Hey, tennis is the sport with teen sensations, right? Nope, it’s golf, men’s golf, to be specific and not another run-up about Michelle Wie taking over the ladies tour. Oh, there’s a Wii taking over, but it’s in people’s family rooms.

But back to teenage men’s golf. Tiger Woods turned in some solid rounds but was bounced in the second round of the Accenture Match Play Championship out in the desert in Arizona.

Weird course, by the way, and frankly one where most of us would lose more balls than get chances for par. Enter Rory McIlroy, a 19-year-old picture-perfect swinger from Northern Ireland who mowed down Tim Clark to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals. You have to like McIlroy’s whole look, which is bushy curly hair spraying out from all sides of his golf cap. He looks just like about half of my college buddies when we stepped out to a public course in the month before school ended and when we weren’t too hung over to forget the whole thing.

It was 4-and-3 in McIlroy’s favor if you insist on the match play score, based on a system that is, well, pretty goofy . . . basically McIlroy made a bunch of great shots and putts while Clark just didn’t have the same touch around the green he used to notch six birdies when he beat Woods on Thursday.

Very funny line from Tiger after that loss. So a reporter asked the PGA Stimulus Plan where he goes from here, and Tiger quipped, “To the airport.”

Tiger’s long-time buddy, Mark McNamara, says McIntyre’s technique is better than Woods at the same age. Sounds like a high compliment, yet could it be a bit of mind play to put some pressure on McIntyre, who admitted to staying up late this week to bid a good day to his girl back in Ireland, who would be going to school just about that time. When asked about McNamara’s praise, McIntyre, all very nice and thank you but “my job is to play golf.” Nice.

McIntyre plays Geoff Ogilvy on Saturday. That will be tough, though I for one will be happy to tune in, see the floppy hair–think Mark Fidrych–and smooth swing. Ernie Els made the quarterfinals of this event for just the second time; you have to root for the guy after watching him fall apart on so many Sundays, making people forget he was once considered the prime challenger to Tiger, at least right up there with Mickelson, who won last weekend but lost to Stewart Cink Friday.

While a 19-year-old from across the pond is the storyline for Saturday morning (tee times begin about 10 Eastern), the pick here for Sunday afternoon smiles is another cross-Atlantic golfer, Englishman Paul Casey. He hasn’t been behind in a match yet (only Els can say that, too) and he is a consistent player who is headed for a bust-out year and maybe even a Masters win.

Sorry, Tiger and Rory with the hair, you heard it here first.

–Bob Condor, Red Editorial Staff

–People in Alaska (and a lot of other places) are shocked by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s recent remarks decrying government spending on volcano monitoring as a waste of money.  That’s true.  Monitoring our planet for warning signs of natural disasters seems like a complete waste of time.  Especially in Louisiana, right Bobby?

–It’s being reported that Warner Bros. and a few “top-tier” production companies are in the early stages of planning a remake of the 1984 film The NeverEnding Story. I guess nobody told Warner Bros. the title wasn’t meant to be taken literally.

–The New York Post dropped legendary New York gossip columnist Liz Smith this week, blaming the economy and cutbacks for their decision. Smith immediately turned around and publicly trashed The New York Post . . . which is redundant.

–Rush Limbaugh conducted a “female summit” on his radio show this week after discovering a new poll showing that 49 percent of women don’t like him.  “I own the men,” Limbaugh said, “What must I do to own the women?” I think you’re gonna need a time machine, Rush, so you can take back the day you said “Feminism was established to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream.”

–A 58-year old Denver man, who saved the lives of two little old ladies by shoving them out of the way of an oncoming truck only to be hit by the truck himself, was rewarded for his heroism by receiving a jaywalking ticket from the local authorities. That’s not fair. He should clearly be charged with assault and battery for being so rough with those ladies, not to mention be charged for the damage his head did to the truck that hit him.  The economy is also his fault.

