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lovecolibri · 3 years

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SaL anon here and honestly hesitant to post because trust me, I'm soooo ready to roll around in the salt too. But when you're ready to come out, or just take a break (not really expecting it today) let's talk about Seven. Admittedly this is more a song for Malex fans than Malex because WE ARE READY!! But also we know once we get past the first few episodes with Forest we WILL see Malex moving toward each other, not "sinking when I'm standing in one place". Possibly weirdly cheery considering.

Okay, so I do have A LOT of salt (there is a particularly high-sodium m*ria post that's been in my drafts for ages that might see the light of day after some of the takes I've seen today 🙄) but I am excited for Malex and OMG you picked the PERFECT song. I was listening and reading along with the lyrics (not sure why this isn't in my rotation ALL THE TIME because it's so good, but I subscribed to the Atlas project while it was in process and got the songs emailed to me and I may have missed downloading this one or at least moving it to my iPod?) and it's SOOOOO GOOD for Malex! (sidebar I have quite a few friends who are sevens so this made me double smile today, so thank you.)

So, lest anyone think I'm not super excited along with being worried and salty, lets talk about some JOYFUL MALEX REUNION! This song is so bright and bubbly and happy and so hopeful about looking forward and I am HERE for these vibes today!

how nice it’d be if we could try everything. i’m serious, let’s make a list and just begin. “what about danger?” so what. “what about risk?” let’s climb this mountain before we cross that bridge! ‘cause i’m restless, i’m restless, i’m restless for whatever comes next.

Right away, this is (as we always say) the energy I want to manifest for Malex at some point this season. Especially loving the "what about danger/risk" thing because that's what's been holding Malex back, is them both being so in love, but so afraid after getting burned that they won't admit to their true feelings, leaving them BOTH thinking the other cares less than they do. CLOWNS, I tell you! But it's time to say enough! and stop borrowing trouble. We NEED to see them talking this season and I am ready. I also love this idea of being restless for whatever comes next because for so long neither had much hope looking toward the future. Alex went from an abusive household to living in active war zones and nearly died at least once that we know of. And being enlisted, his life isn't ever really his own. And Michael, after not taking that college scholarship kinda resigned himself to sticking around to care for Isobel (and wait for Alex to come back) but that glimmer of hope he had at the end of season 2 was nice to see, no matter how I feel about the scene as a whole, because it means he is ready to start working for the life he wants. I'm ready for them to be restless to move forward.

how wonderful to see a smile on your face. it costs farewell tears for a welcome-home parade. a secret handshake between me and my one life: i’ll find the silver lining no matter what the price. ‘cause i’m hungry, oh i’m hungry, i’m hungry for whatever comes next.

Oh man, when this verse came on I was like, are you KIDDING ME?! It's just, so on point for them I squealed a bit! (It's been a long day, I might have started drinking already, and seeing Alex and Michael on screen again just kinda broke my brain okay?) It's no secret have mixed feelings about jealous/pining Michael, but honestly most of that stems from being Tired(TM) of people being excited to see Michael hurting and want him to grovel and be miserable, while propping up f*rlex the same way m*luca was touted as a "breath of fresh air" (that phrase is ruined for me forever now) but I think it's actually so on brand for Michael as a character but the season 2 writing was so god awful that getting it now doesn't really fit. But I'm more than happy to leave season 2 rotting in a morgue because seeing Vlamis with the glassy eyes? *chef's kiss*. THE POINT IS, I want to see Michael putting on that brave face and being excited to welcome Alex back. (BRB, sobbing about "it costs farewell tears for a welcome-home parade) The "silver lining" makes me think of Alex so much and I'm excited to see where this season takes him and to see him and Michael both starting to have that little bit of shy hope and excitement about where they are headed. But when they kiss? Oooooh, when they kiss, they are going to be "hungry for whatever comes next"

let me tell you another secret of the trade- it feels like sinking when i’m standing in one place. so i look to the future and i book another flight. when everything feels heavy, i’ve learned to travel light.

Oh man this gives me such Alex feels with the way he has always been running, been moving, trying to escape from the grip his dad had on him. But this season really feels like we are going to see both Alex and Michael (who is tired of stagnating) looking to the future and what it can bring. Here's hoping for a lighter story for the love moving forward. Even if everything else is heavy, I want them to be able to rest and recover and find peace in their love.

but i want to be here. truly. be. here. to watch the ones that i love bloom. and i want to make room to love them through and through and through and through the slow and barren seasons too.

It's time for Alex to stop running and I am HERE for it. He stuck around all last season but...the less said about last season the better. And now we know he left again but is coming back and Michael is excited about it (which means he knew Alex was coming back and has been waiting for it!!) plus, Michael looks good so I think he's ready to start living more in the present than stuck in the past like he has been, same with Alex.

i feel hope deep in my bones tomorrow will be beautiful and i’m ready, God i’m ready, oh i’m ready, restless and hungry, but i’m ready for whatever comes next.

This is the energy I want for Malex this season and I am actually really hopeful we are going to get it! Excellent choice today, Nonnie! This was exactly what I needed!

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#my sweet nonnie friends #sleeping at last anon #roswell nm #alex manes #michael guerin #sleeping at last #seven #ooooh i am feeling the hopeful malex vibes today!#i can be salty and excited at the same time #it's called multitasking #but this was actually the perfect call today nonnie!#trust your instincts!

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kevkesblog · 4 years

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Translation: kicker magazine profile about Julian Brandt (July 27, 2020)

By Thomas Hennecke and Matthias Dersch

Had he made this artistic pass during the corona pandemic with empty stands in the stadium, it would have been a pity. A week before Christmas however, there is almost no free space in the Signal Iduna Park left. Everybody is ripped off their seats – except the RB Leipzig fans – the moment Julian Brandt marks the second goal. Brandt digs deep into his toolbox. Receiving the pass by Sancho, processing the ball, shot. Three actions in one fluent move, south American suppleness with ice-cold efficiency, a master class. Goal of the month December.

This cool blonde with the jersey number 19 – he is a man for the special moments. A player who makes a difference. And a gambler. A footballer having fun and who lets the difficult things look easy and made his relaxed demeanor a trademark. You can guess why he named Diego (the Bremer, not Maradona”, like Brandt said in BVB-TV) is his idol. The Brazilian used to have the blessings to do great things on the pitch. Diego also had a dream goal in his repertoire: 62,5 meter distance on April 20, 2007 against Alemannia Aachen. End score: 3:1.

The fact Brandt coolness also comes from a sometimes fatal way of risking things, relativizes his actions. You are torn a bit. People who appreciate show, spontaneity, art and creativity will love him more than people adding statistics and all mistakes and how they translate onto the pitch. The ‘Süddeutsche Zeitung’ looks beyond that and celebrated Brandt as a “Player with the Wow-Effect”. Brandt plays passes, so precise they will find almost every gap. As if they were managed by an electronic brain. He celebrates chop passes which look good and find their goals. But he also screws up counter chances with sloppy passes. He gives goals to his opponents with carless back passes. Or he shoots x-times against the goal, without a slightest danger to the goal keepers.

2019 is the second year with coach Lucien Favre and the so-called “restart”. BVB manager Zorc took a lot of money into his hands, in order to optimize the team. Looking back he wouldn’t be as passionate about some transfers as he was back then – but the 25 million euros for Brandt are still a good and useful investment, Zorc thinks: “Julian is a talented football player and has a lot of potential. He is very active on the pitch, demanding the ball, plays in a self-confidend way and doesn’t hide.”

Then follows the “but”. Zorc follows everything very closely from his box seat on the team bench. He sees mistakes by Brandt, unnecessary mistakes – calles “unforced errors” in tennis. “He still does a lot of them”, Zorc complains. “He has still work to do when it comes to working against the ball, Julian knows that best himself.” Indeed one doesn’t have to look far to find weaknesses. He himself is his biggest critic, the professional once claimed. Yet, he never lets that sort of self-reflection get out of his hands: “I always question myself, whenever I’m not performing well. But I never question the fact that I still can do it.”

It’s easy to spot: this Brandt-guy is not Mr. Perfect nor a football-playing robot. Rather he is an un-adjusted fine spirit on the pitch. Always in a good mood, with a fresh quote on his lips. During the USA-journey to Seattle last year, he was walking interested through the Museum of Pop Culture where Borussia was celebrating its “Black and Yellow night”. He had some small talk with journalists, he seems relaxed, approachable and cool. The opposite of the footballer clicheé of being arrogant. Brandt is “a fantastic guy” says Captian Marco Reus, “he’s a funny and open guy”.

As engaging, positive and uncomplicated his persona comes across: sometimes however Brandt appears to be less serious about stuff. It’s seems as if an extra scoop of ambition is missing, based on his body language. Unlike many other professionals. “I heard from many people before, about me looking like I’m sort of listlessness I embody”, Brandt said during an interview with the former BVB-player Patrick Owomoyela. Yet he assures: “My inner drive is always there.”

