Going through the Suez Canal, you need to have a pilot. A pilot is someone who directs you through the Canal. The Suez Canal connects Europe and Asia as a shortcut without having to go all the way around Africa.The boats have to pay a hefty sum to go through. Believe me, it's corrupt! When you go through the Suez Canal, you really don't know how long you will be in there. It could take one day or two weeks. It's really up to Egypt and what they feel like doing that day. Definitely, if there is a warship coming through you need to stop the boat and wait for at least a day. They have the right of way, as they should.
The pilot we had on our boat told us we could get all the way through in one afternoon. Matthias was very happy which is very good because when he is not happy it is scary! There is no in between with him. He is either at 1 or 10. His anger will escalate in a split second over the littlest things. It was very strange. Anyway, the pilot was to ride with us to one stop and another pilot would get on there and guide us through the rest of they way. As it turned out we were basically giving the guy a ride home. And, there was no other pilot to meet us there. Matthias's joy was short lived :>(
So, we waited a couple of days till someone came to guide us through the rest of the way. I was having a ball. Every little thing was an adventure to me.When we were in open waters, I could see Israel from the distance as well as Egypt. The feeling of actually seeing such ancient places that are in the Bible was indescribable. I mean, these are places that most people only hear about on television or in books. It was so cool to actually be there in the Red Sea viewing both places at one time!!!
Did you know that Egypt is one of the most beautiful places in the world for scuba diving? Our Captain was also a scuba diver, which comes in handy when you work on a boat for a living. Usually the family enjoys doing that when they are on holiday. A few hours after we had been out to Sea, we needed to anchor so that Matthias could dive under the boat and make sure everything was in tact and safe to make a voyage across the Red Sea into the Mediterranean. The place we anchored in the Sea was so beautiful! I took the opportunity to go for my first swim. The water was so clear and warm. It was only April but, it was soooo hot in Egypt. Just startin to get my tan on for the rest of the summer. Maan, you get black over there. At least I did !! :0) You could just about sit inside and get a tan. That's how strong the sun is there.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Egypt and Lanai
Let me tell you that I started this trip in April of 2008. I forgot to mention that in my last entry.
Ok, so here I arrive in Egypt. I expect there to be military and dogs and weapons up the yin yang when I get off the plane. But, nothing. Funny, because when I went to Italy years ago which is a peaceful place, it was swarming with military with heavy artillery when I was at their airport. But, in Egypt, where I would expect it... there is nothing! Let me just give you a little taste of Matthias for a moment. He has a HOT temper. I was with him in Oman a few years ago and , wow!!! I thought it was because he didn't like the country. But, apparently I guess he feels that way everywhere???!!! So, needless to say, normal people are haggling with the Egyptians for a taxi ride, while Matthias is literally fighting with them. The poor taxi driver drives us to the marina where our yacht is. I couldn't believe the amount of trash I saw piled up on the roads there. It must have been about 10 feet high going for miles. Once we got inside the Marina it was very clean. I was introduced to Sergio, our personal chef. He was such a nice guy. He was from Chile and was such a great cook. He showed me around the boat and our living quarters. Sergio and I shared our room. When I say a room, it is more like the size of a closet. But, Sergio and I got along so well it was great! He was gay so, I could even walk around naked in front of him and he could care less. Really!!! :0) I mean we practically slept on top of each other. When I got off my bunk bed if I wasn't careful I would smack into the wall. But, even though, this was the beginning of the best time of my life! We were on a 90ft. yacht. Five bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, salon (living room), two bars, three sundecks...need I say more? Our yachts name was called Lanai. Everything was paid for down to our toothbrush! Oh, and we ate the best food and wine and champagne daily!
The boat had been in Egypt I think since last October. When I arrived it was our last night in Egypt before we headed out through the Suez Canal. My time clock was off so the following morning I woke up extremely early. I think at about 5am the sun was shining bright. I was so excited to start the day and go talk to the locals. We didn't have much time before we left, so, I made sure to sneak off the boat and go do some searching. I walked around , took pictures of myself, and sat around and shot the shit with the Egyptians. It was really a cool experience. I wish I could have stayed there longer so I could have actually gone and seen the sites. But, it's still really cool that I was even in Egypt for that one day. Well. actually if I count the 2 days we got stuck in the Suez because warships were coming through I guess that would be 3 days. My next entry will be about our little stint through the Suez.
Ok, so here I arrive in Egypt. I expect there to be military and dogs and weapons up the yin yang when I get off the plane. But, nothing. Funny, because when I went to Italy years ago which is a peaceful place, it was swarming with military with heavy artillery when I was at their airport. But, in Egypt, where I would expect it... there is nothing! Let me just give you a little taste of Matthias for a moment. He has a HOT temper. I was with him in Oman a few years ago and , wow!!! I thought it was because he didn't like the country. But, apparently I guess he feels that way everywhere???!!! So, needless to say, normal people are haggling with the Egyptians for a taxi ride, while Matthias is literally fighting with them. The poor taxi driver drives us to the marina where our yacht is. I couldn't believe the amount of trash I saw piled up on the roads there. It must have been about 10 feet high going for miles. Once we got inside the Marina it was very clean. I was introduced to Sergio, our personal chef. He was such a nice guy. He was from Chile and was such a great cook. He showed me around the boat and our living quarters. Sergio and I shared our room. When I say a room, it is more like the size of a closet. But, Sergio and I got along so well it was great! He was gay so, I could even walk around naked in front of him and he could care less. Really!!! :0) I mean we practically slept on top of each other. When I got off my bunk bed if I wasn't careful I would smack into the wall. But, even though, this was the beginning of the best time of my life! We were on a 90ft. yacht. Five bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, salon (living room), two bars, three sundecks...need I say more? Our yachts name was called Lanai. Everything was paid for down to our toothbrush! Oh, and we ate the best food and wine and champagne daily!
