On our first day in Egypt we woke up to a spectacular view of the pyramids and sphinx.

This view is the reason I chose The Guardian Guest House as our first accommodation.  We woke up for an early breakfast even though we had not checked in until after one a.m. from a 20-hour trip.

We had breakfast at the Guest House buffet which was included in the room rate. Charlie and I sampled almost everything on the table.

He was especially delighted with freshly fried falafel made from fava beans in the Egyptian style.

Our tour guide, Sherine, picked us up in front of the hotel at 8:30 a.m.  on Friday.  (Friday is a day of rest in Egypt so schools and offices are not in session which meant lots of locals were out and about even at tourist locations.) This morning she had a driver, Eid, who navigated Cairo and waited while we viewed the various museums and sites.  We were awed by the traffic, winding streets, U-turns, and the vast number of people — locals and tourists.

We began at the mosque Mohammad Ali. Our guide gave explanation of the outbuildings then took us inside.

We came first to the mosque since it was Friday (the holy day) and at noon the building would close to tourists and be open for Muslim prayers and service only.

Our next stop was the old Egyptian Museum.  Until the new museum opens in Giza the most famous and valuable artefacts in Egypt can be found here.

Charlie was tired from our travels and took a rest in a corner until the time came to look at Tut’s gold sarcophagi and throne.

One tiny relic that should not be overlooked is the 3-inch tall ivory statuette of Khufu discovered in the desert in 1903. The museum is packed with beautiful, elegant, interesting objects — some monumental and some tiny.  The colors and brilliance of these very old items are stunning.

At long last the part of the day Charlie had been looking forward to had arrived — lunch.  Sherine guided us to an indoor/outdoor café where we could sample traditional Egyptian food that would be safe for us to eat without worry of getting ill.

I had a most delicious plate of koshary.

Charlie ordered lentil soup and 2 rounds of Turkish coffee for all of us.

After lunch we visited the Coptic area of Cairo.  We started at the Hanging Church.

It is called the Hanging Church because it was built on the southern gate of the Roman Fortress. Logs of palm trees and layers of stones were constructed above the ruins of the Roman fortress to be used as a foundation. The Hanging Church is a unique church and has a wooden roof in the shape of Noah’s ark.

We also visited Saint Sergius Coptic Church and the  ornately beautiful Ben Ezra Synagogue.

Back in Giza and on our own we walked around the streets.  I found a bank ATM to take out 1000 Egyptian pounds, $32.44 US.  Charlie got a pizza from Pizza Hut (of all places).  He said it wasn’t the best.

We watched a glorious sunset from the rooftop terrace of our hotel.

Then much to our surprise  we watched and listened to sound and light show from our hotel room.  We could see and hear it very, very clearly.  The show was about an hour in English, then repeated for a second hour in French.

We were really exhausted nevertheless we looked forward to our second day in Egypt.

• Egypt–Preliminary Itinerary
• Egypt–Firming Up the Details
• Egypt — Getting There

Jo

Charlie and I arrived at Baltimore airport on a Wednesday evening and checked our luggage through to Cairo, Egypt. We had no issue passing through TSA because our Global Entry classification includes pre-check.

We took off after 9 o’clock about half an hour late. We arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport a little after 9 a.m. the next morning. We knew we had a long 9-hour layover but we decided to stay in the airport area instead of trying to slip in an excursion into London. (We’d been there recently.)

We went through customs and had coffee at Caffe Nero in terminal 5.  We checked our Apple AirTags to make sure our luggage was in England with us.

I had sussed out that the hotel attached to Terminal 5 by a walking bridge served a proper English tea at the Tea 5 Café.

We opted to head there for a bite to eat.

We ordered afternoon tea for one which was plenty for both of us.

Finally we boarded our flight to Cairo.

We filled out the arrival card on the airplane before landing. We arrived that same evening about midnight.

First order of business was to stand in line for a Visa on Arrival.

This was a easy task: we queued up, presented our passports and a crisp $100 US bill to pay the $25 visa fee.  We were given change in Egyptian pounds so we would not need to visit an airport ATM in the wee hours of the morning.

We needed both our passport and arrival card to pass through immigration control.

Next we stopped by the Orange cell phone kiosk located near the luggage belts (not the arrival hall) and I had an Egyptian sim card placed in my old iPhone. The sim card was less that $10 US and easily lasted our 2 weeks in Egypt. I carried 2 phones for the duration of the trip.

One more customs officer to pass through after we picked up our luggage.  Taking photos through secure areas was forbidden so we progressed to the next area without photo documentation.

