British Columbia

Once into Canada we went to Vancouver. It is really the only place I did research on before we left so the only place that I really knew what I wanted to do. We stayed at an older hotel that night and decided to go to the Capilano Park that night and then do some whale watching the next day. Capilano was pretty cool. You have to cross a really long suspension walking bridge to get to the other side of this gorge. The whole time it sways and bounces. Once on the other side there was a series of walkways suspended in the fir trees. It was really fun. That night we went to the pub near our hotel and I got talking to this older Irish guy, Rosco. Rosco really loved me. When he found out my name was Hurley, that I was Catholic, and that I teach in a Catholic school I became like a son to him. Either that or the pints were getting to his head. He invited me out on his boat the next day. He fished off of Vancouver in the Pacific, one of those 40 foot fishing boats with the boom arms that come out to drag hooks. I was really tempted, but still hoping to make time the next day. The following morning Paul and I awoke early and went to Steveston in south Vancouver to get on our boat. Once there we boarded a small craft and set out for the San Juan Islands. It took about two hours to get there, but it was worth it. While in the area we saw Killer Whales about fifteen feet from the boat. On the ride back we saw numerous Sea Lions and about twenty Bald Eagles. It was a little expensive, about 85$ each. However, having six hours in the boat, getting to see these beautiful animals in their environment, and getting a little snack in between was well worth it. At early evening that day we set out of Vancouver and again headed for the Canadian border.

Passport Please

When Paul and I reached the Canadian border we were asked a series of question. I assume the man we were talking to was trained to take our responses and see if they made us potential threats. In any case, we were told to pull to the left and enter the building with a piece of paper. What the paper said, I'm not really sure because it didn't appear to make any sense. Once parked and inside the building we were again asked a series of questions. This time they were a little more direct. We both were asked where we have lived, our professions and such. I was asked what I taught, what the age group was, and most particularly why I had decided to teach in Egypt. Everything was going smoothly until they asked if we had ever been arrested. We both answered at the same time, "no" "Yes". I was asked what for and tried to explain what an Absolute Sobriety ticket was. The guy didn't get it. He explained that Canada would not let me enter because I had a DWI. I kept telling him it wasn't a DWI, I wasn't drunk, I was just underage. I had to call home and get court documents faxed to him for him to see that I did not actually have a DWI. When he read the documents and realized what the charges where and that I had paid the fines he let us through. Enter Canada.

Orgeon, Seattle, and The Space Needle

Day Three driving through Oregon was just that, driving. We passed through Portland without a stop and continued on into Washington. By the end of day three we had reached the outskirts of Seattle and settled for the night intent on getting an early assault on the Space Needle the next day. As we pulled into downtown Seattle I could feel the cities beat. I like it from the first second. The Space Needle was a welcome break from the road and the first of our sights to see. It was on a Monday and not too many people where there. We spent about forty five minutes at the top and then headed out of Seattle. Intent on making Vancouver, B.C., Canada that night.

California

I landed in Palm Springs on Friday night, very late. By eleven the next day Paul and I had packed up his life and were on the road. California, here I am. I don’t like California, or at least not the southern part. It is very dry, sunny, and has that reddish tinge to the mountains and rocks. It’s just not something I enjoy very much; I am not a desert person. I like the rain and cold and all that comes with it. One interesting thing in the south was the vast fields of wind mills. As we traveled north the first night we settled in Bishop. I wanted to go in to Yosemite the next day and do some hiking. We went to dinner and as we ordered Paul asked the waitress how far of a drive it was to Yosemite. She said, “Oh, you don’t want me to answer that do you?” Apparently the main road was blocked with snow and where we were it would be about five hours to get into the park, which meant five hours back as well. Ten hours seemed like too much and the first day was done with the decision to just keep going. As we got into northern California the Mountains became more prominent and the terrain became more to my liking. Most of the driving on day two was through mountains and by rivers. Crawling uphill and plunging down. At one point I was going about 95mph when I looked in the rearview to see a police car closing fast. I expected to get some speeding tickets and was obviously speeding so I just took a deep breath and waited for the lights to flash. However, they just followed for a while and then passed, no ticket this time. By the end of the second day we crossed into Oregon, Medford I think. Crossing into Oregon was like flipping a switch. California was sunny, Oregon was cloudy and rainy. These rain and clouds would follow us for the rest of the trip.

