Egypt Air ~ Chapter 5

Traveling alone and into an unknown part of the world was more than I had bargained for, indeed.

Due to the emergency aboard the outbound flight from Miami the day before...or now was it 2 days before. I was losing track of time. What time was it back home? It didn't really matter, as I wasn't there, I thought.
What mattered now was to be on this flight from London to Cairo. I had been re-booked from British Airways to Egypt Air. This didn't mean anything to me until I arrived for boarding the flight.

There was a long line waiting to board my flight and looking around, all other passengers were men. They all were dressed in their traditional dress of white cotton robes and heads wrap. My western attire, and caucasian appearance went seemingly unnoticed and later learned it is considered a sin for a man to look upon a woman.

As I stepped onto that plane I stepped from one culture right into another.

No one was speaking English. I found my seat. Thankfully, I was seated alone.

The interior decoration of the plane was something to behold. There we were, surrounded by beautiful Ancient Egyptian Gods ~Horus, the man with a falcon head, Ancient Kings with names written in hieroglyphs encased in the royal Cartouches.

It was best described as being wrapped in a giant Egyptian papaya paper painting. I was awestruck.... and also very,very tired.
To be continued...
iJune

Cold Toast and Cold Stares ~ Chapter 4

Nancy had a full day at the American Embassy as President Reagan, wife Nancy were at the Residence of Ambassador Price there in London. She has invited me to be at their flat early the following morning and tag along with her to the reception for them.

Naturally, I met Tom in the dinning room for breakfast and to say farewell and thank him again for the company and cognac the evening before. Breakfast was a welcome site. I love many things about England and one of those is their sasuage for breakfast. I even enjoy their cold toast and lovely jams.

My bags had been delivered to the lobby so was to be a quick get-away for me to taxi over to Nancy's flat. Surprise~Tom had a 'great idea'...he asked if he could share my taxi downtown. There was no getting rid of this nice man, was there? Did he really want to know where I was going on London? Anyway, he paid for the taxi and took me up on the offer to come upstairs to meet Nancy and other from the Embassy who were going to the Reception as well.

The doorman was expecting us. Gee, I love London. He had the elevator called and delivered my bags for me. The elevator went directly to the flat on the forth floor where it opened directly into the foyer of the flat. Waiting in the living room were the other wives from the Emabssy. Tom was a hit as he charmed his way around the room. "Is this your husband?" one of the ladies asked. "No, just a traveling companion," I answered, which is what he has become and innocent me didn't think any more about my response.

We enjoyed coffee and chatting but only for a brief while and it was time to leave for the Embassy. A taxi waited downstairs. As we came out suddenly, it occurred to me that this was the end of the road for Tom.

This nice man, was standing there as we were rushing away. He had no excuse to go with us and just realized I would never see again. Seemed I had become acustomed to him. The others got into the taxi while I said farewell. I felt that I was leaving behind someone that should have been a lifelong friend, he has been so, so nice. I felt a little sad..."Farewell, thanks, and have a wonderful life," I said and gave him a little hug and lingered last look...turned and got into the taxi.

The taxi was so neat, 2 beach seats facing each other and held all. "Well, we are on our way," I said, but they only had long questioning stares for me at this point. Something must have been said before I got in with them, which I didn't really care. I smiled at their thoughts and let them steep in the unknown. I wouldn't dare mess up their assumptions by saying this man had tailed me from the States. I just hoped I had a tail for my trip into Egypt later that evening.
Cont~

Nineteen Hours in London (Chapter 3)

The flight touched down about midnight London time. I said a 'nice to talk with you' to the Brit and deplaned along with others who had been on the flight that turned back the day before.

I had two travel bags, one for the Egypt and the other for Europe as was returning to England after the three weeks in Egypt. I checked the Egypt bound bag at the airport (something that would be unheard of post 9/11) as the connecting flight didn't depart for 19 hours.

Transportation and hotel had been arranged in London due to the late arrival.

Was I surprised to see Tom, the tall, handsome Brit following me onto the hotel bound bus? He sat next me. I felt safe. He suggested a drink once we had settled in ... our 'body time' was only 6:30 PM not being on London time yet....which was now after midnight ~

a drink would be nice I thought, although to make the time adjustment needed to be made.
At the hotel desk I had a message from my friends. "Call when you arrive, no matter what hour."

The lounge and dinning room were closed at this late hour. "I have a wonderful Hennessy in my bag," Tom said. The desk clerk suggest the lounge area was available. Perfect.
I hastened to the room to call Nancy and freshen up. There I found flowers on the table next to a nice tray of hors d'oeuvres. I remembered we missed dinner too. While on the phone with Nancy, Tom knocked on my door. How in hell did he get my room number? I read to Nancy all that was on his business card as I opened the door and he met Nancy over the phone. He held the bottle of cognac. I scooped up the tray of goodies and we were off for a midnight snack. I felt safe.

To be cont...