Brandt shows both faces during the game against Leipzig. Magical and faulty. He serves Timo Werner the 2:2-goal on a silver platter with his horrible wrong pass. “Perhaps someday there will be the award: wrong pass of the month”, says the 24 year-old. “I’m sure, I’ll get into the top 5.” BVB-boss Hans Joachim Watzke is face-palming on the stands in that moment. With some distance he likes Brandt’s way of playing. The BVB-boss says: “Julian makes extraordinary mistakes, because you can only play extraordinary if you take risky passes or have risky ideas.”

Five months later, both major teams in Germany play against each other on the evening of May 26. Borussia against Bayern; light house 2 against light house 1. Dortmund has to win, otherwise the Bundesliga title will be gone and Dortmund starts in a rush. Erling Haaland gets the ball in the midfield after 17 seconds, by winning a head ball against Joshua Kimmich. From the back Brandt storms in front like a speed train, captures the situation, speeds up the game and passes over to Thorgan Hazard with his left foot. The clock ticks – 19 seconds into the game – Manuel Neuer gets out of his goal and saves the situation for Bayern at the last moment. But he passes the ball into Haalands feet. His shot rushes through Neuers feet until Jerome Boating saves it for Bayern on the goal line. Brandt goal celebration dies on his lips. The blitz goal after just one minute – it would have been his act as well.

Same game, 43rd minute. Mats Hummels defending for Dortmund, the ball moves a few meters to the left. Kimmich gets the ball, looks up, sees Roman Bürki standing a bit too far away from the goal, shoots and scores. The guy standing the closest to Kimmich: Brandt. It would have been unfair to make him responsible for the goal alone, half of the team is responsible as well. Yet some people who’s heart is beating for black and yellow would have preferred Brandt at least trying to hinder Kimmich on making his genius shot. He does: nothing.

He's a day dreamer, Brandt once said. Day dreamers keep strolling through their thoughts. A study found out: day dreamers are capable finding time to dream because their brains have enough space left. In the past day dreaming was understood as a sign of lack of concentration and attention – today people see it as a sign of intelligence and creativity. Like a lost professor: brilliant, sharp mind, yet sunk into his own world.

It is however no explanation for him being passive in front of the goal in May that basically pre-decided the German championship. Brandt made his day dreamer confession in a different context – when asked about a career plan. He doesn’t have one, he said: “Everything that happens in my life, happens spontaneously. I don’t even know what I will be doing in three weeks from now.” Brandt lives his live as free and individual as possible and as disciplined as necessary. He likes to sleep long in the morning and only leave “shortly” in order to just barley making it on time at the training ground. “Every minute is sacred” he says with a wink of an eye. “I don’t know how often I had to pay a penalty for being too late.”

A year Brandt is employed in Dortmund. The statistics are showing respectable numbers. 42 games, seven goals, 13 assists, ten second-pass assists. The season prior in Leverkusen he had seven goals and 15 assists – just in the Bundesliga. He added six scorer points in the DFB Cup then and the Europa League. “I had to find my place during the first months. I played on many positions and didn’t know many of the boys yet. It’s why it was a bit un-harmonic”, says Brandt. “Nevertheless, now I’m “in”. I had a nice year with great moments. I have to say: I’m really satisfied. Everything can get much better. However its was fine for the first year.”

Brandt wanders through the BVB team, gets put into five different roles. The center midfield is the place where he can show his class the best – whenever he has the game in front of him. He can put his instincts and creativity into force and can create chances with his passes. He is basically a lost force when playing way in front. Except against Slavia Prag in the Champions League he confirmed with two assists, Favre decision putting him into the front as a striker. His abilities are also limited once he plays on the wings.

He never has a lack of commitment and engagement. Brandt is running on average 11,85 kilometers in 90 minutes. Nobody of the permanent Dortmund players is running more. He wins 52,4 % of his one-on-ones – more than Sancho (45,6%), Marco Reus (44,6%), Hazard (42,0%) or Haaland (41,4%). His passing with a 84 percent accuracy however still has room for improvement compared to the other specialists like Axel Witsel (94,1%), Dan-Axel Zagadou (91,1%) or Raphael Guerreiro (89,2%).

Brandt is brilliant in games like against Gladbach (DFB Cup, kicker-grade: 1,5), against Fortuna Düsseldorf or Schalke in the Bundesliga (both 1,5). He has personal low points in Freiburg (sub in and out of the same game; grade: 5), in Munich (grade: 6) and against Milan in the Champions League, where he basically loses the ball in almost every scene. Every game becomes a personal balancing act for the highly skilled national player: he dances on a high wire – here and there he loses his grip and crashes down.

His time in Dortmund started with a glitch. He makes a mistake and drives onto the parking lot of the youth time at 7.45am in the morning. A BVB employee has to show him the way. Brandt decided to leave the comfort zone Leverkusen on purpose. “Dortmund” – he says, “Dortmund is much bigger in terms of media interest, the stadium, the number of fans and in terms of pressure. It’s a different game here. It could make a mark on me and will serve me good.” And then there is the wish to win a title which made him to transfer to Dortmund. It’s about a basic attitude in sports, Brandt said a year ago, “everybody should have the drive to win every game.”

Because Dortmund only won 28 of their 46 games this past season (seven draws, eleven defeats) a lively debate about coach Favré heats up as well as a discussion about the mentality of the team. No fans will get together in Dortmund and celebrate the fifth second place finish of the team since 2013. Nobody will fill extra pages in historic club chronicles, some BVB players are now suspecting. “We are not satisfied to finish second”, Brandt confesses. “We aren’t angry, but also not satisfied. We want more.” He then sticks up for his colleagues who get criticized for some bad performances and whenever there are doubts about their mentality and the harsh criticism: “We want to the big price. The team is hungry, they are in for it to win titles. The team is capable of that. You have to always aim high.”

Children who are having their first day of school this year, have lived a life only knowing Bayern Munich as German football champions. In order for them to understand that other teams can be successful as well, Dortmund needs to win the “all-or-nothing”-games, Brandt thinks. The duels with the other Bundesliga havy weights: Bayern Munich, Leipzig, Mönchengladbach, Leverkusen. “You have to win those games, if you want to stay on top”, he says. “Yet you also have to take smaller teams seriously. Something like a 3-3 draw against Paderborn is fatal.”

Borussia Dortmund gave the players four weeks vacation. This Thursday the team will come back together well rested. The months during the corona crisis, the tough hygiene rules of the German Bundesliga, left a mark on Brandt. “It does something to you”, he confesses, “you don’t see many people. You see your family, perhaps a few friends. Otherwise: nobody. You are happy to be able to go out and have some freedoms again.” Now he can go out again – at least a bit.

#julianbrandt #julian brandt #bvb #BVB09 #borussiadortmund #borussia dortmund #Bundesliga #dfb #diemannschaft #German NT

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hope-for-olicity · 5 years

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Fabulous Olicity Fanfic Friday - December 28th, 2018

Happy Friday! So this is my attempt to both thank awesome fanfic writers for their amazing work and offer my recommendations to anyone who is interested. Here are the fantastic fanfic stories I read this week! They are posted in the order I read them. This week has been super busy for me, hoping to catch up on all the Olicity Secret Santa stories this week!

seemingly impossible (but not untrue) multi-chapter WIP by @alexiablackbriar13 - Young genius historian Dr Felicity Smoak unknowingly and accidentally calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript within the Oxford Bodleian Libraries - a book that has been lost for centuries. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Felicity wants nothing to do with magic, despite her unruly and powerful abilities. But her discovery of Ashmole 782 sets the world of creatures stirring; with a mystery afoot and new, dangerous magical abilities manifesting for her to navigate, she is approached by the enigmatic vampire biochemist Professor Oliver Queen, who seems to have a deep interest in both the manuscript… and her. Based on A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. https://archiveofourown.org/works/16224353/chapters/37923743

Christmas Spirit multi-chapter WIP by @mindramblingsfics - After his latest brush with the law, Oliver Queen is sentenced to probation. He’s sent to volunteer at the Starling Mall Christmas Village where he meets the cheerful Santa’s helper, Felicity Smoak. Felicity Smoak, decided to work during the holidays to make extra money for school. Her love for the holidays led her to the Christmas Village. On the first day, Felicity is immediately turned off by Oliver’s childish don’t care attitude. As the days go by, Oliver begins to see the purpose and joy in the holiday season and shows a different side of himself to Felicity. https://archiveofourown.org/works/16917147/chapters/39745821

Trapped - Olicity Secret Santa by @leuska - Felicity is trapped and a VERY handsome firefighter comes to her rescue https://olicitysecretsanta.tumblr.com/post/181383999504/trapped

