Justin and I have only been married two years.  Insha'allah, in 23 years, we can go to where Justin proposed to celebrate our anniversary, like my parents just celebrated their 25th anniversary where my Dad proposed. 

25 ish years ago parents took a trip to the Grand Canyon.  My Dad was planning to "pop the question" at some point during the trip as they visited various viewpoints.  Well, he was so nervous that he proposed at the first overlook they came to, Mather Point. 

This January, for their 25th Anniversary, my Dad surprised my Mom by announcing he had made reservations at El Tovar Hotel, a beautiful lodge on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  A nice layer of snow made the Grand Canyon and Mather Point particularly beautiful for their visit. 

I've included pictures from 25 years ago and from earlier this month.  I love looking at these pictures!

Be sure to click on the photos to view a slideshow.

We spent New Years Eve and our two-year wedding anniversary wandering about the fabulous city of Granada.

Rundown on the history of Granada:

Just posting a few pics from our hostal room in Granada.  We might write text once we get back to Cairo.  Click on the pictures to view a slideshow with captions! 

Just posting a few pictures of the past few weeks from our hostal room in Granada.  Might write text once we get back to Cairo.  Click on pictures and view slideshows for captions.

It's been a bit chilly. Our flat does not have heat. And I've been spending hours on my final papers.  And finally Justin couldn't listen to me whine any more so he picked up a chair and set it in the kitchen next to the oven which I was occasionally walking in and warming my hands in front of.   Hands get cold roving about on the keyboard.  Gloves, if I had any, would negatively impact typing accuracy. 

Once in the kitchen I had only to reach over and open the oven for a blast of warmth. 

One more paper to go. 

I wasn't successful earlier today in getting a picture of the animals about to be slaughtered.  The fruit and vegetable street a few blocks over was PACKED with people buying and selling fruits and vegetables in prep for the feast tomorrow after the morning prayers.  The markey area had an air of excitement about it. There were more cows over there than sheep, tied to lamp posts.  Two or three cows passed me at eye level before I realized they were in a small sized pickup truck bed, munching on hay as the driver slowly weaved through the crowd.  I bought some tomatoes and bananas from the street vendors (itnayn wa nus for a half kilo of bananas, about 50 cents, and wahid wa robaa for a half a kilo of tomatoes, about 22 cents) But I was too shy to pull out my camera to photograph the animals waiting to be killed, I didn't want to draw a ton more attention to myself.  I find that in this neighborhood, my neighborhood, I care alot about how I'm perceived. I worry about our neighbors seeing Drinkies Co.

Tomorrow is Eid al-Adha.  Click on that link for more info on the holday. 

Briefly, the holiday is in remembrance of God telling Abraham to sacrafice his own son to show his faith, then when God sees that Abraham will actually do it, last minute steps in and says "nevermind, slaughter this prize lamb instead".  Today, for this holiday, animals are sacrificed.  Lots of animals. And meat is divided in three (1/3 to keep, 1/3 to share with family and friends and 1/3 to give to the poor).  Originally this holiday seemed pretty cool to me, the idea of sharing meat and such. 

That is, until I started noticing the sheep in my neighborhood. Tied to the lamp post outside the dry cleaners.  Being led by two men in business suits to keep in the car port under the apartment building until tomorrow.  Yeah, when they said ritual sacrafice I sort of assumed it was out in the country.  Didn't realize it'd be happening on my streets!

As a follow up on Cara's earlier post on our desert expedition, I'd like to talk a bit more about the nitty-gritty of the science!

Whales don't walk, silly!

Wadi al-Hitan (Valley of the Whales) is one of the major paleontological sites in the world for understanding the evolution of whales & their migration 40 million years ago from land into the ocean.

But Justin, I thought that life started in the oceans, then moved to land... why would whales go backward?

Well, yeah, life did start in the oceans, but mammals evolved on land, breathing air. First little rat-like things while the dinosaurs were around, which later evolved into the diversity of mammals we know today (and the ones that we knew earlier in the 20th century that are now extinct). But then there are all of the ocean mammals... whales, dolphins, manatees, seals... they must have evolved from land-based mammals.

Whales don't walk, silly! How could they do that with fins? -Lara

Justin and I put up Christmas decorations this morning.  A few weeks ago we attended one of many Christmas bazaars that churches and community centers (both Egyptian and expat focused) host here in Cairo every year. Local Egyptian crafts are sold as well as imported Christmas themed items.  We purchased a few items at the Christmas bazaar at All Saints a few weeks ago (An episcopal church. The priest wears a standard clerical collar and shirt but a black skirt on the bottom).  We purchased a painting by a local Sudanese artist named Willam, and some sewn fabric pieces created and sold as a fundraiser for deaf children at a local deaf school. I also bought a snowman pillow I later found out was imported from China and the snowman is actually filthy with Cairo dirt.  And then, earlier this week I was so excited to find Christmas trees at the local Alfa Market!  Our (thin) fake Christmas tree was only six USD, and a packet of ornaments 5 USD...so we're pleased with our little Christmas tree on a budget!  Ahmed informed me his Muslim family puts up a Christmas tree every year so I shouldn't be surprised that we found a Christmas tree here.

I'm enjoying some leftover Macoroni and Cheese Casserole and cornbread-pine nut dressing as I write this.