Last year I had my hair cut very short, and it was the most disastrous thing i did to my appearance :) I sweared I never do it again, but this week-end I broke a vow.
Well, yes, i have a VERY short haircut now.
This time by some miracle (probably by dutch style) it looks pretty good :)
anyways, things change fast, and I'll be getting back to normal soon. For now this short haircut adds even more craziness to me :)
Aaaaand - it's finally getting sunny in Rotterdam!
however for half an hour, and then it's raining again, but at least several times a day we see the blue sky and the sun! Dutch weather actually not as bad as it is talked about, so summer will be here soon as well :)
Well, yes, i have a VERY short haircut now.
This time by some miracle (probably by dutch style) it looks pretty good :)
anyways, things change fast, and I'll be getting back to normal soon. For now this short haircut adds even more craziness to me :)
Aaaaand - it's finally getting sunny in Rotterdam!
however for half an hour, and then it's raining again, but at least several times a day we see the blue sky and the sun! Dutch weather actually not as bad as it is talked about, so summer will be here soon as well :)
I've known this saying for a long time, and stumbled upon it recently in Boris' blog. Wnat to keep it in mine, never know where you find it next :)
"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and
hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
By George Calin
"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and
hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
By George Calin
One of best sites I stumbled upon recently:
http://changeme.gettyimages.com
it combines both things i like - photo and meaning of the change and thought behind it
http://changeme.gettyimages.com
it combines both things i like - photo and meaning of the change and thought behind it
I like May a lot!
May be because it's a month of my birthday in the first place, don't know :)
It seems all so bright and new - May is the time, when it's already not as cold as in winter or March, but still not as hot as in summer.
Flowers are flourishing, trees are blossoming, birds finally sing in the morning!
It's so nice, when you walk in the morning to the office, with weather welcoming, not arguing with you :)
The sun is bright, the sky is blue, and trees are fully dressed with green. And at the same time this green is so fresh and tender! Leaves on the trees get older and darker in summer, and I treasure those moments in may, when everything is yet in its full brightness and freshness.
And I have found yesterday bushes of lilac!!! I was wondering for some time, what's missing for me in this spring in the Netherlands, and when I saw lilac, I understood, that it was the thing I was looking for everywhere :) Lilac is a symbol of spring for me, symbol of may - it flourishes only in that month at home, and it was so cool to smell and feel it again :)
May be because it's a month of my birthday in the first place, don't know :)
It seems all so bright and new - May is the time, when it's already not as cold as in winter or March, but still not as hot as in summer.
Flowers are flourishing, trees are blossoming, birds finally sing in the morning!
It's so nice, when you walk in the morning to the office, with weather welcoming, not arguing with you :)
The sun is bright, the sky is blue, and trees are fully dressed with green. And at the same time this green is so fresh and tender! Leaves on the trees get older and darker in summer, and I treasure those moments in may, when everything is yet in its full brightness and freshness.
And I have found yesterday bushes of lilac!!! I was wondering for some time, what's missing for me in this spring in the Netherlands, and when I saw lilac, I understood, that it was the thing I was looking for everywhere :) Lilac is a symbol of spring for me, symbol of may - it flourishes only in that month at home, and it was so cool to smell and feel it again :)
12 of May was my 23rd Birthday!
And I feel the same Sveta :)
It's somewhere in between - not 19 or 20 anymore, but not 25 yet. I have the same way of feeling life and believing that so many good parts of my life are still ahead (I'm suspicious I'll have the same attitude in 65 as well :)
It's funny how we anticipate things - when I was a child I was looking at girls graduating high school thinking - one day I'll be an adult as well… When I was 17, I was looking at girls graduating university, thinking - oh they are so much more mature than me… here I am, graduated, passed through all those "becoming an adult" stages, but still don't feel like one :)
(well, we always need to keep a bit of a child in ourselves!)