With the Speed of an Arrow multi-chapter WIP by @academyofshipping - Oliver Queen’s elite and silver-spoon life has taken some blows in the past few years, but he is still the carefree billionaire everyone knows of and loves. When his role in the family business is in jeopardy and he is introduced to a motley of new people, his status quo is threatened. With a changed perspective, Oliver realizes his feeling for his best friend and anchor-in-life, Felicity Smoak, may be more than just platonic. OR A modern adaption of Jane Austen’s Emma with a gender swap* and no island. *Knowing that gender is not binary https://archiveofourown.org/works/16559846/chapters/38799857

Fiancee for the Holidays multi-chapter Complete by @christinabeggs - He was dumped right before he was supposed to visit his family for the holidays. So what does he do? He finds a local tech shop owner with a big heart to be his fake girlfriend. https://archiveofourown.org/works/16907646/chapters/39720873

The Queen's Mage multi-chapter WIP by @the-shy-and-anxious-fangirl - Words have power, and mages, those with the aptitude to draw on that power, are few in number. Thus, their services are highly sought after by anyone who has exhausted all mundane means of solving whatever problem is plaguing them. Felicity is reminded of this fact the hard way when she is hired by Moira Queen, the Lady Starling, to find and return to her son Oliver, who fled his family home five years ago following the death of his father. With a threat hanging over her should she return without Robert Queen's heir, Felicity begins her search. When she finds Oliver, and ends up joining his vigilante crusade while she waits for him to decide whether to return home, the last thing she expects to do is fall in love with him. https://archiveofourown.org/works/14617068/chapters/33781269

Shades multi-chapter WIP by @geneshaven - Felicity is preparing to spend the holidays with her guys Chapter 1: https://geneshaven.tumblr.com/post/181215821029/shades Chapter 2: https://geneshaven.tumblr.com/post/181291236319/shades Chapter 3: https://geneshaven.tumblr.com/post/181398973624/shades

Home To You multi-chapter WIP by @the-shy-and-anxious-fangirl - Oliver Queen has never done what his family expected of him. He took a gap year after high school instead of going to college right away. He quit his fraternity sophomore year to join the student newspaper, switching his major from business to journalism. He became a photojournalist for a wire service instead of taking a place at Queen Consolidated. He went missing after six months instead of coming home for his sister’s twenty-first birthday. He survived five years of captivity in a war zone when everyone thought he was dead. He came home. But home didn’t have a place for him in it anymore. His parents were both dead, casualties of their own mistakes and a city they had turned against them. His sister was all grown up, the CEO of Queen Consolidated with a fiancé and a dog and a life of her own. Oliver didn’t belong in his old life, but there was nowhere else for him to go. He was a man without a home, without any way of finding one, until he stopped by the IT department of his sister’s company to get files off an old, battered memory card, and found a woman with curly blonde hair and bright, intelligent eyes chewing on a bright red pen and swearing at a computer screen. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12613188/chapters/28734552

Time for a Story multi-chapter WIP by @smkkbert - This fic shows Olicity and their life as a (married) couple with family. Although Olicity (and their kids) are the protagonists, other characters of Arrow and Flash make appearances. YOU NEED THIS STORY IN YOUR LIFE. https://archiveofourown.org/works/3912157/chapters/8757172

Re-Airrow 2x13 by @lostolicityscenes - This is a long one and it weaves in and out of the episode. It mainly deals with Felicity’s discovery and aftermath of telling Oliver about Thea’s parentage with a bonus Felicity flashback. Merry Christmas have some angst! https://lostolicityscenes.tumblr.com/post/181360127186/re-airrow-2x13

Sleigh Bells - Olicity Secret Santa by @mel-loves-all - AU Oliver and Felicity meet at a ball https://olicitysecretsanta.tumblr.com/post/181368361946/sleigh-bells-happy-holidays-to-you-and-yours

Love Know No Season, Love Knows No Clime - Olicity Secret Santa by @allimariexf - Christmas magic https://olicitysecretsanta.tumblr.com/post/181383574501/love-knows-no-season-love-knows-no-clime-the

Heir B&B - Olicity Secret Santa by @it-was-a-red-heeler - Felicity and her friends rent a castle for a Winter weekend getaway and things do not go as planned - https://olicitysecretsanta.tumblr.com/post/181371821335/heir-bb

// @emmaamelia95 // @mel-loves-all // @oliverfel4 // @green-arrows-of-karamel // @coal000 // @miriam1779 // @memcjo// @captainolicitysbedroom // @tdgal1 // @spaztronautwriter // @lalawo1// @quiveringbunny // @wrongshipper // @thebookjumper // @vaelisamaza // @myhauntedblacksoul // @lovelycssefan // @laurabelle2930 //

#FabulousOlicityFanficFriday #olicity fanfiction #fic recs

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dilebe06 · 1 month

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My Favorite Male Characters

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junker-town · 4 years

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6 winners from Week 12 of the NFL season

Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images

The Bills old man/young man tailback combo might be the balancing act they need for the playoffs.

Week 12 didn’t offer much in terms of playoff-caliber matchups. It did, however, offer plenty of instances of good teams playing poorly and bad teams leveling up.

The Seahawks gave the Eagles roughly 20 different chances to keep pace in Philadelphia before their eventual win. The Saints let the Panthers stick around thanks to dumb mistakes and stupid penalties before kicking a game-winning field goal as time expired. The Patriots’ offense looked every bit as non-threatening in a win over the Cowboys as it did last week against the Eagles.

Meanwhile, Washington and the Bengals, two teams that had one win between them, each held halftime leads. Washington even went on to win!

Sunday’s winners, of course, weren’t limited to teams that slumped to uninspiring wins or beat a Matthew Stafford-less Lions team. Here are the six players and teams who got their share of triumph in Week 12.

It wasn’t ...

Not considered: the Raiders, whose playoff hopes have been upended by the ... Jets?

Wait, that can’t be right.

No, huh, here it is. Jets 34, Raiders 3. Oakland opened the game with a field goal and then watched the Jets cascade over them like lava sliding down a mountainside. Things got so bad that the Raiders threw human white flag Mike Glennon into the lineup with more than 16 minutes left in the game. Glennon, true to form, fumbled on each of his first two series.

Derek Carr, who’d come into the week as a low-key MVP candidate, finished with just 127 passing yards and a pick-six, netting -3 points for Oakland. Glennon’s five drives gained a grand total of 32 yards. Everything was a mess for the Raiders.

On the other hand, Sunday’s beating was a cathartic moment for long-suffering Jets fans. Sam Darnold powered up with 315 passing yards and two touchdowns. Prized offseason acquisition Le’Veon Bell averaged 6.4 yards every time he heard his number called. A defense that ranked 24th in the league in points allowed stifled a team with a winning record to a long field goal.

So, good day if you’re a Jets fan. A season-changing, optimism-crushing one if you’re pulling for the Raiders.

Now on to ...

Week 12’s actual winners

6. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati’s silver lining

Boyd was a 1,000-yard receiver in 14 games in 2018, but his impact with a winless Bengals team had been muted this fall. He’d had just 192 receiving yards in his last five games, including a one-catch, zero-yard performance in a loss to the Raiders that forced him to express his displeasure with Cincinnati’s toothless offense to the press.

First-year head coach Zac Taylor and rookie quarterback Ryan Finley were listening. On Sunday, they made it a priority to get Boyd opportunities early in the game. He responded with a pair of plays that almost single-handedly willed the Bengals to a touchdown.

First he showed off some Spider-Man hands (well, hand) on a 47-yard gain:

OH BOYD! Tyler Boyd with the unreal one-handed grab! #PITvsCIN @boutdat_23 : CBS : NFL app // Yahoo Sports app Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/YLI9jW8U5W pic.twitter.com/lfEakj1lzr

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2019

Then he finished the drive one play later for Cincinnati’s only touchdown of the afternoon.

Spike that #BigLevels | #SeizeTheDEY pic.twitter.com/UL23JlYdaY

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 24, 2019

The Bengals still lost to the Steelers, 16-10, but Boyd led all receivers with five catches for 101 yards. The fourth-year pro showed he can be the team’s top wide receiver as Cincinnati hurtles toward an A.J. Green-less future and a complete rebuild. Unfortunately, that likely means spending the next four seasons in southwest Ohio, which might not be especially ... prosperous from a win/loss standpoint.

5. Dwayne Haskins, winning NFL quarterback

It wasn’t pretty, but Haskins quarterbacked Washington to a win. With the roster currently constructed as owner Dan Snyder’s tribute to the films of David Lynch, that’s an accomplishment.

The rookie only completed 13 of his 29 attempts and failed to throw a touchdown pass for the second time in his three NFL starts. He came up big when his team needed him the most, however. He pushed Washington 33 yards in the game’s final minute to set up Dustin Hopkins’ game-winning field goal. His 17-yard completion to fellow first-year player Terry McLaurin on third-and-5 helped give fans at FedEx Field a reason to go home rather than grit their way through overtime.