Weed, California

Can you make out the name on the top of the road sign? Enlarge the picture to get a better view. I know California is liberal on marijuana, but this is ridiculous!

At Least It Is In The Middle of The Desert

I didn’t know what time it was and it didn’t matter. I’d lost most of my reasoning to keep track. I’m sitting at a bar in the Las Vegas airport. I’ve been here before and I can hear her blithely striding upon me, trying to seduce my soul. This time I will win. Sorry darling, but you are no longer a mystery.

Las Vegas is a town of rapid expansion. It is profitable, growing, and largely dependant on a coal fire plant in South East Nevada. Once I took a tour of the Hoover Dam. On said tour the guide told us that “Las Vegas actually gets only about 1% of the power generated by the dam. Most of Las Vegas’s power is generated by coal, but don’t worry folks, its out in the desert and can’t hurt anyone.” Obviously this guy was not a man of science. This desert flower is more like blight. Yet the city grows by attracting residents and tourists alike.

Hypocrite? Yes, I am. I am here, for the second time. Last time was curiosity, this time is economics. I took the cheapest flight that would get me to California. The voice said, “Go West”. I wanted to ask why, but all that came out was, “yes, yes, ok”

My flight here was o.k. We shook a little but that is the nature of life, shake a little or don’t leave the house. However, I left the plane disturbed and uncomfortable. When I travel I do so for adventure, to “rough it”, and to see the unknown. My travel is not a vacation, it is work. On my flight I was surrounded by paisley shirts and knee high tube socks. One woman made it very obvious this was her first flight. As we left the ground she screamed, “Oh My God!!!!” followed by other very frantic and unarticulated screams. By the tone of her voice I thought that smoke was coming from the engine, the wing had fallen off, or possibly there was a gremlin on the side of the plane. I was certain that the plane was going down. As the people around her started to laugh it dawned on me that she was just excited. This lead to me contemplating the ambience of flying for the rest of the flight. When did it become something retirees did in the meantime?

With greater opportunity comes greater cost. Not monetarily, but to the soul or panache’ of something once mysterious and prestigious. Las Vegas, like flying, has become more affordable and in doing so has they have lost the unavailability that made them unique. Humans are expanding into the world so greatly that soon there will be nothing left to imagine. Very soon to travel will be no adventure at all. As I sit here my conscious tells me not to worry. In any case, it can’t hurt anybody; it’s in the middle of the desert.

Why I'm back on this Blog

I've decided, after my six months or so at home now, that KevinsCairo will always be my site. I had started another site to distance myself from Cairo, but I now think that it needs to be embraced. Cairo started something in my life. It signified change for the better and for the worst. It is a pivotal point in my life. Therefore KevinsCairo will stand. I am planning on traveling quite a bit this summer so new posts will be arriving soon. Most of them in June and early July.

Another side bit. I have decided to stay with my small rural school for one more year. I feel like I need time to sort out what I want to do with myself and to pay off some debts. Not like working in a Catholic school will let me pay debts, but...
Throughout the school year in the fall and winter I will be taking some trips as well. Next summer is a big trip, so stay tuned for that. I hope that as you view my site you keep coming back. It is great to hear from you.