I did grow up older of course. There were many people I met over last several years, many things I have experienced, liked, didn't, learned - I have changed. I believe I changed very much from what I've been when I was 17, entering the university, with the whole AIESEC life still ahead. And now there is so much of my life is again ahead :)
One good thing I gained over last years - my friends. Of different views, in different countries - and it was so good to hear them on my birthday :) As there are no borders or years between us…
Well, about the birthday - it was in Rotterdam, and started off with a palm tree that my AI guys put on my table as a birthday gift :)
…continued with the best Little Italy pizzas on the roof
…and ended up with me and Masha finishing some wine and talking late till night :)
And here I am, celebrated, happy, anticipate, forever young :)
And I feel the same Sveta :)
It's somewhere in between - not 19 or 20 anymore, but not 25 yet. I have the same way of feeling life and believing that so many good parts of my life are still ahead (I'm suspicious I'll have the same attitude in 65 as well :)
It's funny how we anticipate things - when I was a child I was looking at girls graduating high school thinking - one day I'll be an adult as well… When I was 17, I was looking at girls graduating university, thinking - oh they are so much more mature than me… here I am, graduated, passed through all those "becoming an adult" stages, but still don't feel like one :)
(well, we always need to keep a bit of a child in ourselves!)
I did grow up older of course. There were many people I met over last several years, many things I have experienced, liked, didn't, learned - I have changed. I believe I changed very much from what I've been when I was 17, entering the university, with the whole AIESEC life still ahead. And now there is so much of my life is again ahead :)
One good thing I gained over last years - my friends. Of different views, in different countries - and it was so good to hear them on my birthday :) As there are no borders or years between us…
Well, about the birthday - it was in Rotterdam, and started off with a palm tree that my AI guys put on my table as a birthday gift :)
…continued with the best Little Italy pizzas on the roof
…and ended up with me and Masha finishing some wine and talking late till night :)
And here I am, celebrated, happy, anticipate, forever young :)
I've been in Rome a couple of weeks ago, for a meeting.
There were a couple of hours free one day, and some more 4 hours another evening.
This time I was a bit better prepared (as usually I just read in internet a couple of things about the city in lonely planet before I go there - time is gold:) - I actually even read a couple of articles on Rome in wikipedia :)))
I was in Italy before, in Milan for one-day meeting as well, but that was not much at all. So Rome was my chance to see a bit more.
Plus it's ROME, one more destination on my must-go list. Eternal city how they say - and it seemed so indeed.
To save some money for the budget, I stayed in a very cheap hotel, which was conveniently in the center, but in a dodgy china-town district; I was trembling both evenings when going home from metro. But it was all ok, apparently. The elder woman who was at the reception, spoke poor English, but was so nice and smiley, that we easily communicated. She gave me many small chocolate easter eggs as sweets :)
The first thing that impressed me, as soon as we entered the city from the airport - there was so much life there!!! In comparing to Netherlands, where everything is structured, systematized and calm, Italy is a land of energy and emotion. I felt twice as much alive there :) It is in everything - traffic on the streets, people moving, sound of a big chaotic city, music from somewhere, people talking Italian…
The first picture of Rome for me - city street, with cafes filled with people, resting after their work, enjoying the beginning of an evening, business is still run, but it's already the mood of leisure in the air.
So I left my mega 2-star hotel and went to the center; I was lucky enough, it is pretty small in Rome, many things can be visited on feet, as major destinations are close to each other.
I went to Coliseum (Colosseum) - it was closed already (abt 7 p.m.), but I went around, trying to embrace this view of the building that was a place of so many stories, tragedies, death and life - pure history in stone. I was trying to imagine crowds inside, waiting and shouting; bread and to be entertained… Coliseum is magnificent.
I caught the last sun rays looking at Roman forums, place where many great deals about the world history were done. It felt great, to comprehend, that I'm in the place, in the same exact place that existed thousands years ago, from where the world was ruled and which influenced what we are - and it's still here. Roman empire, now just leftovers that survived through generations - I felt I'm in the history itself. My rich imagination drew pictures of ancient Romans, that would fill those places, squares, buildings…
I moved on, and suddenly a beautiful building arose in front of me, white and with fountains, I even sighed - it was so nice in the evening glow of Rome.
