Update 9

Who knew there were so many tombs!!! Over 3000 already excavated in this area alone. We did our best to visit many of them in the Valley of the Queens and the Tombs of the Nobles...12 total. Considered the best (and most expensive $70 each) of all tombs anywhere is the tomb of the beloved & most beautiful one of 5 wives of Ramses, Nephertari. Worth every penny! Brilliant rich colors in intricate detail etched in 3D covering the walls & ceilings of the tomb's corridor & side rooms about 200' deep. Royalties with variety of jewels, headdresses, & clothing including leopard skins; slaves worshiping, preparing foods, headless, rowing boats & working; chariots pulled by galloping horses being whipped by drivers; lotus flowers; birds of all types especially fierce eagles & vultures & proud peacocks; the doglike figure embalming; grapes & wine makers; soldiers armed; cows alive & other butchered; barbers, bakers, fishermen & farmers plowing...I could go on and on and on....Each tomb unique though similar in many ways. Some with large statues, others pillars, fake tomb openings & side rooms. Simple unreal. 3500+/- old....and we celebrate a place after 100 years. We had the pleasure of having a 10 year old boy as our guide in the Valley of the Nobles. He was so charming and pleased to be with us. We taught him some English and he in turn, taught us some Arabic...and that children are children wherever we go.
When we tired of being enclosed in tombs, we walked by the remains of a palace & the ruins of the storage bins Joseph (yup, the many colored robe guy) had built during the 7 years of abundant wheat harvest in preparation for the 7 years of famine that he'd predicted. Talk about a bible story coming alive!
We had a traditional light supper of grilled vegetables, tahini & bread in the small village nearby. As we walked by the Temple of Mendin at Habu, many children ran out to greet us so I had them form a circle & we played Ring Around the Rosie..laughing as we fell. I wonder what made children laugh 3500 years ago in this same place??

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Update 8

As we were leaving Refuge Egypt last night, we were told the office was closed till Monday...some holiday...so we figured it was time to get out of town....check out Luxor...so at 4 am we were up & off to the airport. Internet is amazing! So is Rog who booked us a flight & hotel in less than an hour.
We met a taxi driver at the airport who was a cousin of the owner of Nour El Gourna...where we'd booked a room...of course!! At 10:30 he was driving us to the Valley of the Kings. I've read about tombs many times..but being entombed in one in Egypt...one of those pinched me moments...is this for real?? 3500+ years old & still with such vivid colors & spectacular carvings with amazing details!! No doubt I'm in Egypt!
In awe we lingered in four tombs ...built in the time of Ramses'. Many tombs are not open to the public right now & there is excavating going on in many areas here. Most believe less than 10% has been discovered. I'm just in awe. But there was more! We taxied to the Al Bahari Temple. She sure built herself a nice place! Epic!!!
We came back to our hotel for a feast fit for a Pharaoh: bread, hummus, salad, rice, vegetable in a tomato sauce, fried egg plants, roasted chicken..and Coke Lite. Needing to walk that off, we took a stroll into the small village nearby conversing with many locals. When they asked about why we were in Cairo & hearing we are working with the refugees, two of them talked about loving that Egypt was open to refugees from all countries & that they did not make them stay in camps. Both spoke of their dislike of Trump.
We strolled by many donkeys & sheep that live within this village. On the hillside near us is another village with electricity & cable TV...but no water. The govt is closing it as it is probably on top of more tombs.
The sun set brilliantly behind the ruins of Colissi of Memon (60', 10000 ton statues )as it has for more than 3500 years...

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Update 7

We're in an island surrounded by the Nile. This morning we took a stroll around the north section. Passed lots of embassy's : Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, etc.. All were heavily guarded. Got in the line at what seemed like the hot spot for lunch and got our first taameya—delicious deep fried hummus mixed with shredded verges, chopped cabbage & carrots all stuffed in a pita bread—which we watched ladies form & back as we waited for our sandwiches. It's a very traditional sandwich & cheap...4 for $1.50. Headed off for "work" next where I helped in the fundraising office for a while while Rog conversed with refugees waiting. From 3-6, we did more assessments. Since I'm doing the oral testing, I get to spend time visiting (while assessing). It's fascinating hearing their stories & their dreams. They are so very eager to learn more so they can get better jobs. Many wish they could go home but feel it's too dangerous. Their eyes sparkle with hope. I think of those trying to get into USA and I hurt for them. A Brazilian minister we me was asked to pastor in a Texas church & US denied him twice. Really!?
Jeremiah 22:3 is found on the Refuge Egypt website: "The Lord proclaims, do what is just & right; rescue the oppressed from the power of the oppressor. Don't exploit or mistreat the refugee, orphan or widow. "