We went out  the terminal’s main exit door where we were supposed to meet our driver holding a yellow Guardian Travel sign.  Actually it was a man in a yellow t-shirt holding a sign with my name on it among at least 50 other drivers . He took us on a 45-minute ride to the Guardian Guest House in Giza where we waited another 45 minutes while the night manager found the key to our room.  Then we fell into bed and slept until breakfast the next morning.

• Egypt–Preliminary Itinerary
• Egypt–Firming Up the Details

Jo

Even as I post this list Charlie and I are still in Egypt probably sailing down the Nile (which is actually heading from south to north). I can’t wait to write detailed accounts of every place we went and everything we saw.

In addition to seeing the pyramids, the Sphynx, and other fabulous ancient sites, I

• framed 4 pieces of art I had collected on previous travels.
  

  The palm tree is now hanging in the Treetops room.

• bought a new espresso machine and stocked up on coffee pods for the Verismo machine.
  

  We have a new espresso machine on which I have been practicing my barista technique.

• cleaned out my car’s glove box.  Years of trash and papers have been disposed of. One tiny task toward completing #29 on my 101 in 1001 list: clean out my car.
•  started working out with a weekly tap dancing class.
  

  My old tap shoes worked for a once-a-week class.

•  continued practicing tai chi twice a week with a local group.
  

  Tai chi students

• learned to play bocce.
  

  Bocce may be just my speed.

• foraged some prized maitake which I sautéed and topped my chicken wrap.
  

  I also bought some secondhand cheery yellow and white dishes.

• attended a friend’s “Build Your Own Chili Bowl” party — the perfect fall get together.
• went on a police ride-along.  We searched for an indecent exposure suspect,  answered a domestic disturbance call, filled out reports at the station, set up a speed trap, and combed the area for a reported concealed weapon suspect.
  

  I rode in the front seat of a police cruiser on patrol.

Now for my numbered list:

1.  Travel to Egypt.  We have visited the pyramids in Giza to start our tour.
   

   The pyramids and sphinx at Giza viewed from the roof terrace at our hotel.

2. Watch a movie. —  Watched Wonder which I checked out of the library.  I highly recommend this movie — made me laugh, made me cry — good acting, poignant story.  I’m looking forward to the prequel, White Bird.
3. Read a book:  I read The Last Camel Died at Noon, another Elizabeth Peters mystery that takes place mostly in Egypt.  I also read Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile (saw the movie February, 2022).
   

   Hoping our planned cruise on the Nile is without incident.

   I’ve been reading Egyptian fiction and nonfiction for about the last year so I would have a few names and places under my belt before we depart for Cairo.  I was prepared with an understanding of backsheesh (tips/bribes) from the books I read.

4. List items for sale on FB Marketplace.
   

   Ahoy, me matey.  SOLD!!

   I listed children’s Halloween costumes and some old silver military jewelry.    The jewelry went very quickly.

5. Go to a concert — Celebrations by the Columbia Orchestra.  I attended a pre-concert gathering to meet the maestro where we were given our own conductor’s baton and a quick class in leading the orchestra.
6. Clean out and clear off my dressing table.
   

   My dressing table is in the master bathroom.

   Seriously I was displaying things I hardly ever use so I cleaned out the drawers and stashed mostly everything from the top.

   

   Ooooooo!

   The empty (almost) horizontal space is very pleasing.

7. I repacked and labeled my fish collection.  Fragile shells and fish have been carefully wrapped and stored in a box in the attic.
   

   The fish/dolphin/coral collection.

   

   The entire collection packed in a flat box, topped with more bubble wrap, and labeled “extremely fragile”.

8. Worked on the frame collection.
   

   Frames are carefully packed.

   I packed it up more carefully and returned it to the attic minus a few pieces I’ll be handing out as gifts.

9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: EXECUTE .
10.  Write a goal list for November, 2023.

Getting things done and making dreams come true.

Jo

I have been looking forward to this October for a long time — over a year — in anticipation of our trip to Egypt.  It will be the farthest and most exotic place Charlie and I will ever have visited.

Here’s what I’m going to try to accomplish this month.

1.  Travel to Egypt.
   

   Our first stop will be the Giza plain to see the pyramids.

2. Watch a movie.
3. Read a book:  The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters
   

   Historic mystery set in Egypt.

4. List items for sale on FB Marketplace.
5.  Concert — Celebrations with the Columbia Orchestra.
   

   Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov will be one of the selections. (Painting by Sophie Anderson)

   Their maestro of many years has retired so we’ll be auditioning different conductors throughout the season.

6. Clean out and clear off my dressing table.
   

   Surely this could be neater and more efficient.