Trevi Fountain - one of major tourist attraction, and filled, overfilled with people around. I can bet, in all those destinations I could hear more other languages than Italian, for sure :)
Nice anyways, situated in the heard of small and very Rome streets. And yes, I threw a coin as well :) they say, if you throw one coin, you'll get beck to Rome; if you threw two (attention girls!) - you get an Italian cavalier. I wonder if there is a bunch of guys observing who throws how many coins, and making their business :)
In Rome I started to notice that a nice blond girl (whom I consider myself to be :) who is alone attracts lots of attention indeed; and probably I need to be more cautious about it. Italians and et al, and my nationality - more precise, assumptions about Russians - doesn't play well either :)
Anyways, the first evening was almost over - I got my dinner, tried to find the way home, stumbled upon a shop with huuuundreds of pasta types (colorful, small and huge, of all possible shapes).
The next morning - it was a wonderful sunny spring morning in Rome! The sky was blue, the sun was bright, birds were singing, iPod was playing, streets were clean early morning, trees were flourishing - I was in Rome!!!
I was singing "Rome Vacations" (Russians will understand :), going down the street to the metro, and could not help myself smiling :) Life's good!
---meeting was over, I'll pass that boring part of a EU funded project---
And I had 4 hours of a nice day ahead!
Rome looked like this:
I love the picture, it's much is Rome I saw it: it's lively, busy, springy!
It was so warm there, the second half of April is like second half of May in our places (our places I mean Belarus where my parents live, and Moscow :)
And another thing - there are soooooooooo many tourists in Rome! It's getting warmer, and more and more people get to all touristy locations. Well, I was one of tourists as well :)
I went to St.Paul's Cathedral, which is considered to be the biggest dome-cathedral that gave the beginning to all the rest similar structures. It is in Vatican, actually the entrance to the cathedral is the only area without the border and without the guards one perimeter, so by visiting St.Paul's, I've visited one more state, now the smallest in the world :) Vatican is only about 0,5 square km. Interesting, that they have about 900 citizens, and they have even special passport and special euro :)
The cathedral was very beautiful; very nice paintings inside, very impressive.
It's hard for me to judge as I'm not a religious person; the cathedral is magnificent; church seems powerful (of course, it's the main catholic place, Vatican); how much of religion and faith people. Can feel there - people who believe would tell better. It was a very beautiful and a historically significant place for me. I regret that I didn't have time before the closing to see Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel which is there as well.
After St.Paul's I crossed Tiber - feel the moment, it's as nice:
The best part of the day for me was when I was crossing many small streets in the center of Rome, to get to a famous Piazza Navona.
That road was exactly the way I wanted to see Rome :)
Small, narrow and quite clean streets,
with houses of several floors, with many flowers,
small shops and cafes at the entrance,
and very winding :)
One thing I was particularly excited about - Pantheon. It is very old, and you can see that there were centuries of people stepping on its floor; it's ancient. But it was quite small, I was expecting something grand - and Pantheon was a cleaned, almost empty hall.
Again, my imagination helped me to see the better times of Pantheon power :)
Near by, I had THE BEST PIZZA EVER! Very thin, and cheesy, and… very Italian! Or, and yes, I tried my favorite Italian dish, lasagna, at a couple of locations in those days :)
Pass Rome streets, again - through nice piazzas, shopping streets, small yards - to Spanish steps, which is a famous place to meet, to sit with flowers around, and to think nice things about Rome, or anything you want :)
And the next morning I left, keeping that part of Rome life, 2 sunny days and energy with me.
Oh and one more detail!
They have very many motorbikes, as probably it's much faster to drive through Rome traffic on them. Girls, guys, girls with guys, business men - everyone rides motorbikes there!
Welcome to Rome, VIVA ITALIA!
:)
There were a couple of hours free one day, and some more 4 hours another evening.
