No words can express my gratefulness for today, but I will try.

We arrived this morning in Izmir, Turkey and then took a taxi into Ephesus and went up the mountain side to a very high place both topographically and spiritually. We went to the House of The Virgin Mary where she spent her last days before her death.

There is much that I don't know about this place, but after when I get home, I will research it.

Inside, I was able to be caught by some kind of rainbow upon the wall on the stone. It was colored, but very faded and over it, was a clear glass frame. They were placing this over as to draw attention and protect it: this is my guess. But the strangest thing is, that our first time through the house, the sun was shining precisely in this spot, but we came out and had decided to take some candles to light as our points in the heart. And so, upon doing this, we made a second entry; only this time, when we came to this room, the light had already shifted positions.

I don't know what was drawn there, but I was drawn to it. I can tell you that this is a very special place on the planet and how blessed we were to be able to be there on this perfect day. The weather at that time cooperated. We had sun and a light breeze and the temperature was about 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

We both drank and washed with the holy water and our hearts were moved.

Some time was spent just gaining impressions of the place and then lingering outside with a strong Turkish coffee which was served with water because it's so very thick. In a way it was kind of chocolatey. Not for someone who's afraid of trying something strong.

On our trip back to the ship, we stopped to buy a few trinkets and discussed how Turkey has a beautiful vibration to it. Very unlike Athens. There's something special about this place. I could live here, but I guess since it's communist, and the way it's set up, one cannot come to live here. Too bad. Well, maybe we can come back for an extended visit.

Before boarding, Dave went loco and bought me an expensive new wedding ring from a Jewellers here in Izmir. Must be the Turkish air. Thank you Dave. God bless your heart and soul.

To all Simplyscripters, I hope you can sometime get the chance to come to Turkey and breath in the special quality here that is so sublime and as a Spanish friend once said while we were eating dinner in Barcelona, "I am flotondo".   Floating up in the clouds in a very special place.

I'll check in again tomorrow,

Luvya,

Sandra

We arrived in Alexandria on the morning of January 31, but we weren't cleared until around eleven and weren't off until after twelve in the afternoon. This screwed up our whole day as far as the timings of the tour went. We were rushed right through. We had to first drive to Cairo which was about three hours from Alexandria and then we did a tour through the Egypt Museaum.

It was all so fast paced that one had no time to actually take it all in, unless you consider the walking encyclopedia we had for a tour guide who was very good if you want to become an Eygyptologist, but if you're going for "the experience", forget it.

Our evening meal was served on the Ferrie called The Crystal Nile. The entertainment included a whirling dervish, a belly dancer and some very loud middle eastern music. After dinner, we went up top and took some footage on the Nile at night, complete with a full or close to full moon.


There was still one more stop to make after the ferrie ride: The pyramids at night. Here we watched a spectacular light show that was very beautiful. I'm not sure if it was that I was just extremely awestruck by the pyramids, or praising Allah to be rid of the tour guide for a precious hour.


So then, thank you Ramses, it's been a pleasure. I'd like to see something that my culture shocked little brain will accept as home for a wee bit. Thus, we were on our way to The Fairmont Hotel. Let me tell you, it's a long long way when you must travel the congested streets of a celebrating Egyptian population that has just won their soccer cup.

It was a mad house. People putting down flags on the road and none of the drivers would drive over the flags out of respect and so the traffic stopped. People were burning whatnot in the street. Children were riding on the roofs of cars-- they had to since the insides were typically filled with nine or more people depending upon the vehicle. Mostly they packed themselves tight and some just wandered in between the traffic fearlessly.

I thought the drivers in Barcelona were crazy. Well Egypt wins the crazy race. How to drive in Egypt? Drive in the middle of the lines. Learn how to scrape another person's vehicle with grace. Honk your horn for the helluvit, just to feel in the swing. Don't stop for pedestrians because they have their own techniques for getting across and probably have a secret death wish anyways so if you hit them and knock them cold, they'll be grateful. Enjoy the horse carriages and donkeys because they are you're best connection with nature in this land of brick slums and brick palaces and garbage strewn along the Nile.  

