Stella de Mare on the Red Sea

Today was our first day off! They organized a trip for us to the Red Sea where we went to the Stella Grand Hotel in Stella de Mare. It had an awesome pool that had a waterfall and was surrounded by rocks giving it a natural feel. Beyond that was the beach where there were lounge chairs and umbrella set up.

The beach was really pretty and the water, so clear. I got in right away and it was such a great temperature! I’m so used to frigid water even on the hottest days so I was really loving it. The water was super shallow. I probably went out two hundred meters and I could still touch the bottom! I saw a big jellyfish washed up on the shore as well as a bunch of little fish as well as a huge one! It was like the size of a rugby ball and was tan and speckled and camouflaged with the sand. I stayed out in the water for awhile. The rest of the day was spent mostly lounging around. I felt like I was really burning but I guess I was just hot because it didn’t get too much color. I am surprised that the sun isn’t stronger here. While it is super hot feeling, It doesn’t seem any stronger than at home.

The pool was even warmer than the sea and felt really nice. We hung out there for a good chunk of time too. When we got back to the beach people had been doing the banana boat ride so I missed out on that which would have been fun to do. At about 5, I was growing tired of the beach and was getting over it. Vinny, on security was heading the trip and he was passed out on the beach so no one really knew what time we were leaving. I was thinking it’d be 7 but we didn’t end up leaving until 9. Being stuck at a beach really isn’t horrible though so I can’t complain too much.

You can’t escape the dance!

I went straight to bed after our shows last night and woke up feeling much better. Adrienne on the other hand caught the Mummy or the Mummy caught her and really good might I add. She was having similar pains in her stomach and couldn’t get out of bed. She had to be out of work today because of it!

After work people were going down to the bar and then to the discotheque. It ended up being a horrific night for me. That is an exaggeration but it did end on a bad note. First off Mauricio and Alex took forever getting ready so I was stuck by myself downstairs for a half hour waiting for them in which this guy from Norway started bugging me and I felt stuck conversing with him. They finally came and we went up to the disco.

It was such a spectacle up there tonight. Words can’t even describe. They had this band playing that was some sort of Egyptian Big Band Style. They took up the whole dance floor and the group included ten dancers. They were doing the silliest Macarena style dances with belly dancing-esque shaking thrown into the mix. I really don’t know how they do that crazy shaking. The dancers then proceeded to run all around the place trying to get people to dance. Their first targets were the guys. I guess because they are a guy group? I’m not too sure, because being gay isn’t really allowed here. Anyways, they were crazy! I was so amused seeing them harass Alex, Skyler, and Matt. Mauricio did a duck and cover move and was able to stay out of the spotlight. After growing tired of the boy they started going after us girls. They would demonstrate this funny move and then wait for you to repeat it back. When you did they’d get excited and do another. You couldn’t, not dance; they wouldn’t allow it and would hunt you down in the corner if you were trying not to dance!

So up until this point everything was great but then my camera decided to stop working. Me and technology don’t mix. I was so bothered by this and really couldn’t relax the rest of the time. I don’t know how it happened because I didn’t drop it; one minute it was working and the next it wasn’t. This made me really devastated because I still haven’t done the pyramids trip yet. Mauricio tried reassuring me that it would be fine but I wanted to figure it out right then. During this time the crazy dancer left and they put on normal music. I wanted to leave at this point but Mauricio and Alex convinced me to stay longer. I should have gone with my gut though. Because on the dance floor I started walking away from Alex and he pulled me back over to him right where a drink had been spilt. I went down, hard. Man, did it hurt and people thought it was funny but I did not. That was my cue to leave.

Turns out it is the flash that blew on my camera so thankfully I will be able to get daytime pictures and can wait til I’m home to get it fixed.

I’m a Brazilian who loves the Titanic and has a bad tummy aches.

