand Dune, reflecting life and death lessons the night my Grandma unexpectedly died.

The Grand Pyramids of Giza

The Grand Pyramids of Giza are so beautiful and defined even from my plane, several hundred feet up in the air -- what a wonderful way to greet this enchanting city of tombs and minarets.  In many ways, admiring the Grand Pyramids from the sky, provides a more incredible vantage point and leaves an indelible mark in your whole experience. Note the third pyramid is partially obstructed by the plane's wing.

After a last minute adjustment from Souda Bay, I was on my way to Egypt  -- Land of Eternity.


I could not believe how I got here.  I had booked a flight from Souda Bay to Cairo (via Athens) just two hours before the flight. Click here to read my travels in Greece.
It was all last minute, but it wasn't because I was disorganized or had failed to plan.  It was because spontaneity breeds adventure...