7. Repack my fish collection. 
8. Work on the frame collection.
   

   I have a couple of framing projects I hope I can accomplish without purchasing any supplies.

9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: EXECUTE .
10.  Write a goal list for November, 2023.

September was always is a busy month.  I worked on travel details of imminent trips and those farther out both in distance and time.

The sad news of the month is that my espresso machine has stopped working.

I pushed the power button one morning at about 5 a.m. before work and it didn’t make the happy noise of the pump turning on.  I had just purchased 2 pounds of my favorite coffee.  I know, first world problem.

In the interim until I decide exactly what to do I’m making Turkish coffee.

In addition to the numbered list below I:

• met up with my alumni club to watch some football games.  We are Penn State. 
• purchased annual travel insurance which covers all the trips we have planned.
• took a class about Identifying Wild Edibles.  I’m already eating most of the topics covered.
• was part of a worship service organized by my Disciple 3 class.
  

  My turn at the lectern.

• arranged our return flight from Nashville for next spring.
• had dinner with a group of friends at a local restaurant.
• attended a concert by the US Army Brass Quintet.  In my experience all members of US service bands are highly talented performers.
  

  US Army Brass Quintet — B5

• visited the dermatologist.  Another necessary chore checked off the list.
• received the newest COVID vaccine in advance of our trip to Egypt.

Here’s the numbered list and how I fared (or failed).

1.  Celebrate our ivory wedding anniversary.  We spent the day together along with our dog Dash exploring Monocacy National Battlefield near Frederick, Maryland. Charlie made crab cakes for our picnic lunch.  My favorite.
   

   Apple will mark an AirTag with up to a 4 figure monogram.

   I gave Charlie an AirTag to keep track of his checked suitcase when we travel.  I got myself one, too.  (It’s ivory colored.)

2.  See a movie. I watched 5000 Blankets at home and was really touched by the true and uplifting story.  Another film from the local library was The Five People You Meet in Heaven starring Jon Voigt.  I really liked it; gave me something to think about here on earth.  Then at the theatre I saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding which took place in Greece where we’ll be traveling in 2024 and A Haunting in Venice where we went in 2019.
   

   Love Venice.

   I didn’t see the first 2 “Greek Wedding” movies but this one seemed to have a lot of potential that never panned out. The Agatha Christie was just so-so but the shots of vintage Venice enchanting.

3.  Read a book.  In preparation for our upcoming trip I read another Elizabeth Peters mystery, Night Train to Memphis, that takes place in Egypt.
   

   We have reservations on M/S Le Fayan which have been confirmed.

   Vicky Bliss, the main character, spends an exciting few days on a Nile cruise which we also have planned.  Hoping our excursion is not quite as harrowing as hers.

4. Clear up the upstairs hall.
   

   Before

   I don’t exactly know how this hallway continues to be the dumping place for all sorts of boxes and clutter but I, once again, have cleared it out.

   

   After

   I moved things out little by little and even that technique was exhausting.

5.  Confirm Egypt travel details.  I sent a lot of emails confirming each and every preplanned excursion, accommodation, flight, and event.
   

   Hoping to take a sail on the Nile in a felucca sometime while we’re in Egypt.

   Trusting everything will just fall into place with a few unknowns for added adventure.

6.  Paint — finish details in Treetops Room.  Of all the items I am most happy to check this endless project off the list.  It took months and months.
   

   The Treetops room is ready for guests.

   Only by listing it among my big 10 in a month could I force myself to focus and finish.

7.  Take a day trip.  On our anniversary we drove to Monocacy National Battlefield about 40 minutes from the house.
   

   Dashie and I at Best Farm, Monocacy National Battlefield.

   This time we took Dashie along with us.  He’s been working toward going on a road trip all summer with his “come command” training, weekly socializing at Starbucks, and generally being our favorite pooch.

   

   Dash earned a Bark Ranker Badge.

   After touring the battlefield Dash was rewarded by being accepted as a “Bark Ranger,” badge and all.

8.  Host a morning coffee party.  We ate cheese blintzes and cawfee tawked.
   

   Cheese blintzes and berries.

   So fun to have a few friends over with no agenda.

9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word:  FAITHFULNESS.
10.  Write a goal list for October, 2023.

Jo

After removing all clutter from the room, including anything hanging on the wall, we started to refresh the Treetops bedroom.

The whole room is lighter and fresher with the new wall color Spinach White. You’ll notice when scrolling through the photos that the color tone changes depending on time of day and weather.

With the entire room painted (except for the trim) I moved the Zoom chair from my bedroom to the vacant corner in this room for a little reading/computer nook.

Charlie secured the landline phone wire by tucking it between the baseboard and the shoe molding.

