Dahab

Posted by Emily | Posted on 24-01-2011

Category : Family, Scott & Diane's Visit, Travel & Sightseeing, Travel within Egypt, Welcome in Egypt

While Brandon’s parents were in town, we decided to visit Dahab on the Red Sea. The snorkeling there is absolutely amazing and it is apparently deemed a little safer than Sharm El Sheikh (where there have been some recent shark attacks). If you haven’t been to Dahab, it’s beautiful! Looking across the Red Sea, you can see Saudi Arabia, and behind you, the stunning landscape of the Sinai Peninsula. It’s really gorgeous.

I love all the restaurants and cafes lining the coast. It’s definitely a relaxing place to hang out.

Photo by Scott Canfield

The first day we were there, we did some snorkeling in the bay where we saw all kinds of colorful fish and corals. The next day, we walked out to an area called the Island.

Photo by Scott Canfield

It was absolutely amazing. I wish I had an underwater camera because describing all the colorful sea life simply can’t convey how awesome it really was. We saw all kinds of colorful triggerfish, parrotfish, cornetfish, pufferfish, and dozens of other types of fish I can’t even name. We even saw a school of barracudas! It was such a neat experience!

We also had a great time relaxing, reading, and playing cribbage (my new favorite game!). By late afternoon, however, it was clear that a storm was blowing in.

Photo by Scott Canfield

There was an incredible storm that night, complete with spectacular thunder and lightning, hail, and of course power and water outages.

Photo by Scott Canfield

The next morning the sea was totally calm with virtually no wind, and the tide was very low.

Photo by Scott Canfield

There were hundreds of hermit crabs and creepy crawly starfish along with cats and dogs rummaging around the low tide for something to eat.

Photo by Scott Canfield

That afternoon we had to drive back to the airport in Sharm El Sheikh to catch our return flight home. We were happy to hear that the roads were clear after the huge storm. But as we made the trip back, we realized that most of one of the roads was completely covered in mud and rocks, which meant we shared a two-lane road with oncoming traffic at top speed. It was a little bit scary, especially when we came to areas with mud, rocks, and debris blocking the road. And with the sun going down, I was honestly a little worried, but we made it!

Khan Al Khalili

Posted by Emily | Posted on 23-01-2011

Category : Family, Scott & Diane's Visit, Sightseeing in Cairo, Travel & Sightseeing, Welcome in Egypt

Photo by Scott Canfield

After taking in the ancient Egyptian sights in Cairo, we visited the Khan Al Khalili. I really like walking along the streets lined with medieval buildings, ornate Islamic architecture, and vendors selling everything from spices and scarves to t-shirts and jewelry.

I think the architecture is my favorite part, and Scott took some really nice photos.

Photo by Scott Canfield

I feel like I see something new every time I’m there.

Photo by Scott Canfield

This “Gift Shop” was new… or at least we had never seen it before. They had a lot of really beautiful, high-quality ceramics, furniture, and other crafts. I’m definitely going to have to remember this place!

Photo by Scott Canfield

There is certainly no shortage of cats in Cairo. This one was ready for us to take him home, but we had to decline. Sorry little guy.

Photo by Scott Canfield

The rain started again while we were out, and the shopkeepers hurried to cover everything with plastic.

Photo by Scott Canfield

Fortunately for everyone, it didn’t last long, and we resumed browsing and shopping for souvenirs.

Photo by Scott Canfield

It’s always fun to visit the Khan, even though it can get be a totally overwhelming experience with so many sights, sounds, and smells.

But the adventure didn’t end until we’d successfully crossed approximately six lanes of traffic to catch a taxi home.

Photo by Scott Canfield

I think the look on my face says it all. Haha. But we made it!