The First Post

As most of you know I have left Egypt and I am back in the U.S. I am now teaching at a small Catholic school outside of my home town. I am teaching a combined 4&5th grade, a combined 6&7 grade, and eighth grade in the subjects of social studies and religion. The social studies are fun, but the religion is a challenge. Not that I don't know a few things about religion, but it is difficult for me to put that into school lessons. The younger kids are a special challenge for me because I am not used to kids so young. Generally things are ok though. I have few photos to include. Most are of the town I am living in now. Some of them are of the school. It is so small!! There are only about sixty kids in K-8! Most of my classes are about twelve students. It is strange. I am not used to kids who are so well behaved and are in such small groups. Sometimes the silence is unbearable. Although it is good for me. I think this will really round out my resume'. Now I will have taught in public, private, and parochial. I will have taught grades 4-12. I will have taught urban, rural, and international. Anyhow, I christen this sight and hope you keep coming and enjoying.

posted by Kevin Thomas Hurley @ 11:17 AM 2 comments

The Last Post

Well, I have finally gotten around to making my last post on this sight. As Most of you know already I have left Egypt and gone back to the U.S. This last post is of Myself, my roomate, and his freind at the citadel of Mohammed Ali. I hope you enjoy. If you would like to continue following my stories I have set up a new blog. The adress is http://mymanyjourneys.blogspot.com/

Roma

I went to Rome recently with my German cousins and it was great. Over the Christmas holiday I flew to Rome and then took a train to Germany to spend time with my family there. I spent about five days in Germany and then flew to Rome with my cousins. Germany was very nice and relaxing, but unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures.

Rome was very fun. The first day there by the time we were checked into the hotel it was dark already so we decided it would be best to wait to sightsee and just to walk around that night. We walked past many things and finally got to Piazza Navona. Our hostels clerk had told us that there were some nice pubs that way and we might run into some shopping. On the way it started to rain. So we quickly looked for the first place to duck into. We found a little pub just off the main Piazza and ordered a drink. There were not many people there, but the staff seemed friendly and we were happy to be out of the rain, so we stayed. The later it became the more people showed up. By the end of the night we were in a mix of people it was so much fun. Everyone had there primary language and then a grasp of some others. French, Italian, Arabic, German, and English all mixing together and somehow being understood. At one point I wanted to say something to the French woman I was talking to but she didn’t understand me. I turned to my cousin and spoke to him in English, he then turned to the man next to him and spoke in German, and he then turned to the French woman and told her in Italian! (Telephone) It was a great night and needless to say we didn't get up very early the next day.

The following day one of my cousins and I went on a walking tour of the ancient parts of Rome. We saw the coliseum, Constantine's gait, the Forum, Caesar’s tomb, Trevi fountain, and many more equally interesting spots. Although we left a little early because it was so cold and it started to hail. That night we just stayed around the hotel and its area resting and cursing the fatigue left over from the night before with a promise to get up early and make the most of the next day.

The last full day we woke a little late, but not too late, still with plenty of time to see many things. We decided to walk and take the metro and see as much as we could. We started out going to the Spanish Stairs, then to the Vatican. The Vatican had many things to see, but oh the people! The lines were long. To see the Sistine you had to wait in a two hour line! I wanted to see it so badly, but we agreed it would be best to try and see more of other things since time was short. We saw inside St. Peter's Basilica, the tomb of John Paul II, the place were Peter is buried and the dome of St. Peter's. It was all very interesting. We then decided to start walking back along the Tiber. Not too far along it began to rain heavily again. We all decided it was best to cut it short and go to the coliseum again to see if we could get inside. By the time we got there it was closed, but that was ok. By that point we were very tired and ready for dinner. I had to get up early the next day, but wanted to spend time with my cousins. We had drinks until late and then said goodnight to Rome.

I must not have heard the alarm because by the time I got showered and dressed I was half an hour behind schedule. I got to the train station and missed my train and had to wait another half an hour for the next one. By the time I got to the airport I had thirty five minutes until take off. When I went to the Alitalia desk they told me I was too late. After arguing I got them to give me my ticket as they said, "You have five minutes to get to gate C2, which is on the other side of the airport, you had better run." So I did. I ran and ran, through checkpoints and stopping to take my scissors. Through throngs of people. On a tram and around gates. Twenty minutes later I arrived at my gate to discover boarding was done, but the plane was still there. After some talking to a stewardess with the help of a fellow traveler, I got on the plane, the last person on the plane.

