This morning you find me somewhere in the middle of the Mediterranean sea between Cyprus and Egypt – heading south towards Alexandria. We will arrive in the early hours of tomorrow morning – with perhaps half the boat getting on coaches before the sun comes up to visit Cairo and the pyramids. We’re going to explore Alexandria itself – probably on our own.
My other half visited the pyramids many years ago – and I’ve read about them over the years – I think it you’re going to do it, a cruise is NOT the way – I would want to spend several days there – visit the Cairo museum for several days, visit the pyramids for at least an entire day (not sit on a coach for several hours each way, then get talked at by a guide for an hour).
I remember reading all manner of conspiracy theories about the pyramids years ago – about their positioning, their size, their relationship to the stars of Orion’s Belt – all manner of fanciful rubbish. As with so many other things, story tellers tend to conveniently ignore anything that doesn’t fit their narrative, or present selective facts to re-frame context to fit their agenda. It drives me potty.
I’m holed up in a lounge area at the front of the ship again. When I arrived an hour or so ago I was the only person here. Glorious peace and quiet. Now perhaps half the tables have filled with people of a certain age – reading books, doing crosswords, or talking non-stop at each other.
Thank the maker for noise cancelling headphones.
Although I brought a kindle with me, a certain person discovered hers no longer worked, so guess who de-registered his, and gave it to her? I didn’t bring any paperback books with me, because I figured the kindle would be easier to carry. Do I go visit the shop on-board and buy a forgettable book or two?
To be honest, I’ve been having all sorts of fun during the quiet moments on-board exploring Substack – where you’re probably reading this. Having the time to invest in reading other’s stories has been unexpectedly wonderful.
This break has been important really. I knew it would be. A chance to re-set and re-evaluate. It’s so easy to to become swamped with the every-day avalanche that you lose sight of yourself completely – I know I did.
Right. Maybe a visit to the shop to look at those books. Or maybe a cup of tea. Or maybe a walk around the decks.
More later.
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