Keeping the faith!

Alright, I have to share this with you all. Living in Egypt means that you have to have a strong disposition. One, because the water or food will get you. Two, because the people will inevitably bring you to your knees. And three, because if the previous two don't get you, the traffic will certainly do you in. This is a perfect example of the mind-set of the locals. Yesterday, my family and I were at our "Club". It is a wonderful facility that we belong to right around the corner from our house. There is a big resort style pool, a beautiful playground, a very nice restaurant, tennis courts, etc, etc. You get the idea. we go there everyday, almost all day. It's Egypt, It's hot, and there is water there. Since most Egyptians don't rise before 12noon. We always have the entire pool to ourselves. So at the pool there are these "cabana boys". Their only job is to open up our umbrellas when we arrive. But they hate doing their job, and insist on hiding from every single person who comes to the pool. They can see you struggling with the huge canopy. they watch you jump up and down like a maniac trying to get their attention. they just don't care to move. Everyday I have to summon a waiter or a lifegaurd or a manger to go and get them out of their hiding place. It's ridiculous. So yesterday, my kids and husband are flipping and diving off of the diving board and my favorite little nemisis comes over to the lifegaurd and tells him that there is electric wires under the diving board and that my family were making a huge problem and going to electrocute everyone. REALLY!!! Wires under a diving board. I don't even see that happening in Egypt. After we had to call two managers and the property manager, we came to find out that the little "cabana boy" just didn't feel like sweeping up anymore water for the day. Pity for him! You should have seen the commotion. The manager was so embarrassed, the lifegaurd felt like an idiot for listening to this guy, and now, This little nemisis of mine is really avoiding me like the plague.

I miss Washington.......

Here are some pics to go along with the last message..

Hi all. It's me again. It's been quite a busy couple of weeks. Still getting settled in, but I am definitley learning my way around Cairo, AGAIN. My dear friend and partner in crime, Kathie, made a fantastic suggestion. I am going to make it my new mission to learn all about Egyptian wine making. I know, I know, I know. I said it was awful and not worth passing my lips. But you know what? Beggars cannot be choosers and after all, they have been doing it for thousands of years, right? So, today I bought my first two bottles.

The first one, Chateau des Reves. a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend. the label claims that it is a product of Egypt, but closer evaluation shows that it is a Lebanese wine. this gave me great comfort. I have heard that the Lebanese do a very nice job. At first, I looked at it in my glass and saw the lighter than I'm use to, ruddy color. Oh please, just a little body... The nose was abit rough. I swear I thought I smelt balsamic vinegar. But I think that was just my nose being fussy. anyhow. I gave it a good chance, and maybe it was just because I have longed for a sip of wine for what seems like eternity, but it wasn't all that horrible. It was pretty smooth for such a youngling. I can't really see a lot of oak in it, but definitley some red berry fruit and a little spice. Not real earthy or aggressive by any means, but it's a start. the alcohol was listed at 13%. God, I miss Washington wines. how much of this do you think I will have to drink in order to get drunk and truly enjoy it??? I bought this wine (51LE, that is roughly $10US) at a famous Pizza shop in Zamalek. It's called Maison Thomas, and it is 1 of only 2 pizza shops in Cairo where you can get real pork products on you pie. I must say that I loved the pizza, enjoyed the mushroom salad and tolerated the wine faily well.

So tomorrow, we will try bottle # 2. Wish me luck.

Up and Running!!

Hi all! Kristine here. I can't believe I finally figured out how to get my browser off Arabic and back in English. As we say here in Egypt, Al' Hamdu'allah. Thanks be to God. I've been here just over a month now and I am starting to settle back into the Cairo Groove. Dealing with the traffic is a daily chore (for my driver, that is), but I don't let it keep me home.
What I am missing most of all, though, is all my dear friends at ANC. My co-workers, my friends, the wine club members. Just all of it. I hope in some little way that you are missing me as well.