–Europe’s largest budget airline, Ryanair, has been tossing around the notion of charging people to use the bathroom during flights.  Other plans to raise Ryanair’s discretionary revenue include charging passengers for each individual peanut, imposing additional fees for passengers who would like their cabin to have air in it, and a deplaning fee for any passenger who wishes to exit the plane after landing.

–The young stars of Slumdog Millionaire, who grew up in the slums of Mumbai and rubbed elbows with Hollywood’s elite last weekend, have returned to their homes in the slums of Mumbai . . . making Slumdog Millionaire and its cast one of the only movies in existence whose success and plot is an analogy of itself.

–During a recent trip to London, Mr. T had a message for the U.K.’s unemployed.  “Man up!” said T.  “If you get knocked down, setbacks in life, like applying for a job if they don’t hire you, keep trying, keep getting up, keep doing it,” though Mr. T should be careful about people taking that advice, lest he run out of jobless fools to pity.  Wait . . . B. A. Baracus got on a plane?!?!

–Joey Alfino, Red Editorial Staff

Gentle reader, today we will tackle a spirit that, with even the mere mention of it, conjures up images of grown men curled tight in fetal balls, eyes wide in rapt ecstasy, jaws slowly grinding and chattering like a rabid ferret in the grip of a bad acid trip.

A spirit outlawed in the most parts of the “civilized world” in the early 1900’s. A spirit that stoked the blazing furnaces of creativity of the great writers Baudelaire, Wilde, Poe and Rimbaud.  A spirit that opened the very eye of the soul of such masters of the canvas as Van Gogh, Manet, Gaugin and Picasso.

That spirit, gentle readers, is absinthe. The Green Fairy; borne of a multitude of herbs and infamous wormwood that ratcheted up the level of creativity, freed the inhibitions and assisted in creating some of the great master’s works.

It is the thujone, a toxin in high doses that is contained in the wormwood, that cracked absinthe at the knees and roughly pulled her out of the hands of its adoring public and made her a banned substance.

Long held as a mysterious, hallucinogenic and delightfully intoxicating liquor, absinthe began its journey to the tongues of the masters in Sweden in the late 1700’s, where a French doctor is believed to have combined the locally grown herbs with wormwood and produced a bitter, yet pleasantly licorice, elixir that cured everything his patients seemed to be inflicted with.

Soon after, upon hearing of the incredibly potent green liquor, Pernod Fils, of the other potent liquor Pernod, bought the rights to it and began producing it for the masses. The original recipe included six aromatic herbs: wormwood, Roman wormwood (artemisia pontica), hyssop, lemon balm, fennel and anise. Other herbs that found their way into later recipes included angelica, dittany, juniper, nutmeg and star anise.

Its popularity shot through the hallucinated roof in the 1800’s, when the French supplied it to troops fighting in Africa to stave off dysentery, fever and what ever else could possibly ail a Frenchman in the deep, dark jungles of Africa.

From there, it became de rigueur in Parisian cafes, where the tradition of “chasing the Green Fairy” came to take root. The drinking of absinthe took on a more somber, formal procession in these cafés.

A small slotted spoon is placed with rich ceremony over a small glass filled with one part of absinthe. A sugar cube is edged into its center, and 5 parts of cold, filtered water is poured slowly over the cube, allowing it to dissolve into the mix, creating a whitish, cloudy liquid muse that at once cuddles the senses and hauls up wild illusions.   From here it is off to the races, with effects ranging from a calm, lucid intoxication to a raging insanity that, it is said, caused Van Gogh to hack off his ear in a fit sans anesthesia.

This is not a drink to cram down your parched gullet at the office Christmas party unless those around you are given ample warning and are prepared to Taser your sorry ass to prevent something happening that could end up splattered across the national tabloids. A very poor choice of beverage for that occasion indeed.

