The span of 24 hours

Somedays, you do more than others. My day yesterday I think took the
cake in terms of variety. Or it was at least in the top ten. At the
start of the day, I thought that physical structures built by man that
1600 years ago were old. Then I saw some that were around 4500 years
old.

It started with sleeping in until a reasonable time of 7 am, compared
to waking up at 3 am the night before. Luxury. Aya Sophya was awe
inspiring. Some places simply move you to look up by their power and
feel and not force. Once the head of the Christian church, after
Constantinople became Istanbul in the 15th century, it was converted
into a mosque, and is now a museum. Strange juxtaposition. I found
though, in somewhat in the way that China has posted its flags upon
every building in Tibet, that I felt a similar kind of marking going
on with large wooden circles with Arabic writing not melding well with
the marble columns. It was a very interesting space to be in.

Fast forward 7 hours later, where I am flying down a highway in Cairo.
It is best to sit in the backseat, happy that the seatbelt works (even
if the driver doesn't use his). Best so you don't worry about weaving
between all the lanes of traffic on the highway as you're going faster
than the car's speed limiter says to go by its constant humming, or
worry about moving the trucks and horse-driven carts on the side
roads, putting on the brakes for the broken up road when necessary.
Besides, there is so much to take in: the dry landscape, the tan high
rises, the Nile, which looks smaller than you thought it would be, the
male-dominated culture, the attitudes of the people that you pick up
as you hear responses to your questions (e.g. not acknowledging the
fact that you are lost, but rather "That is a carpet making shop"
which you could tell by reading the sign anyway). But eventually, you
wind around the city and get better directions (how can you get lost
finding the flatirons from downtown Boulder, you say?) ... and then
you round the corner and they are there. The Great Pyramids of Giza.
And "Wow" just comes out of your mouth. Similar to the Wow of Lhotse,
but in a different way--a man-made wow. Mysterious, so much effort,
uncertain history. The camel ride to see them as the sun sets and the
moon rises is good and relaxing (as far as camel rides go; it is nice
to have a slightly different way of sitting for the way back). The dry
desert air's wind blows your hair. And eventually the three pyramids
line up left to right and you have some time to sit with the pyramids.
Hear stories of one who has grown up with them (and even scaled them
after paying off the guards). There is a strange new 'protection' in
place though, that adds colorful lights and loud music and
'storytelling' and even projects lasers with shapes on the pyramids,
walling out the inhabitants, shining bright lights toward their homes
to obscure their views at night--all these new components to something
so ancient are a little distracting. But in all, they were undeniably
impressive.

Finally, after a crowded flight with Egyptian airline food (hmmmm, not
my favorite), in the middle of the night I arrive to welcoming
Nairobi. Welcoming because of a friendly face and more friends this
morning. The five of us are here and tomorrow we head to the mountains
(Mt Kenya)! I'll update when possible!

Val