Memphis and Saqqara

Posted by Emily | Posted on 23-01-2011

Category : Family, Scott & Diane's Visit, Sightseeing in Cairo, Travel & Sightseeing, Welcome in Egypt

The morning we drove to Saqqara was quite foggy. With visibility low, our driver suggested we visit Memphis since the sun might come out a little later in the day. Brandon and I had never visited Memphis, and after consulting our handy Lonely Planet Egypt book, we were kind of surprised we hadn’t! Apparently Memphis was the capital of Egypt for most of the Pharaonic period and was full of gardens, palaces, and temples. Sadly, there is little left of Memphis, but there is a nice open-air museum and some beautiful statues.

Photo by Scott Canfield

The site itself was beautiful, with leafy trees, palm trees, and all kinds of greenery… a nice change from the usual desert landscape.

I think my favorite part was seeing this Sphinx.

Photo by Scott Canfield

He may not be as large as his Giza cousin, but his charming face and headdress make a world of difference.

Photo by Scott Canfield

On our way out of the archeological site, we realized we had almost missed the most spectacular colossus in Memphis!

Photo by Brandon Canfield

This colossal statue of Ramses II was incredibly well-preserved. Look at all of that detail!

Photo by Brandon Canfield

We were certainly glad that our driver had recommended a visit to Memphis, and by the time we left, the fog was beginning to lift and the sun was shining.

We headed to Saqqara where we visited my all time favorite museum in Egypt, the Imhotep Museum.

It’s a great museum, and I love how it points out things like “the oldest stone ceiling” and “the oldest stone frieze.” It’s pretty amazing to consider that we were looking at some of the oldest stone architecture in the history of mankind.

After leaving the museum, we entered the Saqqara complex, which is entered through a hypostyle hall.

Photo by Scott Canfield

The step pyramid must be under restoration. It always seems to have scaffolding on it and different areas are off-limits. It looks like they have been clearing away the sand that had piled up on the steps and are covering it with new bricks. I feel incredibly presumptuous even pretending to know what is going on, haha.

Photo by Scott Canfield

Photograph by Brandon Canfield

Photo by Scott Canfield

From Saqqara you can see several other early pyramids including the “bent pyramid” and the “red pyramid” (above). And looking through the Cairo haze in the other direction, we could even see a glimpse of the Giza pyramids (below). It’s quite a view.

Photo by Scott Canfield

We had a lot of fun walking around the tombs and looking at the beautifully carved reliefs. We then walked along the causeway back toward the entrance and headed home.

Photo by Scott Canfield

Visiting the Pyramids with Brandon’s Parents

Posted by Emily | Posted on 22-01-2011

Category : Family, Scott & Diane's Visit

The past two weeks have just flown by! Brandon’s parents have been visiting and we had tons of fun sightseeing and spending time together. Brandon’s dad, Scott, is a phenomenal photographer, so nearly all of the photos I’ll be posting from their visit were taken by him. So thanks, Scott for letting me share some of your incredible photos.

First up on the sightseeing itinerary were the pyramids at Giza. Even though this marked my sixth visit to this wonder of the world, it is amazing to me how each visit is always guaranteed to be an awesome experience.

Photo by Diane Canfield

Photo by Scott Canfield

I thought it was amazing to see these zoomed in shots of the top of the Great Pyramid. Makes you wonder how it would have looked 4,000 years ago when it was still fully intact.

Photo by Scott Canfield

We had a great time walking around and taking in the sights.

Photo by Scott Canfield

Even though it has been pretty hazy lately, the views were great and it made for some beautiful photos.

Photo by Scott Canfield

We noticed something going on off in the distance. Normally there are tourists riding horses or camels in the desert around the pyramids, but it looked like they were filming a movie or something out there this time. I’m very curious to find out what it was.

Photo by Scott Canfield

Fortunately, however, we had our own entertainment…

Photo by Scott Canfield

We also visited the Cheops Solar Boat Museum.

Photo by Scott Canfield

It always amazes me to see how well preserved these things are!

Photo by Scott Canfield

Here’s Brandon and Diane examining some incredibly preserved grass thatch from the boat. I’m in the background… a little preoccupied by my much too large mandatory museum footwear.

