is building the B&B on the Nile:
Everyone here is excited about the election, most of the people I know
will be voting for the first time. The country has been divided into 3
sections and each votes 2 weeks apart...1st day was 11/28...this seems to
be a security measure due to protests and killings 2 weeks ago. Aswan
votes for 2 days starting 12/14. Some tourist have returned but I'd say only
%25 of normal. Also the temperature has been pretty cool. It should be
mid to upper 80's with mid 60's low but it hasn't been above 78 and is mid
50's at night. So no Nile swimming so far.
will be voting for the first time. The country has been divided into 3
sections and each votes 2 weeks apart...1st day was 11/28...this seems to
be a security measure due to protests and killings 2 weeks ago. Aswan
votes for 2 days starting 12/14. Some tourist have returned but I'd say only
%25 of normal. Also the temperature has been pretty cool. It should be
mid to upper 80's with mid 60's low but it hasn't been above 78 and is mid
50's at night. So no Nile swimming so far.
House is coming along and should be finished except for stairs to the roof
by the time I leave. I spent 8 hours scraping nasty masking tape off the
windows and doors they painted and am now using acetone and steel
wool to remove the adhesive, the workers here never truly finish the job,
always leave something for the next guy to clean up. I'm contemplating
selling for a few reasons. The air is becoming polluted with the increase
in cars (without catalytic converters) and in the villages cheap chinese
3 wheel motorcycle bench carts driven by 14 to 18 yr olds whizzing
around transporting people who used to walk to the main road. Also
they are still burning plastic bags and bottles, which are in use everywhere
now. A few years ago the only veiled women were tourists from iran/ Saudi
now I'd estimate 20% of the local women are veiled. The shops in the bazaar
play no music but the constant drone of the imam. The loudspeakers
broadcasting from the mosques are everywhere and not only the call to
prayer is broadcast but the whole 2 hour friday service and it is LOUD.
The worst change was the sale of land near my house to a rich man who
built a large villa. In order to build the villa he had to cut down a huge
gov't now so he went ahead and cut it. This changes the feeling of the
village since up until now the rich have stayed out of the nubian villages.
I'm hoping to hook up with a guy from England who runs a fishing business
on nearby Lake Nasser and is looking to buy, just trying to get a feel of
whether anyone would be interested. But I really love the house it is
peaceful and quite pretty and I enjoy my egyptian friends.
by the time I leave. I spent 8 hours scraping nasty masking tape off the
windows and doors they painted and am now using acetone and steel
wool to remove the adhesive, the workers here never truly finish the job,
always leave something for the next guy to clean up. I'm contemplating
selling for a few reasons. The air is becoming polluted with the increase
in cars (without catalytic converters) and in the villages cheap chinese
3 wheel motorcycle bench carts driven by 14 to 18 yr olds whizzing
around transporting people who used to walk to the main road. Also
they are still burning plastic bags and bottles, which are in use everywhere
now. A few years ago the only veiled women were tourists from iran/ Saudi
now I'd estimate 20% of the local women are veiled. The shops in the bazaar
play no music but the constant drone of the imam. The loudspeakers
broadcasting from the mosques are everywhere and not only the call to
prayer is broadcast but the whole 2 hour friday service and it is LOUD.
The worst change was the sale of land near my house to a rich man who
built a large villa. In order to build the villa he had to cut down a huge
gov't now so he went ahead and cut it. This changes the feeling of the
village since up until now the rich have stayed out of the nubian villages.
I'm hoping to hook up with a guy from England who runs a fishing business
on nearby Lake Nasser and is looking to buy, just trying to get a feel of
whether anyone would be interested. But I really love the house it is
peaceful and quite pretty and I enjoy my egyptian friends.
Hope to write more up beat stuff soon and send photos.
