22/9/2002

Greets from Egypt. I'm in Luxor, home of valley of the Kings, Karnak, and about half of the great Egyptian antiquities. I took a fantastic felucca ride up from Aswan - two days on a sailboat carving into the wind. There were two boats with people from Czech Republic, England, and even two other Americans. American's are in short supply around here.

I will say the Arab's aren't too keen on America these days, and I've yet to meet anyone, whether Egyptian or European, who likes George Bush. Say what you like about him, but foreigners HATE him and the ones here in Egypt blame him for everything from September 11 itself, to Israel (they call the Palestinian suicide bombers Freedom Fighters in the local newspapers), to Iraq. I use the football analogy to their opposition to any US meddling in the arab world: I'm from Ohio and love Ohio State and hate Michigan, but come the Bowl Season, and Michigan plays a Pac-10 team, I'm all about Michigan. Its the same with Iraq and Egypt. What's even more strange is how the feeling has changed since last year when I was here. Last year, when I said I was from America, it was "Ouuu....America! Number One! Sorry About 9/11" etc. Upbeat, excited. Now people are more guarded. If I say Bush is crazy, they get all excited and nod and agree and are happy again. I'm not too sure what has to be done about Iraq, but I'm not a big fan of George making the whole world angry at Americans.

I'm off tomorrow to the Desert Oases. Kharga, Dakla, maybe Siwa. Drive a few hundred miles into the desert - ya know - all sand. Sand. Dunes. More sand. And all of a sudden, a lake and trees and cities. They are supposed to be beautiful and surreal, including an area called the White Desert which apprently looks more like the moon than somewhere on Earth. After that I head back to Cairo and fly down to South Africa. I was supposed to leave here earlier but I'm having such an amazing time that I just don't want to leave! Its nice when either decision (to stay or to go) are something you want to do.

Tonight the guys I've been travelling with and I were invited across the river to a village festival. Some big 3 day festival. Our waiter today wants to host us in the party and show us how they have a good time! It should be pretty cool - and then we're off tomorrow for the Desert Safari! I'll bring plenty of water and promise to wear my sunscreen. Amazingly, after 3 weeks in Egypt, I haven't gotten sunburnt and am probably sporting the best tan of my life! (Oh and it is HOT HOT HOT here!)

-Ryan
Luxor, Egypt