This time I was a bit better prepared (as usually I just read in internet a couple of things about the city in lonely planet before I go there - time is gold:) - I actually even read a couple of articles on Rome in wikipedia :)))
I was in Italy before, in Milan for one-day meeting as well, but that was not much at all. So Rome was my chance to see a bit more.
Plus it's ROME, one more destination on my must-go list. Eternal city how they say - and it seemed so indeed.
To save some money for the budget, I stayed in a very cheap hotel, which was conveniently in the center, but in a dodgy china-town district; I was trembling both evenings when going home from metro. But it was all ok, apparently. The elder woman who was at the reception, spoke poor English, but was so nice and smiley, that we easily communicated. She gave me many small chocolate easter eggs as sweets :)
The first thing that impressed me, as soon as we entered the city from the airport - there was so much life there!!! In comparing to Netherlands, where everything is structured, systematized and calm, Italy is a land of energy and emotion. I felt twice as much alive there :) It is in everything - traffic on the streets, people moving, sound of a big chaotic city, music from somewhere, people talking Italian…
The first picture of Rome for me - city street, with cafes filled with people, resting after their work, enjoying the beginning of an evening, business is still run, but it's already the mood of leisure in the air.
So I left my mega 2-star hotel and went to the center; I was lucky enough, it is pretty small in Rome, many things can be visited on feet, as major destinations are close to each other.
I went to Coliseum (Colosseum) - it was closed already (abt 7 p.m.), but I went around, trying to embrace this view of the building that was a place of so many stories, tragedies, death and life - pure history in stone. I was trying to imagine crowds inside, waiting and shouting; bread and to be entertained… Coliseum is magnificent.
I caught the last sun rays looking at Roman forums, place where many great deals about the world history were done. It felt great, to comprehend, that I'm in the place, in the same exact place that existed thousands years ago, from where the world was ruled and which influenced what we are - and it's still here. Roman empire, now just leftovers that survived through generations - I felt I'm in the history itself. My rich imagination drew pictures of ancient Romans, that would fill those places, squares, buildings…
I moved on, and suddenly a beautiful building arose in front of me, white and with fountains, I even sighed - it was so nice in the evening glow of Rome.
Trevi Fountain - one of major tourist attraction, and filled, overfilled with people around. I can bet, in all those destinations I could hear more other languages than Italian, for sure :)
Nice anyways, situated in the heard of small and very Rome streets. And yes, I threw a coin as well :) they say, if you throw one coin, you'll get beck to Rome; if you threw two (attention girls!) - you get an Italian cavalier. I wonder if there is a bunch of guys observing who throws how many coins, and making their business :)
In Rome I started to notice that a nice blond girl (whom I consider myself to be :) who is alone attracts lots of attention indeed; and probably I need to be more cautious about it. Italians and et al, and my nationality - more precise, assumptions about Russians - doesn't play well either :)
Anyways, the first evening was almost over - I got my dinner, tried to find the way home, stumbled upon a shop with huuuundreds of pasta types (colorful, small and huge, of all possible shapes).
The next morning - it was a wonderful sunny spring morning in Rome! The sky was blue, the sun was bright, birds were singing, iPod was playing, streets were clean early morning, trees were flourishing - I was in Rome!!!
I was singing "Rome Vacations" (Russians will understand :), going down the street to the metro, and could not help myself smiling :) Life's good!
---meeting was over, I'll pass that boring part of a EU funded project---
And I had 4 hours of a nice day ahead!
Rome looked like this:
I love the picture, it's much is Rome I saw it: it's lively, busy, springy!
It was so warm there, the second half of April is like second half of May in our places (our places I mean Belarus where my parents live, and Moscow :)
And another thing - there are soooooooooo many tourists in Rome! It's getting warmer, and more and more people get to all touristy locations. Well, I was one of tourists as well :)
I went to St.Paul's Cathedral, which is considered to be the biggest dome-cathedral that gave the beginning to all the rest similar structures. It is in Vatican, actually the entrance to the cathedral is the only area without the border and without the guards one perimeter, so by visiting St.Paul's, I've visited one more state, now the smallest in the world :) Vatican is only about 0,5 square km. Interesting, that they have about 900 citizens, and they have even special passport and special euro :)
The cathedral was very beautiful; very nice paintings inside, very impressive.
