BEFORE I FORGET ….CHECK OUT THE LIVE CHAT ROOM TO YOUR RIGHT!!
Please help me test it. I will be here LIVE from 9:00 AM till 9:30 AM PST today to say hello. This chat is accessible from the Jewelry website as well where we will use it during the bead show coming up. Thanks for your help!!!
ABOVE IS A VIDEO OF MULTIPLE CLIPS I TOOK FROM OUR BALCONY IN CAIRO AND SOME STILL PHOTOS AS WELL..ENJOY
MUCH MORE VIDEO TO COME FROM THE PYRAMIDS ETC. I NEED TO DO THEM IN SMALLER 5 MINUTE SEGEMENTS TO REDUCE LOADING TIME
Hello my dear friends!! I’m digging like an archeologist up to my elbows in studio treasures getting ready for my BEAD BAZAAR and hope you all will be able to attend. The dates are still to be determined. The most frequent email comment I’ve gotten is “What if I’m not able to be there early to get my favorites?” For this reason I’m going to be making up mulitple groupings of most selections to make sure everyone gets a chance at the beads they love the most.
And in case you havent seen this in the Facebook sidebar on the blog….VONNIE is the first winner from our Travelblogue Comments drawing. CONGRATS VONNIE on winning this gorgeous 3/4″ scarab created in African Amazonite. Remember my getting these in Cairo when we were with our guide Rasha??? I picked out a primo one and put a sterling bail on it so it is ready to wear or design with.
These look excactly like the ones in the Cairo museum …all hand carved and beautifully detailed!! The next drawing will be for a vial of pure lavender oil from Provence France where all the lavender fields are. At night put a teeny drop on your temples and you will sleep like a baby…guaranteed!!!! Winner to be announced tomorrow
And I’ll give my blog readers a first peek at the new handbags on the site!!! Many are quickly selling out just from shoppers discovering them by accident, so I wanted to give you a “heads up” in case you find one you don’t want to miss. Each style is a LIMITED EDITION OF SIX ONLY unless otherwise stated
You will find 3 categories of bags in the TOP LEFT column of the website. SLING BAGS, BUCKET BAGS AND WALLETS
to access the homepage of GRAFFITIJEWELRY.COM
Just a few examples are pictured here…see more at the website
Let me tell ya…I had serious reservations about going to the Giza zoo because of mixed reviews. This zoo was built during the heyday of Victorian zooilogical parks and has the typical ornate cages and small enclosures of the time.
The good news…………………the only animals left in the zoo are under the watchful eye of international zoo associations because of serious violations by the employees. This is a very large zoo with only about a dozen species left from the hundreds it used to harbor at the turn of the century. As you can see the cats and gar bage have taken over this beautiful facility. I just made us sick!! Again, the few animals left are in very good health surprisingly.
CLICK HERE to read about the issues that temporarily closed down the Giza Zoo not long ago.
It wasn’t all bad though…I was just so disappointed to see the deterioration of such an artistic facility with elaboratly decorated buildings and enclosures and the hand laid stone mosaic walkways falling to pieces!!
I have a feeling this breeding center has not been in use for some time
Bling was pretty depressed!!! Steve bought her a present (below) to help her forget how her friends were treated at the zoo.
A remnant of the Victorian Grandeur which once graced the animal park
Another stunning pergola just falling to pieces
We tried out best to see the “up” side…….the architecture and details were amazing reminders of a zoo with a glorious past. Maybe not the kind of park we prefer to see today with huge spaces for the animals, but int it’s day, the Giza Zoo was a premier showcase of thousands of species
More handlaid mosaic sidewalks. This one was at the front of the zoo and restored somewhat
Garbage was EVERYWHERE….this photo was nothing compared to most of the areas
Ok…enuf of that depressing place!! After the zoo we hailed a taxi to take us to the Gayer Anderson Museum which was a real treat . Click Museum name to find out much more. We were escorted through the 22 rooms of the first house privately and told about all the antiques in the private collections in each room.
