Cairo Tower

When it was built in 1961 the lotus inspired 187m tall Cairo Tower was the tallest concrete structure in the world.

Towers are a great place to take in how big a city truly is, and let me tell you, Cairo is a huge city.  It has a population of around 17 million people making it a very densely populated area (dense is when there are a lot of people in a small area).

Taking in the view from the observation deck.

Looking down at Cairo from Cairo Tower you can see the density.  The buildings look like they are all attached.  They appear to all sit ontop of each other as they move away from the Nile River and into the desert. 

Cairo is a very hot city, today it was around 40 degree Celsius.  You can almost see the heat in the picture below, it is like a haze that sits above city (that haze is also smog coming from all the busy roads all around Cairo).



The haze sitting over Cairo.  Doesn't it look like all the buildings are connected?

Not only did I get an amazing view at Cairo Tower but I also made a friend.  My friend's name is Ahmed.  Ahmed works at the tower as a photographer.  When you arrive he offers to take a picture of you standing in front of the tower, and if you like the way it looks you can buy it as a souvenir.  When he asked if I would like my picture taken, I said "No thank you, I don't have any money to buy it with."  Ahmed asked me where I was from and why I was in Cairo.  I told him that I was a teacher from Toronto who was travelling the world to learn more so that I could teach more.  My story made Ahmed smile, so he asked if he could take a picture for me on my camera so I could have one of "Mr. P standing in front of Cairo Tower" to show you.  The picture was taken, but because it is so bright and sunny outside we didn't notice that my eyes were closed in the picture!  All that kindness that Ahmed showed me and I end up with a picture of me sleeping in front of the tower.  It is a memory of his kindness that I will always keep no matter how funny I look in the picture.

Mr. P sleeping in front of Cairo Tower.

Do you have a picture of yourself that you like because it tells a funny or happy story?  Bring the picture in and share it with you class.

Ancient Egypt: Being a Kid Again.

When I was a little boy I remember this clip from Sesame Street.  It was the first time I learned about the pyramids and Ancient Egypt.  I remember finding this video fascinating.  There was something about it that made me want to learn more about Egypt and the pyramids.



Let's just hope no statues come to life when I am exploring the pyramids in a few day.  That would be really freaky!  I can't wait.

Kid's Guide to Cairo

Your guide has gotten me really excited about Cairo.  Thanks for the warning about the desert climate.  I put on a thick layer of sunscreen before getting off the plane and I am sure glad I did because it is almost 40 degrees Celsius. That sun sure is hot.  I like how you have me wearing a hat in the picture too.  I think I hat in this kind of weather is a great idea.





I Am Here - Cairo, Egypt

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Bringing the Acropolis Back

One thing that impressed me about Greece was how they have recently seen the importance in restoring and reviving their aging ruins and ancient monuments.  A perfect example of this is the major restoration project that is happening right now to Acropolis.  Originally an ancient city, the Acropolis was left to decay over the years (it is in pretty rough shape after invasions, looting, earthquakes, bombings and even pollution).  Today the government is still working at restoring as much of the Acropolis as possible so that visitors will get more of a sense of what it would have been like to be a Greek in ancient times.

Standing in front of the Parthenon, a temple that is being restored in the Acropolis.  Can you see the scaffolding inside of it?

Do you think the government should restore old buildings, or does it make more sense to tear them down and just build new ones instead?

Overlooking Athens from the Acropolis.

Greek Delicacies: Oh Paros, Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

So I am heading out to my next destination which means I have to say goodbye to Greece, and what better way to do that then to enjoy a Greek chocolate bar.  Now boys and girls, I know that chocolate bars are not healthy food choices.  I would much rather eat some berries, or a fresh crunchy piece of celery.  Those treats taste great, and they are good for my body too.  Even so, it is still a nice to enjoy a special sugary treat every once in a while.

You all remember the last time I tried a new chocolate bar, yuck!  So I tried to be a bit more sensible and used my picture reading skills again.  If you look at the label you see cookie, a creamy filling and a chocolate coating.  All of that sounds delicious, and guess what?  3Bit was delicious.

Another favourite treat in Greece is to have your coffee "freddo".  It is kind of like taking your coffee and whipping it up into a sweet coffee milkshake.  You can get a freddo at almost any coffee shop around town.