Today Adrienne and I went across the way to Pause to go online and eat something. Our server was being mildly creepy and kept trying to talk to me. English was a huge struggle for him and I had no idea what he was even trying to say most of the time. All I really got was him asking if I was from Brazil?? Cause I look Brazilian! And he was talking about the Titanic!? Beats me why. I was trying to type emails and get some things done and he seemed to have no concept of me being busy. I found it aggravating being interrupted esp when I was talking to mom and he started talking to me again!

After eating, my stomach started really hurting. I was feeling these sharp pains in my tummy like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I was getting worked up about the fact that “Mummy Tummy” may have already got the best of me. It was hurting so much I had to do something about it or I wasn’t going to make it through work. So I literally ran to grocery store which of course doesn’t sell medicine so then I had to go to across the way to the small mall where there was a pharmacy. This was my first time venturing out on my own; not a single person bugged me or asked if I wanted a taxi which was awesome. I made it through the day but I felt so drained of energy. Thank god I took something because it helped so much!

Opening night!

Today was opening night! The beginning of a long schedule of 2 shows daily, 6 days a week. Yesterday we had our dress rehearsal which was the most unbearably sweaty I have every gotten maybe. Luckily today they put on some more AC so it wasn’t quite as extreme. If wasn’t in a character head I wouldn’t be peachy keen but once I put on my furry body and head I am done! Just standing stil,l not moving, I become a sweaty mess. Basically, I’m not digging Dale anymore. I don’t have a problem getting all sweaty from running or other activities but I loathe sweating from doing nothing and without raising your heart rate.

After the shows everyone went up to the discotheque inside our hotel for an opening night gathering. I think everyone in the company came which was really cool. When we first got there they were playing Egyptian music but after awhile they switched over to normal music and we all took to the dance floor. The local were looking on as if we were such a spectacle. The place itself is pretty creepy looking and a place we probably all wouldn’t have chosen to hang out in under normal circumstances. But it will do the trick for our time here in Egypt.

I don't speak arabic but I do like the pyramids.

We still don’t have ice so instead we rehearsed in the discotheque running through numbers on the floor. The big news of the day was we are back to a FULL monkey number. The company finally got it together and replaced the missing heads! I was really stoked to hear this! Even though that is going to be the hottest number for me and it could have been nice to perhaps sit it out, I still just really excited for the news. This caused me to be really into walking through the steps and people were amused by my enthusiasm. BUT I haven’t done that spot since December and I was last doing Brittany’s spot which is near mine so I was slightly messed up at times. And there is a girl doing break work named Megan who is doing Brittany’s monkey so this poor new girl is relying on people around her to help her out and I was probably just messing her up more.

Today Adrienne and I had some major problems ordering food. Our first issue happened at the bar restaurant down in the lobby. Our waitress who was sporting blue eye shadow smeared around the perimeter of her eyes, might I add, was struggling with English. We both decided on the veggie and chicken spring rolls and when I told her this and she looks very confused so I pointed at the menu to show her. Can’t go wrong with pointing right? Well we ended up getting vegetable tempura. It was fine though; we ate it and didn’t complain or anything, I was mostly just blown away that the pointing method failed me. Our second problem happened while ordering room service. (Now don’t think that we are living like rock stars, we just realized that the room service is the same price as downstairs) Well I ordered us two omelets and we were delivered only one. We were both starving so this was not ok! I hope to have some more luck with ordering food in the rest of my stay.

Tonight we went to the light show at the pyramids. The pyramids are killer and I loved getting to see them. We will be going back during the day to really explore them but I’m glad I got to see them lit up at night but the show itself was not that cool. It was this overly dramatic showing with a booming voice over the speakers telling you historical facts and not only did they light up the pyramids they also used lasers to write things and draw pictures on them. They would, for instance, project “455 ft” on the pyramid while explaining how tall it was which just looked dumb. We could here them say that and didn’t need a visual. The trip got me really excited with a taste of the pyramids!

