December 17, 2008 - January 5, 2009

I am now going to attempt to catch you up on these three weeks, before I launch into this week.
I joined Dale as he headed off from Cyprus to Cairo on December 17th. During our week in Cairo we managed to get in a few days of golfing, a visit to the Khan El-Kahlili (my favourite market), and a couple of visits with our friends. We got to Ma'adi to help Dave and Jacqueline and a group of their friends from church, including MJ and Neil - to package gift boxes for Sudanese children for Christmas. Jacqueline had everything counted out and prepared so it wasn't long before we were into the mulled wine and goodies. It was a lovely evening. Our other excursion was a Felucca ride with MJ and a group of friends. There wasn't any wind, so we anchored out in the middle of the Nile for a lovely picnic lunch. We stopped by at the Grand Cafe on the Corniche on the way home, presumably for a coffee (it was a little chilly on the boat), but given the option of a fresh mango juice, of course that won out for me. I swear they peel a mango, then squish it into the glass - ripe and sweet and chunky! Yum!
What we did miss out on was our Canadian Christmas in Cairo. Dale ended up having to work, so we had to cancel Christmas dinner with MJ and Neil and their friends. Nothing like last minute cancellations! Fortunately, Jeff and Brett were still able to join the group for the breakfast Felucca ride, so they played Santa for us.
Also fortunately, early in the New Year, MJ and Neil met up with Dave and Anita White (from Comox) in Hurghada, and came up to El Gouna for the day to visit with us. Adam was there too, so we arranged to all meet for lunch - 7 of us from Comox, Jason from Calgary and Yves from Montreal. All of us sitting out in the sun having coffee/lunch in El Gouna. What is most fantastic is that that is hard enough to arrange when we are back in Comox!
The rest of our time in El Gouna was pretty relaxing. Some time at the beach with a couple of good books, and generally taking it easy (forcing ourselves to go to the gym). The temperature was in the low 20s, but the wind was up for several days, so Jason and Adam (and Dale for a bit) got in some kite surfing too.
We were then back to Cairo on the 4th and I returned to Cyprus on the 5th. Just time enough to do laundry and pay some bills then off again!