And then remember the world famous hot dogs I tried in Iceland, well Greece has a special version of a hot dog too.  Instead of using a bun they wrap the hot dog in a rich, buttery, flaky pastry that makes the hot dog taste even more delicious.  It is so tasty you don't even need ketchup or mustard to enjoy it.

It's All Greek to Me

The expression "It's all Greek to me" is an idiom.  When someone uses this phrase  they mean "I don't understand", not that what they are looking at is really Greek.  Do you know any other idioms?  Come on, has the cat got your tongue?  Now that I am in Paros, when I say "It's all Greek to me", I really mean "I don't understand because it is all in Greek".

The Greek language uses the Greek alphabet which is different from our Latin alphabet.  It only has 24 letters, and only some of these letters look similar to their Latin counterpart.  ABCD looks like ABCD, so you can see how that can get confusing for someone who doesn't know how to read Greek.

Here is a sign that I saw today while walking in Paros.

What do you think this sign says?

Well, lucky for me there was a picture next to the word, so I got to use my picture reading skills.  The picture looked like this.

So, after picture reading I went back to the word on the sign and I think it says something like "Fish Shop", or "Fresh fish here!"  I could be wrong (maybe one of my Greek friends can help me here), but at least I tried!

Picture reading sure comes in handy while you are travelling and learning how to read in a new language.

The White and Blue Cyclades

All the white and blue buildings overlooking the water.

The first thing you will notice when you see pictures of the Greek islands is that all the buildings look similar, they are all painted white with blue details (doors, shutters and sometimes roofs).  On some islands it was the law to paint your house white and blue, there was no other choice.  Why is this so?  Well there are a few stories about why all the houses are white and blue, the first one is a romantic story.  Some people say that these are the colours Greeks paint their houses on the islands because they are the two colours in the Greek flag.  Everyone is so proud of being Greek, they use the colours as symbols of their pride and unity. 

Here is a little path lined with restaurants.  Even the tables and chairs are white or blue.

There is a more scientific explanation about the paint choices.  The Cyclades get very hot in the summer, and in Science we learned that dark colours absorb heat and light colours reflect it.  So knowing this it would make sense to paint your house white if you wanted to keep it cool during the hot summer months. 

Schools, hotels, shops and churches (all buildings) are painted in the same way.

The last story is a pratical one.  The houses are painted white and blue because it makes them easier to clean.  A whitewash is used on the main building, and a lavender wash (producing a blueish colour) is used on the trim.  Which one is the true reason, we might never know.  I personally think the people of Greece paint their houses white and blue because it looks beautiful.  Isn't that a good enough reason?



You can see how the buildings look under their water paint.  Don't they look nicer all white?

Taking Your Advice - Mr. P Takes a Break

I have been so busy sightseeing in different cities, I haven't taken much time to stop, relax and enjoy some quiet time (except for that one day in Turkey).  Luckily I have discovered that Paros is just the spot to stop, relax and enjoy some time on the beach (you suggested that I visit some beaches).  I swam in the crystal clear water, I read a book and I even had a bit of a snooze in the sunshine.  What a perfect day!  Now I am ready to see some more sights!

The crystal clear water at Santa Maria beach in Paros.

Kid's Guide to the Cyclades.

I love all the suggestions below.  I have already taken in a sunset.  It was breathtaking!  Tomorrow I will be spending the day on the beach.  I wonder what colour the sand will be?



I Am Here - Paros, Greece

Am I really still in Greece?  Paros is very different to Athens.  I can't wait to tell you all about it.

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It Started in Greece.

Did you know that several of things we learn about in school today came from Ancient Greece?  Mathematics, Science and Philosophy were all subjects first studied by the Greeks.  They are also responsible for modern day medicine, as they are known to have performed surgeries to cure illnesses like tonsillitis.  We also have the Greeks to thank for several of our arts like drama and theatre.  They loved the theatre so much that a number of great outdoor stages were built during Ancient times in Greece.  Check out this one.

This theatre was known as Herod Atticus Odeon.  It could seat up to 5000 people!



Odeon means "building for singing competitions", and that is what they were used for.  They are generally much smaller than a full size Greek theatre. 