It was about an hour drive to the pyramids and this time we had a really nice bus because some of the other vehicles thus far have been a little more rickety. On the way we passed the valley of the dead or city of the dead which was pretty cool looking. I really couldn’t get a good picture of it from the bus though. We also witness our second crazy accident. I’m not surprised about the accident after witnessing how crazy they drive but what was more shocking was how everyone feels the need to drop whatever they are doing to see accidents. You know the whole deal with how people having to slow down to take a gander at accidents? Well here in Egypt, people out right stop, pull over, and even walk across the highway to take a look! We were able to surpass the craziness pretty easily but I don’t know how people function in such conditions.

Oh I also saw lots of donkeys, horses, and camels near the pyramids! I can’t wait to ride a camel!

Hitting boats on the Nile

We have no ice! The ice actually hasn’t even made it in to Egypt because it got stuck at the border! So we couldn’t rehearse today and didn’t have to work! I spent a couple hours at the pool baking in the Egyptian sun. hahah not really but it was so hot I spent an hour in the pool swimming around and just staying cool. I got to go online at this restaurant across the street, Pause. I haven’t eaten anything there yet but the food looks decent and is very cheap so I will have to try next time. The service though is painful. It is the slowest every. It took me probably a half hour to get a drink. I also attempted to ask a question and the waiter got overwhelmed and sent someone else over. The new waiter was no help either so I settle for a water because I knew what that was. I then ended up getting a sparkling water which wasn’t what I had in mind. Later that night we heard about a boating excursion on the Nile. We really like to take every chance we got to do things. It was nothing overly exciting but more something to do. We road on this large sailboat manned by a single guy who was running back and forth the whole time. We may have hit another boat when pulling out but shhhh don’t tell. The Nile is supposedly disgusting but at night I couldn’t tell at all. There were some really massive lavish hotels right on the water. The city just has two extreme: wealthy and poor.

Come back juice!

So tonight we got our first experience going to the Market. It is this street market that was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Streets upon street are just filled with these stalls selling some cool looking things like these mother of pearl boxes, hookahs, scarves, and long flowing blouses, as well as big granny panties, hoochy looking attire, and gross looking food.

The streets were filthy. I was wearing flip flops so my feet were god awful when we got back. I witnessed a man empty his trash can onto the street so you can only imagine how gross they were. I saw a bajillion stray cats. They were so cute some were just kittens. They’d be pawing through trash and walking right through the stores.The men would try talking to you but never touched you which was comforting. I got called juice which cracked me up. Some guy was kept saying, “Juice” and then after we had passed he was like, “Come back juice!” Another young boy pointed to the ground and said, “Ticket.” Me, falling for it, thought maybe I dropped something and looked only to see nothing and fall for his little ploy. He then finished his statement with “….to my heart!” Hilarious! I actually heard that one a couple more times with the occasional receipt instead of ticket.

The group that went ended up getting split up a little so I was with Adrienne, Charlotte, Pia, Dora, and Smac for most of the time. Numerous guys thought they were very original and would make comments to Smac. They would count us as we walked by and say how lucky he was to have 5 wives!

I didn’t purchase anything but I’ll get other opportunities to go back I’m sure. For my first visit I was just too overwhelmed and not quite ready to tackle the bartering process. I was too busy just taking everything in. I learned that you should start first by offering them half as much. I’ll report back later on how good I am at it. Adrienne and I were eyeing these mother of pearl boxes. Once you look it is over. A man came up and was persistently bartering with us and we were even saying anything. He started at 150 pounds and went all the way down to 110 without us even saying anything. I want to try to get one for 60 pounds when I am rested and ready to tackle the mission.

There were quite a few women out at the market but still more men. Some women have scarves that allow you to see there whole face while others only have a slit to see out of. I’m not too sure what the difference. I also wonder at what age they have to start wearing them because young girls weren’t wearing them.

Here is a kid carrying a bunch of bread on his head. I need to learn how to use my head better!