There are a few absinthes here in the US that are commercially available, all claiming some level of the “absinthe effect”. Lucid, a brand created by Ted Breaux, a former chemist and chaser of Green Fairies, has shouldered it upon himself to bring the wormwood back to the bottle. Getting cleared by the tea totaling US government, he has been importing Lucid for a few years and has seen a rise in its popularity as a neo-hippy, arty canvass hugging beverage.

Others on the market include sub-par versions from Czechoslovakia and the occasional “real” absinthe smuggled in from Paris which contains European levels of wormwood. Results may vary with content, freeing the Green Fairy to flutter into some other bar where you may or may not be imbibing.

But, if you feel intrepid and are looking for what may be your new brain crush of the week, below are a few versions and sellers of absinthe.  So, strap on your lightsaber, work on your Wookie call and may the force be with you.

Brand Names:
Artemisia-Bugnon Distillery “La Clandestine” Absinthe Superieure
Elie-Arnaud Denoix “Mythe” Absinthe Traditional
Grande Absente Absinthe Originale
Kubler 53 Swiss Absinthe Superieure
La Fee Absinthe Parisienne
La Muse Verte Absinthe Traditionnelle
Lucid Absinthe Superieure
Obsello Absinthe Verte
Pernod aux Plantes d’Absinthe Superieure
St. George Absinthe Verte

Sellers:
http://www.maison-alandia.de
http://www.absintheonthenet.com

–Tim Connors, Red Editorial Staff

–Liverpool’s Champions League win at Real Madrid was a great achievement, but how odd for an English team to field almost twice as many Spaniards as a Spanish side. There were five (Reina, Arbeloa, Alonso, Riera and Torres) in Liverpool’s starting 11 compared with just three for Madrid (Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Raúl).

–Rafa Benítez only included one Englishman (Carragher) in his starting line-up–though that was one more than featured in the Arsenal team that beat Roma. And Chelsea used just three Englishmen (Terry, Ashley Cole and Lampard) as they beat Juventus.

–Only two Englishmen (Ferdinand and Carrick) started for Manchester United in their draw at Internazionale. But at least United’s initial 11 had a British feel, with a Welshman (Giggs), a Scot (Fletcher) and a Northern Irishman (Evans).

–There is no doubting the priorities at Aston Villa and Tottenham. Both clubs deployed reserve teams in the UEFA Cup this week, and duly crashed out of the competition. Villa are focused on their quest for a Champions League spot, while Spurs have a Carling Cup final and relegation battle to consider.

–Leg-spin legend Shane Warne says England must recall Michael Vaughan if they want to win back the Ashes this summer. The Australian remarked: “To me Michael Vaughan should still be batting at three.” Perhaps. But Vaughan will first have to prove himself with plenty of runs in county cricket.

–The Williams F1 team will lose the sponsorship of Royal Bank of Scotland when their existing deal expires at the end of the 2010 season. RBS is making cutbacks after reporting losses of over £24 billion. Maybe taxpayers should be made to foot the bill for F1 sponsorship as well as bailing out troubled banks!

–England prop Matt Stevens has vowed to return a “better person and rugby player” after he was handed a two-year ban for testing positive for cocaine. Considering he’ll be 28 when he comes back, being a better player is a big ask. But Red wishes him well for his rehabilitation.

–Rob Wightman, Red U.K. Senior Sports Writer

Academy Award winner Holly Hunter plays Grace Hanadarko, a feisty, tough but vulnerable Oklahoma City police detective in TNT’s award winning TV series Saving Grace. The sinewy Hunter is shown in show promos leaning against a barbed wire fence–the perfect metaphor for her character.  Hanadarko doesn’t mind cutting corners to solve cases and when she’s not on duty, her life is complicated with love affairs and hard living.  In an interesting twist, an angel played by Leon Rippey is given the challenge of trying to save Hanadarko.  It’s quite a job.

Hunter, who won her Oscar for her role as the mute Scottish widow in The Piano, has also received four other Oscar nominations as well as two Emmys and a Best Actress Award from the Cannes Film Festival. Hunter took a break from filming this season to chat about the show.