It's hard for me to judge as I'm not a religious person; the cathedral is magnificent; church seems powerful (of course, it's the main catholic place, Vatican); how much of religion and faith people. Can feel there - people who believe would tell better. It was a very beautiful and a historically significant place for me. I regret that I didn't have time before the closing to see Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel which is there as well.
After St.Paul's I crossed Tiber - feel the moment, it's as nice:
The best part of the day for me was when I was crossing many small streets in the center of Rome, to get to a famous Piazza Navona. That road was exactly the way I wanted to see Rome :)
Small, narrow and quite clean streets,
with houses of several floors, with many flowers,
small shops and cafes at the entrance,
and very winding :)
One thing I was particularly excited about - Pantheon. It is very old, and you can see that there were centuries of people stepping on its floor; it's ancient. But it was quite small, I was expecting something grand - and Pantheon was a cleaned, almost empty hall.
Again, my imagination helped me to see the better times of Pantheon power :)
Near by, I had THE BEST PIZZA EVER! Very thin, and cheesy, and… very Italian! Or, and yes, I tried my favorite Italian dish, lasagna, at a couple of locations in those days :)
Pass Rome streets, again - through nice piazzas, shopping streets, small yards - to Spanish steps, which is a famous place to meet, to sit with flowers around, and to think nice things about Rome, or anything you want :)
And the next morning I left, keeping that part of Rome life, 2 sunny days and energy with me.
Oh and one more detail!
They have very many motorbikes, as probably it's much faster to drive through Rome traffic on them. Girls, guys, girls with guys, business men - everyone rides motorbikes there!
Welcome to Rome, VIVA ITALIA!
:)
My personal photo page:
(yes, my favorite flickr that I mention all the time :)
www.flickr.com/photos/svetaz
All my best photos from this year are there
I'm upgrading it to bigger account soon, so only the sky will be limit to my photo mania :)
(yes, my favorite flickr that I mention all the time :)
www.flickr.com/photos/svetaz
All my best photos from this year are there
I'm upgrading it to bigger account soon, so only the sky will be limit to my photo mania :)
I guess it's about the time for me to finish my postings about Egypt :)
So, 3 weeks ago, in the great land of Egypt...
After Dahab we came to Basata back, still having almost half of our holidays ahead.
We chilled, slept, talked about everything, sang songs (Geta's romanian songs, Tom's "Squeedy fun!", my russian solo), met sunrise and sunset, played voleball (we played me+geta against Shady and Tom - guys terribly lost 2-0!!!) all Basata community supported us in winning :)
Had another awesome dinner, watched moon in the mountains by the Red Sea…
Swam as much as we could, played, read, got tanned
Perfect combination of everything you need at vacations!
And the next days we said good bye to Basata, this most peaceful and relaxing place I've ever been to. It will always be in my memory, our days there…
And… Cairo was waiting for us! Surprisingly the mini-bus ride took much shorter the way back, we reached the city in 4 hours or so. Geta got fooled with pyramids by Tom, and then she "saw" them with Tom's help 2 more times before we saw real pyramids :)
We got a really nice hostel, just in the Tahrir square, which is one of most central areas of Cairo, the view was really nice
We spent a day with Tom and his friend, going to Old Cairo, Muslim part, El Khalil (market)Coptic Cairo, Al Azhar park. It was quite a contrast between well-kept central part, with cafes and modern cars - and streets of Old Cairo, with hills of garlic, donkeys, quiet mosques and noisy markets. Life is everywhere in this city - but what a different life…
Coptic Cairo - we saw one of worlds' oldest churches, and even the place where Maria and Jesus lived in the cave; holy place.