Everything from Mummies to pressed flower/butterfly paintings from the Victorian Era. What a place!!!! The rooftop where you see Steve and I standing is the backdrop for a scene in James Bond’s “The Spy Who Loved Me”
A view off that rooftop
Bling was getting antsy to go shopping so first stop was at the Bazaar Oasis to buy Bling a friend…A little stuffed camel with crooked eyes and legs who Bling named “Humphrey” Here they are sitting in the executive lounge just chillin and getting to know one another. This promises to be a fantastic friendship and Mini B loves Humphrey too!!
We bought spices galore
We have been seeing tons of bikes on teh roads like this transporting all sorts of things from bread to newspapers
Shoes shoes shoes!!!
I found tons of bead vendors today…most of them are bellydance costumers
This shop specializes in Belly Dance costumes and unusual beads. We were so darned hot by 11;00 we had to leave unfortunately. I was getting dehydrated and not a drop of liquid to purchase for miles!! I don’t understand how the women all in black with slits for their eyes do it!!! I swear they are wearing portable air conditioners under their clothing. I am in awe of their heat tolerance!!
WE HEAD FOR TURKEY TOMORROW!! DONT’ FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE NEW AUDIOBOO TOO!!
Thank you all tons for the comments !! I read eac and every one and wish I had the computer time to answer each comment directly right now. We are heading out for supper so I’ll try to work on comments later tonite!!
Are we having fun yet??? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh if any moment in this trip could be defined as an AH HAH moment for me it would be the instant Steve took this photo. We were at the CITADEL today..one of the largest and most impressive Mosques in the world when we decided to go look over the top of the railings to take in the spectactular view of the city of Cairo.
ABOVE: AS I SNAPPED THIS SHOT OF STEVE AND LOOKED IN THE SCREEN TO SEE IF THE EXPOSURE WAS RIGHT, GUESS WHAT I SAW……….YEP…THOSE PYRAMIDS MAGICALLY APPEARED IN MY PHOTO WHEN MY BAD EYES COULDN’T SEE THEM IN “THE FLESH”…………AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THE MAGIC OF PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
As we were both taking photos of one another and the people and scenery, a group of teenage Egyptian school girls gathered around me. They kept eyeballing me with timid smiles on their faces so I said a cheerful “Hallo. Thats all it took for these beautiful and inquisitve girls to open up instantly and want to use their English skills they are required to learn in school. “
ABOVE: THE VIEW FROM THE CITADEL OVER LOOKING CAIRO..THE OLD AND THE NEW
THESE YOUNG LADIES WERE SO CUTE AND FUNNY
THE CITADEL IN BEAUTIFUL LIGHTING
WE HAD MANY GROUPS OF CHILDREN WANT TO HAVE THEIR PHOTOS TAKEN WITH US
THIS HANDSOME YOUNG MAN IS AN ASPIRING PHOTOGRAPHER AND I GAVE HIM MY CARD. HE IS GOING TO SEND ME SOME OF THE PHOTOS HE TOOK TODAY. A WONDERFUL GUY WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE i’M CERTAIN!
THIS GIRL WAS SO SWEET . A BIT SHY BUT SHE FINALLY APPROACHED US. IM SURE GLAD SHE DID!!!
THE COPTIC MUSEUM WAS ACTUALLY FIRST IN THE MORNING AND A STUNNING DISPLAY OF THE HISTORY AND ARTIFACTS OF THIS INCREDIBLE CHURCH EXCAVATION. BOTH STEVE AND i WISHED THE CAIRO MUSEUM HAD THE MONEY AND CURATOR THIS ONE DID. OMG WHAT A STELLAR JOB OF KEEPING ALL THE TEXTILES AND PAPER ITEMS IN CLIMATE CONTROLLED DISPLAYS.
THE OTHER IMPRESSIVE PART OF THE MUSEUM IS THAT WALKING THOUGH THE HALLS OF THE CHURCH YOU TRULY FELT TRANSPORTED BACK IN TIME AND COULD ALMOST HEAR THE VOICES AND FEEL THE BREATH OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED, LOVED AND WORKED DURING THAT TIME IN OUR WORLD HISTORY. IT SEND CHILLS UP MY SPINE . hIGHLY RECOMMENDED ITO ANYONE TRAVELING TO EGYPT.
i LOVE THIS ONE. ….IT’ WAS A SNAP AS I WALKED BY SHOT AND IT REALLY TURNED OUT PRETTY
FUNNY GOATS WERE EATING GARBAGE BEHIND THE MUSEUM.
