Calling on the LORD in Cairo, Egypt

 Never one to take the LORD's name in vain, after a hard day in Egypt I involuntarily let out a "Woo, JESUS!" before I caught myself. I had to go all the way back to my roots when my Mudear used to call on the LORD when she was dead tired. That was me today.

Dodging and ignoring the men was a constant battle. I had to be wary of men who sidled up to me making innocent conversation or offering to help me find my way. It turns into an offer to visit their family's shop or asking me a million questions about myself. Now I don't mind male attention & I'm accustomed to getting it while I'm out and about, but these people are aggressive! They don't take no for an answer. Thing is, they wouldn't dare approach an Egyptian woman. It is completely against societal norms.

As tough and easy-going as I am (yes, a contradiction), I shed a few tears the first day I was there. I found few could be trusted, the men were pushy and overbearing, and the women were of little help. Almost everything was a scam!! (No exaggeration.) It also did something to my psyche to be stereotyped and treated differently based on my gender and nationality. Funny, but I'm accustomed to discrimination based on my race in the USA when it happens. It's hard to explain. Determined not to let these factors get in the way of my enjoyment I adopted the look you see above and took to wearing my iPod, which I rarely do while traveling, so I could block out the advances of the men. If I couldn't hear them, they couldn't bother me. I also learned not to make eye contact with them as they saw that as an open invitation. I learned to say الذهاب بعيدا (pronounced em-shee), which means, "Go away", although that was of little help and not a very nice thing to say. Covering myself as much as possible helped, too.

A quick study, by the end of Day 2 I was negotiating with merchants, rudely pushing my way through lines and crowds, and staying in my place as a woman with the best of them.

Smiling at the Pyramids

A Train and Rain to Venice

I'd better write this quickly because I'll soon be asleep. I'm sitting on a train to Venice & rain has begun to fall. Moving vehicles (train, plane, boat, car, carriage) always put me to sleep and the addition of rain serves to heighten the sensation.

I have this section of the train to all myself and it's so peaceful sitting here watching the green hills and mountains, tucked around sleeping villages, roll by.

It's just...so...dreamy....

Today's Itinerary

Breakfast: Croissant & pineapple/ lemon juice in Sorrento

Lunch: Walking the ruins of the lost city of Pompeii

Dinner: Pizza in Naples, the birthplace of pizza

Dessert: Ciocolatta gelato in Sorrento

Exhausting Rome

Four exhausting days in Rome was sheer heaven! Jam-packed with activity, I can now say I have truly seen the birthplace of Western civilization up close & personal.

While dodging cars & motorscooters (even on sidewalks) and being jostled along by hurrying Romans, I was able to accomplish the following:

• Colosseum
• Roman Forum
• Pantheon
• National Museum of Rome
• Vatican Museum
• St. Peter's Basilica (Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel)
• St. Peter-in-Chains
• Arch of Constantine
• Mammertine Prison
• Trajan's Column
• Trevi Fountain
• Santa Maria della Vittoria

I tried to make the Capuchin Crypt, but it was closed for renovations. That would have been quite a site! The thought of seeing 5,000 decoratively arranged bones is both chilling and exciting.

With all there is to do in Rome, it's enough to call it a day and head back to the USA. I'm certainly tired enough. However, the ghosts of Pompeii, the birth place of pizza, and Michaelangelo's David await my arrival. Who am I to disappoint?

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1. The Rise & Fall of Rome (The white represents its growth)
2. The column that St. Peter was chained to at Mammertine Prison
3. The chains that held St. Peter
4. YWCA: My haven at the end of the day
5. Davi from Brazil and me
6. Free, cool, refreshing water from public fountains
7. World's most luxurious McDonald's
8. In front of the Colosseum
9. The Vatican
10. Cobbled streets of the Roman Forum (same streets walked by Julius Caesar)
11. Grave of Julius Caesar with fresh flowers on it
12. Severus Alexander and Septimius Severus - African rulers of ancient Rome (National Museum of Rome)

Airport, Rome

When I got to Rome, I was a bit apprehensive about venturing out into the city. So much so, it took me full 3 hours to leave the airport. It was my first time stepping into Europe alone and I'd heard that Rome was overwhelming. As long as I was in the airport, I was assured someone spoke English and I was only a gate away from going home without a hassle and help was immediate. Once I stepped outside of the sanctuary of the airport, I would be all alone amongst 1 million Romans and its many tourists. No one knew my name or cared and I couldn't simply call someone to come & get me. It was a big, unknown world out there.

Initially, I wasn't aware of my feelings until I realized how much time had passed. I'd spent the time trying to get money from the ATM, exchanging money, looking for a calling card, finding the restroom, discreetly tucking money into my moneybelt, etc. After I'd run out of things to check or do, there was nothing to do but leave. Leave. Go outside. I'd wanted this for much of my life and here I was. Now I knew how agoraphobics felt; afraid of the unknown outside world. I took a deep breath & stepped into the pulsating, moving, panoramic, 3-D picture of Rome.

I have since found my bearings and stepped bravely into traffic, belted hardy Buon Giornos, and moved about the beautiful country of Italy as I was born to do.