Coptic Cairo is actually as a different reality - you almost don't see veils on women, and they even sold beer in the shop once!
Actually this is another flash-light of Egypt - you do see traditional society there; and a woman in black, with only eyes visible, is a normal part of a landscape here. I don't actually know if majority of woman play a role more that a beautiful landscape does… may be not enough time for me to get to know everything.
We've been in the café El Fishawy, that was open 24 hr non-stop for 200 years;
we were in a quiet mosque closed on restoration, but where we got entrance for small baksheesh. That was one of most beautiful and peaceful places I've ever been to. Similar to Blue Mosque in Istanbul, this one left a feeling of lightness and peace; so much space and air.
I loved Al Azhar park; freshness of fountains and grass after a hot day, WONDERFUL view of the city, Egyptian concert, dinner on the lake, sunset, and evening breeze on the top of Cairo. When it gets dark, you can count green lights of mosques on the horizon; there are many of them, and their sounds make that feeling of Cairo that sounds in your mind a long time after you leave…
What else about the city?
It is big; noisy and alive; dusty and fast; it has Nile.
I remember, that many of best city places are on the Nile island, where embassies are; that best kebab place is on the edge of a good and a bit suburban part of Cairo; taxis are cheap - if you know where to take them and pretend very smart that you are not fooled by the driver.
I remember Cairo has BEST fresh juices I have ever tried in my life! Everything you want - mango juice, so sick that it doesn't go through the stroke; orange, strawberry, melon, banana and everything else you can ask for.
I remember that many buildings, especially in well-kept parts of the city, are colonial European style, with extremely expensive hotels where mainly Saudi Arabians stay; and if you manage to be in those bubble, you'd think that Cairo is a very developed modern city.
American university has security level as the embassy has, and is the most popular institution in Egypt; Egyptian chain of coffee-shops is an oasis of the West in Cairo. It's like Egyptian Starbacks; pretty popular by the way.
Oh, here goes another big story: PYRAMIDS.
Interesting fact that they are almost in the city, but you'd never guess that on a postcard view :)
Our experience with the pyramids started with a horse ride; I was very excited! (this is one of ways how you can get to the pyramids). My mistake probably was that in this wave if excitement I asked our guide to make our horses (there were 4 of us) ride faster. He did, and he didn't stop… I think other caravans of tourists whom we passed on the way were surprised (and I bet jealous!) to see us, galloping, screaming, laughing - it was great. I wasn't too bad, especially for the first-time rider :)
Pyramids… I can happily live now, I saw the last ancient wonder of the world. The are magnificent - I think this is the right word. They are huge from the distance, when you first glance at them; they are even bigger when you get closer.
Pyramids are wonderfully simple - and yet so complex that no one can conquer them for centuries. I felt them, and that was enough to carry on.
Yes-yes-yes! Thank you pyramids that you are there for me for many years that passed, and for many that are ahead. I hope one day we will know the mystery behind pyramids - and it should be another mystery to keep us coming back to something simple.
You just have to see them yourself, that's it :)
And yes, the Sphinx is small :)
Egyptian museum - as our guys told, this is the best worst kept museum. It is indeed - collections are TREASURES, and really interesting, but no order in huge halls, all precious exponents are just piled one on another in dust, with type-writer tags in French (which means at least 20 year old). We didn't have much time to spend in the museum, so run through main exhibitions. Tutankhamen golden mask (can't believe I saw with my own eyes that famous image) is so well done, and so beautiful, it's like perfect face. I liked it a lot (remembered one Russian rock song of Nautilus Pompilius group, about Tutankhamen when was looking at the mask :)
Nefertity head - we saw it as well, and it does look indeed as the most beautiful woman in the history. I wonder how gorgeous she was in her life when even a rough stone head is so nice-looking…
The evening of the last day in Egypt, in Cairo - we met sunset on the felucca on the Nile (by the way feluccas in Cairo were my first experience of sailing boats!), enjoying true relaxation and just esthetic pleasure - being there, in the city, on the river, with nice people, on the slowly moving towards something good boat …
We run through El Khalil, Cairo market, in attempts to fulfill the duty of presents for families and friends (well, and yes, get something for ourselves - I got nice jewelry :)
And the last of Cairo that night - was Muqattam place, on the hill above the city. You can drive there in the car, and just sit on the edge, on plastic chairs, with the best shisha and hot sahleb, listening to the music, mosques, people talking, wind and everything else night Cairo is made of… You just feel it. Truly romantic, and a very nice place - it was the perfect exclamation mark of our Cairo time!..