So yes, The Fairmont-- we finally made it there. It's a 5 star hotel with very sleek and modern interiors. Upon arriving it was the ordinary dejavu that a traveller gets when once again, you're going through security, putting your purse or bag through the x-ray and making it "in". Away from the rifled tourist police, away from the poor areas you're thankful you don't have to exist in, where cats and dogs roam eating garbage and there is no such thing as an SPCA. This was a sore point for me and many other of us Canadian and American animal enthusiasts. But it's not just the animals you feel sorry for. It's the people in general and especially the children. The slums are very prevalent and when you exit into a secure 5 star, you might as well be on another planet.

So "in" we were and up on the sixteenth floor, we entered the haven of rest for the night, but it would be a short night since we got there so late. We had time enough to go to the lounge which was a Star Treck like bar with mood lighting that changed colors behind the bar every few seconds. A couple of scotches and a beer and about $95 USD later, we were back up to our room. The bathroom was one of the highlights here. Everything was done in a black marble and the shower was huge. Alls you do is step inside like walking into another room. The shower itself is in the ceiling, like a large round plate and presto. Or, if you need to you the attachmnents like one would with a vacuum cleaner, you had those options too.

Next to the shower is the bathtub with shutters opening to the room; so you can speak with your love meanwhile. Very pretty.

Alas, no time and then, Satan strikes...

It's five o'clock and I'm very sick, picking up some kind of local bug. I managed to make it through half a day's tours to the lesser pyramids in the daylight and the mosque, but that was it. I finally was too weak and stayed on the bus. It was a day in hell and I just wanted to get the hell out of Egypt. When we were finally leaving that evening for the three hour drive back, I said to Dave, "Now I know exactly how the Jews felt. And my grand exodus out of Egypt was filled with sickness and prayer that I wouldn't throw up.

We made it back onto the ship and I felt like I was going to die. Luckily, whatever I had, managed to resolve itself by morning. As quickly and as acutely as it came on, it had left.

We're currently at sea and heading to Malta and we are once again in rough seas. I don't know what's going on there. For most of our entire cruise minus a couple of good days, it's been rough or very rough waters.

See you in Malta,

Sandra

We arrived in Valetta, Malta this morning of February 3rd 2010 and took a taxi to Medina and Rabat. Once in Medina we took a carriage ride up the mountain side right to the top where St. John's Cathedral seemed to toll its bells just for us.

Let me tell you, Malta is exquisite. It's beautiful and clean and soooo quiet! Shhh... that exclamation mark was even loud. It's like a secret that you discover and when you do, you want to come back. We roamed the streets that were a complete mixture of tourists from all across the world, but also with locals. The culture is such a blend with English being predominant everywhere we had went, but I really enjoyed the Italian lady who happily wanted to sell me on an apron and it wasn't her job to do so. She was a tourist too!   Very sweet!

I found it strange to be in such an old and quiet place and yet so chick and cosmopolitan. Dave and I will definitely consider coming back here to spend several days.

Traveling narrow streets on foot and also taking a horse and carriage up the slopes was wonderful-- even a little scary when I was looking down a little too close to the edge for this lady. Our horse leader and guide was fabulous and offered to take our picture without us even asking. The beauty was his sincerity and handshake. It was completely different than when we were in Egypt. You have to see and feel it for yourself to understand, but Malta and Egypt are two entirely different worlds.

I'll never forget the presidential gardens where I was able to pet one of the resident cats that was clearly looked after. He or she purred for me and that made my day. Here, unlike in Egypt, they look after the kitties they have roaming. They put out cat food and they even made little "cat houses". In Egypt we saw dead dogs lying on the road and cats eating paper from the garbage. The garbage and disrespect for God's creation was hard to take, but once we landed in Valletta, it was like: "Here, see, how it can be when people care."

