Cairo

Busy would not even cover this city. I got new glasses, yet again. Met with AA people for a meal and the next day went to the desert for a BBQ with so many different countries represented. Egypt, denmark, Holland, Sudan, Saudi, and me. Lots of tabouli and chicken. I missed the meeting they were going to have, had a date with the Sphinx. She seemed smaller than before. My group is good so far, leader very upbeat. On the the next adventure. PS: I am not the oldest one.
Went to an AA meeting last night on a Feluca, now that was different. Another man thought we would be at the dock, not, we went right out on the Nile. I love my life.

Alexandria, Egypt

The train station in Cairo is under construction, walked thru scaffolding and sand underfoot to ask many people where to but a ticket. Finally in Alexandria, place of the lighthouse and library. Walking on the seafront, cornich, these boys just cannot behave. Part of the 'charm' of modern day. The new library is really high tech, so very modern. Maybe it will be as modern in 50 years as the buildings at Brazilia. I was almost tired to the point of getting some fast food, but then found the restaurant the hotel recommended. Many back streets later, there it was. A seafood place resembling a market. I pointed to what I wanted, it was weighed then I was sent to find a table. I asked two men to join me as they were looking for a table. The place was a bee hive of activity. One of the gentlemen was an opera singer in Egypt and his nephew in real estate. They happened to be from Palestine. They gave me the big conversation about how Muslims did not hate, well, only the Jews. It went on from there. I was invited to the house for a meal as the uncle is an artist in the kitchen. Also invited to Palestine. Interesting. Why do people want to talk religion and politics? Especially to me, as I am so a-political. I did hold my own. Then I had a little walk to the sea wall where I met four young ladies, we tried to have conversations. Lots of laughs, They are all in university, law-maths-philosophy. Bravo. I was encouraging them to stay and finish, there are enough babies in the world. Jaded that I seem to be. Shower: there is so much hair, like a bear has been shaved. Was told that the men shave everything. No wonder.
Got new glasses, again.

Galway, Ireland

Friendly as all get out. Smiles, light hearted, helpful, laughing. GREEN and rain then sun. Dramatic coast as Leon Uris said, "Harsley Beautiful". Fort on Inis Mor had a horseshoe design with the open end facing the cliffs to the sea. It had four walls around it made up of big rocks tumbled there, that stopped horses from approaching and footmen as well.

Honeymoon comes from the wine made from honey drunk at match making festivals. So there.

Ever wonder where sloegin comes from? Well, the sloe berries grow next to the juniper berries and there is the made in heaven combination.

Old castles were covered with a type of plaster that set up a chemical reaction that made them turn pink. Oscar Wilde restored one and did it as it was and: and it turned the required color, much to the shock of the locals that did not know or remember the history. Oops.

Enya started in the north in group. I did not know she even came from there, she is my sculpting music.

Saying: "Tight as a bulls ass in mating season" "It's as long as it is short" "We don't park our cars, we just abandon them"

Said of the Burren, an area of the west when foreign invaders came, "No trees to hang a man, no water to drown a man, no earth to bury a man" They left it alone.

The English invaders had the locals construct walls over mountains in the famine time for something to keep them busy and for some food.

Heard in a Catholic wedding in Galway that I had walked in on. Priest was recounting some point from St. Paul. Love is seeing it in others; if you cannot see that in the one across from you, you are in the wrong place-you should be in a mosque" He did not apologize and it was a wedding and it was Sept. 11th. Ouch. He thought he was amusing. God help him, and his parishioners.

Claddagh came from an area of Galway.