You have to wear these special canvas booties over your shoes to enter the museum. The reason for this is beyond me, but when in Egypt…

Photo by Brandon Canfield

Photo by Scott Canfield

After visiting the museum, we headed back to the Great Pyramid, and Brandon, Scott, and Diane ventured inside!

Then we set out to find a nice camel for the famous camel photo.

This one turned out to be quite the photogenic camel. He really knew how to pose!

We then headed toward the Sphinx.

Photo by Scott Canfield

Since it was getting late, and we were all pretty hungry, we decided to check out the Pizza Hut across from the Sphinx. It is nothing short of mind blowing that this is in fact the object of the Sphinx’s eternal gaze, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it.

Photo by Scott Canfield

Photo by Scott Canfield

I wonder what the Pharoah’s would think of Giza today. I think they would at least be proud that it is still a source of wonder and mystery so many thousands of years later… and the Pyramids have certainly proven themselves to be a feat of architectural engineering that far surpass anything else today. It seems almost certain that in 3,000 more years, the Pizza Hut will be dust and the Pyramids will probably look just about as good as new.

Happy New Year!

Posted by Emily | Posted on 31-12-2010

Category : Cats, Family, Uncategorized

Happy New Year!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful year in 2011!

Oooooklahoma

Posted by Emily | Posted on 01-09-2010

Category : Cats, Family, Food, in America and Elsewhere, Travel & Sightseeing

I always have a great time in Oklahoma! Even if it was a relentless 105 degrees. It’s just so much fun spending time with Mimi!

We always have such a great time together! We told stories and visited and had lots of fun. Mimi even taught me how to crochet squares for an afghan she’s been working on.

our yard rabbits

Posted by Emily | Posted on 06-07-2010

Category : Family

There are two rabbits that have apparently discovered that our dog Otto is perhaps no longer the best guard dog in the neighborhood and have made themselves quite comfortable in my parents’ backyard.

hello summer

Posted by Emily | Posted on 06-07-2010

Category : Family, Food

This weekend we went to the Cary Farmers’ Market. It was wonderful! SO many beautiful tomatoes, beans, melons, jams, and pastries. It was fantastic!

Surprisingly enough, now that there is a sufficient amount of time between me and my backyard laboring last summer when we had our giant tomato harvest of 2009 and the mini cornfield complete with invading bugs and sad, little corn harvest, I now have nothing but fond memories of the whole experience and can’t wait to be settled somewhere someday where we can grow our own food again. There is something really rewarding about eating food you’ve watched since it was just a little flower.

man’s best friend

Posted by Emily | Posted on 03-07-2010

Category : Family

I’ve enjoyed getting spend some time with Otto over the last week or so. He is probably hands down the world’s best dog.

We got Otto in 1997 — right after we moved to Phoenix and just before we entered the oh so lovely eighth grade. I’ll spare everyone the story of what a difficult transition that was, but little Otto came to the rescue and cheered us up whenever we were feeling blue. There is really nothing quite like a puppy to cheer you up… especially when he’s adorable and about the size of a baked potato!

the rain hits the ground and the leaves dry it up

Posted by Emily | Posted on 24-06-2010

Category : Family, Food, in America and Elsewhere

warning… sincere superlatives abound below.

Hello, America — you beautiful, magnificent, awesome, beloved country, you! It is so good to be home.

I have been enjoying the splendors of the Pacific Northwest, complete with chilly temperatures, misty sunrises, beautiful rainforests, tree frogs, hoot owls, yellow finches, rabbits (both domestic and wild!), serene pastoral vistas, rain, rolling dark clouds, and the joy of fleeting sunlight and blue skies. The best part though was spending time with my delightful twin sister and her husband. We had a lot of fun catching up (surprising how much catching up can be done between two people who typically talk at least once a day), making and eating really good food, sewing, baking, and lots of laughing, storytelling, and smiling.

