Hi Opal: Don't you have a bday coming up soon, I do.
We've traveled to Egypt often, perhaps 10 times since 2004. My favorite of all of them was in 2010-2011. (because of the overturn of Mubarak) The
The citizens were so excited and happy, I just knew we had to go back there and congratulate them. Of course as we know now, it was a short-lived happy due to the military take-over of Sisi hiding in the wings.
As I recall, my husband's birthday was October 8th,2010 so we went to Egypt then, and a side trip to Israel, much like side trips we took in the 2008-2010 period to Israel and the following year to Jordan (my favorite) ...It took that kind of persuasion. He adores Egypt, but no so Israel, but I always wanted to see for myself. Then returned in March of 2011 and took the side trip (with a group tour to Alexandria. I tried back then to always take some type of short 5 day side tour which they offer. Afterall, the main distance to Egypt, makes it a short jaunt elsewhere. The only regret I have now is that a main trip to Turkey we didn't opt for the side trip to Palmyra Syria close by. Now, its too late and forever gone, one of the saddest memories of the ancient years:
https://www.boredpanda.com/before-a...=bing&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
Anyway, its strange how we started to go to Egypt as an escape from our pain both emotional and mental pain over our youngest daughter's mental issues. I suppose God has a strange way of working within people, but I recall in 2004 saying "we must get away, how about Egypt?" Thats about as far away as a person could travel from Phoenix Az. To New York, then to Egypt as the planes leave from there. There use to be a take off from L.A. but they stopped them years before.
I know this is too much info but I'm reminiscing this time.
To go a first time, is a shock to the nervous system, as much as going over the border to Mexico was the 1st time from Az. But after the initial culture shock wears off, its a breeze causing some to return over and over due to the tremendous amounts of archeological intact sites like no other place except for Turkey (imo) the culture, and the friendly Egyptians.
MONK:
Thanks for the kind words.
I wish I had a time of day for Farouk's sailing down the Nile, (as the Egyptians like to recall) - but I don't so I used a hypothetical 1 A.M. because he had to have known the night before the jig was up and he'd be leaving.
It turns out on
July 23rd, 1952 there was Mars square Venus and the Moon at that time.
from Wiki:
President Nasser announced a new Constitution on 16 January at a popular rally, setting up a presidential system of government in which the president has the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. An elections law was passed on 3 March granting women the right to vote for the first time in Egyptian history. Nasser was elected as the second president of the Republic on 23 June. In 1957, Nasser announced the formation of the National Union (Al-Ittihad Al-Qawmi), paving the way to July elections for the National Assembly, the first parliament since 1952.
Commemoration
The anniversary of the coup d'état is commemorated on
Revolution Day, an annual
public holiday in Egypt, on 23 July.
Since I don't have the expertise of the ancient astrologers who could figure out the PARANS without a computer
(how did they do this??)
I can only look at the stars hidden via the internet that day.
What I can offer however, is a few glimpses of how those insanely rich human beings (much like DJt today?) lived amongst the poor Egyptian citizens. Palaces everywhere, many still intact and used converted into hotels. Here is one we stayed a few times, (my favorite area) in Zamalek, an island near Cairo and off the
July 26th bridge, (a Commemoration that is huge each year in Egypt as its the 7 Day War with Israel) and Egyptians honor their military here.
(Its terribly sad that the Military turned on them after the Revolution of 2011, awful memory of that) .....They truly believed in their military saving them.
The minority Coptics however approve of the Generals running the country.
Morsi's fate was sealed when he disbanded the Parliament. You need a Parliament that does the head honchos in charge bidding I suppose, much like we have here OR fix it so it's so.
Here are a few photos of the Marriott in Zamalek, which was a fabulous mansion built for 1 reason only. To honor a State Visit of a Queen from France , a Royalty visit. He wanted to impress her from what I recall vaguely. In this case, 1862 and owned by this guy - Farouk also had palaces everywhere, some museums some now commercial establishments.
(*some tour companies still use this place for Cairo visits) but I checked booking.com and its about $118.00 per night. Not bad for 10 star Luxury, lol.
History of the Palace
Khedive Ismail built the historic Palace Al Gezirah in Cairo, Egypt in 1869 to serve as a guest palace during the Suez Canal inauguration celebrations. in the years since, it has housed European monarchs, including Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. It was to be the venue of the first performance of Verdi's Opera Aida.
Some photos of the Marriott zamalek district:
*think Mar Lago without a golf course*
Within walking distance of this palace is another which was Farouk's or one of his chlidrens. It is now called the Egyptian Ceramic Museum and is definately worth the walk over to see fantastic ceramics of various eras.