A quick run down on the random Dutch chrissy beliefs!!! (pics are dodgy as I was horrendously hungover this day)
Sintaklaas (kind of like santa except he wears a pope hat) arrives in November on a boat from Spain with a horse.
Everyone comes to greet him in the streets to the sound of the oompah Dutch music.
Now the bit I find most hilarious and somewhat racist. He has hundreds of slaves called Zwarte Piet (black Pete) They are everywhere, abseiling of buildings, riding bikes all named Piet.
Hundreds of the little buggers, all white people with face paint running about the streets!! Madness!!!!
Nicola , Alicia and I spent and fantastic week in the land of the Pharaoh's. Was defiantly one of the best trips of my life so far.
(some facts and recollections may be slightly incorrect as my memory and knowledge of history suck)
The view from the roof bar of our hotel looking out over the chaotic city of Cairo!
The Citadel of Salah al-Din. A cool Mosque built by Muhammad Ali (not the boxer) in the 1700's.
We went for a cruise around the touristy markets of "Khan El-Khalili". A bustling bazaar and tried our luck with haggling.
Whether it was a wrong turn or we just strolled a bit to far but we ended up in the local market away from the tourists which was an experience!!
My trusty thongs took me to Djoser's Saqqara step pyramid. It was the first pyramid ever built and is the oldest structure in the world completely made of stone. I am sure Imhotep (the guy who built it) would be pretty chuffed its still standing.
*Saqqara
*Saqqara - also the name of the beer but spelled Sakara which was near on impossible to buy anywhere.
Inside the crumbling Pyramid of Teti. A narrow shaft that go's down twenty meters to the burial chamber underneath.
The dessert sand! Surprisingly not that hot.
"The Great Pyramid of Khufu" Freakin massive. 2,300,000 blocks. Weighing an average of 2.5 ton each!!!!! Was the tallest building in the world for over 4000 years!!!! Very impressive.
Haha, very touristy. The 3 Pyramids of Giza.Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure.
A chilled out camel waiting to spit at someone.
The Pyramid of Khafre and the Sphinx.
Khafre's pyramid just a bit smaller than old Khufu's but still absolutely mind blowingly big!!
Walking like a you know what!!!!!
Essam, our awesome Egyptian guide teaching us the ways of the apple tobacco "Sheesha Pipe".
Us and Essam.
Heading to Luxor, 10 hours away by train with the feralest toilets on earth!!!
The Chaotic Cairo Cab!! A life changing experience if you survive!!
One of the squares lit up with xmas lights and "Canteenas" Litlle huts that sell xmas stuff!!
A cool little tent run by gypsy's that sold little seafood delights and cheap alcohol. We ended up regulars!!!
One of the many churches at full moon.
As like much of Europe there isn't a lack of statues.
This one was quite comical.
The cute little streets of Brugge.
Back at the gypsy's tent with a bunch of Sprots. Kinda like sardines.
Lookin a bit unbalanced.
Lots of beautiful little canals and out of the way spots.
If you look to the top of this photo you can see the smallest window in town!!
Sampling the local beer!! Very nice indeed!!
At the chocolate museum.
This is actually made of chocolate???
And so are these!!!!!!
