Seth's Family March 2016

First of all, the terrorist attack on Brussels affected all of us, whether we were there physically or not.  It was devastating to watch it all unravel in the news reports.  We were grateful to be in Egypt at the time.  We left Saturday and the blast at the airport was the following Tuesday.  The blast at the metro was between Maalbeek and Schuman, a metro line we take regularly.  Unsettling at best.  Where in the world will the next attack be and whose lives will be changed?  Our prayers go out in behalf of those affected, especially our friend Richard Norby and his family.  This event will forever be a part of their daily lives.  We visited the memorial and the feelings there were palpable.  (photo credit:  Heidi)

We watched the boys while their parents visited Berlin.  Then I watched Jonah while they took Taft/Luke to Paris.  (All of this was in the innocent days before the terrorist attack)

Taft celebrated his 7th birthday in Belgium.  We went to Hofstead park and this was his b.day dinner:  pizza and a chocolate bomb for his cake.  

The great pyramid of Giza.  Seth read somewhere that is was literally impossible for these structures to have been built when they were.  Then how did they get there?  One theory (not kidding) is that aliens built them.  (picture credit:  Seth)

A camel expedition.  I like this shot showing the city in the background.

Camel ride!

Queen Hatshepsut temple.  Born 1508 BC and reigned in Egypt for 20 years.  This structure was built to commemorate her achievements and serve as a funerary Temple for her.

We stayed at the Jolie Ville Maritim Hotel on Kings Island.  It was fantastic.  It is on 165 acres.  There are 3 swimming pools and this is one of them.  The infinity  pools overlook the Nile and it really does feel like you are swimming in the Nile.  The breakfast area also overlooks the Nile.  So relaxing to watch the felucca boats glide by and the occasional cruise ship.  Sadly however, tourism is extremely depressed in Egypt (as I am sure Europe will also feel the affects b/c of Paris and Brussels attacks).  This hotel is running at about 9% occupancy and it takes 15% to break even.  The kids were the lone kids on the complex.  Often there would only be one other couple at the pool.  We literally felt we had the place to ourselves.  Food was great so we stayed there for our evening meals.  A truly restful holiday.

Making his living

This still makes me laugh.  Jonah and his blond hair and blue eyes.  He was a rock star.  People were always asking to take his and Luke's picture.  On this occasion, Jonah was willing to be admired.  He even snuggled this girl a bit and I think she felt like he was hers....when the other girls wanted to hold him she would have nothing to do with that.

Ten years later.  The shrine obviously worked.  If you walk around it 7 times then you will marry.  He did it for himself and then for Jared ten years ago.  He did if for Rock as well, but maybe he didn't do it the full 7 times, so this year he and Taft both did it for Rock.  Heidi did it for Taylor.  So there should be a couple of weddings to look forward to!

Just because it's so amazing.  So old.  So majestic.  So much history.

Check!  I finally have taken a hot air balloon ride.  It has been on my bucket list ever since I saw the balloons in Iowa so many years ago.  We got up to 2300 feet and flew for 50 minutes.  It was beautiful.  I had to wake up at 4:30am b/c it is a sunrise experience.  We flew over the Hatsheput Temple.  We saw the sun rise over the Nile.  I loved seeing the green fertile land by the Nile and the harsh desert once you get away from the water.  Each basket holds about 25 people and there were 7 balloons that went up together.  

Hard to capture such an experience with a camera.  It has to be felt.  Peaceful, calm, quiet (except for the occasional hiss from the hot air)  I'm glad I could do it in Egypt as well.  The temples, the Nile, the desert, all as the sun rose.  Nobody else wanted to join me b/c the departure was 0'dark 100.

Felucca ride.  

A group shot.

We ended up on a small motor boat b/c there was no wind for the sailing boat.  Jonah threw his binkie in the water.  We had 2 hours on the water at sunset.  They served us karkayday (the tart, red, hibiscus tea).