Archive for the Travel
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Just tie a yellow ribbon. Not.
Last thing before we left home I knotted yellow ribbon onto each of our bag handles so they’d be easy to spot at baggage claim on arrival. Smart thinking, huh?
Except that somebody else had the same idea. Ramoul, who was helping us, found our garment bag with a yellow ribbon and piled it onto our baggage trolley. Except it wasn’t ours. We almost left with somebody else’s bag, with a different sort of yellow ribbon.
By the time we returned that one to the carousel, a tour group of 20 or more people had collected all their bags–each marked with a yellow ribbon. While Johnny was searching through their pile, I finally spotted ours, one of the last off the plane.
So next time? Fabric strips torn from the ugliest, gaudiest cloth I can find.
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Firsts
It’s gratifying to me that even at age 62 and having already traveled a lot, there are still new things to experience. A little like heaven will be.
Here are several firsts, and we haven’t even been in Egypt a whole day yet.
First time to Egypt.
First time in business class crossing the ocean.
First time knowing where to find Mecca while I was flying. (on the where-you-are-now screen)
First time seeing Egypt touch the Mediterranean.
First time staying in such a red room. Glad my eyes are closed for sleeping.
First time I received a complimentary fruit basket in the shape of swan.
Not pictured: First time a bellman hurried toward us to help with our bags and took the rolling bag from Johnny and left me carrying the heavy no-wheels briefcase. Fluke or culture?
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Cairo’s sweet welcome
We stopped at the coffee shop of our hotel to buy Coke Light, but Sprite Light was the only diet drink they had. So we asked for 2 of those.
The young woman helper asked me, “Why light?”
I said, “Because I don’t want so much sugar.”
Without a pause, she said, “But Madam, you are so beautiful!”
Reminds me of my friend Noel’s welcome to me in Cameroon last year.
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Don’t forget camels!
Johnny and I are at JFK on our way to Cairo.
We’ll be thankful for your prayers. Sometimes there are important things happening that it’s hard to leave.
Johnny is scheduled to be one of the Bible expositors for Lausanne 2010. He and the others are gathering to get acquainted, to strengthen a common vision, and to study Ephesians together. That’s the main purpose of the trip.
But what else? Lord willing . . .
- Johnny will preach Sunday, 2/21, 7 pm, at Heliopolis Presbyterian Church.
- We will visit with a person from our church who is studying in Cairo.
- There will be a visit to Muqattam, the garbage village, to see a bit of what God is doing there, including the amazing Saint Simeon’s Church.
- And we will keep praying that God will open our hearts, minds, and mouths for the sake of the Kingdom wherever we are.
- Of course we hope to visit the Egyptian Museum and to go to Giza to see the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx.
AND, don’t forget camels.
I haven’t tasted camel meat yet, and I think it’s time. It’s standard fare at feasts in Arab countries.
Also, I’ve been in an Arab country before and have ridden a camel. But Johnny hasn’t. Wouldn’t that be the perfect climax to a slide show?–My husband and I side by side on our camels, loping across the sands into the sunset (don’t forget the sunset!)?
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
Healthy eating on the road
I’ve been thinking more the last year about eating healthier. Oh yeah, and not just thinking about it but trying to actually do it.
So here’s some advice about eating something besides chips and Twinkies during a road trip. I think it’s serious. But maybe not everything for one meal.
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
How cold is it? 5
One more time, I want to remind you it can get really cold in Minnesota.
How cold is that? If you don’t have a sled, no prob.
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
How cold is it? 4
Sometimes in Minnesota it’s so cold that nothing works as it’s supposed to.
How cold might it be? Well, for instance, what in the world can you do for fun outside with the children when it’s -10 degrees?
Monday, January 11th, 2010
How cold is it? 3
Oh man. By the time we get home to Minnesota tonight, it will have been up to 20-something degrees today–practically sunbathing weather. But Minnesota is still shivering from the cold last week.
How cold was it? You’d have been glad to have a clothes dryer and not have to hang your laundry out to dry.
Sunday, January 10th, 2010
How cold is it? 2
It’s all the way up to 7 degrees above zero this morning in Minneapolis. But keep in mind, it gets really cold in Minnesota. How cold?
Let’s just say this: Don’t be lazy and leave your groceries in the trunk of the car for later. Later will be too late.
Saturday, January 9th, 2010
How cold is it?
I’m visiting in Georgia for a couple more days. It’s cold here by Georgia standards.
But it’s really cold back home in Minnesota. How cold is it?