And then we went to the airport, stopping for some time in the traditional @Cairo last spot - Limousine café/eatery - it is under open air, totally not touristy (good for this place), with plastic chairs and they say best shisha in the city. When we walked in (foreigners, and 2 girls, which very rare there) - place magically were arranged to fit us all, people got white serving dresses, and bets glasses of juice for ladies :) it was so nice, last flavor of hospitality (and apple shisha:) of Egypt…
It was a magical time for me - in Basata, in Dahab, in Cairo.
Many nice memories - to keep me warm in cold winter evenings, remembering Egypt :)
I'm happy I was there.
Thank you Tom, Shady, Geta, and all Egyptian land, for making that week my best vacations! :)
So, 3 weeks ago, in the great land of Egypt...
After Dahab we came to Basata back, still having almost half of our holidays ahead.
We chilled, slept, talked about everything, sang songs (Geta's romanian songs, Tom's "Squeedy fun!", my russian solo), met sunrise and sunset, played voleball (we played me+geta against Shady and Tom - guys terribly lost 2-0!!!) all Basata community supported us in winning :)
Had another awesome dinner, watched moon in the mountains by the Red Sea…
Swam as much as we could, played, read, got tanned
Perfect combination of everything you need at vacations!
And the next days we said good bye to Basata, this most peaceful and relaxing place I've ever been to. It will always be in my memory, our days there…
And… Cairo was waiting for us! Surprisingly the mini-bus ride took much shorter the way back, we reached the city in 4 hours or so. Geta got fooled with pyramids by Tom, and then she "saw" them with Tom's help 2 more times before we saw real pyramids :)
We got a really nice hostel, just in the Tahrir square, which is one of most central areas of Cairo, the view was really nice
We spent a day with Tom and his friend, going to Old Cairo, Muslim part, El Khalil (market)Coptic Cairo, Al Azhar park. It was quite a contrast between well-kept central part, with cafes and modern cars - and streets of Old Cairo, with hills of garlic, donkeys, quiet mosques and noisy markets. Life is everywhere in this city - but what a different life…
Coptic Cairo - we saw one of worlds' oldest churches, and even the place where Maria and Jesus lived in the cave; holy place.
Coptic Cairo is actually as a different reality - you almost don't see veils on women, and they even sold beer in the shop once!
Actually this is another flash-light of Egypt - you do see traditional society there; and a woman in black, with only eyes visible, is a normal part of a landscape here. I don't actually know if majority of woman play a role more that a beautiful landscape does… may be not enough time for me to get to know everything.
We've been in the café El Fishawy, that was open 24 hr non-stop for 200 years;
we were in a quiet mosque closed on restoration, but where we got entrance for small baksheesh. That was one of most beautiful and peaceful places I've ever been to. Similar to Blue Mosque in Istanbul, this one left a feeling of lightness and peace; so much space and air.
I loved Al Azhar park; freshness of fountains and grass after a hot day, WONDERFUL view of the city, Egyptian concert, dinner on the lake, sunset, and evening breeze on the top of Cairo. When it gets dark, you can count green lights of mosques on the horizon; there are many of them, and their sounds make that feeling of Cairo that sounds in your mind a long time after you leave…
What else about the city?
It is big; noisy and alive; dusty and fast; it has Nile.
I remember, that many of best city places are on the Nile island, where embassies are; that best kebab place is on the edge of a good and a bit suburban part of Cairo; taxis are cheap - if you know where to take them and pretend very smart that you are not fooled by the driver.
