Egypt!

Egypt

Carol, I, and some friends just returned from a fabulous eight days in Cairo and Luxor. We were all visiting some mutual friends, Cris and Alison, who work for the State Department and are living in Cairo. We really couldn't have done this without Cris and Alison who made sure everything went smoothly and who have an amazing amount of knowledge of Egypt and Cairo for only having been there a couple of years. They also arranged for a fantastic tour guide for our first few days in Cairo.

Both Cairo and Luxor were fascinating. There is more history and amazing sights than anywhere I've ever been. Americans like me get overwhelmed with how old things are when we go to Europe. Seeing temples and statues that are 5,000+ years old is almost incomprehensible.

I have to say, though, that of everything we saw, frequently it was the least-known things that impressed me the most. Alison had told us in advance that she preferred the pyramids at Dashour to the more popular ones at Giza, and I definitely agree. They were every bit as impressive and with far fewer crowds.

Similarly, the Coptic Christian district of Cairo was a favorite of both Carol's and mine. In particular, I thought the Coptic Museum was one of the best museums we saw in all of Egypt.

I also enjoyed walking through parts of the Islamic section of Old Cairo, mainly because in some places it retains its medieval look and feel. As you can undoubtedly tell from the pictures, my favorite thing in this part of the trip was Beit as-Suhaymi, a fully restored 17th century house. A few of the mosques were also quite impressive.

As for Luxor, it has some amazing, not-to-be-missed sights, but the town itself is overwhelmingly touristy and you can't walk more than half a block without half a dozen people trying to sell you things or give you a cab or carriage ride. Both the Karnak Temple of Amun and the temple at Mendat Habu were favorites of mine. As for the much ballyhooed Valley of the Kings, I think I preferred the 8 kilometer hike getting there to the tombs themselves. The peaks and rock formations overlooking the valley were far more amazing to me than the tombs it contained. But while it wasn't a favorite, seeing it did give me a new appreciation for the extent to which the pharaohs of the New Kingdom period went to hide their tombs from grave robbers and vandals.

Anyway, enjoy the pictures.

Christmas in Tampa

Christmas in Tampa

Carol and I visited my brother David and his family in Tampa for the week of Christmas. It was kind of strange walking around in a polo in late December! Most of the pictures are from the Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa, and the Sunken Gardens in nearby St. Petersburg.

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge

While visiting Nathan and Kiera, we took a trip out to Natural Bridge. I've lived in Virginia my entire life, including a lengthy stint in southwest Virginia, so it's a crime that it took me this long to take the short detour off I-81 to see it. I was (am) truly in awe. Pictures can not do it justice.

Kai Hansard and the House on Main Street

Carol and I finally met my best friend Nathan's 10-week old baby, Kai! It's cliche to talk about your friends' babies as "the most beautiful and well-behaved baby I've ever seen". In this case, it's true. No, really! Who couldn't adore those chipmunk cheeks!

As always, we had a wonderful time visiting Nathan and Kiera in beautiful Buchanan, Virginia. Since Carol is a light sleeper under the best of circumstances, we decided to stay in a Bed & Breakfast this time. Fortunately, a new one had recently opened. Nate and Kiera hadn't stayed there but they had been to the restaurant and love the very friendly owners, so they suggested we try it.

It was a fantastic suggestion! The room was beautiful, the meals (dinner and breakfast) excellent, and the owners were every bit as friendly as Nate and Kiera said.

If you are looking to visit southwest Virginia (anywhere between Lexington and Blacksburg), we highly recommend The House on Main Street.

A Weekend On The Bay

Ok, actually on the Severn River. Either way, a trip to Annapolis was a perfect getaway for the Memorial Day weekend.

Annapolis

Un Américain à Paris

Paris

Paris is beautiful. And our week-long vacation, as fabulous as it was, really only whet my appetite. There is so much to see and do —I could have spent a solid week in the Louvre alone, or the gardens at Versailles, not to mention the many things we missed, such as touring St. Chapelle and seeing more of the Marais.

Of the things we did see, the highlights were the Louvre, the Luxembourg garden, the Rodin museum, and the Montmartre area. But as nice as all of those were, my favorite part of the vacation was just wandering around the streets of Paris, soaking up the sights and sounds, and stopping in random cafes for a carafe of Medoc or Pouilly Fuisse before rambling down another side street.

Enjoy the pictures.

Quack!

I just returned from my annual New Year's excursion to the Outer Banks. Enjoy the pictures!

Duck 2006-2007