Happy Birthday Little Dinosaur

A certain little girl round these parts turned four recently. Of course, she needed a birthday shirt. Little Miss K loves dinosaurs and specifically requested a dinosaur birthday party. Mama didn't make it to the fabric store to get dinosaur fabric when I came home from Egypt so she had to settle for butterflies. K didn't seem to mind, in fact she didn't even seem to notice the shirt's complete lack of reptiles. Perhaps it was just that the dinosaur crown made up for it.

Then again, maybe it was the dinosaur pompoms hanging around the room. (We had to make them after seeing these.)

The paper towel tube turned palm tree centerpiece was a big hit - as were the gummy dinosaurs.

But, now that I think about it, it was probably all the dinosaurs that came to celebrate with her that made the so special. Grandmasaurus, Grandpiopteryx, Mirandaraptor, Jeremysaurus, Mamamimus, Papaceratops, Grandpadactyl, and Brotherodon all came to wish K-asaurus-Rex a good day. (All the toy dinosaurs from her preschool classroom were able to come down from the shelf and come to the party too.)

However, it may have been the dinosaur cake Papaceratops whipped up that made this the best darn dinosaur party ever. In case you're curious - he's an iguanadon. (The cake - not the Papa.)

I suppose none of that really matters. She had a fantastic day surrounded by people who love her, and in the end that's what's really important.

The birthday shirt and crown have become somewhat of a tradition in our family. Do you have any special traditions?

Would the Pharaoh Approve?

After we got off the train down in Luxor, we waited here for our ride. No food; since I was on the "no food I can get at home" meal plan I opted for coffee. I doubt any McDonald's in the world can beat this view, though I seriously doubt the Pharaohs or the priests from Luxor Temple would have approved. Then again, perhaps two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun may have been enough to convert even the toughest critic.

Exploring Cairo: Sailing

Last night we went out for a sail on one of these. A fallucca; a traditional Egyptian sailboat. We took a bottle of Bailey's Irish Creme (thank you duty free) and a bottle of wine to enjoy during our hour out on the River Nile.

Abdullah took good care of us.

Rigging the mast and sails must involve some time up at the top of the mast. Despite the opportunity for some great pictures, I decided not to take advantage of the steps.

All the fallucca sails we saw were handmade. While we were waiting to go out we watched a man making a new sail.

I kept wondering how long it had taken him to sew the strips of canvas together, hem the edges, and then stitch the rope around the hem. He had one huge iron needle and a knife; no scissors and no awl - he just used the stone floor to push the needle through the layers of canvas. It looked like a lot of work.

We may have only been out on the Nile for an hour, but it was a perfect way to start the evening.

After our fallucca ride we headed off to dinner and then back to the Pyramids for the Sound and Light Show...

Does This Pyramid Make Me Look Fat?

What do you think? Now be honest. It's a great accessory, but I don't know if it really goes with this particular outfit.

Well, my new boyfriend doesn't seem to mind; in English the Egyptians call him "The Sphin-kus." Sadly it ended up being a one afternoon stand. When it was time to go I just couldn't get him to budge.

I didn't ride a camel t the pyramids this time. I decided to walk in to the pyramids instead. Mohammed, our driver, walked me to the entrance gate and from that point I was on my own - which apparently is somewhat of an oddity. Egyptians and other Arab tourists constantly asked if they could take my picture or have their picture taken with me. I always said yes and then asked if I could take their picture. It worked out beautifully because I got lots of pictures of Egyptians - especially women. The veiled woman below lifted her veil so her face would show in the picture with her friends. She was even going to leave it up in my photo and smiled when I motioned for her to put it back down.

Everywhere I went while I walked around I was greeted with "What's your name?" and "Welcome! Welcome to Egypt." Then the invariable picture request. I just smiled. I'd love to convince my self that they were all swept away by my beauty, but I think it had more to do with me being an unescorted blonde-haired western woman. Either way it was a hoot.

It was a great day. I got to walk around the pyramids that I didn't get to explore the last time I was here and experience a little local color. Plus I picked up a little kitsch for the kids. It was so good, in fact, that I'm still smiling...