La Familia Coles

Pyramids Part 1... AKA Best Day EVER

BEST DAY EVER!!!!
This was the day of the pyramids. Words cannot describe my excitement and happiness from this moment in my life. It was the culmination of all of my childhood dreams coming true. I can't describe the emotions, and you don't want to read those anyway, so here come pictures!!! All I have to say is that I have the greatest husband in the world... he took me to Egypt... :)

Ryan and Ahmed as we were waiting for our animal friends to be prepared...

MY CAMEL!!! I dubbed him Yosef. I love him and miss him!!! He was huge!!! I was sooo high up in the air! It was so fun to get on and off of him. Its like a crazy ride at a theme park. Nerve-racking at first and you think you will fall off, but then you get used to it...

Egypt is so beautiful! So lush! I was no expecting it to be this green! This is a canal of the Nile.

Water pump. So cool.

Riding through the streets to the pyramids

First view of the pyramids!!!

Parked camel... Gosh I miss being there!

So this is actually the ancient palace of the Pharaohs... The Bedouin own it and live here. I was not supposed to take any pictures of it. But I snagged this one before they told me not to. It was awesome!!!

The Great Pyramid!

It was sooo hot this day! And there is nooo shade anywhere at the pyramids. Definitely a day for hats and long sleeve shirts! Sunburn is inevitable!

They have all these cute poses you can do with the pyramids.

Camel lovin'... You can see him smile! So cute!

Because Blogger doesn't allow for more Egypt all at once...

This is still at the Shabaan country home. We had delicious fresh roasted corn and had fun with the children!

First ride on the donkey!

Yes we will use this picture to let everyone know when I am pregnant... :)

Cutest little girl!!

Grandma. She is so awesome. We had delicious food with them.

I love Egyptian food!

Koshary. I LOVE THIS!!!

Ryan's doorman from his study abroad in Egypt. :)

I learned to tie a higab

Al shohadaa used to be called 'Mubarak'... NO LONGER!!!! :) VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

Blessed Be Egypt, My People.... :)

Oh Egypt.
Sorry that it has taken me so long to finally upload all these pics and stories... It has been such a mess since we got home like my computer dying because of a delightful worm that has embedded itself into it.... So many hectic stories to tell which will all (someday) make it onto the blog.
Well, here we go...
We arrived in Cairo on the 28th. It was amazing to fly over the Red Sea, Suez Canal, see the pyramids from the sky and finally land. It was like I was coming home. I felt so at ease in this foreign land. It was breathtaking. I absolutely have all the love in the world for this land and these people.
Ahmed picked us up from the airport. We arrived at the Shaaban's home and got settled into our room before eating some delicious dinner (Talmiah- Egyptian falafel) and pita and salata. Then Ahmed and Ali took us out to a coffee shop later that evening. It was quite an honor that they took me with them because usually this is a boy's activity. But I got to have subiah! This is an amazing drink of coconut milk and sugar and it is my favorite! We also went on our Nile cruise this first night.

First picture taken in Egypt! :)

Coffee shop with the boys

First metro ride!

Nile cruise! Crazy!

Hanging on the banks of the Nile... Still can't believe I was there!

Walk like an Egyptian... In Egypt... :)

I loved seeing all the donkeys pulling carts! Although they look so tired...

This is the prison where Mubarak is being held! We weren't supposed to take a picture... Oh well! History!

Egypt 2!

The next day we went out to the countryside to visit with the Shaaban's extended family and have dinner with them. It was so fun to be out in the countryside and to meet so many wonderful people. I even got to ride a donkey...

We stopped to take some pics of the Nile during the day. It is one of the most breathtaking places I have ever seen! So lush and beautiful and green and ancient! You can just feel the history and power in this place!