|
May 18 - Sunday - Arrived
in Cairo very late in the morning (see above) - Afternoon tour of Cairo Museum - The Museum
of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo is an unbelievable
treasure house of riches. The most famous objects
in the museum come from the tomb of Tutankhamun (seen
below on right. Fazana, Marisol, and Sudhir on left, in front of museum).
  
May 19 - Monday -
Met with IBM Cairo Technology Development Center (below)
Afternoon visit to Khan al-Khalili, the city's grand
bazaar (at right). Khan al-Khalili, once known as
the Turkish bazaar during the Ottoman period, is
now usually just called the 'Khan.' It
represents the market tradition which established Cairo as a
major center of trade, and at the Khan, one will still find foreign merchants.
Perhaps, this vary market was involved in the spice monopoly controlled by the
Mamluks, which encouraged the Europeans to search for new routes to the East
and led
Columbus, indirectly, to discover the Americas. (Aimee, Keith, Dewanna, Emma, Bonita, Lee, Christa, Musu, and Jessica)
Dinner with American University Professor Dr. Elnora Stuart at Abou Seid (below, Dewanna, Dr. Stuart, and Jim)
Followed by a Faluka Sailboat Ride on the Nile
 
May
20 - Tuesday - Visit
Pyramids in Saqqara and Giza (below, some of group in Saqqara)
Memphis is the oldest capital of Egypt. It lies
24 Km south of Cairo. It was built by King Menes.
There lies the statue of Ramsis II, which is 13 meters
long and weighs about 120 Tons. Saqqara is the first
step pyramid in the world, built for King Zoser.
The pyramid is measurements are 123.5 meters by 107
meters with height of 59 meters. Within the complex
lies the Pyramids of Unas which is famous for its
Tomb Chamber whose wall and ceiling is decorated
with Pyramids texts. (below see Step Pyramid of Zoser)
 
The Pyramids of Giza are the most famous monuments
of ancient Egypt. These massive stone structures
were built around 4500 years ago on a rocky desert
plateau close to the Nile. But the intriguing Egyptian
pyramids were more than just tombs for kings. The
mysteries surrounding their symbolism, design and
purpose have inspired passionate debate. In a depression
to the south of Khufu's pyramid at Giza near Cairo
sits a huge creature with the head of a human and
a lion's body. This monumental statue, the first
truly colossal royal sculpture in Egypt, known as
the Great Sphinx, is a national symbol of Egypt,
both ancient and modern. Stay for a "Pyramids & Sphinx
by Night" show with an attractive laser, sound & light
demonstration that the pharaohs narrate. (below see the PMBA group on the left and Fazana and the Sphinx on the right)
 
May 21 - Wednesday
American Chamber of Commerce presentation with Executive Director Hisham Fahmy (below right) and Social Fund for Development Director General Hanaa El Hilaly (below left)
 
Meeting with Dr. Sherif Kamel, Director of the Management Center at American University of Cairo (below left)
Meeting with Christine Sharkey of the US Commercial Service (no photos allowed)
Evening out at Bora Bora Night Club on the Nile (Christa, Stephen, and Dewanna, above on right)
May 22 - Thursday
Meeting with Dr. Joseph Ryan of USAID (no photos allowed)
Lunch Meeting with Dr. Mohamed Radwan, Managing Director of Platinum Partners and Entrepreneurship Professor (right)
Entrepreneur Introductions at Social Fund for Development (below, Mrs. Souraya Helmy, owner of Silk x Silk, a bath and bedroom accessory manufacturing firm - on right in photo - and her interrupter)
Visit with "Care with Love" Founder Dr. Magda Ishkander  (in center on
left, and alone on right) - Care with Love is a NGO that teaches less advantaged Egyptians to be care givers for bedridden clients.
May 23 - Friday - Meeting with Dr. Laila Ishkandar
May 24 - Saturday - Luxor - No site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. It is the largest temple complex ever built by man, and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders. The Temple of Karnak is actually three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples located about three kilometers north of Luxor (see left below). Hatshepsut was an 18th-dynasty pharaoh who was one of the handful of female rulers in Ancient Egypt. Her reign was the longest of all the female pharaohs, and her funerary temple still stands as a tribute to her incredible rise to power (below right).
 
Valley of the Kings - A long, narrow valley just  west of the Nile River in Upper Egypt. It was part of the ancient city of Thebes and was the burial site of almost all the kings (pharaohs) of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties (1539–1075 BC), from Thutmose I to Ramses X. Located in the hills behind Dayr al-Bahri, the 62 known tombs exhibit variety both in plan and in decoration. In 1979 UNESCO designated
the valley part of the World Heritage List. See Tutankha
men's tomb (on the left) in the Valley of the Kings in western Thebes, Egypt.
May 25 - Sunday - Leave
Luxor on MS 136 (EgyptAir) to Cairo at 11:40 am -
Arrive 12:25 pm
Leave Cairo on EK 924 (Emirates Airlines) at 7:30
pm - Arrive Dubai 12:05 am Monday
May 26 - Monday - Dubai - Dubai can either refer to one of the seven emirates that constitute United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, or that emirate's main city, sometimes called "Dubai city" to distinguish it from the emirate. The modern emirate of Dubai was created with the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. However, written accounts documenting the existence of the city have existed at least 150 years prior to the formation of the UAE. Revenues from petroleum and natural gas contribute to less than 3% of Dubai's US$ 46 billion economy (2006). A majority of the emirate's revenues are from the Jebel Ali free zone (JAFZ) and, increasingly, from tourism and other service businesses. Dubai has attracted world-wide attention through innovative real estate projects and sports events.
Afternoon - Mr. Fadi Alnwilati
Managing Director, GS Real Estate and Tourism
May 27 - Tuesday
Visit to the world's only 7 star hotel, the Burj
al-Arab (above right), with Lunch at Al-Iwan (above
left). Enjoy "Spectacular views of the Arabian
Gulf during daytime and a romantic intimate dining
room at night, this spectacular restaurant, adjacent
to the tallest atrium in the world, is the perfect
place to be
pampered with traditional Arabic and international
cuisine."
2 - 5pm Zeinab
May 28 - Wednesday
UPS all Morning
Dune Safari pick up is at 3
pm -
1 hour drive to the entrance- then dune safari with
sunset view, dinner at 8-9:30 pm. Drive back to
the city around 10:30 pm
 May 29 - Thursday - Jumeira Mosque - One of the largest sacred structures in Dubai, the Jumeirah Mosque is a dominant city landmark. Built in the medieval Fatimid tradition, this stone structure is a tribute to modern Islamic architecture. While strolling through the mosque at sunset, you will be washed in shadows by this elegant formation. (see photo to the right)
Shopping at UAE's largest and most luxurious mall, which includes some time at Ski Dubai. The Dubai Emirates Mall started in December 2005 and is the worlds third largest indoor ski slope, measuring 400 meters and using 6000 tons of snow. Ski Dubai resort
is the first Dubai indoor ski slope to open. (see photos below)
 
Lisa LaBonte - Founder Carnegie Venture Management - 9 to 10
Ali 4 - 8
May 30 - Friday
May 31 - Saturday -
Leave Dubai on KL 428 (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines)
12:05 am - Arrive Amsterdam 5:35 am
Leave Amsterdam KL 621 (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines)
10:20 am - Arrive Atlanta 1:40 pm
|
