Advice from Caroline Brady on Egypt.
Today I created a way to automatically convert HTML (what I write for web pages) to text (what I write for emails). This should save me from having to write two versions of each day by hand.
It is difficult to process a large number of photographs on my little Duo 210 powerbook. I've been experimenting with a new photo process which saves me time, but also results in more pictures, and therefore costs more money to transfer over the phone line. My photo process still needs refinement. This is where it would be nice to have a faster computer.
I couple of days ago I wrote a letter to Caroline Brady, whose name and interest in Egyptology I had accidentally uncovered on a routine web search. She recently responded with lots of advice about Egypt, as you can read below:
Patrick Thank you for writing. I was in Egypt in 1991, my second visit. I loved everything about the county, the heat, the smell, the people.......even though they were a little overpowering. I have very white skin that hates the sun. They found this fascinating. I would recommend an early morning visit to the Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza. Take camels or horses out into the desert and watch the sun come up. The scene is breath-taking. The up side of this expedition is...you have the place to yourself...usually. The sound and light show is a must. Even though there are lots of people at the show, the setting is beautiful and very romantic. Of course, you have to go to the Cairo Museum. Now I left only two days for this and it was definetly not enough time. The Museum could take a week....but it depends on the time you have to spend. Then there is Saqqara...the oldest stone complex known in the world, and Memphis and Dahshur for which you need special permission to visit. The city itself. My memory of Cairo will always be the noise created by maniac drivers blowing their car horns. The bazaars are great and you should visit the Khan el-Khalili in old Cairo.......where I wanted to get lost and stay for the rest of my life. You should bargain for everything...although there are some shops where prices are fixed. Things to buy include Mouski glass, jewelry and leather. There is so much to do in Cairo...but you have to leave it and move on to Luxor. Now this is my favourite place in the world. Watch out for "fellafel" (dont know if the spelling is right). It's a mushy green mixture thrown into boiling oil and served in a bread roll. Normally bought off the side of a road where it is prepared in a bin sitting on top of a fire. Great fun. Best food I ever had. There is so much to do in Luxor. Again the sound and light show at Karnak is a must. I just liked to wander around Karnak and day-dream. Then the Valley of the Kings. Then Deir el-Bahari. Also the Ramesseum I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed. And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings; Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. I think Shelley covers the impression you get from the remains of Ramesses 11 very well. Then the Colossi of Memnon...two enormous statues of Amenhotep 111. The statues were supposed to speak and were regarded as an Oracle in the past. Before I forget...you have to visit "The Winter Palace" an hotel in Luxor. It really is the most deadly place, I can just imagine Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon having afternoon tea there. In fact if you can afford it...stay there. I could go on for hours more. I hope you have a really good time in Egypt and I'll certainly keep up with your on-line journal. I'm looking forward to reading about your adventures and impressions. I'd love to visit again myself....maybe soon...who knows. bye for now.
Thanks for the advice Caroline!
But who are Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, and why is the Winter Palace such a "deadly place"?