Mike - 3-2-2004 at 09:09 PM
Hey everybody,
Just a small note to let you know that my vacation is now officially over. The trip to Egypt was lots of fun, although very tiring. By the end of it,
I was ready to be home again. But the good news is that there will be lots of new updates to the site soon. (after I adjust to the time change again)
It was definitely great to see the family and be in Egypt, but by far the
highlight of the trip was being able to spend time with Adel Salameh and his wife Naziha! I loved Adel as an oud player before, but now I do even
more. He is simply amazing, and I think we all need to encourage him to make another Oud Solo CD soon!!! 
More importantly though, I found out that he and his wife are great and fun people.
Anyway, I hope to put pictures of my two new ouds. One is a new Fathi Amin oud, and the other is an older Farouk Shehata oud which was a gift from
Adel and Naziha. Many thanks guys for that...you both are too kind. I'll also put some pictures of me and Mav on our oud hunt on Mohamed Ali
Street. We were also able to meet some spectacular oud players through Maurice Shehata. He literally drove us around Cairo to meet them. So look for
some new video clips soon. We were also able to hang out with Joseph Tawadros for an afternoon. I also video taped a taqsim for him too. Thanks
Joe!
Finally, thanks to all of you who kept the forums very active during the past two weeks.
Take care,
Mike
mavrothis - 3-2-2004 at 10:35 PM
Hey, just want to say thanks again to Mike and his family for the amazing trip. There are a bunch of pics posted on my site if you'd like to
take a look.
PICS FROM EGYPT
Take care,
mavrothis
Mike - 3-2-2004 at 11:36 PM
Hey Mav,
I am just glad you had a good time man. Even though we didn't get to do very much site seeing, I think our oud related experiences made up for
it. I bet you are tired of hearing the sentence, "Yalla ya Mav.", aren't you? Excellent job with the pictures page man!! 
Take care,
Mike
Pictures from Egypt
spyrosc - 3-3-2004 at 12:24 AM
Mike and Mav,
Welcome back you guys from "El Balad El Mahboub".
Thanks for the pictures too ! The pictures from Sohna were special to me, because they are close to my old house in Suez, and I spent many a happy
childhood days in Sohna.
Also looking at all those nice Egyptian people ! "Ahsan Nass", right Mike ?
You guys have to give us a "blow by blow". Welcome back !
Spyros C.
back from Egypt
Adel - 3-3-2004 at 12:39 AM
I am glad we met up with you Mike and Mav.
We had great fun.
Mike enjoy your Fathi and farouk ouds.
Farouk was a great maker,
Mav, you are avery good oud player with feelings, carry on with your work, and you will find the way.
Look after your farouk oud.
salamat,
Adel
Jameel - 3-3-2004 at 05:17 AM
Welcome back.
We all look forward to what you will share with us, Mike and Mav.
back to the U S A.....
jeanluc - 3-3-2004 at 10:31 AM
hello Mike and Mav & everybody,
i'm glad for you you made such a nice trip and could meet Adel & Naziha, even if the oud hunting is tiring ......
thanks Mav for the nice pics !
the atmosphere is there... i guess you make more than one wanting to have been there with all of the band.
Hey Mike
Sidi - 3-3-2004 at 02:30 PM
Welcome back buddy, I hope you had a good trip. I'm sure you'll have a lot to tell us.
Later Bro,
Sidi
mavrothis - 3-3-2004 at 03:57 PM
Dear Jeanluc,
What are we waiting for, let's go!!! There is still a lot to see
and do...
Take care, I hope you're enjoying your beautiful instrument,
mav
Mike and Mav
sydney - 3-3-2004 at 04:18 PM
I thank the LORD for your safe trip to Egypt, I am also very happy that you had a great time there.
Thanks for the pic page Mav you have done a good job mate.
We look forward to seeing those new clip you got for us.
Lovely to have you back guys.
Regards
Emad
egyptian trip
jeanluc - 3-3-2004 at 10:30 PM
hi Mav,
it's sure in my plans to go to Egypt.
i 'm just waitin' "the " right time and moment to do so.what i emphatised was that to be in one of the cradles of arabic music
and beeing immerged in meeting musicians -Adel & Naziha and Joseph & others there, lookin' for ouds, listening to music elsewhere,have
this meetings with luthiers, etc....most of everything was around music or had a concern with music/instruments...all this made it fantastic!
i'm sure it would been different trip if somebody go on his own without all these contacts and open doors...
spyros mesogeia - 3-4-2004 at 12:26 AM
Welcome back safe and happy,
We really miss you my friends....
Mav I saw the pictures,they are great........Mike man,I hope one day to join you.....
Regards
Zulkarnain - 3-5-2004 at 07:38 AM
WELCOME BACK!!
WELCOME BACK!!
WELCOME BACK!!
WELCOME BACK!!