Rome was fun, but a little expensive. I want to go back again, but hopefully when the weather is nicer and with more money in my pocket. I would recommend going to anyone. Although I would also recommend that you spend at least 5 days and ideally 10-14 days to see the city and know the people a little better. Germany was great and Rome was great and it was very nice to be with family.

What Did You Do For Thanksgiving?

After almost four months here I finally got out to see the pyramids at Giza. It was pretty interesting, but at the same time it was oddly disappointing. We rode horses around the area which was nice. You can actually go right up to the pyramids and touch them if you like, which I did, and then I stole a bunch of pieces from it. There are three large pyramids and then a number of smaller ones surrounding them. Surrounding the entire area are dwellings built into the rock where slaves lived or were buried. I'm not sure because our guide was not clear. The most surprising thing of all was the Sphinx. It was much smaller than I thought it would be. It was about the size of a two trailer homes put together with a big bulbous head. Incredible, yet plausible.

At Fishawly's In the Khan

Khan el Khalily is the biggest bazaar in Cairo. It has anything that any tourist would ever want. Plus, it is the heart of the old city. Hence, many of the buildings and the mosques in the area range in age from a couple hundred to over a thousand years old. The cafe we are in, Fishawly's, for example, has been open continiously for three hundred years or so. Imagine a place that has been open longer than your country has existed. When put this way it really rings true how young our country is compared to the rest of the world.

Happy Thanksgiving

On Wednesday my school had a Thanksgiving celebration. Homerooms were to decorate their rooms and if theirs was the best the would win and get a pizza party or something. One of my students had asked me if he could bring in a turkey and if I could get a box to put it in because he had an idea for a display in our room. I said yes, thinking that this turkey would be made of paper, or wood, or something inanimate. The next day I came in to find a live turkey! Apparently I told my student it was ok, and that I would get a cage for it, and that I would give him extra credit for it. Doesn't sound like me, but mabye? It was really funny. Despite my pleas with the administrators we still got second place and that was because of "artistic amibition" :)

Alexandria; Part II

Since my friend got here I have gone to see some more of the sites in Egypt. We went back to Alexandria taking the train first class. The trains here are very cheap. First class is only 5 US per person! We had no reservation when we got there, but as always happens luck followed me. We found a nice place right on the bay for about 12 US a night! It was very beautiful. The next day we went to various touristy spots like the Roman Theater, a WWI grave yard, The Catacombs, and Pompey's Pillar. It was a nice day overall. Most places I got to take pictures in. Unfortunately I did not get to take pictures in the catacombs which was probably the most interesting place. There were many underground rooms and for the purpose of storing bodies of the earliest Egyptian Christians. Since then I have taken her to Khan-El-Khalily and the Pyramids. We were going to go to Luxor, but decided instead to stay with our friends in Maadi for Thanksgiving.

Having her here has been very nice and I thank God that she had a safe trip here and will have a good trip home. She is having a good time, I think, at least that is what she tells me. I hope that some of you may find the time to visit me as well. It is very much a comfort to share my life here with those I care about most.

Coptic Cairo

The other weekend I went to Coptic Cairo with a few friends. I was feeling under the weather and so did not have a good a time as maybe I should have, but it was still a nice trip. Lucky for me I will probably go again in a week and then I know that I will go again in a week after that. For those of you who don’t know what Coptic is I will give you a vague definition. The Copts are the native Christian religion here in Egypt. The country is mainly Muslim, about ninety percent I would guess. The other ten percent is mainly Coptic Christians with a few other little groups thrown in to round out the whole bit. The Copts are most like what we may think of as an orthodox Christian religion. For those of you who don’t know what the difference is the Orthodox Church is the result of a schism in the Christian church around the time of Constantine and the council at Nicomedia somewhere in the fifth century AD. For those of you who don’t know what a schism is, look it up.