Did you spend a lot of time with the Oklahoma City Police Department to get background for your part?

Some of the OCPD came out to the set when we were shooting, and two of them were extras in one of our episodes.  We just loved that.

What’s great about playing Grace?

Grace is all me.  I mean, Grace is my imagination, my experience–a combination of it all.  It’s great to have the life experience that I’ve had to be able to put into Grace, because I think Grace is so many different ages.  I think we all feel this way in our own lives. Sometimes I feel like I’m a 13-year-old girl, and sometimes I feel like I’m 50.  It depends on what situation I’m in, or how tired I am, or how great I feel or if I’m spending the weekend with my parents.  Then I feel like I’m 10.  This is a very common kind of experience that people have and this is something that I get to explore with Grace.

How are you different from Grace?

I’ve tempered that part of me because the lives that we all lead have responsibilities and I’m more aware of consequences than I think Grace ever has been.

Do we have to worry about Grace being saved?

One of the beauties of the show that I really wanted to explore is who she is.  I didn’t want her to become a saint.  That’s never been my dream and certainly it’s never been Nancy Miller’s (the show’s creator) dream either.  The point is that each episode she gets better and better.  Grace changes incrementally, but we all do.  Our experiences change us.  Grace’s changes have felt very organic to me and she is who she is.

The youngest of seven children, Holly Hunter was born and raised in Conyers, Georgia where her parents owned a 250-acre farm.  Her talent was recognized early on and in 5th grade she played Helen Keller in a school play. Recently nominated for a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award  for her performance in TNT’s Saving Grace, Hunter has a long list of film credits including the Coen Brothers’ Raising Arizona and O Brother, Where Art Thou?; Steven Spielberg’s Always; David Cronenberg’s Crash and Albert Brooks’ Network News.  Funny and engaging in real life, Hunter talked to Red about acting.

In ways, cable TV shows seem to be able to take more risks than broadcast television.  Why is cable willing to go ahead and do these things and broadcast not so much?

I think cable really got a big entrée–they got a big yes to anti-heroic characters with the success of The Shield with Michael Chiklis playing a dirty cop.  And HBO’s tremendous success of The Sopranos, with people really wanting to watch somebody who was involved in killing people. They realized that, hey there’s an audience.  With network television you’ve got to please a lot of people in order to get your 18-million people per week, or your 13, or your 20 million–however many millions of viewers they need to get.  Whereas in cable it’s a much smaller crowd and therefore the risk can be increased.  So you have anti-heroic female characters who head up shows, such as Saving Grace and Glenn Close on Damages. Women are interesting and cable is interesting and cable is having that validated for them by the numbers of people who tune in.

You seem to be having so much fun with your part, but are there difficult aspects of the work for you too, getting into that role?  Grace is such a life force, she must be exhausting in some ways to play.

Well, I got to tell you, I am having kind of a blast.  I mean I really am.  I feel very privileged to be involved with a character and a world of characters like Saving Grace.  It’s rich, and of course it’s exhausting.  It’s not all roses, but the fact is that I’m in this for creative reasons.  The creativity is a beautiful thing and it’s what you want so much as an actor–to explore another person fully, and I really get to do that with her.

I read that you memorize 25 pages a night of script.  So it seems like you must be working day and night on the show.

I called Dylan McDermott, who was on The Practice a few years ago when I got this part.  I said “Dylan, I’m really, really scared.  I’m really scared about memorizing.”  And I don’t have any problems with memorizing lines, but the fact is that you’ve got to do it.  It’s a daunting task.  And Dylan just said you know “you’re going to be able to do it because you know your memory muscle is going to develop.  You’re going to be able to do it more and more easily as the weeks go by.”  Dylan turned out to be right.  The memory is a muscle like any other.  If you work on it, it becomes stronger.

Watch a new episode of Saving Grace on Monday, March 2nd at 10p.m. EST/ 9 Central on TNT.