During theatre productions in Ancient Greece actors would wear masks to help them play their part.  Here are some examples of Greek masks below.

Theatre masks were usually made out of wood or paper, so these masks made out of stone were probably just used as decorations in theatres.



What do you think the play these characters were in was about?  Who do you think was the villain?  Who was the hero?  Why do you think that?

Athens is a Zoo

Walking around Athens you will see many different types of animals living free in the city.  Check out some of the animals I spotted.

Do you think he knows he has a bird on his head?  This bird was spotted outside of a university in Athens.  Maybe he just wants to go to school?

One of the turtles who lives among the ruins at Hadrian's Library.  Do you think he is as old as the ruins?

On the job.  This dog protects the entrance to the National Archaeological Museum.  That or he is just resting in the sun.



Someone isn't following the rules!

No squirrels, raccoons or skunk to be found, but a lot of stray cats, dogs and yes, turtles!  Amazing how city animals can be different from place to place.  I wonder what other animals I will see in cities around the world!

Benaki Museum

Stairs leading to the front door of Benaki Museum.

I don't know which is more beautiful, the collection of artefacts or the house they are displayed in.  Antonis Benakis is the founder of Benaki Museum and all the pieces in the museum are from his very own personal collection.  Mr. Benaki knows that there is no value in hogging things and keeping them to yourself, so in 1926 he donated his entire collection to the state and the people of Greece.  It is much more fun to share with others, and by sharing his collection he is helping visitors to the Benaki Museum learn about Greece and its interesting history.  So what do you think, when is it good to share?  When is sharing maybe not a good idea?



Recreation of a sultan's room in the museum.



Some busts on display.





The upstairs hallway of the museum.



Street Food: Athens

A pretzel stall in Athens.

It is almost impossible for me to walk past a street vendor without checking out what yummy food is for sale.  Here in Athens some stalls sell corn on the cob, others sell nuts, but the main kind of stall you will find all over the city sells pretzels.  Sounds boring doesn't it?  But trust me, these pretzels are anything but boring.  You can get them with cheese, or meat, or even get a sweet one (just like a doughnut really).  I have been enjoying trying all the different pretzels available.  I bet you can tell which one is my favourite so far by the picture below.

Enjoying a loukoumaki on the streets of Athens.  That is how it was labelled at the stall, but when I check online loukoumaki also means "Turkish Delight".  I guess it means a lot of different sweet things.

National Archaeological Museum of Athens: Class of 140 AD.

Soon you will be getting ready to smile for your class picture, but back in Roman times they didn't have photography, so there are no photos documenting this time.  Instead sculptors would create busts of important people using materials like marble and limestone, and then put them on display, just like your grandma might hang your school picture in a special room.  Here are a bunch of important busts that can be found at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

Suzy the Greek

Dear Boys and Girls,

I would like to introduce you to Suzy.  She is a Canadian girl who has moved to Athens because of her career.  Suzy is an aspiring model and actress and her agency has sent her to Greece for a couple of months.  Moving away from home for the first time is always difficult, especially when you move to a place where the culture and language are completely different from anything you are familiar with.


Suzy getting directions to her next casting from the lovely Georgia.

Suzy has just been in Athens for a couple of weeks but she is already acting like a local.  She gets around easily on public transportation, she has her favourite local restaurants and she is even starting to get brave around cockroaches which are everywhere in Athens (they are the size of mice here!) 

Having dinner with Suzy was a wonderful experience. Even though she is just a teenager, she is mature beyond her years.  It was great seeing how she is working hard and following her dream.  I know that one day we will all see her on the cover of a magazine.

What are some things you would miss about home if you moved to a different country?

Keep Smiling,

Mr. Pimentel

Shopping in Athens: Monastiraki Flea Market

Some stalls at the flea market.

Open everyday in Athens, the Monastiraki Flea Market is a great place to spend an afternoon browsing through all the different things for sale.  Like all flea markets around the world, at first glance a lot of the stuff for sale looks like junk, but with a closer look you can start to see some special items hidden in the piles.  Take a look at the picture below, is there anything you would like to buy?

Temple of Olympian Zeus

This is how the Temple of Olympian Zeus looks today.