Anyway, the Copts have been worshipping in Egypt for a long time. Some of the churches we went into had signs saying stuff like, “This is the catacomb in which the holy family (Mary, Joseph, and Jesus) stayed for a short time.” Kind of cool, I’m skeptical, but still kind of cool. We also went to a number of really really old churches. The one in the pictures with the two steeples is called the hanging church. It is called this because it literally has nothing underneath. It is built on stilts above water level and so is “hanging” in the air. In the church floor are little slots where you can look below and see water below. Makes sense considering how close to the Nile the church is. Some other highlights were going into one of the only synagogues in Cairo (Egyptians hate Israel for obvious reasons) and see and old Roman wall, which unfortunately I did not get a picture of. Maybe I will get the picture next time.

It was nice to be in a Christian area, but also a little unnerving. To be in a place that is more densely foreigners than other places was strange. I really don’t like being around others like me, it is strange and doesn’t feel right. It is sort of like, “One of these things is not like the others.”

The Cemetery

The cemetery we went to in Coptic Cairo was one that is still in use. Crosses made of twigs bound together and crumbling angels adorned small domed tombs. Some had pictures and dates on the outside; some were still waiting for more visitors. The passage ways were narrow dirt roads and intermittently there would be a tree growing next to a tomb. The berries of these trees are no doubt supplemented by its surrounding nourishment. Being here was strangely disturbing as it is when I enter any cemetery, but also comforting to see the crosses atop the tombs.

Traffic Jam

When I first got to Cairo it seemed to me that the traffic here was mad. There are no traffic signals, no signaling during traffic, no stop signs, no lanes, no headlights at night, no pedestrian crossings. For the first few weeks I flinched everytime I took a cab ride. However, since then being almost killed in traffic everyday has become as common as the guys across the street with the machine guns.

The other day however I was jolted back to reality a bit. Often we will see car wrecks but never any real carnage. On the way home from work we were caught in a traffic jam on the highway. During our wait my freind, the driver, said, "Some one better be dead if I have to wait this long." Wish granted. Here in Cairo people will run across four lanes of highway traffice to jump a median and go through four more lanes of traffic. Assuming you do this all the time, eventually fate will catch you. Its not just men who do it, but children, women, and the ederly. The day before this the car in front of our bus was going about fifty miles and hour and tore it's mirror off by clipping an old lady crossing the highway. We were all stunned that she wasn't flattened. This day however our subject was not as lucky. As we rolled slowly by we saw first a group of people at the median in a circle. In the middle was a man in a galabaya wailing. A small distance down the road was a corpse covered in newspaper, a small corpse. This however did not slag our thirst. Where was the car that hit that person? A short while later we happend upon a military van with the front end compacted and all the windows blown out. The vechile must not have slowed down at all because there were no skid marks.

I can truthfully say that unless I find myself at gunpoint someday my rides to and from work every morning are probably the most dangerous times of my life.

Hey Everybody

I changed my settings a little bit. Now at the bottom of each post is what looks like an envelope. If you click on this you can send the post to a friend.

Arctic Expedition Beard

I shaved off my beard this past week. Lucky for all of you I did it slowly and with documentation. Plus, I was bored. After shaving it off though I ultimately regretted it. I now live in a culture that values men with beards. Most of the students at school were not happy to have a cleaned faced younger looking Mr. Hurley. They wanted the beard back and I agree. I miss the beard. So I have to say, "I'm sorry beard, don't worry, we'll meet again some day soon."

I wanted to to know what you think or which one you liked best so please look through the pictures and let me know. The beard is my favorite, Mustache Ride is my least.

Hey Goat!!

Who Wants a Mustache Ride?

License and Registration Please

Clean

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

These are a few of my favorite sunny places, my porch, or rather part of it and my favorite street which is on the way to a freinds house. It is places like this that are nice and quiet. I like to spend as much time here as possible.

Can You Get In?

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

Even better! I once saw a statistic that only 46% of Americans could find America on a world map! Try this one and let me know how you did. Go to the bottom of the entry to the purple and click

You Are Thirty Years Old

I was trying this on a freinds site and thought that it would fun to put on my own. No suprise here. The average age of my freinds is somewhere in the thirties so it seems only appropriate that I am too. If you want to give it a try go to the link in purple at the bottom of this entry.

You Are 30 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?