Haskins, in his most relatable moment of the afternoon, was possibly too eager to get the hell off the field. Case Keenum had to take over kneeldown duties at the end of the game because the rookie was too busy taking selfies with some of the intrepid few who’d shelled out upwards of $6 to purchase tickets.

Dwayne Haskins takes a selfie with fans while Case Keenum has to do the victory formation pic.twitter.com/Y76AL2cquF

— CJ Fogler (@cjzer0) November 24, 2019

Haskins would like nothing more than to ignore the on-field action at a Washington game in favor of having fun with people he likes. Same, Dwayne.

Same.

4. Tevita Tuli’aki’ono Tuipulotu Mosese Va’hae Fehoko Faletau Vea, touchdown machine

Vita Vea, possessor of the amazing name copied-and-pasted above (I wouldn’t dare try to type it from memory) had never scored an NFL touchdown before Sunday. This made sense, since he’s a 347-pound defensive tackle who’d played only three offensive snaps in his career before Week 12.

As such, the Falcons wouldn’t expect him to be a red zone threat. That’s exactly what Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians was hoping.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL VITA VEA HAS HAULED IN HIS FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/UXlButlO9H

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 24, 2019

Vea, lined up at fullback, slipped past the line scrimmage untouched and caught an easy lob from Jameis Winston to send his team into the locker room with a 19-10 advantage. It was also the heaviest touchdown in league history.

This goal-line wizardry helped offset what had threatened to be another awful Winston outing. The mercurial quarterback threw interceptions in two of his first three drives. With the burly lineman getting into the mix, Winston went on to finish his day with three touchdowns, 313 passing yards, and a stellar 11.2 yards per pass. Of course, it wasn’t just Vea’s single yard of offense that did the trick. Chris Godwin’s seven catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns was probably just as valuable in a 35-22 win that kept the Bucs’ playoff hopes alive for another week.

There's a reason they don't call him Chris Regularguywin.

— Taylor Jenkins (@TJenkinsTampa) November 24, 2019

3. Dennis Kelly, who gave us our second O-lineman beer chugging celebration in as many weeks

Last Sunday, Quenton Nelson showed the world his keg stand skills after scoring a touchdown that ultimately was called back. In Week 12, it was Kelly who taught viewers proper shotgunning technique after the tackle found the end zone for the Titans.

Open up the cooler for the boys! #JAXvsTEN#BudLightCelly | @budlight pic.twitter.com/5DmJtbFq0s

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 24, 2019

Between Vea and Kelly, NFL fans were gifted 668 pounds of touchdown catches over the course of two plays. If the league keeps this up, we may have to co-opt the Piesman Trophy for the pros.

2. The Bosa brothers, who are apparently the key to beating Aaron Rodgers

The 2019 Packers vs. teams with a Bosa brother: 0-2

The 2019 Packers vs. everyone else: 8-1

Back in Week 9, Joey Bosa helped make Rodgers’ life hell with 1.5 of the Chargers’ three sacks that day. Los Angeles shot out for a surprising 26-11 win on the West Coast that reduced the Green Bay offense into a sputtering Bengals cosplay. In Week 12, Nick Bosa had one sack as the San Francisco defense got to Rodgers five times in a surprising 37-8 reckoning a few hours north of LA.

Bosa was part of a 49ers pass rush that kept Rodgers dancing in the pocket all evening. San Francisco limited the two-time MVP’s damage with a consistent pass rush and a big dose of trust in its secondary. Rodgers never found a rhythm downfield because his wideouts failed to get behind the Niners’ blanketing coverage. Even the improvised scrambling plays on which the veteran has built his legend were limited to short gains rather than long bombs.

As a result, he played at a level that can only be accurately described by one made-up but entirely accurate word: Bortles-ian.

The Niners made Rodgers look like an overwhelmed rookie rather than a savvy veteran. The Packers QB finished with an average of 3.2 yards per attempt — the lowest number he’s ever had in his 169 regular season starts in Green Bay. Jimmy Garoppolo, on the other hand, finished his day with 12.7 yards per attempt and 18.1 yards per completion,

Everyone else in the playoff picture should be taking notes — and trying to figure out how to lure a Bosa to their lineup in the near future.

1. The Bills’ legend-rookie run game

The Bills’ most dangerous weapon may be a multifaceted running attack led by one of the greatest tailbacks of all time and a teammate 14 years younger than him. Devin Singletary, the pride of the Florida Atlantic University Fightin’ Kiffins, notched the first 100+ yard rushing day of his career against the Broncos, springing for 106 yards on 21 carries. While that was a big accomplishment, he was overshadowed by someone who did less on the field.

That’s because Frank Gore’s 15-carry, 65-yard performance was enough to move him ahead of Barry Sanders on the league’s all-time rushing list. The 36-year-old now ranks behind only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton with 15,289 yards in the course of a 15-year career.

The moment @FrankGore passed @BarrySanders to move into third on the all-time rushing yards list. pic.twitter.com/avxZ7TQlMy

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2019

The pair was part of a unit that ran for 244 yards against a defense that ranked seventh in the league in rushing defense until Week 12. That opened up the Denver defense enough for Josh Allen to throw for 185 yards and two touchdowns in a game that was never really in question.

So how did Gore handle this accolade? With the grace and veteran presence he’s become known for in his decade-plus in the NFL:

As we were talking to Devin Singletary he was asked a lot of questions about playing with Frank Gore. When Gore heard the questions he stood up and said “ask him about his first 100-yard game, that’s a big accomplishment” #Bills @WKBW

— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) November 24, 2019

And later by thanking every offensive lineman who’d ever blocked for him. Awesome. It’s no wonder NFL legends came together to congratulate him after Sunday’s big accomplishment.

Congratulations to an all-time great from these all-time greats.@FrankGore | #FootballisFamily pic.twitter.com/iFLoJg2n9n

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 24, 2019

Buffalo is now 8-3 with games against the Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, Patriots, and Jets remaining. This could be the first 10-win Bills team of the millennium. It will likely be Gore’s first trip to the postseason since 2013.

The Bills still have plenty of flaws, but with a dominant defense and chain-moving running game, they’ve got the look of an old-school playoff squad.

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jbuffyangel · 7 years

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Oh yes. I heard.

So let’s talk about it.

What do I think? Well... I’m not thrilled that’s for sure.

I am perfectly happy without any version of Laurel on Arrow. I believe the show is better without her, but L*urel is still dead.

L*urel is the character I had problems with. L*urel is the one I reached a deep level of apathy toward. They aren’t resurrecting her (thanks be to Jesus), so I am grateful for this small bit of silver lining.

Unpopular opinion: I didn’t hate Bl*ck S*ren.

I’m not going to pretend KC is on my nifty top 50 list of favorite actresses and she probably will never be. I’m diametrically opposed to basically everything she’s ever said about Arrow and the characters. However, I did enjoy her performance as Bl*ck S*ren. Weirdly enough, we were talking about KC at HVFF as we waited in line for food. We discussed how most of the roles we liked her in she played a villain (Melrose Place, Supernatural, etc). I said those are the kinds of roles she should go after. So, if they have to bring her back then I’m glad it’s as Bl*ck S*ren. But let’s keep her as a villain. I’d prefer if they avoided any redemption arcs. Let KC play to her strengths.

Let’s talk “series regular.” That, my friends, is a broad term.

Technically, KC was a series regular THIS season. How many times have we seen her thus far? Three. Her contract was supposed to include all DC shows. She has yet to show up on The Flash and I think she’s filmed one scene for Legends. John Barrowman is a series regular as well. You don’t have to be in every episode to be considered a series regular. Since Katie is playing a villain I find it highly unlikely she’ll be in every episode. Will we get a handful? You bet. Can I survive it? Sure. I did this year. I may even hold out hope I’ll enjoy BS’s appearances, but time will tell.

I believe Marc confirmed that D&nah Dr&ke is staying put, which is nice because I really have enjoyed her. Although, I have to agree with those tweeting out images from The Birds. #whereisthelie We are reaching max capacity on versions of Canaries. Maybe there’s a tax deduction they can take. Is there a Canary group rate?

Stephen confirmed Emily isn’t going anywhere (not that we were worried, but still nice to say).

But... why?

This is where things get muddy. Why are they bringing KC back? Well... I have three ideas.

1. They really like Bl*ck S*ren and have more story to tell.

2. Ratings

3. Behind the scenes shenanigans we don’t know about.

They could be doing this because of the ratings decline. The problem is... we don’t know why someone watches a television show. Nielsen ratings are an archaic system and it sure as hell can’t tell us that. Also, Arrow isn’t the first established show to take a ratings dive. That hardly ruffles the CW network’s feathers, primarily because they have an entirely different business model that focuses more on back end & international sales. As Stephen said, live ratings account for about 5% of Arrow’s overall total value. That’s not a number worth losing sleep over. While Arrow’s live ratings drop is significant, it’s certainly not in the CW’s “danger zone” either.

