The Geology Gods

The Geology gods have been ruling our destiny recently, whilst the rest of the family have been on an enforced ash extension to Easter hols in the UK I have taken the opportunity to swap Cairo for Damascus as the wells we are drilling there required my attention. Why not sit in a 5 Star hotel by myself rather than at home seems like a good idea.

After normal visa problems in Damascus airport, including this time a visit to the commander in chief of immigration control (he had to be the chief judging by the amount of gold braid he had). Anyway they let me in (cos I had a visa!) and I made it to my home away from home, the Four Seasons Hotel. They had a free concert on the lawn outside so I dropped my bags and went to mingle with the Damascene weekenders. The band was fronted by what looked like a senior accountant on a Syrian Lute, the music style was folksy-rocky-middle of the road-country-arabic-blues style, very jolly. the chap next to me said "Very famous" so I asked who it was, "I don't know" he said - hummm? not that famous then but they were filming for Syrian TV so must be big, I guess.

The Band with the Four seasons in the background

I then walked over the river and into the Handicraft souk, took a few pictures of the old boys enjoying a game of backgammon instead of selling any of the shell inlaid boxes that are everywhere. The Hammam (baths) appear to be nearly finished renovation and are open for tourists so I took a look.

Handmade Syrian soap in the Hammam

A lantern outside the Handicraft souk mosque

Later I walked through the Hamadeiah Souk, which I always love, really interesting place to just people watch, got a little bit more hassle than normal, apparently the Syrian economy is not doing so good so suppose that might be behind it.

Entrance to the souk

Scarves R Us

The Arabs have a sweet tooth, and the Syrian sweets are world reknown

Came out at the Ummayed Mosque which was open so decided to go it. This is on of the most important and beautiful Mosques in the world. Unlike most mosques this one has adornments on the walls in the form of golden roman style mosaics depicting nature, trees/ fruit etc in the courtyard. The mosque itself has the tomb where Hussian, the prophets (PBUH) grandsons head is buried - which is interesting as it is also bruied in Cairo and apparently a few other mosque around the world!

I had packed my Syria-Lebanon lonely planet so did a bit more exploring on my free evenings. I went exploring the old Christian and Jewish quarter by walking down Straight Street.

The covered part of Straight Street

There are 101 different church denominations dotted around with the odd mosque.

The Armenian Catholic church.... and a fixer upper....

In the Bible it says Paul was going to Damascus to get all the Christians, but he was blinded on the way, he was taken by Judas along Straight Street to Anaisa house (which I did not look for) and in a miracle was given his sight back. St Paul then started converting all the Jews in the Jewish quarter, which angered the Jewish priests who wanted to duff him. He had to escape through a window in the old church by the gate at the city wall. This is now called Bab Kisan and with my map reading skills I made it here as it was getting dark. The kids told me the church was closed but insisted on ringing the bell for me and a little lady came out and I got to go into the compound at least to take a few pictures. Mrs T would like it, next time I might bring her and the kids.

Bab Kisan where St Paul escaped and a mosque on the way back.

Odd Job Charile

With Mrs T and the boys enjoying a geologically induced extended holiday I have been geologically working long days and some nights as I have a well drilling (and another one starting today). When at home I have had a chance to do all those jobs I have been "meaning" to do but never got around to doing, i.e. the paperwork etc, not through any well meaning effort to organise my life or particularly to please Mrs T (although it will), but out of boredom! I only have Rocket the tortoise to talk to and frankly all he is interested in is lettuce and tomatoes.

Anyway I have been sorting all the photos on the Mac out into some order, which feels very theraputic. Here are some we never blogged about, from one of Mrs Ts first trips to the Khan al Khalili, she knows the areas very well and the shopkeepers know her as a good customer! These were taken by her and are pretty good at giving you the atmosphere of this great bazaar in islamic Cairo........

Hubs Travel Helpline

"Good Evening, how may I help you?"

"Myself and my two boys are stuck in London with a bad case of icelandic volcanic ash, could you rebook our flights"

"Certainly Madame. Any day?"

"Yes, why not Monday, that way I can get a bit more shopping in, buy a bigger suitcase and we can all watch Ipswich play".

"Done, anything else?"

"Yes, can you book me a car, a blue one"

"Done, anything else?"

"Could you cancel the tennis lesson appointment"

"Done, anything else?"

"Can you arrange for someone to feed the tortoise whilst your away"

"Done, anything else?"

"No, thats fine ............... for now"

"Thank you madame for using the Husband Helpline for high service and low cost! - please call again soon, your happiness is our goal"

Not going hungry...

Although my wife has abandoned me for almost 2 weeks, i have not need to call social services and get taken into care because both Mahmoud and Ahmed Da Driver have come up trumps providing me with a feast of Egyptian cuisine - The idea of a man living alone does not sit well with them. Last week Mahmoud left me meat, vegetables and sufficient rice to keep North Korea fed for a few weeks. Not to be outdone Ahmed got new Mrs Ahmed (name i now know, Noha) to get Mother in Law Ahmed to cook me a great potato and meat dish, some pasta and more rice, most of which is in the freezer. The potato and meat dish was delish and kept me going for a few days and goes well with the last remaining (soon to be topped up) Branston Pickle! And today with Mrs Ts arrival minus 3, Ahmed felt the need to get Mrs A cooking again and brought me a little something - this turned out to be 2 litres of soup, a stuffed chicken and a pastry thing with meat in (Ive had this at work). Again enough for 8 let alone 1. This arabic character of expressing their hospitality is very touching. Family back on Friday, I look like Im off to Damascus Saturday.......well at least we will remind each other what we look like for 24hrs!

Home Alone 43- The Grown up!

My well reaching a critical stage and Easter Holidays colliding have resulting in the family flying back to the UK for a few days R & R whilst I have to stay here and work my holey cotton socks off all hours of the working week, on weekends and public holidays (queue violins). Not only this but I had to suffer both boys on Skype today around their grandparents (whilst Mrs T was getting an English haircut) both tucking into a bacon sandwich live over the net - too cruel, I could smell the crispy sweet smelling thinly sliced and lightly smoked pork slavered in tomato ketchup........

Anyway i have managed OK by myself, the family tortoise is still alive and seems to be eating well, as am I although its been a while since I cooked for myself and seem to over estimate portions so the freezer is filling up with cooked dinners for next week. I got home today and Mahmoud had left three saucepans full of Egyptian food he had cooked for me and Ahmed and I had a long conversation on the way home which I think meant that I would get the equivalent of an Egyptian meal from him and Mrs A this weekend also.

Well should be logging tonight so expecting a call at 3.15am probably.....it always happens like that. Still no one to disturb.

Friends from NL

This week we had a booking at the Family T hotel for 4 visitors from the Netherlands, the Family Worster...our old friends from Voorburg. We did the "normal" itinary, feluccas, Khan Al Khaili, etc they went off with Ahmed Da Driver for the Museum and got "pyramidid-out" by doing Giza, Sakkara and Darshur - there are just some many pointy building you can visit in one week.

At the big pointy buildings.....

It was Martins 50th on the Feluccas and we had a good time running up and down the nile with a nice breeze before heading off to the fish market resturant for, you guessed it, a fresh fish!

Martin pictured with first wife :-} and the kids modelling.....

The sun and the moon from the Felucca

We did go somewhere new though, on Friday we took both cars to the Red Sea and Ain Soukhna, we stopped by the Movenpick hotel, paying to use the beach and pool and restaurants, whilst its not Sharm and there is not great reef and fish the beach is fantastic and water not too cold (and its only 1hr away!).