kul sana wa inta tayyib

Right after I came back from Belgium, we went to A.'s family to celebrate Eid together with his family in Upper Egypt. Everybody was wearing new clothes (check Aya's dress!), the home was repainted, a new bed was installed, and... A.'s sister gave birth to a healthy baby boy! Welcome to the family :)

 ^left: A.'s youngest sister, very pregnant on the evening before the Feast, her youngest son S. was very happy with the baby clothes I brought from Belgium (he loved the gift box and carried it around whole evening)

and right: baby A., born a few hours later <3

 ^ some of the children of his sisters, all very sweet and polite.

^ the reception room (to invite guests) after the make over :)

Home and away

Only love!

When it rain.rain.rains

I find it strange: when I am Belgium, I feel at home right away, like I have never left. 

And I have exactly the same in Egypt! 

Elhamdulilah, godzijdank, I feel so much richer, and appreciate all the facets of my life so much more than before. Moving to Egypt, made me enjoy all the little things of everyday life, and it keeps me looking with "new" eyes. My visit to Belgium has made me feel so loved and happy, and I came back completely relaxed and inspired.

Louvain Louvain

Sandy

 Walking Zita during my lunch breaks

 Our daily break fast spot

 Marla the cat, and a bus stop on the way to work

 Could not believe my eyes this morning: 

the sky is not blue for once, but grey (due to a sand storm from Libanon)

It seems cold but oh boy, it's HOT

Ancient Sands

Today I had such an unexpected great break! I fell in love with a newly discovered place (a.k.a. paradise on earth), and felt the thrill again to go somewhere where I have not been before.

I had seen Ancient Sands already from a distance, as it is not far away from my office. When I asked a tuc tuc driver once to bring me there, he said it was impossible. And I did not dare to walk all the way there on my own, through the desert.

Luckily, I have to dog sit on the dog of my boss now he is abroad. So... I dressed up as crazy hat lady again, put lots of sun screen on, and took Zita with me on a long way through the desert.

I did not know what to expect, and I also did not know where the entrance was exactly... but we just walked and walked, and I felt so free! It was hot but the wind was so refreshing, and the air felt "healthy"...
and what we saw when we arrived, did not disappoint...

We took a break to sit in the shade, next to the fountain because Zita was breathing very heavily, and I was afraid she would maybe get a heart attack [she is fine now!]

I am so happy we had the courage to go there! 

And now I've been, I will def. take my family there next time they come. They will love it!