The Funny Side of Cairo

A "Google" Internet Cafe on a backstreet in Cairo.


McDonald's - A taste of home perhaps...


A man herds his goats down a busy Cairo street.

These are a few interesting pictures I found that truly show contrasts betweeen modern and ancient cultures. Cairo is truly a metropolitain center where cultures, styles and peoples mix and live together. I hope you enjoy these... Who knows, we may even encounter one

on our trip!

Take Care,

-The Mariner

The Purple Swamphen!

Yes that's right... there is a bird found on the Nile in Egypt known as the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio madagascariensis). They range from Florida to New Zealand and can be found along rivers and swamps in most tropical environments. We will most likely see these birds walking amongst the reeds and water lillies whilst on the Nile Cruise. These are one of my personal birds and a true ornithological treasure. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled while aboard the cruise ship!

All the best...

-The Mariner

Transportation

Here are two links, one to Abela Egypt, the sleeper train company that we will be using, as well as the link to Egypt Air. You will find a lot of important and useful information on these sights. I have learned a lot myself from these and they can definately be of use to you. All amenities and meal info is also avaliable here. If I am not mistaken, you can even search for what planes are in the Egypt Air fleet (if not a quick Wikipedia search for Egypt Air will suffice).

-Abela Egypt Sleeping Trains
http://www.sleepingtrains.com

-Egypt Air
http://www.egyptair.com.eg/

Best of Luck

-The Mariner

Preparation for Dive Trip in the Red Sea

Longnose Hawkfish Oxycirrhites typus



Coral Grouper Cephalopholis miniata

Red Sea Clownfish (Tower Bar Anemonefish) Amphiprion bicinctus

One of the many activities that we can partake in while in Egypt is a dive/snorkel trip to the reefs of Ras Mohammed National Park. We are blessed with the ability of being able to visit these prestine environments. The reefs of Ras Mohammed are among the world's most protected and they are free of the pollutants and damage caused by humans. Many divers that have traveled to other reefs in places like the Caribbean, Hawaii and parts of Australia say that Ras Mohammed is by far, a much better place to dive. The uniqueness of Ras Mohammed comes from the fact that many of the species found there are endemic, and are found nowhere else on earth. Also, Ras Mohammed is home to the threatened Hawksbill Sea Turtle, a sight rarely seen outside of the Red Sea! You do not need to be a professional diver to enjoy this. I highly reccomend this for everyone because the state of our planet's environmental health is declining and sadly, we may not have treasures like this much longer. Do not miss this opportunity! I am a marine biology major and this is an oppurtunity that I am so thankful for. I'd like to just provide you with a quick taste of some of the common fish you might encounter.

All the best...

-The Mariner