One piece goes through the wall to the master bedroom and and another goes through a different wall to the Diva Room (which is both office and guest room).

I gave myself a week’s month’s rest before painting the baseboard with Clark and Kensington’s White Mosaic in semi-gloss finish. (It’s the trim color used in the entire house.)

I painted the closet door semi-gloss Mosaic White and the entrance door gray (as it was to begin with).  I painted the trim on both doors at the same time.

The next job was painting the window trim and shutters.  This is my most hated job. There are 3 windows in this room each overlooking a different aspect which is why I call this the “Treetops” room.  However, it is the one paint project that makes everything pop because the dingy muttons and mullions are difficult to keep clean with just wiping clean.  Now they are newly painted.

We washed the windows — Charlie outside and me inside.

And the furniture is back in place.

Every project takes longer than expected.

• Assessing the Treetops Room
• Progress on the Treetops Room

Jo

Although the title is  “Blintzes and Berries” this is not a recipe post.  Instead it’s just another thinly veiled reason to get together with friends.

I have loved cheese blintzes for a long time.  I always order them at the Parkway Deli in Silver Spring, Maryland.  I used to get them at Mr. Smith’s of Georgetown but alas they’re no longer on the menu.

I have found a pretty good version of cheese blintzes in the frozen food department of Trader Joe’s.  While not pre-cooked they are fast and delicious. I eat  them almost weekly.

Since I have not had a morning get-together for a couple of months I decided to gather some friends for cheese blintzes served with berries, applesauce, apricot jam, skyr (Icelandic yogurt in lieu of sour cream), and honey.  Toasted apple cake and figs rounded

In terms of party fare, blintzes are great because they don’t need to be piping hot to be enjoyed.   Naturally coffee and tea will be provided.

The color scheme and décor for this event is governed by some pillow covers I made last year: blue, pink and white.

I’m planning to use my favorite “good” dishes and silverware and some new additions I just purchased on Facebook Marketplace.

I emailed a short invitation to a dozen friends hoping some would be game:

Won’t we have fun!

Jo

The upstairs hall is once again filled with boxes and sundries.

I’m not exactly sure how it happens — over and over and over again.

One of my tasks in September is to empty the hallway.

I went through every item in every box.

I repacked and labeled the valuable items and sent them to the attic.

Everything else, albeit not that much, is gone — given or trashed.

Woo hoo!!!

Jo

Less than 2 months from now Charlie and I will be heading to Egypt.  I made reservations so long ago that I thought I should confirm our flights, hotels, cruise, tours, etc.

To that end I have been working hard making a schedule, arranging travel, securing accommodations, and scheduling guides and drivers.  I looked at my plans day by day and contacted each entity — whether a company or individual person — in the order of the plan.

Day 1 

We will fly from Baltimore to London on British Air where we will arrive early the next morning. — I have confirmed the details of our booking and will need to “check-in” 24 hours before departure.  We each have a one free bag which we can check through to Cairo (I hope).

Day 2:  

   We have a 9 hour layover at Heathrow Airport.

I have decided to hang around the airport area (instead of making an excursion to London) which means we’ll head over to Tea 5 Café in the Sofitel Hotel attached to Terminal 5 of the airport for a meal at sometime during our tenure. (We do NOT need a visa.)

If everything goes as planned we arrive in Cairo just after midnight which actually puts us into Day 3.  We have a laundry list to complete when we get there: fill out a travel card, get a visa on arrival, get an Egyptian sim card, go through immigration, go through customs.  I have arranged with our hotel to send a car to pick us up in the wee hours of the morning which I have confirmed.

Day 3:   (Day 1 in Cairo)

Our accommodations for our first stop in Cairo are near the Giza Plateau.  We are staying at the Guardian Guest House  which I arranged through booking.com but confirmed directly with the host by email.

The hotel booking comes with breakfast served from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. after which we will be picked up by our tour guide and driver for a day of sightseeing in Cairo — Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, and the Citadel.

I have asked to see the Narmer Palette which is vitally important to our understanding of ancient cultures and therefore truly unique and utterly irreplaceable. This will be a 6-7 hour tour — Charlie and I will surely be exhausted by the end of Day 3 — with a tour guide and driver. I have confirmed that payment to guide and driver will be made in US dollars;  entries to sites and food by credit card; tips and purchases in Egyptian pounds.

We’ll have a bite to eat then go up to the roof terrace to watch the sunset over the pyramids.  Sira or Nino Sandwich shop seem like reasonable options for food.

Day 4:  (Day 2 Cairo)

 After breakfast our guide (and driver) is picking us up for the half-day tour of the Giza pyramids, the Sphynx, and a camel ride.

