*** Wednesday, 20Sep06 ***
Today I experienced some devious behavior by the drivers. I was told at the very last possible second that instead of Sheena and I being taken to the Four Seasons, we had to wait for Bruce and Marcia. This could have been handled much more efficiently by earlier communication.

Amr asked me for my email address and he gave me his but I sent a message to it and it was rejected. He gave me another address that was not rejected.

I spoke with Sherif on the phone and told him I had moved hotels. I hope we will be able to get together once more before I leave.

A donkey-pulled cart that is common on Cairo streets.

So how nice is the Four Seasons? My room is much bigger than at the Semiramis but the space is in the center of the room and all I can do is walk across it. The bathroom is huge. The bed is comfortable but a bit soft by my tastes.
But do I really care?

A special reduced rate of $10 for Internet access. I believe that the Internet should be free so I will not pay. A nasty thing that the Semiramis DIDN'T do was that the Four Seasons turned off the free government Internet access. They claimed that they weren't authorized to access it but everybody in Egypt can, why can't they? It was just a way to make you pay the $10 per day fee.

I lucked out by finding an open wireless network and had access to the Internet.
The notion of opulence. The things that please people but don't do anything for me. Sheena and all the ooh-ing and awh-ing. How some things mean more to some people than to others.

*** Thursday, 21Sep06 ***
I have to go to work to put in my invoice. But I forgot to print it and Julie wasn't there anyway.

Drinkies, the only chain of liquor stores, had announced that it was closing for Ramada so I had Hani drive me by the Blue Nile and I got all the alcohol I needed to survive the four days of Ramadan that I would experience.

I had a hamburger at the pool and it was wonderful. It was the best cheeseburger I have had since leaving the States.

I went back to my room, had a few beers and went to bed early so I would wake early.

*** Friday, 22Sep06 ***
Last night they changed the clocks here so I got an extra hour of sleep. They decided to change the clocks early here because Ramadan starts in two days.

I was up at seven and at work at eight until noon and then I went to the pool.

I got a call from Regeb who asked me to meet him "under the Lion" at 6:15 tonight. Then I got a call from Sherif asking if we could meet at the McDonalds on Al Ahram Street. He will pick me up at 8:30 tomorrow night here at the hotel.

Morning fog on the Nile.

He also told me that some guest at the hotel had a problem with Regab so they gave him ten days off until the person leaves. Guests can be really mean in complaining about a staff person by name. It usually costs the person their job.

So I was under the Lion at 6:10 and Regab showed up dressed in a suit and tie!! He took me over to the museum grounds and they were setting up for some show. The Sheraton, Regab's old hotel, was catering so Regab new many of the staff and even helped set up the chairs.

When we sat down, I even got to meet the Minister of Tourism who talked about how much he liked Boston. A real Pol.

A carving in the Egypty Museum's front yard.

It turned out that Regab was graduating from a six-month continuing education type program at the Egyptian Museum School. There were speeches and certificates (six month programs and two week programs) and even esteemed individuals to receive awards and give speeches. Ahmed came and sat beside me -- that was very nice. Sherif couldn't make it for some reason. There was even hors d'oeuvres and fruit drinks after the ceremony.

It was nice enough until it was over and Regab pulled me to an Internet Cafe so I could write an email to Susana in Spain. I think he thinks something is going to come of this. I think he got Sherif to write his earlier emails to her for him.

*** Saturday, 23Sep06 ***
As it turned out, Sherif came by with Regab -- and on foot. Sherif's car is in the shop being repaired so he has no wheels. I suggested we go into the Mall and eat there. The food is OK. I had a nice chicken dish for lunch.

My first surprise was that I couldn't order a beer. It turns out that the Minister of Tourism, the same guy I met last night, has ordered that alcohol can not be served during Ramadan except in Hotels. I am so grateful that I got that case of Heineken when I did!
After eating, Regab and Sherif said goodbye and left. I will miss them.

*** Sunday, 24Sep06 ***
To work in the morning.
Dinner with Sheena at the pool. A very pleasnt time. I had lamb kofta and it was excellent.

*** Monday, 25Sep06 ***
I got up at 2 A.M. to check out the Mall and it was open and about 80 people were there but no big deal.

Dinner with Sheena in the Thai restaurant. It was good without being good enough.
Sherif called me to thank me. Unfortunately it was at 11:30 and I was asleep so I don't remember much about what he said.

*** Tuesday, 26Sep06 ***
To work in the morning for the last time. I got all my papers organized.

Sherif and Regab.

*** Wednesday, 27Sep06 ***
I called Sherif in the morning and we talked. He asked if he could call me tonight and I said at six as I have to go to bed early. He does things like that -- schedule a call in a way that makes it special but then has nothing to say other than thank you. Oh, well.

I had a fair well dinner with Sheena at the pool. We had a fun time and plan to keep in touch in the future.

I went to bed at 8:30 P.M. and get up at 2 A.M. My car left at 3 A.M. to arrive at 3:30 A.M. to be two hours early for my flight. That was the plan. I did leave at 3 in the morning and as I was getting in the car, someone came up to me and said that a pair of sneakers had been found in the waste basket. I said, "Yes, I don't want them." The person asked me if someone could have them and I said, "Yes," but asked me to sign a release form which I did.

*** Thursday, 28Sep06 ***
Off to the airport and through security. I went into the departure lounge and noticed a flight leaving for Frankfurt which seemed odd. I decided to investigate and discovered that it was MY FLIGHT!! It was leaving early because Lufthansa changed its departure time when daylight saving time was implemented early. But nobody bothered to tell me. I got on the flight but only by luck.

It was four and a half hours to Frankfurt but I got a little rest. Then I connected to the Boston flight but couldn't get an aisle seat. So for the next eight hours I sat without being able to really stretch my legs.

*** Friday, 29Sep06 ***
Six months in Cairo was a wonderful experience. I got to walk all around the old city and visit many historic structures. That was nice but far nicer was meeting Egyptians. I found Egyptians to be polite, gracious, and uniformly friendly. I'd like to go back again -- some day.