I began writing my Travel Letters during the summer of 2001 while on holiday in The Balkans. My intention was to document the trip and share some experiences with my family and friends. Since that summer I have mailed more than two hundred letters from Asia, Australia, Europe and South America.
Quite unintentionally, the letters have evolved into more than simple documentation and entertainment. Do they educate just a little? Since I am a teacher, this evolution was inevitable.
Years ago, one of my first Travel Letters from Thailand began with something like this: “I am stretched out on a chaise lounge, watching the sun set in the mountains beyond the River Kwai.”
Another letter began, “I am relaxing at a restaurant in Koh Chang, watching the fishing boats slide along the waters of the Gulf of Siam.”
The most recent letter described my sunset stroll around the Pyramids.
So, my friends, are you curious as to where I am lounging this very day? The answer is, “I am lying flat on my ass in Room 935 in Bumrungrad International Hospital!”
For the final day trip of our visit to Egypt, my friend Ralph Velasco and I considered three possible destinations: the Suez Canal, the Camel Market or the agricultural area south of Cairo. We decided to head south, out of Cairo, to explore the area and see the sights.*
Despite the heavy traffic and the early morning smoke and fog, my group’s day of sightseeing in Cairo included several memorable stops. The Saladin Citadel. The Muhammad Ali Mosque. Virgin Mary Coptic Church. The Ben Ezra Synagogue. The Egyptian Museum. Can you guess which one is my favorite?
In 1952, Sue Thompson recorded the hit song "You Belong to Me." Later it was covered by Patti Page, Jo Stafford, Dean Martin, Patsy Cline and Bing Crosby. My favorite rendition is in the Doo-wop style by The Duprees in 1962.*
The opening lyric of the song is "See the Pyramids along the Nile...."
I suppose it is the dream of many people around the world to "See the Pyramids."