STEVE WAS ACCOSTED BY SOME BOYS WHO WANTED HIM TO PLAY SOCCER. I HAVE A WHOLE SERIES OF PIX OF THEM GOING FROM PLAY TO “WORK” AS THEY DEMANDED MONEY FOR THEIR PHOTOS AND PLAYTIME. iT’S SO SAD TO SEE THE KIDS BROUGHT UP HAVING TO DO THIS SORT OF MANIPULATION TO MAKE ENDS MEET. wE SEE IT EVERYWHERE WE TRAVEL.
STRAY DOGS GROWLED AT US AS WE WALKED BY. MOST CERTAINLY DESCENDANTS OF THE PHAROAH HOUNDS AND BASENJI
THIS WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SO COLORFUL!! I’VE BEEN TAKING A BUNCH OF CLOTHING PHOTOS. RASHA TOLD US NO ONE HERE HAS CLOTHES DRYERS. …THERE IS NO NEED . I HUNG OUT A SHIRT I WASHED THIS MORNING AND IT WAS BONE DRY IN ONE HOUR!!! I WONDER WHAT MY SKIN WILL LOOK LIKE BY THE TIME WE COME HOME. EEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!
IN OUR TAXI ENTROUTE TO THE COPTIC MUSEUM
WE DECIDED TO HIKE THE ALLEY BEHIND THE MUSEUM. IT WAS FILLED WITH GARBAGE. WE WERE TOLD WHEN THE THREAT OF SWINE FLU HIT THE MEDIA FRENZY DROVE THE CITY TO KILL ALL THE ROGUE PIGS THAT ATE THE GARBAGE. NOW WITH NO PIGS LEFT THE FEW GOATS CAN’T KEEP UP IN COMPARISON AND THE GARBAGE IS STARTING TO PILE UP. WHAT A TERRIBLE SHAME THERE WAS SUCH AN OVER REACTION.
THE LOCALS ARE SO SCARED OF LOSING THEIR TOURISM INDUSTRY. i FEEL SO BAD FOR THEM. BETWEEN THE ECONOMY AND THE SWINE FLU SCARE THEY REALLY ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME AT THE MOMENT.
And a little girl talk to end today’s update!! More tomorrow as we go shopping for goodies and a trip to the botanical garden. Luv ya’ll …Thank you so much for your comments and emails you guys!!!
Luv Sandra
We had such a great time at the Cairo Museum this morning . Of course Bling and Mini B especially liked the “shake down” and “belly squeeze” at all 3 security checks and Bling swears the security scanner is a tanning booth. She has a pretty nice glow by now!! There is nothing cuter than to see the big tough security guards try not to crack a smile when they squeeze the panda bellies!!
The King Tut exhibit was incredible and I was especially taken with the hundreds of jewelry items found between the layers of his mummy wrapping.
I bought a book from the museum highlighting a number of Egyptian jewelry designs that are showcased in it. 2 of them are in a photo I took of the book ABOVE
We left the museum blown away by the sheer number of Egyptian Artifacts and history inside and regrouped our wits with a cold drink at the the Nile Hotel across the street. After that it was off on a scarab hunt and eyes wide open for a good Eye of Horus Amulet.
You can see above I scored BIGTIME on a sterling and glass Eye of Horus HUGE pendant with hand made filigree
Here I am in front of one of the Treasure Shops!! I wish I had gotten a photo taken with the proprieter but he had us married with many many children by the time I escaped. He was a swarthy Egyptian man who tried EVERYTHING to get me to leave Steve. OMG he was serious. He even asked me if I had a daughter…lol!
ABOVE ARE THE FRONT SIDES OF THE 3 LAPIS LAZULI AND STERLING PENDANTS I GOT FROM HIM TOO
Of course Steve didnt’ help at all by offering to let me go for 2 camels and a goat!!!!! The guy apparently thought Steve was serious because he didn’t laugh and his expression got worried..UNTIL I insisted I was worth more than 2 camels and a goat. He finally figured out we were joking but the poor fella thought he might get stuck with me!!