The drive there showed me just how crazy it is driving around here. They have lines drawn on the streets which seem to be painted with invisible paint because no one pays attention to them. They straddle the line and there is usually an extra lane of traffic. They cut through traffic so close each time I thought they were going to side swipe the other car. They beep a lot but all their horns sound like the one in Little Miss Sunshine so they aren’t quite as loud and obnoxious. I could never drive here! Although it sounds so crazy I felt like our driver knew exactly what he was doing so I didn’t feel unsafe in the van.

After a full day here it has already been such a different experience!

Yes, I'm a girl and I don't know what that says!

I slept in because man did I need it. I then went to check out the fitness facilities. It has everything that I need so I will be quite content. I attempted to run but as I did an excruciating head ache came on and couldn’t continue. I guess I was not quite ready to jump into anything. My next adventure was money. The Egyptian pound is about 5:1 with the USD and so far I have felt like thing are very reasonable. It feels very funny though having such a large wad of bills in your wallet though.

We took a trip to the grocery store right across the way. The cars here are amusing; many are jigsawed together with multi colored panels. There are also so many old cars. We were warned to be very careful crossing as they don’t brake for you. I also hear at night lots of people don’t use their lights!! So grocery shopping was an experience. First off, Adrienne and I were the only girls in the store. Everywhere it is just men! The writing on all the signs and packages looks so crazy. There is just no guessing what lots of things are because not much had English written on them.

I had to stock up on water because the tap is not safe. I learned later that it isn’t even safe to brush your teeth with……………..I’ve already brushed my teeth 3 times so looks like my turn being sick might come early. We had a meeting with our security team and they said everyone will get sick! They are planning outings for us to do on our Mondays off but other than that they don’t want us really venturing out. It isn’t the safest place and they also said there isn’t really anything to do. Cairo I guess doesn’t have a downtown you would go to, to just hang out. So basically we are prisoners in our hotel. It has five restaurants, a disco, and a pool so it could be worse but I am expecting to get slightly stir crazy. I have my computer back though I can’t complain.

Route to Egypt

I'm back after some lovely time at home!

So travel day was pretty horrid, not gonna lie. Our journey to Cairo could have been a lot nicer if we didn’t have a 10 hour layover in Amsterdam. Also I wish I was blessed with better skills in sleeping on planes. Lack of sleep and lack of water are two things that don’t end well with me. I had such a hard time packing. You’d think by now I would have gotten better at it but nope, sure haven’t. I think the problem is that I am now have the mind set of packing for such a long period of time that I feel the need to bring everything and have options which is slightly absurd when you are going away for only about a month. I was planning on bring just one bag but then the pile of things was just too large stuff into one so I broke down and brought two. I found this absurd and couldn’t believe myself but whenever I went to eliminate things it was so hard. I also don’t even know if I packed things I will be able to wear because I am still unsure as to what is appropriate attire in Egypt.

I got to travel with Alex the whole way which was nice having a partner and crime but 25 hours is also a long time to be stuck next to that one! On our first 7 hour flight I felt I made attempts to sleep the whole thing but was very unsuccessful. I tried sleeping forward on my tray which didn’t work. I ended up leaving the tray down though and the next time I looked Alex’s had his legs stretched across it! Upon arrival to Amsterdam I was hardly functioning. I wanted something to eat and there weren’t any nice sit down places so food court it was. We killed sometime and then went to greet Mauricio who got in 2 hours after us. After that we found the Comfort Chair area and settled there. Other from tour found us too. I was able to sleep for an hour and a half here but this was still not enough.

Our flight to Egypt was on the largest plane I’ve ever been on. It had a second floor which I unfortunately didn’t get to see. I wasn’t feeling too hot and started getting a slight head aches right when the food came around I suddenly felt even worse. Long story short I puked in the bathroom. After clearing my system I felt much better though. We got off the plane at 2 am Egypt time so it wasn’t too steaming hot. Our hotel, La Passage, is right within the airport grounds and is somewhat half decent resort. The hotel has its own bag scanners which was pretty hard core. Lots of others had gotten in much early so people were down in the lobby socializing. I was not in any condition to be chipper and hang out so I went straight for the room.