One way to look at this is, Arrow is reuniting Olicity and bringing back Katie in some capacity. Each fandom gets something they want. The problem is, I believe we were working our way to an Olicity reunion regardless of ratings. Olicity was going to get back together at the end of the season whether we were at a 1.0 or a 0.3. I don’t think ratings impacted the timing at all. You don’t have to like the journey there, but this was always the season long plan. So, I’m not entirely convinced ratings sent Arrow scrambling after KC either.

But sure... maybe?

As for #3 that means knowing about behind the scenes shenanigans that I don’t know about (and probably never will). Maybe someday there will be an Arrow E! True Hollywood Story. Who knows? Feel free to Nancy Drew this one if you are so inclined.

It would be wonderful if it’s #1 because that means Arrow will be invested in the storyline and they always tell better stories when they are. We’ve seen the mess it leaves when they aren’t invested.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any definite answers for you. It could be any one of the three. None of the three. Some combination of any of the three.

Which leaves me at a big old “meh.”

I’m not thrilled it emboldens those in the LL fandom who send death threats, make misogynistic comments, message hateful & threatening comments via any social media platform. This teaches them that behavior works. Although, the same can be said for the Olicity reunion emboldening Olicity fans who do the same thing (if there are some). I suppose no fandom is entirely innocent. That said, I’ve already received multiple hateful tweets, so it’s like the good old days again.

The good news is, these people never impacted my viewing experience before and they won’t now. It’s more or less like a gnat you have to keep swatting away.

This feels like more same crumbs Arrow always doles out to the LL fandom. I envision BS having as much impact to the plot as she did this year, which was very little. Although, if we get more scenes like this:

I could be a very happy camper.

At the end of the day, the aspects I truly care about on this show (Olicity, Oliver’s hero’s journey, OTA, Felicity & Diggle’s individual arcs, Thea Queen) are moving in the right direction. Well... except for Thea. I need more Thea. So, if the LL fandom can find joy in the eps KC appears in, while watching Olicity have sex, get married and make babies, then I suppose I can deal too.

But please, for the love of Zeus, do not worry even for one second that Bl*ck S*ren will, in any way, be a threat to Felicity’s or Olicity’s storyline. I raised you better than that.

And for those LL fans who INSIST this means there will be a GA/BC romance once again well... you do you. Sometimes the need to go down with the ship is strong. I’ve offered a life raft now and then, but at the end of the day, you gotta save yourself.

I think there’s a lot to look forward to in these final episodes and Season 6, so this in no way dampers my excitement for the remaining season. Right now, BS is a blip on the radar for me, which is where I’ve been at with any character KC has played on Arrow. So, not all that much has changed. What would be nice is if Arrow achieves with BS what they achieved with D*nah Dr*ke - they write a character I enjoy. Upside? My snark filled LL sections in the reviews can make a glorious comeback with triple the amount of snark, because VILLAIN.

#arrow spoilers #anti laurel lance #anti katie cassidy #anti black siren #anti LL fandom #switzerlaurel #switzerlance #anti laurel lance meta #spoiler theoretical

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mitchbeck · 4 years

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CANTLON: (FRI) HERSHEY WINS ONE-GOAL BATTLE WITH WOLF PACK

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack deserved a better fate. Ed Wittchow's goal with 5:48 remaining in regulation would prove to be the only goal either goalie surrendered in a playoff-type atmosphere as the Hershey Bears tripped up the Wolf Pack in a 1-0 Friday night battle at the XL Center before 4.489 fans. Left winger Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/Gunnery) had the puck along the left wing boards,but couldn’t get it past Shane Gersich who won the one on one battle and gained possession. He got the puck to Brian Pinho who found Wittchow open coming off the left point top of the left wing circle he one timed wired a shot off the far post for his fifth of the season. The perfect shot nothing Wolf Pack goalie J.F. Berube could do about it. “It was tough for us it was two huge points we wanted and we know how big games are at this time of the year. We just gotta try to take a positive out of it there were a lot of good things we did tonight,” noted Berube played his fifth game as a member of the Wolf Pack The Pack threw a barrage of 17 shots at Hershey’s Vanacek in the third period and he stopped them all and they came from everywhere and everyone. From Mason Geersten low bullet at 1:21 to Matt Beleskey two minutes later the red light stayed off. Danny O’Regan at 4:25 was denied and then Dmowski on a left wing rush at 5:31 the Wolf Pack were in constant forward motion. Patrick Newell at 12:28 off a smart rush into the Hershey end of the ice was stifled and Nick Jones screaming in off the right wing lost his edge at the last second for his shot attempt. Boo Nieves back in the lineup after 13 games filling in for Tim Gettinger with a high wrister at 10:04 that couldn’t crack the wall Vancek was building around the Hershey net. “We deserved a better outcome. Forget about tonight, move onto to tomorrow and get back at it,” remarked Berube. With a tripping penalty in the final minute of regulation on recently acquired Daniel Sprong it was golden chance for the Wolf Pack, but a six on four advantage couldn’t produce a goal for Hartford. Steven Fogarty had two chances one right on the Bears doorstep,but no room to maneuver to shoot on Vanacek was available. Matt Beleskey backhander missed the target and then Darren Raddysh with the last of his four shots for the game with 11.4 seconds was the last chance that was repelled by the Bears netminder. A last second faceoff win and the found its way to Vinni Lettieri saw his big blast blocked by the Bears Beck Malenstyn went all the way back behind the Wolf Pack net ending the game. The two teams meet again tomorrow at 7pm at the XL Center,but the Bears (36-18-3-3, 78 points) have a five point lead on the Wolf Pack (31-17-6-5) in the Atlantic Division. Utica kept Charlotte five points behind the Wolf Pack with a 2-1 win over Checkers, but Providence moved three points ahead of Hartford with a 2-1 overtime win at home against Springfield. For head coach Kris Knoblauch there is not much you can find fault in a game like this. “Besides the first 10 minutes I thought we played a pretty good game. Give a lot of credit to Hershey they’re a good hockey team.” In the second period only nine shots were registered between the two teams and the Berube an stopped former teammate Matt Moulson’s bid with 2:56 left in the period. Then Philippe Maillet, a fellow Quebecer tried his luck from the right wing as time expired at the end of the second period with the two chatting in French likely about Berube’s snatching his attempt away. “He is friend from back home we chatted a bit nothing too dangerous,” chuckled Berube about a light moment in this intense game. The Pack had two big chances by Vinni Lettieri with just officially counting. Lettieri in his garden spot top of the left wing circle, but on his back foot let one go that hit the post and few minutes later darting off the right wing was stopped by Vanacek with 5:52 left in the period. “It’s a matter time before those go in Vinni had the right spot just hit post there,” remarked Berube. The Pack also weather an intense Bears shift in which they kept Hartford in their zone for almost two minutes The first period was a chess match as each team sought to see where they could create chances, but the period still saw an early momentum swing. Big Mason Geersten nailed Bears forward Shane Gersich with a clean, thunderous check at their blue line in front of the Hershey bench. Wittchow made a bee line from the left defensive side in the Hershey zone to battle Geersten in a spirited heavyweight fight at 6:33 with Wittchow getting the instigator on the play. The Wolf Pack 27th ranked powerplay stalled on that chance and one right afterwards as well. Berube made a superb stop on a two on one break denying Daniel Sprong on his attempt to score early. Berube is familiar with Hershey from his time in Lehigh Valley. “I’m sure there some pre-scouting done on their part, but some on my part too. I know they like to go East-West they like to find those seams, it something they do real well,”. Saturday will be a major test for the Wolf Pack. LINES: O’Regan-Kravtsov-Fogarty Jones-Newell-Gropp Beleskey-Lettieri-Nieves McBride-Dmowski-Ronning LoVerde-Hajek Ebert-Geersten Raddysh-Crawley SCRATCHES: Tim Gettinger - Upper Body - Day-To-day. Yegor Rykov - Healthy Greg Chase - Healthy Gabriel Fontaine - Shoulder Surgery - Season-ending NOTES: Knoblauch was non-committal about his starting goalie for Saturday’s night rematch. UCONN lost Friday night in their regular season finale in Lowell 3-1 to UMASS-Lowell to finish at .500 overall at (15-15-4 and 12-10-2 in HE). The loss took away any chance of a home playoff game and will finish 5th or 6th and might play with Boston University or Northeastern next weekend. Yale University lost Game 1 of their ECACHL opening round playoff game series 3-0 to Union College. Big off ice changes, the Springfield Thunderbirds announced on Friday they have signed a standard five year affiliation/partnership agreement with the St. Louis Blues starting next season. Blues needed a new home after the San Antonio Rampage their present AHL farm team was sold to the Vegas Golden Knights last month. The team will be moved there to play in the fall at the Orleans Arena in the fall as likely the Las Vegas Silver Knights until their new arena, the Lifeguard Arena presently under construction is completed. The current parent team, the Florida Panthers who never wanted to be in Springfield in the first place will be heading a little closer to home to Charlotte, North Carolina. Where they will surprisingly take the place of the nearby Carolina Hurricanes who we first reported three weeks ago are moving their farm team prospects to Chicago to hook up with the Wolves to save money. We learned from an NHL source they did try to buy the Wolves,but owner Donald Levin’s price tag was a tad steep for the team. Stockton and Calgary have extended their agreement by another year to tidy up all the AHL off ice business for the year. The hockey world lost one of its best players today as Henri “The Pocket Rocket” Richard passed away at the age of 84 have battled Alzheimer’s the past several years. His career numbers were simply stupendous for a player who stood in the shadow of a legendary brother, Maurice “The Rocket” Richard. Richard was captain of the Canadiens from 1971 to his retirement in 1975, succeeding the legendary Jean Beliveau, with whom he shares the record of playing 20 seasons for the NHL club. He was nicknamed the Pocket Rocket for his five-foot-seven, 160-pound frame. Despite his small stature, Henri Richard was a giant in the game playing 1,256 regular-season games, another Canadiens record that he still holds. He scored 358 goals and had 1,046 points, third in team history behind Guy Lafleur (1,246) and Beliveau (1,219). He also amassed 129 points in 180 playoff games. His 11 Stanley Cups, one more than Beliveau and another former Canadiens captain Yvon Cournoyer, is unlikely ever to be surpassed. Seven were won when the NHL had only six teams. He was known for his playmaking skills and determination with and without the puck, Richards twice led the NHL in assists, with 52 in 1957-58 and 50 in 1962-63. He had nine 20-goal seasons, including a high of 30 in 1959-60. He won the Bill Masterton Trophy for sportsmanship and perseverance in 1974 and was selected to four league all-star teams. The Canadiens retired his number 16 on December 10, 1975, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979. Read the full article

