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| Carlo In Arabia!; ON TOUR | |
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| Topic Started: Sunday, 27. July 2008, 10:18 (516 Views) | |
| CARLO | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 10:18 Post #1 |
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Here on the Red Sea the sun beats down on the hotel complex guarded by friendly but gun-totting Egyptian security guards and the occasional policeman. It is a striking reminder that there is much poverty and risk outside the celllophane wrapped tourist havens. In the hotel the Egyptians cannot do enough for us. They are friendly, helpful and courteous - nothing is too much trouble. I try out my rusty Arabic and hey presto an 'Arabic Lesson' is arranged for us every day at 11 a.m. by the staff. Wonderful! There is little sign of religion within the complex apart from the burkhas worn by some women including a version that is suitable for swimming in. However in my first foray into a local shop the Egyptian in charge explains that he is a Christian and shows me the tatooed crosses on his arm and the crucifix around his neck as evidence. Quite a surprise and I think a reminder not to take anything forgranted - In Egypt nothing is what it seems? When I ask the price of using the Internet the lady at the desk simply waves her arms and tells me that "It will be added to my room bill". In this sort of heat one does not argue! Good bless you all and more news from Egypt whenever I can. Pax vobiscum Peace be with you all CARLO Edited by CARLO, Sunday, 27. July 2008, 10:24.
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| KatyA | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 10:41 Post #2 |
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Thank you Carlo for thinking of us while you are away. Please keep us up to date with your travels, especially any Churches you may visit. KatyA |
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 10:46 Post #3 |
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Please give us a Mass report, CARLO. Are there wayside shrines? Do people feel free to walk about wearing crucifixes? Is there any religous prejudice, against Christians, out there. You picked the wrong week! Its boiling hot here, the sun is shining, a few times a day I cross the lane so my dog can cool down in the stream. The fridge is stocked with cold drinks. You are missing out on an opportunity to enjoy a lovely English summer. If that isn't sour grapes on my part, what is?  Have fun in Egypt. |
 Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| william of bow | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 11:07 Post #4 |
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I have just returned from two weeks touring around God's country - Ireland of course! The weather was good - no higher than 21 C and hardly a drop of rain in two weeks! Sometimes grey and murky but, overall, good. The purpose of the trip was to introduce my 15 year old son, Liam to his roots. Happily he fell in love with the Kerry mountains and with the Shannon. He saw where his grand ma was born and he had a few thoughtful moments standing beside the cross where the Easter Rising Patriots were shot in Kilmainham Gaol. He was my 'official photographer' and managed to take 194 pics. Alas I could not get him into Mass but he was good company and the holiday was a success. William William |
William of Bow[G.K.Chesterton] Check my Blog: http://www.williamonthehill.typepad.co.uk | |
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| Derekap | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 15:04 Post #5 |
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I think the only church Carlo will find will be a Coptic Orthodox Church. Churches are officially allowed but permission to build is rather grudging and often long delayed. There will undoubtedly be at least one mosque. If he does find an opportunity to attend a Catholic Holy Mass I wonder which way the Celebrant will be facing seeing as how he is in the East and certainly more East than Jerusalem. |
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| Derekap | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 15:06 Post #6 |
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Carlo. Enjoy the Shai and Stella Beer and of course Coca Cola (produced locally of course). |
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| John Sweeney | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 18:37 Post #7 |
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Carlo Enjoy the trip and I will be interested to hear your further refections on Egypt. William, you whetted my appetite for my forthcoming holiday in September to West Cork. John |
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| PJD | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 18:51 Post #8 |
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Never mind Cork John, we want to hear about the Nile. I wonder if Carlo goes as far as the Red Sea - Moses and all that. PJD |
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| Patrick | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 19:05 Post #9 |
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Philistine!  Cork is better than the Nile! |
  
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 20:26 Post #10 |
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We do indeed want to hear about the Nile. Carlo gave advance notificiation that he would like to tell us, if internet access was easily available. about his visit to a muslim country, |
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 27. July 2008, 20:32 Post #11 |
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I find it odd that some muslim countries keep women in their place, forbidding them to show their faces or drive cars. and in contrast dome muslim countries are more permissive. Even in England, there are pockets where no "moderate" muslim couple would set up house, because in some districts of some towns, the women are expected to wear full muslim dress. CARLO you say the burkhas are worn by some women. Do you mean some muslim women? Do some of the muslim women wear western dress? [redit][/redit] |
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| Alan | Monday, 28. July 2008, 15:11 Post #12 |
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As a Corkonian I can add. Yes. very useful bottle stoppers.  and like most members I hope Carlo posts reams about his travels (together with photo's).[redit][/redit] Edited by Alan, Monday, 28. July 2008, 15:13.