Meredith put together this little montage from my week in beautiful Washington.

and last but not least…

Posted by Emily | Posted on 12-06-2010

Category : Family, Mom and Dad's Visit, My Life in Cairo

the Pyramids!

On Wednesday we finally made it to the pyramids of Giza. We decided to try to get there as early as possible since it has been so hot. When we arrived around 8am, the park was virtually empty except for three Weddles, a few camels, and a lot of guys getting ready to sell souvenirs.

from ancient to medieval in Cairo

Posted by Emily | Posted on 10-06-2010

Category : Current Favorites, Family, Mom and Dad's Visit, My Life in Cairo

On Tuesday we started our day with a cab ride to Tahrir to see the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.

We spent a few hours enjoying the Tutahnkamun exhibit, Akhenaten collection, and other ancient art and artifacts of Egypt.

We then took a taxi to the Citadel.

The views of the city were stunning.

weddles in luxor

Posted by Emily | Posted on 06-06-2010

Category : Current Favorites, Family, Mom and Dad's Visit, Ryan's Visit, Travel & Sightseeing

This past week has been a whirlwind! After seeing some sights around Cairo with Ryan, my parents arrived and we left for Luxor. We arrived in Luxor around midday and decided to check out Luxor Temple in the afternoon sunlight. It was incredible. The city of Luxor creeps right up to the edges of these ancient sites, making the experience very surreal.

Ryan in Cairo!

Posted by Emily | Posted on 31-05-2010

Category : Family, My Life in Cairo, Ryan's Visit, Sightseeing in Cairo

Ryan arrived in Cairo on Saturday, and by Sunday morning we were at the pyramids! It has been about 48 hours since he landed and we have already been to Giza, Saqqara, and the Red Pyramid.

We decided to ride horses out in the desert in Giza to enjoy the view of the three main pyramids from afar. I forgot we would have to ride through garbage alley to get to the desert, but we managed. And hey, it appeared that we must have just missed the carnival.

My horse, which happened to be named “George Michael,” was a wiley one. For some reason I always seem to get put on wiley horses! He spent most of the time ignoring my attempt at direction and instead opted to careen into Ryan’s horse whenever possible. Apologies to Ryan and his horse on behalf of George Michael.

Anyhow… here’s Ryan on his horse with Cairo in the background.

the good things

Posted by emily | Posted on 23-05-2010

Category : Family, Food, My Life in Cairo

This weekend we celebrated Brandon’s birthday with a long awaited apple pie. I wish I could say I made it, but really I only helped (although I fully intend to try making my own one of these days!).

I have been hearing about Brandon’s Grandma’s amazing apple pies since I first met Brandon in Arizona. So when Brandon’s grandma offered to make apple pie while she was here in Cairo visiting in April, I was lucky enough to get the recipe and see how it’s done. We made an extra pie and stuck it in the freezer to save for Brandon’s birthday.

And thank goodness for that! After a busy week studying for final exams we most likely would have had to stick a birthday candle in a McFlurry if it wasn’t for that pie. And oh my goodness, it was delicious!

Also, I have to confess, I think we have eaten half of the pie in under 12 hours. And yes, that includes what we ate for breakfast.

the same in the rain or sun

Posted by emily | Posted on 19-05-2010

Category : Family, My Life in Cairo, Oh, Egypt, Uncategorized

Some of you may have heard the story of the Egyptified letterpress print I received manhandled in the mail recently. I’m not ready to fully comment on it yet (or touch it), although I love it so much. I really do. And years from now, I’ll look back on it and think, whoa, I lived in Egypt. Crazy. So when I am ready to photograph it in all its glory and write about that fateful day, this will all make sense. So for now, long story short, the mail I have received thus far in Egypt (while thank goodness it makes it all the way from point A to B) isn’t always handled with tender loving care every step of the way.