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Update 6

Today we were in prison for almost 6 hours. It was a tiny slice of the life of the woman prisoners we met...mostly because of the hours of boredom & cold as we wanted to be admitted & then were able to leave. We'd boarded a van with 4 other women at 8 am, arrived at the prison at 9, waited outside until 10, then waited in a holding room till 1:30 along with over 100 others...all of us with bags of clothing, food, TP, etc. Things they lack & the prison expects families to supply. The prison ministry of All Saints visits the women from other countries. We met a lawyer who specialize in int'l law & does what she can to help free the girls. She says she has to lie a lot. Women have little to no rights here. Most were in prison on drug charges or prostitution ...anyways that's what they are accused of and though have been there for years...no trial.
I asked about US prisoners—she said they were none as the US Embassy scoops them up quickly and they are never guilty. But not so with many other countries.
We spent most of the visit talking to a lady from Italy that had come to Egypt with a friend and accused of thinking of buying drugs. Now in prison 3 years...no court hearing...and her young daughter is growing up without her. She told me she will be brave & bold now...later she will get her revenge.
It was chaotic & noisy in the visitation room add the language barrier and so mostly what we did was give hugs and listening as best we could to their story. One girl smiled often and said prison has strengthened her faith as it is all she has now.
When the first whistle blew, the ladies we'd come with & the prisoners we'd visited formed a circle holding hands and the prisoners sang "You are close. Alleluia!" Since the prisoners were dressed in long white tunics...it was like a choir of angels singing. Surreal. Then they asked Roger to pray. He reverently said something few could hear or understand but his caring face was enough for them.
Getting out was a madhouse of shoving & pushing till you were barreled out of the one man door. WHEW!
We had a nice conversation with the women we were with on our ride back to church. As soon as we got back, we got busy doing English assessments. It 7:30 before we got back to our room. Tired but glad to have gotten in and out of prison!

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Re: Update 3

Thanks for the update!  Guess all is not smooth sailing now...

Jean

On Sat, Jan 12, 2019 at 12:43 PM Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com> wrote:

We'd arranged for the same taxi driver who'd picked us up to return us to the airport...at 5:15 am.  He again was a well of interesting tidbits @ Athens...home to 6 million.  Our flight snack was a nice goodbye to Athens:  spinach pies & Greek yogurt with a side of honey.  All was hunky dory until there wasn't any internet at the Cairo airport.  I found a place to buy a SIM card.  Since our Airbnb host had not contacted us, we called him & he told the taxi driver where to find our room...well...far from the room or building pictured online & to add insult to injury...the host said it wasn't paid & we needed to pay him...though we knew Airbnb doesn't do it like that.  We decided to find something to eat, see the neighborhood & think it about it.  Seems we were in the car repair area as the crumble, littered sidewalks were filled with vendors selling every possible car part, new & used.  The side streets were crowded with cars with hoods wide open & men working on them.  Most of the tall buildings were quite dilapidated & dirty.  Eventually we found a street with food & tried the shawarma type sandwich with lots of extras...Guess who liked it & who didn't.  We did eventually find a KFC & McD ...but too late. And besides they were kinda dirty too.   We got back to our room & the host came knocking demanding $$.  We paid.  I contacted Airbnb and over the next couple hours, they said they'd give us a full refund & we booked another spot for tomorrow!  Then we huddled down in the thick blankets...it was a cold room...& spent time flipping TV channels.  We both felt it had actually been a worthwhile experience as many of the refugees we will be working with probably stay in places much worse.  We had hot water & toilet.  We had options for tomorrow!

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Re: Athens pictures

Great pictures, Jane. I especially like the first one of you and Rog. Looks rather chilly there. It's really nice here (she lied).

Picture #2:  did Rog pick up anything from the Aphrodite Gold/Silver shop?

Picture #3: What exactly are we seeing here? The strata underneath the current floor?

Jean

On Sat, Jan 12, 2019 at 2:34 PM Terri Keppler <tlk1972@gmail.com> wrote:

These are great!

