Personal Blog

Egypt brushes up Giza with security overhaul, new cameras and infrared sensors. The three Giza Pyramids have long been unusually open for a 5,000-year-old Wonder of the World, especially compared to other world-renowned sites like Greece's Acropolis, Jerusalem's Western Wall or Rome's Colosseum, where security is tight and the movement of visitors is controlled.

Up to 150 stores in TOWER: Developers of the tallest building in town - a twisting tower in regional capital - discover if they have crossed final hurdles before proceeding with their record-breaking plan. The city's planning board last week endorsed a plan for the multistorey building. This week the plan goes before the city's zoning committee and if that gives the green light, the full council is due to vote next month. "This is a wonderful project, and everyone is very enthused," a spokeswoman for the city's planning department said.

Dousing your yacht with water in bright sunlight can be ruinously bad for its finish. First, the sun heats up the metal to the point it's scalding hot to the touch. Then, you add some nice tepid tap water -- which is immediately boiled off the finish, along with caustic soap and whatever grime you didn't clear off -- while any remaining rivulets of moisture act like a magnifying glass, amping-up the power of the sun's murderous rays. Take care, guys.

Yes…but not too likely in the near future. We have a stubborn and nearly stationary upper level low that is keeping us partly to mostly cloudy with the ever present chance of showers and thunderstorms. Most of the days aren’t complete washouts, just not completely sunny or dry. Having said that, tomorrow has the potential.

The storm is expected to stop its forward progress and turn toward the north and northeast in the next two days. 

Forecasters could not dare to predict how close it's strong winds would come to peninsula, but a tropical storm watch may be issued there.

As of 5 a.m. center was about 550 kilometers south, moving northwest. 

"Up to 800 residents to evacuate: By evening, the village was a grid of canals with cars submerged up to their windows, a repeat of last August's flooding". Be aware, my friends.

Forecast: heavy rains next week in the country almost everywhere.

Though the authorities keep promising to resume flights to mountainous regions and hard-to-get villages on Saturday.

It will send two planes with goods to feed survivors and more equipment for tourists. There are qiute a few hikers as well. High-energy biscuits for them are loaded on planes too.

I do speak French and would eagerly visit France and stay shortly at the  holiday compound in Marcel.
Me, who rarely vacations outside the country since taking new post at work, will take time off in France, as long as I can go mountain biking.  Of course there're spectacular spots around there and great places to relax.

I am an avid enthusiast of the sport.

The Everest mountain is closed for now because Olympic torch is in the area. The ascent of the torch is scheduled for next week. The climber's camps are full of sportsmen but no one can go climbing. One has to be patinet for a while.