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topfygad · 4 years

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Egypt Travel Tips: 24 Essential Things You Should Know Before You Visit Egypt

Travelling to Egypt? This Egypt travel tips guide will give you a detailed rundown of absolutely everything you should know before visiting Egypt. Including what to wear, tipping culture, scams, and loads of other useful hacks.

Egypt is awesome. Seeing its magnificent monuments and the mighty Nile will no doubt leave a lasting impression on you.

If you’re reading this, then there’s are good chance you have either booked your flights to Egypt or you’re seriously considering going. Either way, that’s great! You’ve come to the right place and are in good hands.

You won’t regret deciding to travel to Egypt. I know you will have a fabulous time.

How do I know that? Because you’re here reading this article!

You’re doing the right thing by researching and arming yourself with information. This is guide covers literally everything you need to know before visiting Egypt.

This is a very honest (and sometimes brutally honest) guide. No sugar-coating. My intention is not to be a Debbie Downer. I simply want to prepare you, so you will have a wonderful time because there won’t be any nasty surprises.

You won’t find a more comprehensive guide out there on how to prepare for and what to expect in Egypt. I’ve literally poured all my knowledge (and then some!) into this guide because just like you, I was both excited about going to Egypt but also very anxious and probably a bit paranoid too.

With that in mind, here’s everything we’ll cover. Plus a bonus tip at the end you won’t want to miss!

Looking for something in particular? Use this table of contents below to jump around using the links.

Table of Contents

Why You Should Go to Egypt

Karnak Temple

There’s so much to love about Egypt and nothing comes close to experiencing it in in person and not through a TV screen. The history, the temples, the smells, the heat, the sand, the Nile and the moment when your eyes finally gaze up at the Pyramids of Giza. All along the Nile you can trace the Ancient Egyptians through history as you visit their impressive and carefully decorated temples and tombs. Learning about the Ancient Egyptians, how they lived, their beliefs, inventions, and actually seeing their creations is something that will stay with you forever. Egypt is simply a marvel that should be experienced by everyone.

Is it Safe to Travel to Egypt?

Yes! It’s much safer than the media may lead you to believe. Which is probably why you’re here reading about this Egypt travel tips guide

As an Aussie, I always check the Australian Smart Traveller site for travel warnings. This is the equivalent of the travel warning list by the U.S Department of State for American citizens.

While Egypt is currently listed with a Level 2 travel warning (go to page 4) (True as of August 19, 2018), it’s important to remember that governments will always err on the side of caution.

There are four levels used. Where Level 1 means ‘exercise normal precautions’ and Level 4 means ‘do not travel’.

As you can see, this particular warning doesn’t mean you shouldn’t travel. It just means that certain areas are better off being avoided and you just need to be more cautious when visiting them. That’s up to you to decide what you’re most comfortable with.

As of August 2018, the areas of Egypt which are flagged as dangerous are:

The Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) due to terrorism.

The Western Desert due to terrorism.

Egyptian border areas due to military zones.

The site goes on to suggest ways in which you can reduce any risk:

Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.

Avoid demonstrations and crowds.

Obtain comprehensive medical insurance (this one is important for all travel) that includes medical evacuation.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

Review the Crime and Safety Report for Egypt.

U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

There are other ways you can ensure your safety and help you to feel more confident with your decision to travel to Egypt. This is covered in a later section.

Because of all the negative attention Egypt has received, tourism has fallen drastically which is great for us travellers but not so great for the locals who depend on the tourist dollar.

With fewer visitors, there are also fewer scammers and smaller crowds at famous attractions. So, there is a silver lining.

On a more personal note, I felt safe during my entire Egypt trip which started in Cairo and went all the way down the Nile to Abu Simbel near the Sudan border.

If I can offer any addition peace of mind, it’s that tourist attractions are generally the safest areas to be in in Egypt as they are heavily guarded.

In addition to this, the locals who I met in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, souks and the Telecom store where I bought my local SIM card, were all very helpful, kind, and friendly.

I never travel without getting travel insurance. I used World Nomads for my trip to Egypt.

Is Egypt safe for solo female travellers?

Admiring the Pyramids

Yes! While Egypt is safe, as a female, you will feel a little bit uncomfortable. This feeling will come mainly in open public places such as walking down the street and in souks.

It’s in these places that you will find men loitering, either by themselves or with a couple of other men. I can only describe this as people watching as most of the time they are sitting on plastic chairs and watching the world go by, including us.

If you’re female, you will receive a lot of looks. In my experience they were harmless. If anything, it just made me feel a bit self-conscious.

Sometimes these men will try to start talking with you or guess where you’re from (they’re very good at getting this right, by the way). Somehow they can tell an Australian from an American just by looking or listening to us speak. Very clever cookies.

It’s at this point, you should do what a local Egyptian man told to me, and that is, to ignore them. Don’t even look at them. This will be enough to discourage them. It might seem like you’re being rude, but ultimately it will protect you.

I was told that the seemingly harmless conversations that start with something like guessing where you’re from, will eventually lead into being invited into their home, shop or restaurant, where they will offer you tea (a traditional welcoming custom), then after some more small talk, they will present you with something and insist you buy it. If you decline, they will get angry.

Okay, so I just painted a terrible picture, but it’s important to be aware of these things. I experienced this first-hand and didn’t know what had happened until my local guide told me that it’s a very common ploy.

Not all men are like this by the way. Just some that give the rest a bad name.

Let’s move on, shall we?

Survival Arabic Travel Phrase Language Guide

Knowing some Arabic ahead of travelling to Egypt is such a game changer. When you can show that you speak a bit of the Arabic language and can recognise certain keywords, this will give you an extra layer of protection, especially when it comes to dealing with money.

Not only will you feel more in control, but locals will appreciate and respect your efforts to learn their language.

Here are 13 useful Egyptian Arabic words and phrases you should learn and use:

Hello – salam / marhaban / ahlan

Peace be with you – As-salāmu alaykum – Even though this literally means ‘peace be with you’, it is a commonly used greeting. The response would be Alaikum Salaam, meaning ‘upon you be peace’.

Thank you – shukran

Please – min fadlak (if you’re a male), min fadlik (if you’re a female)

You’re welcome – Afwan

Yes – aywa, No – lā, Ok – Mashi

How much is this? – bi-kam da. You can say, I’ll pay 100 – Enna hafda meeya. Incidentally, if you say ‘meeya meeya’ (’100, 100′) this means ‘perfect’ or ‘really good’.

It costs too much – Da ghali awi

I would like… – momkin

I want – Enna iza (if you’re a female) or Enna ayez (if you’re a male). To negative the sentence, add ‘mish’. For example, ana mish iza/ayez (I don’t want)

I don’t understand – ana mish fahem

Go away – Em’shee

Pyramid – Haram. Most Egyptians don’t understand the word “Pyramids”, so make sure you learn the Arabic word for them, especially if you’re taking a taxi there. Haram also means. The strict translation of the Arabic word ‘harim’ means (a prohibited place) and is from the verbal root ‘harama’ (prohibited), designated as ‘haram’ (a pyramid). (Source)

For more Arabic phrases, get my free Arabic travel phrases guide here.

