Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 16:10:13 +0200
Reply-To: Stebbins <stebbins@AUCEGYPT.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stebbins <stebbins@AUCEGYPT.EDU>
Organization: The American University in Cairo
Subject: Cairo Report #2
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Like all of life there is good news and bad gnus. I received notice
that my van had arrived from the UK to Alexandria, Egypt on the 23rd of
September just as scheduled by the shipping co. It took several days
to unload the ship and then I was notified that my container was ready
to go. The university here has a great office to facilitate matters
so I took full advantage of their services. After a few days I was
told that the cost to clear the van out of customs would be EL3,000 (Egyptian
pounds) just as a first installment. Well folks, that is CND$1,200
or US$800. Just to get started!!! But I figured that I am paid
enough here to spread the wealth around a bit, not to mention that I had
no choice. So I paid the money to the university and off they went.
<p>I had asked to go with them as I wanted to make sure that all went well,
they figured that it would take about 3 or 4 days to clear the van out
of customs, and I had classes to teach so I could not go. Sure enough
4 days later I get a phone call last night about 8 p.m. and the university
"expediter" says he is out in front of my apartment building with the van.
Well, that is the good news.
<p>He said that the van ran well on the 200 km trip from Alexandria to
Cairo. I got in the drivers side to park the van in 'my place' and
thanked him for his efforts. It was after he left that I did the
"parking lot walk around" to check for puddles and dents. Here comes
the bad news. Along the sliding door there is a nice 3 foot
high, 3 foot long scrape. Bummer. But I am taking the attitude
that "shit happens" and I will not let it ruin my having the van
with me now and the fact that now our trips around Egypt will begin!!!!
<p>Driving here is absolutely chaotic and even though I have driven in
many countries and major cities ( on the left and right side of the
road), I am VERY apprehensive about going out on the road here. One
problem is that my Arabic is limited to the phrase book, so if I get lost,
I'm in real trouble. Getting lost is not too likely thought, as on
our first few outings we will be staying within the nile valley (between
the Nile river and the desert), a distance of not more than 5 kms at any
one time, so knowing that, and knowing north and south, we should be able
to find our way home.
<p>Oh yes, I promise I will get a picture of my van in front of the
pyramids!!!! Maybe a Syncro shot of my van climbing the pyramids
:-)
<p>Anyone who wants filling in on my saga from Halifax NS, to UK to Cairo,
can hunt up my posts on the list. I hope that your having a good
day, as my day just got better. More reports will be forthcoming
when warranted.
<p>Your foreign vanagon correspondent, Malcolm Stebbins
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