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God Bless all who visit this forum, Alan. Add Catholic CyberForum to your favourites | |
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| CARLO | Tuesday, 29. July 2008, 12:03 Post #13 |
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At the hotel complex we have been invaded by Belgians! A cheery lot - when I asked one lady at the pool what language she was speaking she yelled "BELGIAN! but don't worrry we all speak ENGLISH too!". I regret that I know not one word of Belgian. Meanhwile Ahmed the head waiter tut tuts at the expanse of female European flesh on display! "In your country women are free" he comments, "Here they are not but (indicating a group of Egyptian women in full burkhas) they are much safer - your women must be careful here". I nod sagely and note that there only appears to be one female employee in the whole of the hotel. She is the 'Customer Care Manager' and I think a German. She sits at a desk in the hotel lobby and seems to speak any and all languages at high speed! She has that 'Come on ask me one - I've heard it all before!' look! I decide to steer clear of her. Perhaps I will ask her later about churches? Outside we watch young Arab males showing off water skiing. They execute amazing acrobatics to impress the women. Eventually one fails to execute an impossibly ambitious jump and falls badly into the Red Sea. "Ha ha" says Tony from Birmingham - "I always know my limits!" - I catch sight of his wife lifting her eyes to heaven! Dangling my feet in the Red Sea I look across at Mount Sinai and think of Moses receiving the ten commandments and the waves rolling back to allow the Israelites to cross. That must have been some miracle - I always imagined the Red Sea to be as wide as The Thames - but it is a good deal wider than that! The water is teeming with fish that almost jump out at you. Tony from Birmingham leans over gazing wide eyed through the seawater - "What are THOSE?" he gasps - Ahmed by now my confidant whispers to me in Arabic: "What does he think they are? "******g camels ? !!" More news of churches, shrines and burkhas later! Too hot to type more now! Haddah Haffiz God is watching you CARLO[redit][/redit] Edited by CARLO, Tuesday, 29. July 2008, 12:13.
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| Patrick | Tuesday, 29. July 2008, 14:04 Post #14 |
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I'm glad you're enjoying your holiday, Carlo! :D I noticed that you didn't leave a reason for editing - was it to put those asterisks in?
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| Derekap | Tuesday, 29. July 2008, 15:36 Post #15 |
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I suppose " BELGIAN" means Flemish, a slight variation of Dutch. Belgians (in general) can be very sensitive indeed as regards language. I have made the mistake of assuming they understood French. Whether they do or not, the Flemmings are easily upset and prefer to speak English rather than French. On a multi-national cruise my colleagues and I assumed a group of Belgians would want to be on an excursion coach with a French speaking guide. Definitely NOT, they wanted to be with an English-speaking guide. So the was a hurried re-arrangement. I have a picture of a signpost showing the way to Brussels in both languages. When the Germans occupied the country they added their version and after liberation the British added the English version. When travelling around one can find that your destination suddenly disappears. One has crossed a linguistic border and your destination is now called something utterly different. I suppose it is the fault of our Western European predecessers that they never saw the advantage of Latin as a universal language. But.. then... if within in Yorkshire the meaning and pronounciation of some English words and structure of the language varies, you can imagine the infinite variations which Latin would have become when communities were more isolated. |
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