On Sat, Jan 12, 2019 at 1:35 PM Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com> wrote:

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Update 5

We were in the think of it today. First met with the priest in charge of prison ministry & got info needed for tomorrow's visit. Then registered refugees & later signed them up for English classes. Did some English assessments. Sorted clothing & helped distribute. And in between, visited with the refugees whenever & however possible. Many spoke a little English. They were from Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and many from Eritrea...a country I'd never heard of! When I told a young man that...he laughed & said his chat box friends say the same thing...he also said he'd learned English on chat box. Who'd a thunk?? Another young man from there said he left home because everyone, girls & boys, had to join the military for their entire life. Met a young man from Sudan who'd left his University where he'd been studying engineering & on the soccer team. Said it was just too dangerous. A fellow from Syria was headed home. I asked how he felt about USA pulling out & he shook his head & said ISIS will get much stronger. I loved hearing the young girls giggling & visiting & seeing them help each other answer my questions. It was interesting to note that often they were not from the same country but seemed to be friends. Some wore hijab, some burqa & others nothing...seemed not a problems for them. Why to so many in this war torn world????
It was a long, busy day...but so rewarding!

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Update 4

Believe it or not we slept till 11 and then quickly packed up and quietly left...good riddance ! We hopped a taxi & crossed over the Nile...that seems weird to say. Our new room is much improved, though still cold, & very close to Refuge Egypt where we'll be volunteering. We went on a hunt to find the office & Monica who's are contact person...turns out she's from Pittsburgh ! She was eager to get us busy after a quick tour & overview of all they'd like us to do...all under the umbrella of the All Saints Episcopal Church. We left there feeling we'd found a good spot to volunteer...also left Hungary. Found a great spot close by where Rog ate 1/2 chicken & I had a hot dish of cannelloni ...great on another cold day! We picked up a few groceries then went back to our room to read, write, watch news & do a bit of laundry. Also booked this room for 8 more nights. Next morning breakfast was brought to our room...hard boiled eggs, bread, cheese & coffee. Then off we went to church...the young priest was from Ohio. Next we met the head of many of the outreach programs, Francine. The funding comes from many sources and part of what I will be doing is helping create letters requesting funds...a job I've enlisted help from my big hearted FIA friend, Sarah:). Also am trying to make a Michigan connection for funding for the deaf school Refuge Egypt would like start. (Currently deaf are put in a room with no teacher/no lessons.). ***Please feel free to jump in with suggestions!!!***. Rog & I will be teaching English classes starting next week. We've also been asked to visits prisoners ...many from Sudan, some USA...put there for no Visa or minor offenses. With no family in the area to support them, they get minimal service. Several have finished their sentence but have no $$ to fly home. Last month this church raised $$ so four could go home. Another side job we learned to day was how to scan documents & add them to files. We'll be doing that in our spare time...that looks like a never ending job...one girl, Monica from Egypt has been doing it full time for 3 years! Think we'll be busy. Ate left over breakfast in our room and then happened on a movie in English...the story of Lee Strobel who authored A Case for Christ. Ironic find since we're so close to the birthplace of Christianity . Can't plan these things...they just happen!!

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Re: Cairo pictures

Great pictures!

On Sat, Jan 12, 2019 at 1:51 PM Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com> wrote:

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Re: Athens pictures

These are great!

On Sat, Jan 12, 2019 at 1:35 PM Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com> wrote:

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Cairo pictures

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Athens pictures

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Update 3

We'd arranged for the same taxi driver who'd picked us up to return us to the airport...at 5:15 am. He again was a well of interesting tidbits @ Athens...home to 6 million. Our flight snack was a nice goodbye to Athens: spinach pies & Greek yogurt with a side of honey. All was hunky dory until there wasn't any internet at the Cairo airport. I found a place to buy a SIM card. Since our Airbnb host had not contacted us, we called him & he told the taxi driver where to find our room...well...far from the room or building pictured online & to add insult to injury...the host said it wasn't paid & we needed to pay him...though we knew Airbnb doesn't do it like that. We decided to find something to eat, see the neighborhood & think it about it. Seems we were in the car repair area as the crumble, littered sidewalks were filled with vendors selling every possible car part, new & used. The side streets were crowded with cars with hoods wide open & men working on them. Most of the tall buildings were quite dilapidated & dirty. Eventually we found a street with food & tried the shawarma type sandwich with lots of extras...Guess who liked it & who didn't. We did eventually find a KFC & McD ...but too late. And besides they were kinda dirty too. We got back to our room & the host came knocking demanding $$. We paid. I contacted Airbnb and over the next couple hours, they said they'd give us a full refund & we booked another spot for tomorrow! Then we huddled down in the thick blankets...it was a cold room...& spent time flipping TV channels. We both felt it had actually been a worthwhile experience as many of the refugees we will be working with probably stay in places much worse. We had hot water & toilet. We had options for tomorrow!

