I had an uneventful trip home - tried to get back a different route and did not even manage to do a tiny scenic tour. WHEW. In shaa allah next time I go I will be able to remember the way back - the new route is certainly better - although I think a lot of that is because I was traversing Cairo at noon on a Friday - so 80% of the population were still sleeping or at the mosques - the roads were deserted - making it very easy to find my way around. I was not having to dodge to many 'homars' behind wheels. Or even too many homar powered carts.

I had a wonderful time visiting Safa - we were out of the house by 10 a.m. every day and back around 2 at the latest. Lots of shopping. We went to many factory outlet stores - Cadbury, a candy place, Swifax (another chocolate shop) - stocked up for Christmas and Eid. Then we found a place that sells turkey - Safa bought some drumsticks - and asked if they have frozen turkey and they do. We also went to the plastic shop - bought containers to store cookies in for Christmas. We swung by the corn processing plant and picked up some corn syrup - it is not very thick - they have quite selling the thick stuff to the public - it is only sold to other factories that use it - so will try to boil it to get it to thicken up. The second day saw us shopping at the scarf outlet store - a girl could really go crazy - I now need to get more clothes to go with the scarves - LOL. And we swung by the ice cream factory - only to find out that they no longer sell ice cream to the public. On our way home we stopped of at the 'turkey' factory and picked up a frozen turkey - last one they had - it is a small one - only 14 kg - but at least I have it. It is now stored in Sharon's freezer because I do not have room - thankfully she has nothing in her freezer as it pretty much fills the whole thing up. The third day we went to a couple of freezer factories - they do not sell to the public - but I did find out what is available. I need to get on the phone to Carrefour and see if they will order what I want in and then I can just pay them and they can deliver it for me. Would be great to get it before my folks arrive - in 12 days - time flies.

Shopping aside it was great to spend time with someone who 'gets' my humour first crack. Spending time with Safa and her family was terrific. She took me to her villa that is being renovated - I am so envious - in a good way - have already claimed the guest room as my own - in fact told her that she needs to finish one of the extra apartments for me so that when I go and visit I an have my own space - LOL. Her kids were terrific - and of course the baby is to die for - he is soooo good - such a flirt. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to spend time with this wonderful family.

I now know how to get to Carrefour in Maadi - although I think if I am going to go shopping at Carrefour in Cairo once in awhile I will stick to the one at Dandy Mall which is located on the Alex-Cairo desert road - no need to travel through Cairo at all - but I am slowly learning my way around some parts of the city. Since I survived my first trip - I will certainly continue my adventures.

Wednesday evening we went to visit a friend of Safa's - and we were invited back the following night to view the DVD of her daughter's wedding - and a couple more friends also came over. We had a lot of fun Thursday night - we watched the video - munched on sandwiches and other goodies - then we danced. After that we went to the "Friday" market - after midnight. I bought a few things - some pomegranates, new baby potatoes, dill, and some pears. We did not make it home until after 2:30 a.m. I did not crash until 3:30 and 7:30 came way too early- sure do wish I could sleep later - I dozed a bit - but got up around 9:30 - got dressed, then packed up my treasures. I then packed the car and was on the road by noon. Got home to Alex just about 3:45.

I then relaxed for about an hour then I was off to drop off my turkey to Sharon's and pick her up to take her to iftar that a mutual friend of ours puts on every year. We were a bit late -traffic was really bad - I had figured that by 5 everybody would be home - but no they were driving like maniacs to make it home before iftar and of course this led to accidents which tied up the traffic.

Got home around 8 - and I sat around watching TV until a bit after 11. Should have gone to bed earlier - but I was too tired to get there - LOL.

Got up today around 7 - and had a nice relaxing day. Did up my laundry and cooked my iftar - other than that - not much happened.

Will take pics of some of the purchases and will post them later. TTFN