Beauties of Cairo

The beauties of Cairo are many. Today I left school and walked to the Opera House to buy tickets to the Nutcracker. They say it's an Opera House, but it is more accurately described as a beautiful campus for The Arts. It was absolutely amazing. Right in the middle of the city overlooking the Nile lies this serene campus of walkways, gardens, and multiple buildings dedicated to the arts. There is a 'library of music', another building dedicated to the history of theater in Cairo, and multiple others including obviously an Opera House and Theater. It was incredible quiet and peaceful on the grounds---I was shocked.

I was also pleasantly surprised when I bought the tickets. I showed my student discount b/c it goes far in Cairo! At museums, temples, monuments the ticket prices go as follows: Egyptians 2 LE(Egyptian Pounds), Foreigner 60LE, Foreign Student 30LE etc... it's amazing the difference in price of the Egyptian and Foreigner!!! Also, it's very nice how everything seems to be 50% off for students!

No where on Earth could we see the Nutcracker for 25LE!!! That's like $5! And those were the expensive tickets we are front and center row D! How exciting is that! Sometimes I love developing countries esp. when they have an old world renowned theater. Always wanted to bring Casey to a play or musical and it looks like I will be able to sooner than I expected! So on Christmas Night we will be at the Nutcracker then possibly, if I can manage to keep Casey warm enough, we will stroll over to my favorite park on the Nile and enjoy the skyline of this big, crowded, noisy, absolutely beautiful and fun city we live in!

Two nights ago we went to a Christmas Party members of our branch hosted. It was lots of fun. We talked a lot and ate tons of Mexican food. The family hosting it just bought a house in Grand Prairie near Dallas. They are so nice and cook so well!!! Since they are with the embassy they get to buy food on 'base' so it's all American, even the milk! It was great to chat it up in their Christmas decorated house, enjoying the company of our branch family, and when we were walking home and passed our Church in a Villa and she told me she feels like Church is a real home since it's really in a real house. I concur it's really nice here, and the good company at the party made us feel the good times of Christmas. With the Poinsettia our landlord so graciously gave us, the little Charley Brown Christmas tree we decorated with construction paper, glue, and glitter, the good people, good times we are and are going to have it looks like we will have a fun and Christmasy Christmas.