Back to the Bridge!
After living on a ship for years it is always interesting experience for me to come back to a ship as a paid guest. You enjoy life as a guest but I do believe there will always be a piece of your heart that belongs to the crew. That even longs to be crew again.
When I embarked this Nile cruise ship on Tuesday we were the first guests to arrive.
I remember thinking oh what a bother we are being those early boarding guests but it was what we needed to make our travel plans work. Later on that day I had a question for reception. The first thought that passed through my head was not I’ll go down there and ask instead I thought I’ll ask tomorrow everyone knows you don’t bother reception on embark day.
As I watched a few people interact with the crew it struck me as odd that there were some people who took the time to ask the names of those that were serving them. Such little things make a difference. I remember when sailing far from your home the small kindnesses of a guest is by no means required but is usually appreciated.
The crew on this ship were all men, all from some part of Egypt. They were fun and funny, sweet and charming. What they lacked in proper training they made up for in genuine desire to do a good job.
I do believe that it was through such kindness and desire to serve people the Silver Fox, the funniest pharmacist I have ever met, and I ended up on the bridge as we crossed parts of the Nile River.
For me walking onto the bridge was like going back to your childhood home or your old university. There was something very comfortable and familiar about being back on the bridge of a ship. I spent many days and wonderful nights watching the sunrise across the ocean, seeing the moon paint the waves and appreciating the wonder of our planet. For small periods of time in between by youth staff or crew activities I was privileged enough to catch a glimpse of the life of a sailor.
Now there are many, many differences between a Nile Cruise ship and the mega, major cruise lines but for me one of the most striking differences is how you never see or hear about the captain of the ship.
Sometimes things in the Middle East get close to what I know but there is always that wonderful Middle Eastern twist the makes things special. So walking onto the bridge I had no idea what to expect. In the middle of the bridge sat the captain’s chair, a large wooden chair with a decorative flower print pillow. A joystick was used instead of a steering wheel but like many mega ships the old wooden wheel was still there. Beside the main control panel was three silver gear shifts to power up or down the engine.
The man driving the ship had no stripes on his arms. He was dressed in his brown dishdasha, his sandals resting on the floor near his feet as he skillfully steered us through the lock system. It was perfect!
As we went through the lock the tourism police sat on the outside of the bridge, with a large machine gun resting comfortable on their lap. It was a little odd for me to see such a large fire arm out in the open, on a bridge but perhaps necessary. We are in a day and age where pirates are making a come back. It is better safe then sorry.
I stayed on the bridge for hours, having tea, playing with one of the children that lives on-board, honking the horn at passing ships and enjoying trying to speak with the captain. His English was limited and my Arabic needs work a lot of work. At one point in the afternoon the second captain came up so that the first captain could go for his time to pray. He places a prayer mat outside the bridge and made a spiritual connection. It was so natural.
It was great to feel back at home. If only for an afternoon on a cruise ship on the Nile!
An Adventure to the Towers!
In my travels I have been blessed to see some incredible, breath taking works of structural art, new and old buildings and structures that make a city or a country memorable. I am continuously amazed by architecture and design from all around the world.
Like all good Canadian kids I went to CN Tower with my family and with my Grade Five class. I remembering reading about what would happen if a penny was dropped from the CN tower. Later in my life my awe of tall buildings continued as I was traveling in France with my friend Wacky. The first thing we did when we got off our respective planes was head to the Eiffel Tower. It was a glorious start to our vacation as we used our backpacks as pillows and had a nap under the Eiffel Tower. Standing on the observation deck of the tower I was reminded of home as they had signs that told you how far you were to different parts of the world.
The buildings in France continued to be impressive destinations as the next day we hung out at the Louvre in the morning and then went to the Palace of Versailles in the afternoon, which for a long time we ironically understated the beauty of Louis palace by referring to it as some dead French guy’s house. That Louis had a great backyard.
Wearing my turquoise golf shirt and, sometimes, my white Regent/ Radisson shorts I pushed over and held up the leaning Tower of Pisa. One random cruise ship Saturday I raced through the Basilica of St. Peter, The Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum. I stopped long enough to make a wish as I tossed coins in the Trevi Fountain. One day perhaps I will return to Rome and spend more time properly enjoying these places.
On cruise tours I was overwhelmed by the history of the Parthenon of Greece and spent on spectacular Sunday morning in awe of the Byzantine architecture at St. Mark’s Cathedral. I am also convinced that I will be back in Barcelona in time to see Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia church finally free from construction.
Sailing under the Brooklyn Bridge on a balcony of the Seven Seas Navigator drinking mimosas the impressive size of this structure made you realize you were coming into a big city. New York buildings from the Empire State Building, to Rockefeller Center are all about strength and power. The attack on this cities buildings and people will be felt forever.
The buildings of England are grand and regal just like the country. From the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey to the mysterious Stonehenge I was engrossed in the stories and people who had walked these hallowed halls and stood on the grass before me.
So on the first morning of Winter Break and the first day of Eid Murbarack the call to pray woke me up early. I listen to the rhythmic song and jumped a little with the celebratory gunfire I realized that to truly know this country I needed to see their greatest piece of Kuwait architecture, The Kuwait Towers.
Located on the Arabian Gulf in the area of Sharq. The Kuwait Towers are one of the main tourist attractions in the State of Kuwait. The towers were designed by a Swedish company and executed by a Yugoslav company. They were built in 1975 and inaugurated in 1979. The plates that cover the balls are fifty five thousand in number. They are made of Chinese steel painted in eight different colors.
They opened to the public in March of 1979. The towers were damaged heavily by the Iraqis during their occupation of Kuwait from 1990 to 1991.
After boarding the tower elevator to the 120th floor it was amazing to see the perfect 360 degree view of Kuwait. The photos on the walls of the towers also highlighted the damage and destruction that had been caused by the invasion. Suddenly I realized that this tower was more then a building it was a sign of hope, growth and strength. Although life in the desert can be challenging for nationals and expats alike this is a country that stands confidently proud and growing rapidly.
Next week I am off to explore the structures in Egypt. Who knows what mysteries will be found at the great pyramids?
So where in the world is your favourite building and what did you gain from visiting this place?
Kuwait City, KUWAIT
Christine Oastler is a freelance travel writer, teacher and artist, currently living in Mahboula, Kuwait. Born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Christine obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Trent University and her Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Currently traveling around the Middle East she finds herself riding the odd camel and embracing a new culture!