I think that what I've learned from my touring so far is what I've always known in my heart. It's that yes!!! We can make a difference!!! Just let us start caring for our little patch of community wherever it may be and if we can do that, it will spread throughout the world. We'll set an example and we'll clean up the world.

This is my prayer tonight: Let's start with ourselves and our family and community and let us change the world.

Sandra

Sounds like you're feeling much better today Sandra. Sounded a little rough going yesterday.

Wow, Sandra, fantastic holiday! I didn't realise you were taking in so many countries.

I had the pleasure of going to Turkey in 97. Wonderful country, lovely people, great beer and so cheap. We were there in summer though, and it was quite warm.

Funny you mention Izmir and Ephesus. I got sick staying there and our day at Ephesus was me felling miserable! We actually walked there from Izmir!
Great memories...thank you!

Quoted from Grandma Bear Sounds like you're feeling much better today Sandra. Sounded a little rough going yesterday.

Yes, it was rough in Egypt. I never want to go back, but who knows, things are always changing and you just never know, but it's certainly not in my plans. The disrespect for the land and the ecology is terrible and add to my illness and the whole ball of ugly wax and I am just glad to be gone, but still, there is some pleasantness despite it all. There always is and the word bittersweet will probably be used a lot in my future vocabulary.

Quoted from stevie Wow, Sandra, fantastic holiday! I didn't realise you were taking in so many countries. I had the pleasure of going to Turkey in 97. Wonderful country, lovely people, great beer and so cheap. We were there in summer though, and it was quite warm. Funny you mention Izmir and Ephesus. I got sick staying there and our day at Ephesus was me felling miserable! We actually walked there from Izmir! Great memories...thank you!

Yes, Turkey was very clean and the whole feel of the place was completely different than in Egypt.

The temperature has been extremely pleasant ranging from upper 60s F to 70s and in and around there. Very nice that way.

We'll be back in Barcelona tomorrow and spending another day there.

Luvya,

Sandra

I am unable to listen to this without interruption right now because of the slow satellite connection on the ship, but this is to share with you some talented and loving young people who got together to sing for us about our global connection.



Sandra

Hey Sandra i see you have a very nice time and a very nice holidays.....

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. : When we finally got off and had the clearance in Greece, we met who was our "Guardian Angel" in Greece. His name is Dimitris, and he took us to the Acropolis, to the city, to the changing of the guard and to a wonderful sea side restaurant where we had two bottles of wine a crisp Greek salad and sea bass as our meal with not only the pleasantries of the meal, but gentlemen who personally escorted me across the street to where the washroom was. ... You see, our eating place was on what had been an old wharf a long time ago, but they had transformed it so as that now, we have a cover and glassed in area to dine in so very comfortably. The actual "cooking area with the restrooms is across the street. We dined on the water across from the old home of Jackie Onassis. * Alright everyone, My thoughts as usual are with you. It's so wonderful to be able to meet friends around the world... AND!!! ... DIMITRIS!!! GOD BLESS YOU MY DEAR BROTHER AND THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! Loving Thoughts, Sandra Luvya from Piraius, Greece, Sandra Kisses and Kavana,

So you were in my area! I hope you enjoy your time in greece....

P.S. Dimitris is a very common name in greece.......

Quoted from Dimitris Hey Sandra i see you have a very nice time and a very nice holidays..... So you were in my area! I hope you enjoy your time in greece.... P.S. Dimitris is a very common name in greece.......

Yes, I enjoyed the time, but you know, what I've found that makes a place special, isn't so much the place itself, but the people you meet along the way. In the case of our taxi driver, he made it special for us.

My advice to people planning on traveling is that if you can possibly afford it, hire a personal tour guide and if you can't do that, hire a taxi driver that you trust because these gentlemen are often very professional and caring too. Remember though, you always need to be careful and use your good judgment. Some areas are worse than others; so do your research.

