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Fatty Duck

Friday, October 12th, 2007

Foie Gras – I love it.  I avoid it because it is not good for one’s health, but I also rarely see it beyond the door of Mirepoix.  Government regulations inspired by PETA and other food police will soon make it impossible to find in the US.  My research in the past discovered that it was first enjoyed in Egypt where the geese fattened their livers on their own in preparation for migration.  They gorged themselves.  The Egyptians copied the natural process by force-feeding the birds – basically the same technique employed today and the one that has gotten the industry into trouble in the food righteous countries.  Egypt and Madagascar has presented two different foie gras experiences of late.

First, at Saqqara, Egypt in one of the temples, I found reliefs depicting the force-feeding of geese. A series of reliefs depicted all kinds of bounties being presented as offerings to the gods.  Apparently foie gras was recognized as a food worthy of the gods more than 3000 years ago and was part of those offerings.

Second, Madagascar has been influenced greatly by the French.  Last night the menu had a foie gras salad consisting of foie gras, duck confit and country pate on a bed of greens.  Fabulous!  Cheers to the Egyptians, French and Malagasies!  And especially to the ducks!

Where’s That Confounded Pyramid?

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

Most air polluted cities in the world according to World Bank (2007):

  • Cairo, Egypt: 11.1 million
  • Delhi, India: 15 million
  • Kolkata, India: 14.3 million
  • Tianjin, China: 7 million
  • Chongqing, China: 6.4 million
  • Kanpur, India: 3 million
  • Lucknow, India: 2.6 million
  • Jakarta, Indonesia: 13.2 million
  • Shenyang, China: 4.7 million
  • Zhengzhou, China: 2.6 million
  • I knew Cairo was the most disgusting place on the planet!!!!!  It’s all better air from here on out.  I will struggle with India and China cities.  So, imagine these cities are way worse than anything you have ever seen in your local trouble spot like LA, Houston, NYC, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Vienna, London.  Way worse! 

    “Excuse me.  Oh will you excuse me.  I’m just trying to find the Pyramid… Has anybody seen the Pyramid?  Have you seen the Pyramid?  I ain’t seen the Pyramid!  Where’s that confounded Pyramid?”

    Well, One More From Egypt

    Tuesday, October 9th, 2007
    I spent the last two days holed up in a nice hotel overlooking the pyramids. I had planned to visit them again, but the air pollution was the worst I have ever seen anywhere both days and I really ... [Continue reading this entry]

    Asia!!!

    Tuesday, October 9th, 2007
    Well, I have technically been to a new continent without leaving Egypt.  After looking at the guides I use for such mundane geography topics, I officially entered Asia for the first time while visiting Sinai.  Peggy and I started to ... [Continue reading this entry]

    Last of Egypt

    Monday, October 8th, 2007
    (Unless something exciting happens tomorrow) Well, the Mt Sinai glow did wear out quickly.  I took a cab from where my backpack was stored in Cairo to a hotel in Giza where I planned to hole up until I could fly ... [Continue reading this entry]

    Mt Sinai

    Monday, October 8th, 2007
    After resting, eating a nice lunch and resting a bit more we went to St Katherine's Monastery to start the hike up.  We decided to watch the sunset rather than sunrise so leaving at 2:00 PM put us on top ... [Continue reading this entry]

    St Katherine

    Monday, October 8th, 2007
    Last night we flew from Luxor to Sharm el-Sheikh.  At the Luxor international airport, our driver has to turn over his ID in order to take us in, but like so many of the Egyptians taxi drivers (fools with ... [Continue reading this entry]

    Temples II – The Cult of Isis

    Monday, October 8th, 2007
    So the second day of our two days outside of Luxor took us to Abydos and Dendera temples.  Since we were not headed towards Aswan, the convoy is considerably smaller and therefore the visits are a lot nicer.  Both temples are in ... [Continue reading this entry]

    Temples I – The Convoy

    Monday, October 8th, 2007
    We spent the last two days in Luxor on private tours of four temples upstream and downstream of Luxor.  The Egyptian government started using police led convoys as a way to thwart terrorism starting about 17 years ago.  Since that ... [Continue reading this entry]

    Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Luxor

    Monday, October 8th, 2007
    We had a down day just to relax after so many exciting days and because we have two more big days in Luxor before heading to Mt Sinai.  We did some logistics stuff like by airline tickets and tours to ... [Continue reading this entry]