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When Should You Go to Egypt?

Between June and August, the temperature in Egypt is unbearable. While you may have the luxury of quiet tourist attractions and more hotel options, to be honest, in that heat you won’t want to do anything but relax in a pool somewhere.

The best time to visit Egypt is in Spring. The weather is pleasant and the major attractions such as the Pyramids of Giza, Aswan, and Luxor are still fairly quiet.

You’ll also benefit from cheaper hotel prices, especially if travelling either side of the high season which is December to February.

Avoid traveling during Ramadan.

What is the Safest Way to Travel Around Egypt?

Cruising down the Nile at sunset

This is probably my top tip in this guide. It’s not Earth shattering, but it made all the difference to me and was the only way I could see myself travelling around Egypt and finally fulfil my childhood dream.

Go on an organised group tour!

To simplify and avoid overthinking everything, I knew that I had to travel with an organised group tour. That way I would have a local guide with me, I wouldn’t have to worry about transportation and other logistics and I could just concentrate on having a good time.

Choosing Topdeck to go to Egypt with was a no brainer, for two reasons. I’d already travelled with them before around Outback Australia and really rated my experience with them. The accommodation, transportation, guide and organisation was all spot on. Plus, I met some wonderful people that I’m still friends with.

The second reason (which might sound a bit silly) was that they are an Australian company, which I knew would put my dad’s mind at ease. I knew he would be super worried about me going. Even me living in London makes him worry!

By the way, remember that Egyptian guy I mentioned earlier who warned me about talking to strangers? That was our Topdeck tour manager, Ramzy. Top bloke!

Ramzy gave a bunch of useful tips, a language guide (on behalf of Topdeck), and was basically a kind of bodyboard who protected us from negative experiences and scared off a few scammers. This made all the difference. If you’re curious, I went on the Egypt Express tour.

Now, let’s get into the niggity gritty of the everyday realities of travelling in Egypt.

Top 24 Egypt Travel Tips You Should Know Before You Visit Egypt

Health

1. Water

The tap water in Egypt is heavily chlorinated and tastes terrible. It’s okay for brushing your teeth with, but don’t drink it. Especially if you have a sensitive stomach. Buy bottled water. It’s easy to get and only costs 5 EGP (0.28 USD) for a 1-litre bottle.

2. Food and Upset Stomach

You’re in a foreign place with foreign food, diarrhoea will happen. To help prevent this, again, buy bottled water and check the seal isn’t broken. Avoid eating salads, raw vegetables, unpeeled fruit, and meat that isn’t thoroughly cooked. Don’t buy food from street vendors that don’t have running water. If you want an ice-cream, check that it hasn’t melted and been refrozen. If you do get an upset stomach, take diarrhoea relief tablets and drink plenty of purified water with fresh lime.

3. Heat and Hydration

Looking up at the Great Pyramid of Giza

Egypt gets hot, obviously. You’re in the desert! Dehydration, sunburn and heat exhaustion are common, especially in Upper Egypt. As your sweat evaporates you may not realise how dehydrated you are.

If you’re travelling outside of winter, then I highly recommend wearing loose-fitting clothes made of natural fibre. Keep up your fluids up by carrying around this travel bottle and add a bit of extra salt to your food to replace salts lost in sweat. Pack electrolyte tablets to take just in case you feel unwell.

If you need further medical assistance, Egyptian pharmacists generally speak English and can be trusted to provide sound advice and help you find a doctor if needed.

4. Vaccinations

Officially, visitors to Egypt do not require any vaccinations unless you’re coming from an infected area. However, there are some vaccinations you should get or have topped up as a precaution.

Check with yourr GP what they recommend. Beyond ensuring your tetanus and polio is up to date, other common recommendations include getting vaccinations against typhoid, Hepatitis A and B, and rabies. Rabies is a problem throughout Egypt, so avoid touching stray animals such as cats, dogs, monkeys, and bats.

Money and Valuables

5. Currency

Remember the difference between 50 Piastres (top) and 50 Egyptian Pounds (bottom)

The unit of currency used in Egypt is the Egyptian pound, written £E or LE. The Egyptian pound is divided into piastres (pt). My top tip is to recognise the difference between the 50 pt against the 50 Egyptian Pound notes since they are very different in value.

Make sure that if you’re given change or are paying for something, that you’re not duped into thinking that 50 piastres (or cents) is the 50 Egyptian pounds note. This is a common scam that is used on unsuspecting tourists. When I found out about this, I made sure I kept both denominations on me so I could tell them apart. Compare the difference of the 50 pt and 50 LE in the photo above.

6. Tipping

Another word to add your vocab is ‘baksheesh’, which means ‘tip’. You’ll hear this one a lot and it will be expected for anything and everything. Tipping locals for their services is expected and a way of life in Egypt.

Many Egyptians are paid such low salaries that receiving tips is an important part of their income. But rest assured you won’t have to fork out much.

In restaurants, it’s normal to round up the bill or give 10 per cent directly to the waiter. Smaller tips (0.25 piastres to 1 EGP) are given to the likes of lavatory attendants, porters, and anyone willing to bend the rules a bit like letting you enter a site after hours or taking a photo in a restricted area.

While the rules are often bent in Egypt, authorities are cracking down on certain things (like being able to take a photo inside King Tuts tomb) with hefty fines. Don’t risk offering money just to get your way.

7. Haggling and Bargaining

One of the best things to do in Egypt is to visit a souk market. When browsing comes to buying and you ask, bi-kam da? (How much is it?) be prepared to bargain hard or walk away. As a general rule, offer one third of the asking price and expect to pay half.

8. Nothing is free

Taking a sneaky photo at Karnak Temple without being spotted

Want to take a photo of a camel at the Pyramids? If the owner catches you look, he will probably demand to be paid.

I learned this lesson the hard way. I was at least 20 metres away when I was spotted taking a photo of a camel resting. It’s up to you if you choose to offer the owner something and if you feel like you’ve done something wrong.

A similar incident happened when I was at Philae Temple. Three men were talking amongst themselves and with the temple behind them I thought it would make a great shot. With at least 50 metres between us , I took the shot. They spotted me and came over and offered to have a group photo. By this point I knew the drill and was happy to give them a little baksheesh.

9. Belongings

It goes without saying that you should always keep your valuables with you. Decide on whether or not you feel comfortable leaving your passport, laptop or iPad in the hotel room safe or if you’re better off keeping it on you. Using a PacSafe is a great option if you want to leave stuff in your room and there is no safe available.

If you go on a tour, don’t leave anything valuable on the bus, even if the driver is around. They can’t be responsible if something happens.

Make sure you get travel insurance so that if anything does go wrong, you’re covered. It can be hard to know which policy to get, which is why I wrote this simple guide which breaks it all down for you. Simples. I never travel without getting travel insurance. I used World Nomads for my trip to Egypt.

What to Wear

10. Clothing

Khan el-Khalili market in Cairo

Egypt is dusty, sandy, and dirty. Your clothes will dirty easily and you’ll be washing your hair most nights. Be prepared to rinse out your clothes each night (this will do the trick) or pack extra items to wear.

So, what should you wear? As a general rule, wear loose-fitting clothes that are made of breathable material.

Ladies, it’s a bit more complicated for us. While Egypt is one of the more liberal Islamic countries, it has become more conservative in recent years with many women wearing a hijab or headscarf. Female tourists aren’t obligated to wear these but you may feel more at ease doing so, especially in mosques.

As a general rule, avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.

At this point you’re probably looking at my photos wondering why I didn’t cover up my legs, and you’re right! I did pack longer dresses, but when Ramzy told the group that it’s ok to wear shorts and normal summer attire when visiting monuments such as the Pyramids and the temples along the Nile, I felt comfortable in taking his advice.

The only exception he made was when visiting mosques, markets or souks. Which is why you’ll see me wearing long pants in the photo above in Khan el-Khalili souk in Cairo.

If you’re a female travelling alone, place ring on your wedding finger, this will show respectability.

11. Footwear

However hot and tempting it maybe to wear flip flops, with all the dirt, sand and grime present, I recommend wearing closed toe shoes.

You’re going to be doing a lot of walking in some pretty unclean areas and the last thing you want is having dirty feet all day.

Getting Around and Transportation

12. Visa

You need a visa! For Americans and Aussies, and a few other countries, you can either apply in advance for an Egypt e-Visa, or queue at the border for a visa on arrival.

For most travellers, the visa will cost roughly $USD25 (single entry, valid for 30 days) or $USD35 (multi-entry). Since I travelled with Topdeck, they organised my visa once I arrived. All I had to do was bring American Dollars to pay for it. Only American Dollars or Egyptian Pounds are accepted. In addition to your visa, ensure your passport is valid six months beyond your planned date of entry.

13. Taxis

Taxis are cheap and easy to use. Simply go to a main street and wave your hand, that’s it. They even have Uber if you prefer! Just be sure he follows the GPS.