–Interview by Jane Ammeson, Red Editorial Staff
–Photo credit Erik Heinila

It was supposed to be the picture perfect year.

Martin Brodeur was only 11 wins away from dethroning his arch nemesis, Patrick Roy, as the NHL’s all time winning goaltender.  Brodeur was one full year ahead of the time it took Patrick to do the same.

On November 1, 2008, Brodeur’s story of triumph would end with a torn bicep muscle.  Everyone watching, myself included, thought it was to be the end of the Devils’ season.

Up until that point, playing backup to Martin Brodeur in New Jersey was about as useful as a beer cooler in Alaska.  But, the end of one fairy tale marked the beginning of another.

His name is Scott Clemmensen.  He was called in from New Jersey’s AHL affiliate, the Lowell Devils, to back up Kevin Weekes.  However, when Weeke’s couldn’t put out a win for the Devils, Clemmensen stepped in.

This is the part when Brodeur’s story turns into Clemmensen’s story.

Clemmensen went on to go 25-13-1 with a 2.13 Goals Against Average and a .913 save percentage.  He saved the Devils season.

Today, the Devils sit comfortably at third place in the Eastern Conference, coincidentally Clemmensen got sent back to the AHL today as well.  The reasoning for Clemmensen’s return is that he was initially called as an emergency and didn’t have to clear waivers.

Brodeur is fully recovered from his injury and wants to write his name into the history books. Tonight he is back in front of the net for New Jersey as they face off against Roy’s old team, the Colorado Avalanche.

“Obviously, I was disappointed,” Clemmensen said. “I understand the business side of the sport. I understand all the options that were available to the team. I wish there was another alternative, but the situation is what it is. I’m disappointed in this scenario, but at the same time, I feel like I don’t have any regrets. I made the most of an opportunity that I had and I’m not going to take any bitterness with me.”

I, on the other hand, have a few things to say about Clemmensen’s return to the AHL.  With all due respect to Martin Brodeur and Lou Lamoriello, I can’t help but feel as though Clemmensen was sent back on the bus with a smack on the ass and a “thanks for the good times kid.”

With trade deadline not too far away (March 4th), I truly hope that teams have taken notice of Clemmensen’s talent and conduct both on and off the ice because as far as I am concerned he has proven himself to be worthy of a starting position and not a cheap one night stand.

–Ryan Matwiy, Red Editorial Staff.

A dairy farm is proving that if you want to go green, you need some brown.

Hilarides Dairy in Lindsay, California has managed to figure out a way to convert two of their 18-wheelers to run on methane harvested from cow patties, proving that in the future, the business end of a cow could mean big business for the rest of us.

The methane contained in cow pies is considered a greenhouse gas that has been described by cow ranchers in the 19th century as packing a “Sockdologer” strong enough to make a “hoss pull foot,” and is so potent that the government has been spending lots of money to research its environmental impact for years.

Something that powerful can’t be without benefit if harnessed correctly, and that’s what Hilarides Dairy has managed to do.  They can use the waste of 10,000 cows to generate as much as 226,000 cubic feet of biomethane every single day, which also cuts their daily fuel consumption by about 650 gallons a day according to reports first published in WIRED.

Sure, it might sound a little disgusting but let’s be honest, the future of our planet might be a lot messier unless we start taking this stuff seriously . . . as difficult as that is to do (I know, I can’t stop snickering either).

While the manure itself–and the gas that often accompanies it–has been blamed for adding to atmospheric pollution, the refining process used to convert this raw material into a useable fuel source greatly reduces the environmental impact once it’s burned in an engine.

And since the bio-gas is manufactured by letting the waste sit in a lagoon while bacteria breaks it down naturally, it’s also environmentally friendly to produce.

The question is whether or not this sort of energy source will ever be widely accepted.  I believe the answer is yes, but something tells me it’s going to be a little while before it catches on.

People, especially in America, are just plain weird when it comes to accepting alternative methods like a methane-fueled engine . . . especially now that gas prices aren’t making the news every single day like they were several months ago.

