Oh, a note of Box interest that I forgot to post: the FlightMemory people got back to me about adding a helipad. Took about two weeks, but that contact form thing really does work.

19 minutes later and more FM sleuthing reveals that contrary to an earlier post of mine, I did indeed get a ride on an A321 and an A330. The reason I don't recall them? They were on US. :rolleyes: I'm trying to block out those memories.

Oh man, I wish I was in Philly today to watch the 'skins win. I'd probably have the tar beat out of me, but it would have been worth it.

In other news, I apologize in advance to the person sitting next to me down to MC:rolleyes: tomorrow. Nachos for lunch + 5 beers during the football game + a bloody mary + chili for supper = unmitigated flatulence tomorrow. :o

Sucks that you couldn't get there - I was off on Friday and this could have been the Palm weekend. :D

I hope a suitable 60th birthday present was thought of as well.

In other food news, it looks like Pearl Harbor Day will be the day that parent meets parents...first meeting of my mother and fiancee's parents.

edit: nope, the future MIL not available

Oh, and about the flatulence: no worries, just don't laugh too hard when the other pax's noses wrinkle. Why let on that it's you?

Anyone in the Box been to Egypt? It looks like we're going with my brother and sister-in-law next February and I'm trying to figure out how much time we'd spend in Egypt and how much potentially somewhere else in the region. He's suggesting 10ish days in Egypt and that seems like a lot to me since I rarely am in a place for more than 4 or 5. We could always go diving in the Red Sea to take up part of the time, I guess.

I saw the pyramids on approach to CAI, but wasn't allowed off the plane.

(Non-sarcastically): What else is considered "the region" for American tourists? :confused: Unless you're talking about staying in the country and going to Sharm el Sheikh or Alexandria, etc. It's not the friendliest joint around.

You need 2-3 days in Cairo for the pyramids, musuem, bazaar and citadel. Then 4-5 for a trip to the Upper Nile, Aswan, Abu Simbel, cruise down to Luxor, and the sites around Luxor; or reverse.

So, that's easily 8 days. If you add Alexandria, that's 10. More days needed if you want to go to Sinai (St. Catherine) or the Red Sea. Lots of things to see in Egypt. 10 days is definitely not much, unless you're not going to anywhere outside Cairo.

I was looking at flying up to AMM and heading over to Petra while we were nearby. Or going to Israel.
Thanks. This somewhat meshes with what I have been reading in the threads on Egypt over in the Mid-East forum. It seems that there is some dissent on the cruises, with some people choosing to fly to Luxor and just sail on the Nile locally instead of taking the slow ship down the river. And since I'm going with other people I suppose I'll have to allow them some input on the schedule as well.

You cruise between Luxor and Aswan; and there are several temples you'll visit en route. From Cairo, either fly or take the overnight train. You can start from Aswan and end in Luxor or reverse. You don't cruise from Cairo.

I wish I was in Miami today to watch the Dolphins beat the Chargers. Two wins in a row against the two teams that played in the AFC Championship game last year. What a great 2 weeks it has been - especially since last year was a disaster! ^ Here I am living in Houston, the Dolphins are in town next week, and I can't make it to the game. Child Birth basics class at St. Lukes will interfere with going to the game. :(

I'm probably not as up on world affairs anymore, but the first thing I thought of to motivate the question was an American passport going from Egypt to another Middle Eastern country.

It all depends on the country. IMHO it is a matter of your blue passport more than the country you are leaving.

The kid will be fine. Get your priorities straight. ;)

Indeed. Getting between the countries isn't much of an issue, and most of them actually seem to be welcoming American tourists these days, too. We might just end up staying in Egypt at this point, but there are plenty of countries over there that I plan on visiting eventually.

Agreed. However, the s/o won't be so fine with it.

The basics:

She pushes; you reflect on a job well done. QED.

Let me know if you need me to send you a signed certificate indicating that you have completed the ALCO Distance-Learning Child Birth Basics Course.™