Before jumping in the taxi, agree on the price beforehand and stick to it. Not matter what reason they come up with. For getting around Cairo, you can expect to pay 50 to 80 EGP. (2.70 – 4.50 USD).

If you’re staying in Downtown Cairo, getting to the Pyramids should only take 30 minutes, but Cairo has very busy roads so it can take 60-90 minutes.

There are three kinds of taxis in Cairo: Black Taxis, Yellow Taxis and White Taxis. Black taxis are the oldest ones. Most are without a meter and without air-conditioning. White taxis are the modern equivalent of black taxi. They have a meter and air-conditioning. Yellow taxis are professionally run and can be booked over the phone but are the most expensive. I recommend getting a white taxi and bargaining hard.

14. Air travel

With raised safety concerns in Egypt, some airlines like British Airways are becoming more strict with what you can take in your carry-on luggage or even in your checked luggage.

I flew both ways with British Airways but they only had an issue when returning to the UK. They had very strict guidelines on what size lithium batteries were allowed on board.

A bunch of us were fuming when we were forced to leave behind expensive powerbanks which we weren’t reimbursed for or given alternatively means of keeping them. To give you an idea, this is the one I had to part with. *sniff*.

Air France, who were also flying that day but didn’t have this rule. Check with your airline ahead of travelling so you’re not caught out and left out of pocket.

15. Cairo Airport

Cairo Airport is unlike any airport you’ve experienced. Upon arrival, everything seems pretty standard until after you go through passport control.

Once you pick up your luggage and head to the exit, there will probably be a massive long queue that wraps around the luggage collection hall. Guarding the exit is one or two men who will look you up and down and decide if they want to check your luggage.

Since we were with a Topdeck escort who came to help us get a visa and take us to the hotel, he was on familiar terms with the airport staff and was able to get us through quickly.

Once we got through to the other side, our escort disappeared briefly to hand back a permit he was given in order to come and meet us inside. This is just another reason why travelling with an organised tour is great.

If, at the end of your trip you leave via Cairo Airport, be prepared for three separate security checks; one as soon as you enter the airport at the entrance, one at customs, then another at the gate. The first one is where they’ll flag any illegal objects like my poor powerbank.

16. Crossing the road

Crossing the road in Cairo is a skill. If you’ve ever been to Rome and stared down a driver then confidently walked out into a busy street, then you’re well-prepared for Cairo.

If locals see you struggling to cross, they will either let you join their own crossing convoy or come and assist you.

If you’re still too nervous to go it alone, you have some other options for crossing the road:

Wait for a lull in the traffic before crossing (this may take a while).

If possible, cross where there is only 1 or 2 lanes of traffic. Don’t stop in the middle of the road between the two lanes either. Cars will drive dangerously close to you while you wait for the other lane to have an opening.

Ask someone to join them as they cross. If they can’t understand English, simply smile and indicate to the other side of the road.

Find a policeman to help you, there are plenty around.

17. Driving

Whilst driving from Cairo to Luxor during the night, I noticed that many drivers didn’t have their headlights on. This is totally normal and nothing to be concerned about. Egyptians believe they see better this way.

When a car is approaching, they’ll flash their lights to let them know they’re there. Some drivers may keep their fog lights on. If you’re wondering, our Topdeck driver kept his headlights on.

Cultural Tips and Other Useful Tips

18. Photography

You will have to pay a small fee to take your camera inside the Pyramids Complex

Want to take your camera with you? Be prepared to pay for it!

Whether you want to take photos or film video, every monument, temple, tomb and museum you visit will charge a small fee just to take it inside. Expect to pay anything from 50 to 100 EGP (2.70 – 5.60 USD).

I was even charged extra when guards are Philae temple saw my tripod. At first they wouldn’t let me take it at all then they came around when I said I wouldn’t use it so they charged me for another camera ticket.

Once inside, flash photography is generally forbidden and should be strictly followed.

19. Camel Rides

Camel and horse rides at the Pyramids of Giza

Going on a camel ride and taking a photo with the pyramids behind you is one of the most desired tourist souvenirs from a trip to Egypt.

If you know that going on a camel ride around the pyramids is something you definitely want to do, you may (and I hope), reconsider once you arrive and see how malnourished and badly treated the camels, and horses for that matter, are.

Egypt is a third-world country and many citizens are living in a state of desperation. As such, the men who run these camel rides prioritise feeding their families over feeding their camels. While they may have their priorities right, I can’t bring myself to support them. This has only become worse since tourism has declined.

If you do choose to take a camel ride, make sure you’re not hassled into paying more than the fair price. In order to crack down on scamming tourist signs have now been put up showing set prices for camel rides which are 50 Egyptian Pounds for 30 minutes.

Make sure you check out my guide on everything you need to know about visiting the Pyramids.

20. Toilets

Public toilets in Egypt are not the best, and that’s putting it lightly.

A trip to the loo will set you back 1 or 2 EGP and give you access to either a squat or western toilet. They generally don’t have toilet paper, are dirty, and the tap water may not be running. Bring your own toilet paper (these flushable wipes are great), hand sanitizer, and wipe down the seat if you must sit or get one of these.

There will usually be a hose next to the toilet, but the water will only be turned on if you pay a baksheesh.

Toilets in restaurants and hotels are usually staffed by an attendant who will give you toilet paper and turn on the tap for you. Giving a baksheesh of 25 – 50 piastres is standard.

21. School Children

You might feel famous when travelling around Egypt. At least that’s how the students in large school groups will make you think,

On countless occasions, at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Pyramids, and Karnak Temple, young kids would run up to us asking for selfies or yell out and wave as our group walked passed. They were so excited and interested in us.

When I asked Ramzy why, he said that we are sort of celebrities to them. They watch people like us on TV who have very different lives from their own so they get excited when they see us in their country.

It’s actually very sweet. However, if you say yes to one, they’ll all come running. It’s best to politely decline from the start.

22. Mosques and Religious Sites

A beautiful Mosque on the Nile

Dressing modestly is a must when visiting mosques. Some places may ask women to cover their hair and will provide you with a headscarf. Before entering you will be required to remove your shoes and leave them with a shoe custodian (give him a baksheesh).

If you want to climb the minaret (tower), carry your shoes with the soles pressed together. It’s best to avoid visiting mosques during prayer times as to not intrude on worshippers.

23. Smoking

Everywhere you go, everyone will be smoking. Whether it’s a cigarette or shisha water-pipe, if you’re a non-smoker it can get really annoying.

Smokers are allowed to light up pretty much anywhere. The only exception is in fast-food restaurants thanks to an initiative by the environment ministry.

Restaurants have non-smoking tables, but these are almost pointless since they are surrounded by smoking tables. If you’re outside, try and stay upwind and always ask for a non-smoking room in your hotel.

24. Fridays and Saturdays

As in most Arab countries, their weekend falls on a Friday and Saturday. This means tourist attractions are much more busy on these days than the rest of the week.

I strongly recommend not visiting the Pyramids, Cairo Tower or the Egyptian Museum in Cairo on either of these days. The queues will be torture.

25. BONUS TIP: Fake Papyrus Scam

Lady writing my name in hieroglyphics on real papyrus

The Ancient Egyptians were one of the first to master the production of paper, known as papyrus. One of the nicest souvenirs you can get after a trip to Egypt is a papyrus print. But, there is a very common scam take catches out many tourists. Fake papyrus!

In many markets and other street vendors will sell fake papyrus that is actually made from banana leaf, not the papyrus plant. These will be cheaper than the real thing.

So, how do you spot a fake papyrus? Easy! First, notice how these vendors show or display their “papyrus”, it’s stiff, like cardboard and will tear when rolled which is why they’ll never roll it. Real papyrus is strong, flexible and durable and can be rolled up. Second, hold the papyrus up to the light, you should be able to see vertical and horizontal strips that make up the papyrus sheet, within these strips you should see little dark fibres or flecks. This is a good sign!

Conclusion

I hope this guide has helped you feel more prepared for your trip to Egypt. Remember, every country has its quirks. If things were the same as home, you wouldn’t be visiting.

I would go back to Egypt in a heartbeat. Everything I saw blew me away. It’s such an incredible country with a wonderful history. The locals are welcoming and it’s very cheap to travel to.

If you still have any questions or concerns, please reach out and leave a comment below. I’d be happy to help where I can. If not, then I wish you a wonderful trip!

Shukran for reading!

Planning a trip? Don’t risk it. I never travel without getting travel insurance. I used World Nomads for my trip to Egypt.

Let me remind you again why Egypt is amazing and watch my Egypt vlog below.

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Going to Egypt? Get my free Arabic travel phrase guide.

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Sources Eyewitness Egypt

Over to you!

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from Cheapr Travels http://cheaprtravels.com/egypt-travel-tips-24-essential-things-you-should-know-before-you-visit-egypt/ via http://cheaprtravels.com

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