When gas was $4 a gallon, alternative fuel sources were on the lips of every single disgruntled commuter in the country.  We started revisiting post apocalyptic scenarios and referencing Mad Max every time we had a chance.

Now that the national average is floating around $1.89 per gallon, this sort of voluntary effort is more of a feel good story than a necessity.  I hate to say it, but the difference between curiosity and urgency is around $2.11, and that’s too bad. Because we all know that oil is not a renewable resource, but we’ll never run out of manure.

Especially in Washington.

–Joey Alfino, Red Editorial Staff.

Even on a night when his Internazionale side were disappointing and disjointed, José Mourinho remained Manchester United’s nemesis.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team dominated at the San Siro as they extended their unbeaten Champions League run to 20 games.

Yet the European champions have still only defeated a Mourinho side once in 13 attempts–against Porto, Chelsea and Inter.

How United will rue their profligacy, and the excellence of Inter goalkeeper Júlio César, if they do not prevail at Old Trafford a fortnight today.

For Mourinho, meanwhile, there must be perverse satisfaction in his side’s ability to avoid defeat, and the concession of a vital away goal, despite being largely outclassed.

The last-16 tie might have been put beyond Inter had their coach not made significant interventions at half-time.

He replaced the woeful Nelson Rivas with the combative Iván Córdoba, who expertly shored up the centre of defence.

And it was only after Mourinho’s half-time instructions that Inter matched the visitors’ intensity and desire to attack.

The self-named Special One says the contest is now “50-50″.

But with Inter only needing a score draw to progress, while United must win, the Italians hold a slender advantage.

Doubtless Ferguson will have noted, not for the first time, Mourinho’s intelligence in making a crucial switch in personnel and inspiring his players.

No one outside the Old Trafford hierarchy knows how much sway Ferguson will hold when it comes to appointing his successor.

However, you suspect he would endorse Mourinho’s candidacy.

Mourinho’s conservative approach was once thought to be a barrier to his succeeding Ferguson.

But with United’s current domestic dominance built on the meanness of their back four and goalkeeper, the Mourinho style could be more acceptable.

Even if United legend Bryan Robson disagrees

Robson, now an ambassador for United, said: “Attacking football is a vital part of the club’s heritage.

“For me, José Mourinho is too cautious in his approach to the game to be manager of Manchester United.”

Yet the Portuguese could hardly transform a side with the flair of Cristiano Ronaldo into a bunch of anodyne bores.

Unlike Chelsea, United would not be upset by a manager craving absolute power.

The concept is hardly alien at a club managed by Ferguson for over two decades.

And Mourinho, who never hides his love of England, would surely relish the chance to emulate Fergie in creating a dynasty in his own image.

–Rob Wightman, Red U.K. Senior Sports Writer

Before this weekend, the Sooners seemed poised on the verge of greatness. They had suffered just one loss to Arkansas, were undefeated in Big 12 play, had the Player or the Year front-runner in Blake Griffin leading the red hot Sooners with 22 double-doubles and seemingly had a No. 1 seed tucked securely in their back pocket.

But like I said, that was before this weekend.

In Saturday’s game at No. 24 Texas, Griffin was side-lined with a concussion after just 11 minutes on the court. His absence was immediately felt as the Sooners fell to the Longhorns 73-68 despite an admirable Griffin-less performance.

Last night the hole left by Griffin was even more apparent. The Sooners hosted No. 15 Kansas and felt the pain of a second straight conference loss despite the 22-8 lead they jumped out to start the game with. But without Griffin the Sooners were unable to hold that lead and lost to the defending National Champs 87-78.

Two Jayhawks put up 26 points each in Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor, a career-high for Taylor who had 16 in the first half and was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Collins stepped up in the second half after putting up just four points in the first 20, draining some crucial threes after the Sooners’ Cade Davis brought the game within three.

However, if you ask me the real story here was the under-rated, sophomore sensation at center for the Jayhawks, Cole Aldrich.

