and here comes the winter in Cairo!

Talk about the seasons changing. I came back from Europe where on my last day, I had about 5 degrees C to about 35 degrees C the next day in Cairo. And then, about a few days later, winter started.

Well, let's be realistic, for the sake of all those who are REALLY freezing their butts off (hey, Vilhubers in Montana and Montreal... even those in Dobel, but those are my parents, it wouldn't be polite to tell them that they're freezing their tushies off...hehehe). Cold in Cairo for the moment means about 15-18 degrees in the morning and some mid-twenties during the day. But nothing here is made for the cooling of the temperatures. The houses feel cold, far from being cozy, you don't really know what to wear, one minute you're cold, the next you catch some sun and you're hot... So everybody's getting sick, especially the kids. Charlie and Arthur are battling some nasty colds. Arthur is back on long-term treatment for his bronchitis... oh well.

The other official sign that winter is REALLY here: the uniforms of military, policemen and other officials have changed from their summer white to their usual winter black. So even the Egyptian state officially said: winter is here.

The last sign for me, personally: I have dusted the electric heaters and set one up in the kids bathroom. So the kids are warm going in and coming out of the bath!

cheers!

Here comes the sun...

... full sunshine and beautiful views!

And freezing temperatures...!

Finally...

... some sunshine!!!! Yesterday AND today. Of course , in between yesterday and today, we had some major rainfall with a drop in temperatures to about 0°C (32°F). Morning was rather hanging IN the clouds than anything else. But this afternoon, skies cleared up again.
Check out the webcam!
http://www.talblick.net/webcam.htm

... and still...

... no sunshine in "Dobel im Sonnenschein". Quite cold, still, too! 7°C. In spite of the lack of sunshine, colors are nice... imagine (hard!) what they would be like if there WAS some sun.


Then of course, I have my own, personal little sunshine!

freezing...

considering that I had turned back on the air conditioning these last few days in Cairo, I am now FREEZING my butt off in Dobel. It´s just about 8°C!!!! And I have yet to see some sunshine...

but the forest is looking really beautiful with all its autumn colors, even without the sunshine. Though I am cold, I do appreciate the feeling of a real season!

cheers!

what a day...

I guess it was just one of those days where Murphy´s law applies.

Let´s start at the beginning... I had been sick on-and-off for about a month and a half and we decided it would be a good idea to go back home for a major check-up to find out what´s going on (I´ll keep you posted on that part, promise). So we booked a flight, seats... everything was in the box! Then our insurance kicked in and took charge of all the details, including the flight. I had my personal reservation cancelled...

Today then was the day: I was leaving for Europe with Charlie. Flight was booked, suitcase packed, Charlie and I ready to go... or so I thought. Arriving at the airport, they (meaning Egypt Air) couldn´t find my reservation!!! Great! Damn!

Now, they told us that when I cancelled MY reservation, Egypt Air simply cancelled ALL the reservations for the name "Anneke Sauer"! Of course, without asking or double-checking! I´ll tell you, there is nothing to get your adrenaline up when you are told at 8.15 am that you are currently not on the flight at 9.40 am and that the insurance company has to make a new reservation (this is Egypt, nothing goes FAST).
I had my new reservation (lucky me, the plane was not fully booked!) at 9am (surprisingly fast, although this morning it felt like FOREVER), but had yet to go through check-in (for those of you who took Egypt Air before know that this means chaos and long lines!). Worse, I still had to go through passport control! Takes even longer. Luckily, there was a very kind lady who saw me stressing out at check-in and who helped me through all that! I got to the gate at 9.30am, went straight through to the bus and was relieved to be on the plane.

Fortunately, the rest of the trip went just fine, flight itself was great, pick-up service in Frankfurt on time and fast and at 5.30pm, I arrived at Mom´s and Dad´s house.

What a day... but all´s well that ends well, I guess!

Cheers!

Friday's...

it is so amazing, in a bustling city like Cairo, on a Friday morning...: Silence! ........ well, almost silence, I mean it's still Cairo! But it is amazing. The only other time this occurs is during Ramadan's Iftar, when they are all off to eat their long-awaited dinner.

Except for a few cars and trucks, until this afternoon, Cairo will be (relatively) quiet. After the Friday prayer (which is the major prayer of the week, kinda like the Christian Sunday mass) at around noon, the city will start becoming really noisy again... C' est la vie!Guess you can't have it all.

The thing is: Friday is big prayer day, but it does not mean that there is no business. Shops open (later, but still...) and even on the big building site next to our building is busy on a Friday, although somewhat later!

I had my two hours of relative silence... I do miss that!

have a nice day!

Life is ...

This is a picture of Charlie with his nanny. Her name is Awa and she's from Ivory Coast. This is the way they carry their kids. Charlie LOVES it. He actually goes to sleep that way!!!

I thought that was worth a little note. Cheers!

I'm singing in the rain...

Would you believe me if I told you that it has been raining since 3 a.m. this morning? And not only rain... thunderstorm rain! Unbelievable. This is the kind of rain we like.. it actually washes the trees, Cairo becomes somewhat green, a very impressive, and rare, view. Although the rain also implies chaotic driving conditions (0k, I mean WORSE than usual, it's mayhem). Since there are NO evacuation holes in the streets, the water accumulates to enormous muddy puddles which Egyptians are then afraid to drive through.
For those of you lacking sun, you will find this crazy, but I swear, for me, I love it when it rains. It reminds me that there ARE seasons in this world, and after a gazillion days of sun, the rain feels really nice.

a new adventure...

Ok, this is going to be a first, after a family photo site and being on facebook, my brother Jan inspired me with his blog on their life in Montana.
I thought: hey, living in Egypt gives maaaaaaaaaany things and subjects to talk about. Every day is a new adventure, filled with new, almost always maddening expierences!