There is not much of the temple standing today.  Out of the original 104 columns there are only 15 still standing tall (so how many are missing?). There is also one column that fell during a storm in 1852, and today it still lies on the ground in pieces like toppled dominoes.

By looking at the fallen one you can see that the columns are actually made out of marble discs.  Building them was probably like making a tower out of building blocks.

The story behind the temple is an interesting one.  Plans to build a limestone temple dedicated to the Greek god Zeus were drawn up in the 6th century BC, and it is believed that building of the temple was started around this time too.  Unfortunately Ancient Greece wasn't really a peaceful place and the building process kept being interrupted by pesky invaders.

Hundreds of years later the plans were changed and instead of using limestone as a building material, Roman Emperor Hadrian decided to use marble for the temple.  It was under his rule that the temple was completed, and in the 2nd century AD, over 600 years after building first started, the temple was officially dedicated.

The Arch of Hadrian, built to honour the Emperor when he came to dedicate the temple.  It sits right next to the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

It wasn't long before the temple was invaded and destroyed again.  After being destroyed the marble was used to build other structures around the city (almost like pieces of LEGO), and that is why there are only 16 columns left on the site today.

A Kid's Guide - Athens, Greece

I am excited to be here in Greece and exploring the busy city of Athens.  There is so much history in this city, it is hard to know where to start.  Lucky for me one of my students prepared this fact sheet for me.

I Am Here - Athens, Greece

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What Is It?

Hey Grade 2's (and all other readers) You did a great job brainstorming ideas about what that big black blob was in London, so I have another challenge for you...what do you think this building in Istanbul was used for about 300 years ago?

Can't wait to hear all your ideas.

The Blue Mosque

A mosque is a religious building for Muslims.  It has a central dome and then one, or more, minarets attached to the main building.  The minarets are not just decorative towers, they actually serve a purpose.  Before electricity an Imam would climb the stairs all the way to the balcony of one of the minarets and from up high he would loudly chant the call to prayer.  Following Muslim tradition the Imam would do this five times a day.  The call to prayer is meant to act as a reminder to Muslims that it is time to stop what they are doing and pray.

One of the Blue Mosque's minarets.  Can you imagine climbing that minaret five times a day?

Lucky for the Imam things are a little different today.  Technology has taken over and now there are loud speakers attached to the minarets so the Imam can recite the call to prayer from inside the mosque and the speakers carry his voice across the city.

Inside the Blue Mosque.  The designs on the ceiling are made by patterning lots of different tiles.

Even though the mosque is open to the public as a tourist attraction, it is still active and at certain times of the day you can see rows of Muslims praying under the beautiful blue-tiled ceiling.   Hmm, I wonder why they call it the Blue Mosque?

Archaeological Museum of Istanbul

One of the beautiful museum buildings.

With over one million objects at the Archaeological Museum, you can spend an entire day wandering the halls without ever getting bored. 
One of the most interesting items, and probably my favourite, is the oldest peace treaty known to man.  It was written over three thousand years ago between Ramses II and Hattusilli III.  It is nice to know that leaders have always wanted peace for their kingdoms.  I also enjoyed seeing this letter written on a clay tablet from a son to his mom.  A lot has sure changed with how we communicate.  I don't use clay tablets anymore instead I use my computer to Skype with my mom, getting to talk to her face to face, while I am travelling around the world.

A letter that is almost 4000 years old.

Also on display are 2000 year old tiles from the Ishtar Gate, the archway that led into the ancient city of Babylon.  The museum has lions, dragons and bulls made from the tiles for visitors to see.  Luckily you don't need to fly all the way to Istanbul to see part of the Ishtar Gate.  The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto has a lion from this gate as part of its collection.

Part of the Ishtar Gate.

Unfortunately when statues and artefacts are found they aren't usually in perfect condition.  A lot of the statues are found headless or armless.  Sometimes the statues were damaged before being buried in the rubble of lost cities.  Other times they have been damaged by the weather, or by being underground for so long.  Here are a few of the statues from the Archaeological Museum, can you add back the missing pieces?  To do this you can print out the pictures and use pencil or marker, or right-click on the images and open them with a paint program to complete them on your computer.  I can't wait to see how your finished statues look.

I have just started to finish my statue.  Should I make it a silly statue?