Due to the increasing volatility of the situation in Egypt, I have had, regrettably, to cancel my trip.
In one day, the U.S. State Department sent three emails telling me not to go. All U.S. citizens have been evacuated from Egypt and the U.S. consulate office has been closed indefinitely. The email said that, should I get into any trouble in Egypt, there have been no planes deployed to take me home. I was a bit concerned that the Egyptian govt. (Sisi) would close the airport...
Coupled with this, three people in Egypt advised me to make arrangements to "come another time," since things are not safe in Cairo at this time. My main contact told me that, in addition to this, Luxor sites were closing and there are pro-Morsi protests there in the evenings.
In the mean time, one Egyptian FB friend has been giving me Arabic lessons over Skype. Additionally, to prepare for the trip, I borrowed a camera, purchased a memory card for it, and bought:
In one day, the U.S. State Department sent three emails telling me not to go. All U.S. citizens have been evacuated from Egypt and the U.S. consulate office has been closed indefinitely. The email said that, should I get into any trouble in Egypt, there have been no planes deployed to take me home. I was a bit concerned that the Egyptian govt. (Sisi) would close the airport...
Coupled with this, three people in Egypt advised me to make arrangements to "come another time," since things are not safe in Cairo at this time. My main contact told me that, in addition to this, Luxor sites were closing and there are pro-Morsi protests there in the evenings.
In the mean time, one Egyptian FB friend has been giving me Arabic lessons over Skype. Additionally, to prepare for the trip, I borrowed a camera, purchased a memory card for it, and bought:
- an Ipad Mini,
- an entire long skirt, long-sleeved shirt wardrobe
- a hajib and arm sleeves
- 7 videos on Egypt
- 7 books on Egypt
- countless international adaptors, memory boosters, and battery back-up devices for my Ipad
- countless gifts to give people in Egypt
- a travel hair dryer
- and, well just ask ebay
- (I was SO READY).
My folks were going to watch my dog Mama and Carolyn was going to watch my little hellion kitten.
I had already paid for all my hotels and train rides, and booked all my tour guides and drivers. I can only get a 77% return on my three train trips (including two overnight rides). And I cannot get a refund for the $600 I spent to purchase enough miles to fly on the American Advantage program...
...but they are waiting for me.
Those miles are waiting for the day when Sisi turns over control of the government to another democratic ruler. I hope, for the sake of the Egyptian people, that that happens quickly, because my sources say the government is killing and harassing pro-Morsi people in the streets, even as they are praying.
