Kenney and I had the amazing opportunity to take a trip to Egypt. Back in February we found an amazing deal that included flights to Cario, a guided tour with a guide, transportation to all sights, entry fees to all included sights, a flight to Aswan, 4 day/3 night Nile River cruise, flight from Luxor back to Cario, and most of our meals. We were able to see so many things and experience a view different culture from our own. We were also able to meet so many great people! Best of all, we were able to spend time together and explore more of this world we live in.
We started off driving to Dallas and flying to London, then on to Cario. We didn't have any issues with our flights and made it safely to our hotel. Driving at night in Cario was an experience! It was crazy with no one seeming to adhere to many traffic laws, including headlights! We couldn't see much around driving up to the hotel, but it didn't seem like we were in a very safe place. We decided to eat dinner at the hotel rather than venture out.
The next morning we left the hotel at 7:30 to see the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Museum, a papyrus demonstration and an Egyptian clothing store. It was a busy day!
Getting There
Had to hit In-N-Out while we were in Dallas!
That escalator was huge! I knew the kids would be impressed after our trip to Las Vegas.
Ready for a long flight right in the middle of the middle!!
Big Mountains over Europe, the Alps maybe?
Islands over the Mediterranean.
Flying over Cario
One of the pyramids from the sky!
We thought it was a cloudy day as we were flying in. However, we didn't realize that was all smog and pollution. We had no idea it was that polluted!
Cario is a city of 35 million people. They are working on moving the capital away from Cario.
Looks like we landed in the desert!
The most expensive sticker we have ever bought! This visa cost us $25 cash each. They didn't look at our passports or take a record of anything. They just wanted the cash!
Traffic was INSANE! People were walking across roads like this. It was crazy!
View from our balcony as the sun was rising.
The taxi station straight in front of the hotel. We heard honking all night long.
The Nile River as we made our way to the pyramids.
There were so many different types of vehicles on the road. I sent this to Damon telling him that's what we'll get him to drive in high school!
If you watch the on coming traffic you can tell some of the cars don't have any headlights on.
Our first views of the Nile.
The Pyramids of Egypt
The official sign welcoming people to the pyramids. This should have been our first clue to how well, or not so well, the Egyptians maintained their historical sites.
Ready to get closer and go through the first of many Egyptian metal detectors that we aren't really sure if they did anything or not.
Yes we were there with 1000s of people!
Google photos helps to eliminate those people!!
So many buses and vans full of people
Clearly people adhered to the 'rules'
Those are what's left of some of the Queen's Pyramids
Yep I broke the rules too
The only pyramid left with any of the outer casing.
Driving round the corner we could see the pyramids so much better
It was so cool being this close to the pyramids. We chose not to go inside because from the videos and information online, there really wasn't much to see. We were happy with our choice. There were a lot of people there, but it didn't take away from the awe we witnessed.
We walked right up to the camels, climbed on and the camel stood up immediately! There was no wasted time.
Kenney got up on his camel and it started walking off in the opposite direction. Thankfully our guide went to go get him.
Wow!! I loved this experience. I was sore for a few days after riding the camel, but it was totally worth it. We got to see the pyramids from such a great angle.
We're riding camels in EGYPT!!
The camels got a little snack.
Such a good view point to see all the pyramids.
I guess he was there to make us feel safe...
Kenney loves these kinds of pictures, hahaha!
This was our camel riding guide. He was a nice kid.
It is so fun to explore the world with my best friend!
The Sphinx
The Sphinx was the guardian of the pyramids.
A papyrus shop that demonstrated how it was made anciently.
Armed guards are all over Egypt
Falafel lunch, pretty tasty
Random farming field in Cario
Driving through Cario on the way to the Egyptian Museum. There were unfinished buildings everywhere and trash almost everywhere you looked. The city itself was pretty gross from what we could see.
Egyptian Museum
We had some high expectations going into the museum, thinking it would be like the Acropolis one in Athens...
Our expectations were shattered once we were inside. Considering how much they are making everyday, it was so poorly run. There was no AC, which most Americans don't understand. I could have gotten over that, but they let people touch and lean against artifacts that are 1000s of years old!! Some of the labels were printed off on a standard printer and cut with scissors, you could tell. It was very disappointing.
King Tut's throne. There was an entire room of the things taken from his tomb, but we couldn't take pictures in there.
Real mummies
A good recap of the whole day with no music, thanks Instagram
There has been a lot of football around here! Between both 7 & 8 grade games and high school games to watch the band for Kyler. The girls have been pretty good about it so far, as long as there are friends at the game to play with, but I think they are waning. Kyler has grown physically, obviously, but he has also grown in confidence from last year, and it shows!! He's like a completely different player. He is still playing tide end and cornerback. He really seems to be enjoying the game a lot more too.
Damon is having a rough start to football. I think adjusting to pads was a little more difficult than he expected and he's really young for his grade. He has had such an amazing outlook and demeanor as he has struggled to find his role. The first game of 7th grade football he played 6 different positions. He knows the game so well, he can fill in basically anywhere and knows what's going on. It's incredible to watch. Offensively, they have rarely used him which has been frustrating for all of us, probably me the most. I just know how much he loves it, and I don't want that to change!
Damon's first football game ever!!
#5 is my favorite!!
Matchy-matchy
On the left you can see Damon's interception
#15 running the ball!
On the line
Kyler running the ball
Kyler's Highlights
He came in from the far side and went straight to the ball.
Kyler grabbed him allowing the rest of the team to tackle him.
This seemed to be how most of the run plays Kyler had seemed to go, no blockers!!
Kyler chased him down before he broke away.
It's not often that Kyler shows emotion, but this was a close game and this drive stopped the other team at the end of the game. I love seeing him get excited because it doesn't happen often!
Kyler got to the ball and slowed him down.
He almost got away! And he fumbled after he was already down so he was able to keep the yards gained!
Damon's Highlights
This was Damon on the far side trying to cover all the receivers. His man got away but the other player wasn't covered with so Damon didn't know who to guard and where to cover. Poor guy was trying to be everywhere, and then he usually ended up getting yelled at.
Easy 2 point conversion run!
On the far side of the field you can see him running toward the ball to finish the play.
You can see him get pushed on the far side of the line. That happened a lot because he was just so much smaller than everyone else.
Watch #5 come in for the tackle!
Damon playing great defense on the receiver.
Perfect defense resulting in an interception!!!
Touchdown!!!! (We'll just ignore that flag that was thrown)
Wellington started a co-ed flag football league for 3-6 graders, so Radley was able to play. Damon was really disappointed he missed the opportunity to play by 1 year. There weren't a lot of kids signed up so there were only 2 teams in the 5-6 grade division forcing the teams to play each other for every game. Somehow Radley seems to always be on the team that struggles the most, and this season was no different.
He didn't get many opportunities to score, but he had a great run up the field. I also love the way that Damon cheers for him.
He definitely had some patience waiting for that pass.
He was pretty quick to those flags.
Radley did all the things!! He could play any and all positions so well.
He sure was quick and shifty on those feet!
Perfect pass!
He scramble and improvised a lot of the time.
He ran all over!! (Sorry for my horrible laugh)
Most plays he ran it involved both side of the field.