Without Griffin down in the paint to challenge the freshly unmasked 6-foot-11 center, Aldrich went off for 15 points and a career high 20 boards, the first 20-rebound performance for the Jayhawks since Wayne Simien pulled it off in 2005.

Aldrich simply dominated the inside game, grabbing everything that came off the glass with little problem while blocking four shots on defense.

Suddenly, the Sooners are watching their season slowly slip away. A team that was set to take over the top spot in the land now isn’t even first in their conference.

But fear not Sooner Nation for you are not alone. This past week also saw two other virtual locks on the prized No. 1 seed fall.

It started last Monday night when No. 2 UConn, minus an injured Jerome Dyson (sound familiar Sooners?), fell to now No. 1 Pitt 76-68 on their own home court. Then on Saturday the much over-rated No. 3 Tar Heels dropped one on the road at Maryland in overtime, 88-85, and all of a sudden the top seeds don’t seem so set in stone.

Now the Sooners, as well as UConn and UNC, will all probably be fine and all still hold a good shot at a top seed and a deep March run. Griffin, unlike the Huskies’ Dyson, will return, but for Oklahoma hopefully it is sooner than later as they travel to Texas Tech on Saturday before going to Missouri to take on the No. 8 Tigers next Wednesday.

–Aaron Whitebread, Red Editorial Staff

The ancient Egyptians believed the Nile River to be one of the rivers in heaven.  The hieroglyphics throughout the country’s many temples and monuments, as well as the treasures on display in the Cairo Museum, include numerous images of flowing waters and boats moving to heaven.

I couldn’t agree more.

The four days and three nights my husband and I recently spent cruising the Nile were as close to heaven as I can imagine being while traveling this earth.  We had been in the country week already before we began our cruise.  Our visit to this “land of miracles” started on the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula at a resort community called Sharm el-Sheikh.  It’s a winter destination extremely popular with Europeans and Russians in particular to escape the gray and cold of winters that last longer than in most other parts of the world.

Sharm el-Sheikh is the place to come for snorkeling and diving trips in the Red Sea and for day trips to Mt. Sinai, St. Catherine’s Monastery and to explore the few remaining Bedouin villages of the region.  It’s certainly an enjoyable destination and a nice place to ease into the culture of this magnificent country.

Because when you get back to Cairo, Egypt slams you in the face.  Here 18 million people are packed into about eight square miles.  The energy of the city is overpowering.  Be prepared for and learn to embrace the noise, congestion, smog and traffic.

Then be prepared for the calm that blankets the city with the 5 a.m. call to prayer.

The calm continues on the Nile cruise, despite almost 300 passenger boats moving from Aswan to Luxor at any given time.  The river is wide and smooth, lined with fields of sugar cane and colorful Nubian villages.  Children, and sometimes adults, wave and call from the banks, From the top deck of the TuYa, we obliging returned their energetic greetings. Fishermen work their nets and felucca boats fan their sails under skies that are perfect blue.  No chance of rain here about 50 weeks of the year.

Most itineraries are the same with stops in Esna and Edfu and an option to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Abu Simbel at sunrise.  We did, and it’s well worth the early morning wake-up call to do so.

A Nile River cruise and a trip to Egypt are not an inexpensive undertaking.  Depending on your tastes and needs, your frequent flyer status and more, you may expect to spend about $5000 per person to explore this magical land for about ten days. Rates are cheaper in the summer, but it’s just a little warm over there then.  Late April or late September are perhaps your cheapest and most pleasant months.

It’s well worth the sacrifice of other pleasures, the savings and scrimping you may have to do in these difficult economic times to get to that magical part of the world.

But get there you should, particularly if you consider yourself an individual of global attitudes and experiences, and especially if you would like to experience a bit of heaven while still enjoying this mortal earth.  Learn more at www.egypt.travel.

–Diana Lambdin Meyer, Red Editorial Staff
–Photo by Bruce N. Meyer