There's a standing joke regarding Egypt. A gentlemen comes up to you and asks, "Would you like me to take your picture atop of my camel? It's free." And so the tourist who doesn't know says yes and up he goes, has his picture taken and all would seem to be well, until... Now's the catch. "You want down? Twenty dollars."

Now, having experienced these vendors, I can tell you, they really are very pushy and the trouble is, that if you're like me and don't like to be rude, it's difficult. A person needs to learn to not even say no, but to just completely ignore. It's not fun to do that. You feel really rotten either way. In any case, no matter what you do: What winds up happening is that you just feel stressed the whole time and are not in the mood for shopping.

Anyways, I digressed, but if you're going to take one of those big magical mystery tour buses, be prepared to be disappointed if you don't like to be hearded around. Many of the good people on the various tours with us felt the same as we did. I'll give you a for instance:

While in the Egypt museum, we stood around a picture showing all the curiosities that were uncovered and their placement. Our tour guide kept us standing there for what felt to be pushing past ten minutes while she did her talk. Then when we moved on and we had to walk like hell before we had a long winded spiel again.

The thing is, what most of us wanted was only highlights and to be able to see more. That was not the case. So-- just as long as you understand what might happen on a large tour, then you can know what to expect.

I would largely recommend that if you're going somewhere, go there to stay awhile. Meaning, go there for a few days, make yourself a bit central if possible to the areas you want to visit and just go on your own. You'll have a much more relaxed time, you can play it by ear and actually feel like you're on a vacation and not working to keep up with someone else's schedule.

Dave and I are currently back in Barcelona. It felt really good to know we were going to be back on solid ground and once we got off the ship and made it back to the U232, we were able to rest a bit before heading out and exploring.

Everything was lovely this afternoon. We enjoyed a meal and a beer, but alas, the Devil strikes again and now, the same illness I had, Dave's come down with. It's been running rampant on the ship. It's the Norwalk virus and it's really been wreaking havoc with everyone. I feel bad for people that were catching planes today and that might find themselves sick while in transit.

So there you go, the upsides and downsides.

Hopefully, we'll have some recovery time tomorrow and be able to enjoy ourselves once again.

Luvya,
Sandra

Hey Sandra,

Hope your having lots of fun and PS don't tell anyone what INSIDE of the pyramids - it's a secret.

I got a couple of surprise packages in the mail filled with all sorts of meaningful goodies and one very beautiful sparkly plate.  

That was unexpected and quirky - just like you - and it made me smile.

Cheers,

Michael

Quoted from mcornetto Hey Sandra, Hope your having lots of fun and PS don't tell anyone what INSIDE of the pyramids - it's a secret. I got a couple of surprise packages in the mail filled with all sorts of meaningful goodies and one very beautiful sparkly plate.   That was unexpected and quirky - just like you - and it made me smile. Cheers, Michael

Who knew it would be 3:11 am when I'm responding to your message? Smiles and cheers to you, Michael. You're golden and I raise my early morning coffee mug to you right now. And God it's early, but at least I'm home.

I spent a record amount of time dead-in-bed yesterday after the long travel homeward on Sunday. First we traveled from Barcelona to Amsterdam, but then there's all that waiting at the airport and finally we were on the plane and taking off at about ten to three in the afternoon. It was nine hours on the plane and when we arrived in Calgary, the time change was hard to get over. Here it was still afternoon and a person's clock is completely discombobulated.

I'm very glad to be home.  

P.S. I didn't go inside the Pyramids. I was told though, by the tour guide, that you go down inside this claustrophobic space and see nothing.

Sandra

Alas, Simply Cruisin' will be buried today.

As the names and faces become portions of what we all know as "faded history", I grip hold, tightly. It must be my desperate ego. The one that gnaws at me in the morning, reviving all the guilt that I acquired the night before.



Gracias, to our dear Spanish friends. "Holy Toledo" means a helluva lot more after meeting you. Although we never made it to Toledo, we "Made It" after all!

Gracias again,

Sandra