We have a lunch reservation at Khufu’s on the Giza plateau which I have confirmed by email. Charlie and I plan to lunch alone then walk (about a mile) downhill to the hotel.

Day 5:  (Day 3 Cairo) (Day 1 Aswan)

We’ll be checking out of the Guest House very early in the morning (3:30 a.m.) to catch a plane at Cairo airport to Aswan.  I will arrange for a driver to the airport after we get to Egypt:  we’ll use either the service from our lodgings, our tour driver, or an Uber (if I’m feeling really adventurous). We’re supposed to arrive at Aswan by 7:40 where we will meet a driver to take us on the 3-4 hour ride to Abu Simbel. After touring the temples we will be driven back to Aswan. I have confirmed that the trip will be paid for in US dollars.  We need to confirm again 48 hours before arrival.

I’m hoping to squeeze in High Tea on the Terrace of the Old Cataract in the late afternoon.

We have reservations at the Philae Hotel on the corniche where we’ll spend one night which I have confirmed by email.   

Day 6 (Day 1 Nile Cruise)

Breakfast is included in our rate so we’ll have breakfast then head to our Nile cruise.

I have confirmed with our cruise contact that we will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to Le Fayan , a Nile cruise boat, where we’ll spend the next 4 days.  I’ve also been told that our tours would be in English with a guide and one other couple.

 Day 7 (Day 2 Nile Cruise)

We’ll still be on our 3-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor.

The evening’s theme will be an “Egyptian Night” costume party for which I have 2 caftans from my own wardrobe selected. Don’t know what we’ll cook up for Charlie.

Day 8 (Day 3 Nile Cruise)

 Continue on the cruise to Luxor.

Day 9 (Day 4 Nile Cruise) (Day 1 Luxor)

After breakfast we’ll disembark in Luxor but still be touring with the guide from the boat.

We’ll be transferred directly to our Nile view room at the Sonesta St. George Hotel  on the corniche where we will spend the night. Reservations have been confirmed by email.  We might have breakfast next door at the Steinberger if it’s not included in our room rate.

Day 10  (Day 2 Luxor)  (Fly back to Cairo)

We will have time to tour around Luxor on our own before we check out of the hotel and catch a ride to Luxor airport to fly back to Cairo on our 7:40 p.m. flight. I should be fairly knowledgeable about finding a ride by this time in the trip.  I know the hotel can always accommodate that request if necessary.

We will check into The President Hotel Zamalek in downtown Cairo.  I did not include breakfast in this reservation so we can visit local cafes.

Day 11  (Day 4 Cairo)

My plan is to take a guided day tour to Alexandria which I have not yet arranged. I’ll play it by ear depending on how much energy we have remaining at the end of the trip.

 Day 12  (Day 5 Cairo)

This is our last day in Cairo.

We could visit a museum  but we definitely want to wander around the captivating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, which is said to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East.

We’ll move to Le Meridien Cairo Airport for our last night in Egypt.  Of course we’ll need another transfer which might be Uber. The hotel has a walking bridge to the airport terminals which will help us catch our very early flight the next day back home.  Confirmed by email.

Day 13 

 Depart Cairo 6:50 am

Arrive BWI  18:40 (6:40 pm)

Additionally I have made hard copies and digital copies on our phones of all documents — passports, credit and debit cards, drivers’ licenses, etc.  I also have a 41-page manifesto with not only our plans, but also suggestions and recommendations of alternative hotels, guides, and drivers — just in case. I’m not so naïve to think that everything is now perfectly set but in as far as I have control we’re ready.

Jo

Last September (2022) Charlie and I visited Hawaii and Maui — this year they have much to rebuild after the devastating fires of last month. Our prayers and support are for the people of the islands.

Here’s what I’m going to try to accomplish this month.

1.  Celebrate our ivory wedding anniversary. Hope to just do something fun together including our Dashie.
   

   Dash just likes hanging out with us.

2. See a movie or two — A Haunting in Venice or My Big Fat Greek Wedding  
   

   Loved our trip to Venice in 2019

3.  Read a book —  Night Train to Memphis — Egypt not Tennessee
   

   Memphis is south of Giza on the Nile.

4. Clear up the upstairs hall. It’s a mess again.
5.  Confirm Egypt travel details.
   

   We depart for Cairo next month.

6.  Paint — find or finish a project.
7.  Take a day trip — Nothing planned, yet.  Maybe a Civil War Battlefield.
8.  Have a morning coffee party.
   

   A Friday morning coffee party is my new go-to for gathering friends.

9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word:  FAITHFULNESS.
10.  Write a goal list for October, 2023.

Jo