SIDE VIEW OF THESE INCREDIBLY DETAILED SCARABS
AND THATS NOT ALL..EVEN THE BACKS ARE AS SCRUMPTIOUS AS THE FRONTS!!
ABOVE ARE SOME OF THE FINELY DETAILED SCARABS PURCHASED FROM THE BEAD STORE YESTERDAY
AND AGAIN, THE BACKS AS BEAUTIFULLY CARVED AS THE FRONTS
2 VERY LARGE SCARABS. THE BLUE LAPIS LAZULI ONE IS NATURAL AND FLAWLESS
BACK DETAIL ON THE LAPIS SCARAB
By this time we were hot and tired so we decided to chill out by poolside on the rooftop! What a wonderful pool and garden they have.
Some traditional Egyptian Mezza (hummus, eggplant dip,tahini,tabbouleh, and minced meat spicy tidbits with yogurt) and a glass of Egyptian wine for me, a local beer for Steve (Sakkara) and we spent the afternoon in the shade with a great rooftop breeze wafting over us.
You know me…it’s hard to sit still so while I was up there I posted a new AUDIO BOO!!
And as far as photos from the Egyptian Museum…no go on that one! We were instructed to leave our cameras behind in a safe box. I can’t complain because I really hate seeing people not pay attention to the NO FLASH rule as it fades and deteriorates the exhibits. At the Louvre there were cameras everywhere and NO FLASH is no big deal, but it would be terrible to see a priceless painting destroyed over time because of those who don’t listen.
I decided since I got up a few hours early I would spend the time before we go out today sorting through a few more photos from our past 2 days in Cairo and Giza. Hope you enjoy!! More to come today after our trip to the Egypt Museum. This is one of the largest museums in the world…some say they like it better than the Louvre.
A sweet way to tour. Just our guide, the driver and our van. The bus behind us cost close to the same for a large group tour
Behind me is one of the visitor buildings at the Great Pyramids
OMG the haggling was crazy with the onsite vendors. You always try to get things for 50% less. The lady to the right was like a character at the Minnesota Ren Fest. She was so pushy and could sell you a dry oasis!!
Our first view of the Sphinx over the edge of the quarry . They are doing a bit of work on the body which was interesting
This lady to the left cracked me up. She had a hat with a built in beacball colored umbrella on it. In contrast with the Muslim women it was pretty funny. I missed the shot with the umbrella hat still on ………..dang!
Another camel shot…Love the fancy threads this guy is wearing..I see a jewelry design in the works here!
This shows just how close to the pyramids you can get. I will have to admit I was extremely disappointed that they let people crawl all over the pyramids. After all this is a World Heritage site. It would be nice if future generations can enjoy this beautiful area too. This is something we hadn’t seen in other countries with National Treasures.
I love this image,but again…kind of wish there were more respect for the site. These folks were not an issue. It was the kids carving with sticks in the sandstone that bothered me the most.
Beautiful lighting on the pyramids here. The big puffy clouds were casting awesome shadows
This one just screams out EGYPT!!! The security was everywhere!! Speaking of security. At our hotel we have security guards sitting on each floor and practically in front of our door. Getting in and out of the hotel involves an airport style scanner and armed guards as you drive into the parking lot AND at the front of the lobby. Yes, I’m thrilled at the extra measures but it is a little weird the first couple of days to be scoped out at every turn…lol!
Steves Birthday cake surprise I arranged prior to leaving the U.S. with Mohammed our hotel manager., They have been so fantastic here!
Happy Birthday boy!! Liz, does this look familiar when we celebrated Steves Bday in China?
They love Twinkies here!! They are on every street cart
Some more street food…Kebabs are the BEST!! This was at a night market
I treated Steve to dinner at the top of Windows on the World restaurant at the Ramses Hilton on the Nile. All the boats below were just beautiful and our first view of how the night life is in Cairo. The food was fantastic!!!
Sunset over the nile through the restaurant window