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Update 2

Yesterday I mentioned seeing Mars Hill where Paul preached so last night I read Acts 17:22-31.  Now I can picture Paul clearly.  What a vision.  Thanks Elsi for suggesting it!  

Day 2 in Athens started in the Acropolis Museum...which is cleverly built around a correctly sized Parthenon so walking around the glassed outer walkway you see the bits & chunk remains & reconstructed temple frieze of the Parthenon and at the same time get a fabulous view of it majestically sitting on the mountain top...Acropolis.  The galleries in the museums of seemingly endless sculptures & artifacts from the Acropolis & surrounding Athens.  Next to many of the sculptures was a video which added the layers of details & colors that had been striped away due to weather, time and damage.  It was like seeing them come alive...after almost 2500 years!  Though a massive amount of artifacts are housed here...they truly lament that over the years so much has been stolen (lots by Lord Elgin) and destroyed when the Parthenon was made into St. Mary's and later a mosque, then a German arsenal ...which exploded & totally destroyed the rear section.  The bottom floor of the museum had a glass floor so you could see what lies below...the remains of many earlier Athens...first in 8th century BC.  That's old!!!  Fascinating.  Actually we were treated to many more glass floor exhibits as we meandered through Athens.  Just 15 years ago when the Metro was built, the discoveries were extraordinary and so they just put glass walkways over them.  It seems the entire city is sitting on a ancient goldmine!  Hunger pangs forced us to leave the museum & a pot of mussaka was totally enjoyed.  My sweet tooth called for a dish of frozen Greek yogurt that had a delicate hint of lemon.  We tried to visit two other museums but because it's off season here, both closed early.  But just strolling around the city was sort of museum of people, shops & traffic.  Hearing music& smelling the food was a treat for the senses.  Seeing & smelling the many Turkish tobacco smoking bars not so much.  Sad to see kids & girls just sitting there as the man smoked away.   It was amazing how many sidewalks are made out of marble...a cheap product here...much cheaper than wood so most everything is built out of marble.  When we tired of walking, we hopped on the Metro & rode it till the end & then returned.  Looking out the graffitied window, we got a peek of the outskirts...densely populated, 4+story buildings with small balconies filled with tables ,plants & laundry & covered by awnings.  Mini cars & motorcycles parked in every nook & cranny.  A few trees...their favorite the bitter orange.  What struck me most was the lack of color.  Tan, gray & white overwhelmed the view only dotted by bits of blue & green awnings.  These blank buildings were like a canvas for graffiti which was everywhere.  When I asked about it, I only got scowls & head shakes.     We passed the Olympic Stadium, a massive white building crowed with curved metal rods.  Also interesting was watching the people ...everyday folks coming & going.  Most women with bright red lipstick, scarves covering their hair & well dressed.  Younger ones with nose rings & a variety of hair colors.  Men both casual & suits.  About 1 in 4 were on phones.  I saw little communication between the riders & the overall feel was quiet & somber.  We struck up a conversation with a young girl who seemed happy to talk.  It had been a rich afternoon.  We picked up a couple souvlaki to eat when we got back and that's all folks!