I remember Cairo has BEST fresh juices I have ever tried in my life! Everything you want - mango juice, so sick that it doesn't go through the stroke; orange, strawberry, melon, banana and everything else you can ask for.
I remember that many buildings, especially in well-kept parts of the city, are colonial European style, with extremely expensive hotels where mainly Saudi Arabians stay; and if you manage to be in those bubble, you'd think that Cairo is a very developed modern city.
American university has security level as the embassy has, and is the most popular institution in Egypt; Egyptian chain of coffee-shops is an oasis of the West in Cairo. It's like Egyptian Starbacks; pretty popular by the way.
Oh, here goes another big story: PYRAMIDS.
Interesting fact that they are almost in the city, but you'd never guess that on a postcard view :)
Our experience with the pyramids started with a horse ride; I was very excited! (this is one of ways how you can get to the pyramids). My mistake probably was that in this wave if excitement I asked our guide to make our horses (there were 4 of us) ride faster. He did, and he didn't stop… I think other caravans of tourists whom we passed on the way were surprised (and I bet jealous!) to see us, galloping, screaming, laughing - it was great. I wasn't too bad, especially for the first-time rider :)
Pyramids… I can happily live now, I saw the last ancient wonder of the world. The are magnificent - I think this is the right word. They are huge from the distance, when you first glance at them; they are even bigger when you get closer.
Pyramids are wonderfully simple - and yet so complex that no one can conquer them for centuries. I felt them, and that was enough to carry on.
Yes-yes-yes! Thank you pyramids that you are there for me for many years that passed, and for many that are ahead. I hope one day we will know the mystery behind pyramids - and it should be another mystery to keep us coming back to something simple.
You just have to see them yourself, that's it :)
And yes, the Sphinx is small :)
Egyptian museum - as our guys told, this is the best worst kept museum. It is indeed - collections are TREASURES, and really interesting, but no order in huge halls, all precious exponents are just piled one on another in dust, with type-writer tags in French (which means at least 20 year old). We didn't have much time to spend in the museum, so run through main exhibitions. Tutankhamen golden mask (can't believe I saw with my own eyes that famous image) is so well done, and so beautiful, it's like perfect face. I liked it a lot (remembered one Russian rock song of Nautilus Pompilius group, about Tutankhamen when was looking at the mask :)
Nefertity head - we saw it as well, and it does look indeed as the most beautiful woman in the history. I wonder how gorgeous she was in her life when even a rough stone head is so nice-looking…
The evening of the last day in Egypt, in Cairo - we met sunset on the felucca on the Nile (by the way feluccas in Cairo were my first experience of sailing boats!), enjoying true relaxation and just esthetic pleasure - being there, in the city, on the river, with nice people, on the slowly moving towards something good boat …
We run through El Khalil, Cairo market, in attempts to fulfill the duty of presents for families and friends (well, and yes, get something for ourselves - I got nice jewelry :)
And the last of Cairo that night - was Muqattam place, on the hill above the city. You can drive there in the car, and just sit on the edge, on plastic chairs, with the best shisha and hot sahleb, listening to the music, mosques, people talking, wind and everything else night Cairo is made of… You just feel it. Truly romantic, and a very nice place - it was the perfect exclamation mark of our Cairo time!..
And then we went to the airport, stopping for some time in the traditional @Cairo last spot - Limousine café/eatery - it is under open air, totally not touristy (good for this place), with plastic chairs and they say best shisha in the city. When we walked in (foreigners, and 2 girls, which very rare there) - place magically were arranged to fit us all, people got white serving dresses, and bets glasses of juice for ladies :) it was so nice, last flavor of hospitality (and apple shisha:) of Egypt…
It was a magical time for me - in Basata, in Dahab, in Cairo.
Many nice memories - to keep me warm in cold winter evenings, remembering Egypt :)
I'm happy I was there.
Thank you Tom, Shady, Geta, and all Egyptian land, for making that week my best vacations! :)