The boat had been in Egypt I think since last October. When I arrived it was our last night in Egypt before we headed out through the Suez Canal. My time clock was off so the following morning I woke up extremely early. I think at about 5am the sun was shining bright. I was so excited to start the day and go talk to the locals. We didn't have much time before we left, so, I made sure to sneak off the boat and go do some searching. I walked around , took pictures of myself, and sat around and shot the shit with the Egyptians. It was really a cool experience. I wish I could have stayed there longer so I could have actually gone and seen the sites. But, it's still really cool that I was even in Egypt for that one day. Well. actually if I count the 2 days we got stuck in the Suez because warships were coming through I guess that would be 3 days. My next entry will be about our little stint through the Suez.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Life is about the journey not the destination
I actually started this trip to ??? in France when i missed my flight to Germany because I freaked out in the airport before boarding my plane. You see, I up and left my life in Los Angeles to travel to wherever I landed.Yes! You heard it right. I really just literally left everything behind. I had a good job, a beautiful car , friends, and I suppose a "successful future" had I stayed. Freeze Frame. Let's not even go there because that is not where I went. I happen to land in Turkey, but, I want to write about how I ended up there. You see, ever since I was a little girl I wanted to live in another country. I always dreamed of traveling on a yacht and living in a village on the Mediterranean. I truly believe now, if you envision what your dreams are long enough, they can come true. I was going through some very hard times at home surrounding all aspects of my life and I decided it was time to "get away". You know the saying , "bumb f#%* Egypt? Well, there's are reason for that saying. I literally went to Bumb f#%* Egypt to get away!
I missed my flight in France to Germany during transit from Los Angeles. I was late getting to the gate because I had to call my friend from the airport and say" what the f*** did i just do?!?!" Of course there was the whole bit of crying and panicking that went along with that phone call. Which, of course comes as no surprise to the people that know me. Missing my flight would be no surprise either because, well... that was just Laurie being Laurie. I got a great little discount on my flight which kind of cancelled itself out when I had to pay for that night in France before I could catch the next flight to Germany in the morning. I spent a night in Germany with some friends which turned out to be quite nice. When I arrived my friend was sick as a dog , so her husband spent the day with me showing me around their town. They lived in a really old town (hundreds of years old) in Frankfurt and Main. I was on my way to meet my captain that I would be working for and travelling with on a private yacht. It was a German family that owned the boat and the captain was also German. His name was Matthias. He was a friend from the past who's profession was working as a captain on private yachts. Hard life!! He'd travelled all over the world doing this. It's truly a dream profession. He offered this opportunity to me to work as a stewardess because he knew I really needed a break. I am not a religious person, but, after that day when those words came from his mouth, I looked up at the sky and I literally thanked God with tears in my eyes. I believe God heard me in my cry for help. I asked everyday, " if there is a God out there, PLEASE help me!!! "At the same time I was asking for help, I always kept my dream of moving away and living on the Mediterranean. I had even been looking for jobs that could take me away. For example, working in Club Med, moving to Peurto Rico, Oman, Dubai.I was offered a job in Grand Cayman doing hair. Even volunteer work in Africa came my way. I couldn't afford to do that because how would I eat? But, I would if I could, just so you all know that.
My friends husband, York drove me to the airport that night in Frankfurt to meet Matthias so we could catch our Lufthansa flight to Great Ole Egypt. And that is where this adventure will begin. TOMORROW when I write more. he he... I"ll keep ya hanging for a bit. ;-)
I missed my flight in France to Germany during transit from Los Angeles. I was late getting to the gate because I had to call my friend from the airport and say" what the f*** did i just do?!?!" Of course there was the whole bit of crying and panicking that went along with that phone call. Which, of course comes as no surprise to the people that know me. Missing my flight would be no surprise either because, well... that was just Laurie being Laurie. I got a great little discount on my flight which kind of cancelled itself out when I had to pay for that night in France before I could catch the next flight to Germany in the morning. I spent a night in Germany with some friends which turned out to be quite nice. When I arrived my friend was sick as a dog , so her husband spent the day with me showing me around their town. They lived in a really old town (hundreds of years old) in Frankfurt and Main. I was on my way to meet my captain that I would be working for and travelling with on a private yacht. It was a German family that owned the boat and the captain was also German. His name was Matthias. He was a friend from the past who's profession was working as a captain on private yachts. Hard life!! He'd travelled all over the world doing this. It's truly a dream profession. He offered this opportunity to me to work as a stewardess because he knew I really needed a break. I am not a religious person, but, after that day when those words came from his mouth, I looked up at the sky and I literally thanked God with tears in my eyes. I believe God heard me in my cry for help. I asked everyday, " if there is a God out there, PLEASE help me!!! "At the same time I was asking for help, I always kept my dream of moving away and living on the Mediterranean. I had even been looking for jobs that could take me away. For example, working in Club Med, moving to Peurto Rico, Oman, Dubai.I was offered a job in Grand Cayman doing hair. Even volunteer work in Africa came my way. I couldn't afford to do that because how would I eat? But, I would if I could, just so you all know that.
My friends husband, York drove me to the airport that night in Frankfurt to meet Matthias so we could catch our Lufthansa flight to Great Ole Egypt. And that is where this adventure will begin. TOMORROW when I write more. he he... I"ll keep ya hanging for a bit. ;-)
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