Update 1

After a few delayed flights and a great view of Iceland's northern lights, we landed in Athens.  A taxi driver (arranged by our Airbnb host) was waiting for us.  He dropped us off at a lovely & well stocked condo with a view of the lighted Parthenon.  Our friendly host provided us with homemade wine, olives soaking in olive oil, fresh baked cookies & bread & fruit.  What's not to love about that!  Since we'd been en route around 20 hours, we fell into bed.  Next morning we took a short subway ride to meet our guide & took off exploring & learning about this spectacular city with a fascinating past dating back to Neolithic period.  Our guide was especially good at explaining the layers of history that Athens has been through:  original Greece, then conquered by Romans, next Turks, then England colonized, attacked by the German in WWII killing/starving 20% of their population & now part of EU.   Through it all, they remained Greeks at heart & saved what they could of their historical buildings built around 450 BC.  The Acropolis of Athens, Parthenon, Theater of Dionysus, Erechtheion,  Temple of Arthena Nike.  Just WOW!  Though many times grossly damaged in wars & stripped by greedy men, they remain a vision of AWE.  Our guide pointed out how much of the Greek language lives in our language today:  Nike shoes;  polis in politics, police; muse in music...etc.  She proudly reminded us that Greece is where democracy began and St. Paul preached.  So also said she could teach us to read Greek in an hour but speaking it takes decades.  Also interesting that both our guide & taxi driver lamented that today's young Greeks don't want to get married, have children or take on so much responsibility.  The young girls are controlling & young men are pushed around.  Most get good education here but then leave to get better pay.  2008 was a tough year.  Homeless first appeared.  Over 2 million immigrants are straining the economy.  Taxes are high & wages low.  Our guide & taxi driver are worried about the future of Greece.  But tourism is strong with over 1500 cruise ships stopping by each year.  The Athens we saw was clean & well kept.  And fortunately since it's the lowest tourist season, it was not crowded either.  However, it was cold (@50F) & windy so we were glad we had lots of layers on.  Last night it snowed, first time in 2 years.  After our tour, we dined on a tasty Greek Gyro & scrumptious baklava.  We spent the rest of the daylight seeing what was left of Planka, Roman & Ancient Agora (old cities) & Hadrian's library and the St. Nicholas Cathedral.  We picked up some cheese & Coke Light that along with what our host provided made a nice Greek supper.  Now that's a full day!

(**Disclaimer:  I don't take the time to check spelling & grammar as there's so much I'd rather be doing...and I write mainly so we have our trip memories when we get home.  Feel free to respond, correct, share or ignore!!)

Testing

So off we go again...to Athens, Egypt & Israel.  Leaving Monday 1/7 and returning 3/18.  I hope to blog so I have our trip memories written for us...but PLEASE feel free to let me know IF YOU WANT TO GET OFF THIS LIST!  Really, won't hurt my feelings!!  

We may be gone, but keep in touch via email!

Roger and Jane

Sunday

Blanding
Edge of cedars
Pioneer museum
Dinosaur museum
Hovenweep? Extra miles!
Four corners
Bluff motel
Bluff fort

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Update 35 & Final Thoughts

Last Stop—Florida to play with Matthew and Chan for a couple of days.  What a treat to see how well they have bonded and are blossoming!!  We went with them to school where Matthew shines as well.  Mostly we just went for walks, built train tracks, tossed balls & watched Matthew consume lots of food...he eats anything:  seaweed crackers, pumpernickel croutons, & spicy soups.      It's amazing to think just a bit over a year ago he was in an orphanage!!   The weather was actually a bit cool (60-70) which helped climatize us to what we're headed for!

Final Thoughts—

Another winter trip over...our 10th.  I never would have imagined when we took our 1st trip to Kenya that it was just the beginning of many awesome adventures.  And I thank God for each & every one of them.  Many people ask me which was my favorite trip.  I can't pick as it is the mix and uniqueness of each that can't be separated from the whole.  Like a smoothie...each added fruit makes it better.

Puerto Rico...a diamond in the rough...cracked & chipped by the powerful Hurricane Maria.  The Puerto Rican's are struggling to rebuild.  Many patiently waiting 6 months for electricity & some water still.  We hit the jack pot connecting with Johanna & Mariely.  Strong woman who lined up jobs then joined us helping their community in Maunabo.    Each night for a month, I went to bed feeling a huge sense of satisfaction knowing we'd made a few lives better.  Hope seem to bloom around us.  It was a privilege to spend the money that our church, friends & family entrusted us with on needed items:  bedding, solar lights, cement and cleaning supplies.  It was exciting  to have the Slys, Sarah, Juli, Ben & Jen join us making it possible for more to get done & a chance to share a special bond with them as we cleaned yards, homes, repaired, rebuilt, roofed and mostly showed we cared.  Getting to spend time with our All Hands gang was an added bonus.  Sincere appreciation humbled as as we were smothered with hugs, notes, meals & gifts.  Often strangers stopped to tell us thank you just for coming to PR.   And those beaches...what a priceless reward for helping them!!    God certainly led us to the right spot and I feel incredibly blessed.

  But my heart aches for PR.  The needs seem overwhelming & the help dwindling.  Lack of tourist is adding to their dilemma. Though a US territory, they seem to be almost ignored...not important enough.  US makes the rules...like no import/export unless on US ships but they have no political voice.  And yet...we saw smiles, determination, pride & appreciation for each tiny bit of improvement. We saw neighbors helping neighbors.  It was an honor to work with them.

  As I watch the sunset out my plane window, I wonder where I'll see the sunrise next winter!

Update 34 pictures

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