After a package has been knifed open en route, and it’s contents (i.e. tiny fuzzy Easter chicks) were deemed safe and not of tremendous monetary value, the package is taped back together and sent on its way to my apartment. It’s not unlikely for things (i.e. an unlucky and now maimed fuzzy chick) to get caught in the web of tape the mail handlers use to reseal the package.

So, when I received something in the mail from my wonderful sister last week, I didn’t notice this little surprise that must have befallen the same fate as the tape-maimed fuzzy chick and gotten stuck to the tape inside the envelope. Anyhow, I finally got around to some tidying up around the house this afternoon, and as I was getting ready to throw away the envelope from last week’s mail (yeah, I know, it’s been sitting here all week), I found this delightful surprise.

I believe the cupcake pin is by cakespy (a really cute blog about sweets), and the little horseshoe, well, I guess I have that to thank for the intactness of my mail. Thanks, Mer!

P.S. Mer, we have to get cupcakes and coffee this summer…!!

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Posted by emily | Posted on 16-05-2010

Category : Art, Family

Today is Mimi’s Birthday! As one of my few regular blog-readers, I hope she is happy to know we are wishing her a very happy birthday from 6,732 miles away! (Hooray for the internet!)

Mimi is really the best Mimi anyone could ask for! I have a million memories of wonderful summers spent at Mimi’s house, eating popsicles outside and watching birds splashing in the birdbath, swinging on the swingset, or sitting with Mimi while she read to us about “Thunder-cake” when we would get scared of a thunderstorm looming on the horizon. I also have countless memories of sleepovers at Mimi’s, fighting over the fuzzy bear slippers, playing games, and best of all, that wonderful time right before bed where we would all say, “Mimi, tell us a story…” And what made Mimi’s stories so exciting and special was that they were her stories, real stories from the past. We loved hearing about life on the farm, about riding into town to sell eggs, and making biscuits early in the mornings before the sun came up. And we also loved hearing stories about our mom when she was a little girl, and even funny stories about things we had said or done when we were little kids. Oh how we loved to hear Mimi’s stories!

I’m already looking forward to seeing Mimi this summer! We always have a ball together! Thanks for being such a wonderful grandmother! Happy Birthday!

I love you!

Emily

Unfinished Obelisk

Posted by emily | Posted on 19-04-2010

Category : Current Favorites, Family, Robin & Grandma's Visit, Travel & Sightseeing, Travel within Egypt

Once we got to Aswan and after a crazy taxi experience that entailed some serious driver rivalry, keys stolen from the ignition, a chase involving a tire iron, and a group of tourists, ahem, us, quietly unloading our luggage and finding another cab… (yeah, I know, OH EGYPT!)

Anyhow once we got to Aswan, we decided to pay a visit to the unfinished obelisk. Let’s take a magical visit to antiquity together, shall we?

Now I know everyone experiences frustration and disappointment in life. But please try to imagine you are working in the scorching hot desert thousands of years ago with no promise of an air conditioned home awaiting you after a hard day’s labor quarrying stone with ancient tools and no SPF. Think about it. You’ve just chipped and chiseled away at the granite bedrock for who knows how long. The giant obelisk is coming along nicely, you at least have the satisfaction of knowing it is going to be the largest obelisk ever, hooray for human endeavor! And then what’s that? A crack? Surely not. And just like that, all of your hard work has to be completely abandoned.

Ugh, heartbreaking.

But at least it still attracts interest and awe thousands of years later.

Yikes.

Take a look at these chisel marks. I can’t even imagine how you’d quarry, hoist, and haul something like that.

Amazing.

Dahab

Khan Al Khalili

Memphis and Saqqara

Visiting the Pyramids with Brandon’s Parents

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

Oooooklahoma

our yard rabbits

hello summer

man’s best friend

the rain hits the ground and the leaves dry it up

and last but not least…

from ancient to medieval in Cairo

weddles in luxor

Ryan in Cairo!

the good things

the same in the rain or sun

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Unfinished Obelisk

Category

Archives

Partner Links