Cairo, Egypt
The Giza Pyramids from the roof of my hotel
Well today started with some good news. At 9am I got a call from the front desk saying that my luggage was downstairs. That made me very happy. So I went down and got it and was able to shower and put on clean clothes. I then packed up and checked out of my hotel room. I later found out that I actually didn’t have to check out but the new room they put me in is better and little bit off the road so hopefully will not be as loud tonight.
The Swiss Nile Inn in Cairo. Not a bad little spot.
I found out that my bag was searched at the airport. My baggage tag was missing along with my lock and one of my shirts. Oh well. It was just one of my Canada shirts but it could be worse. They could have confiscated some of the medication I am traveling with. Maybe someone decided to keep a sourviner but whatever, now I have room for some more sutff.
Watermelon anyone?
Anyway, there was nothing much to do today so I hung out at the roof pool for a while. It was really nice. I did walk down the street to get some cash in a pair of shorter shorts and got some looks so may put those at the bottom of the bag. I ran into a couple people who will also be heading out on tours. They also had nothing to do so we hung out in some sun. Later I walked down the street to attempt to get some water. My first choice was on the other side of the road and after failing to even attempt to cross traffic I decided I would head the other way. On the way I was stopped by one lady asking for directions….in Arabic. She spoke English and I was able to tell her I was not sure. I have been told I look Eyptian already a few times. I am sure it will not be the last. I also passed a couple donkeys, some goats, some sheep and a chicken. You can see several chicken coops and goats on roofs of the local apartment buildings. I then found a little stand to buy some water at. When he told me how much, I was not sure but repeated what I thought he said which was 6 and a half. He said yes but I was still not sure so handed him and ten and he handed me back change. He totally could have taken advantage because I had no idea but he did not. Just for reference the exchange rate is about 5 to 1 versus the Canadian dollar so it pretty good.
A few of the neighbouring rooftops
Of course the streets are pretty dirty with garbage and poop from the various animals around but there are also a lot of people who appear to clean up all that garbage and sweep the streets with their straw brooms. It is weird because although the streets of Cairo are much dirtier than the streets of London I really see things differently. Egypt is a third world country and they do not have the resources or systems in place to keep the streets cleaner…..but they really try. They seem to have more pride and if they could, they would.
I have met my roommate for the week. Her name is Caroline and she is from Australia. She is travelling with her twin sister Elizabeth and (Elizabeth’s) fiancee Alan. They seem like a lot of fun. Egypt is there second to last stop on their trip (including Egypt they have been to 7 of 8 planned countries). Elizabeth is getting ready to start nursing school so she has been very interested to hear my stories. Anyway, they are on a different tour (their’s is only 8 days while mine is 10) so not sure who I will room with the last few days but by then it will not matter. They will travel with us until the last 2 days and then we will go our separate ways.
I also met up with the tour leader and got all the details hashed out. Our tour leader is Rafik. He is a great guy from Egypt (obviously) but lived for several years in Australia so actually has a wierd accent. Lots of fun stories to tell us and says he will warn us which are the best bathrooms to use. I am being told they can be BAAAD but we shall see. Of course the costs are going up, up, up as expected but there are not many experiences I am going to ignore just because of the price. Every extra option I am going to do. There will be lots of fun options it just means that I will have to get more money…..but that is ok, like I said the exchange rate is good. We were also warned to watch out for people offering free stuff because nothing is free in Egypt. We have to have police escorts when the bus leaves and enters cities and the police need to be paid (or bribed as Rafik says).
I also met up with the tour leader and got all the details hashed out. Our tour leader is Rafik. He is a great guy from Egypt (obviously) but lived for several years in Australia so actually has a wierd accent. Lots of fun stories to tell us and says he will warn us which are the best bathrooms to use. I am being told they can be BAAAD but we shall see. Of course the costs are going up, up, up as expected but there are not many experiences I am going to ignore just because of the price. Every extra option I am going to do. There will be lots of fun options it just means that I will have to get more money…..but that is ok, like I said the exchange rate is good. We were also warned to watch out for people offering free stuff because nothing is free in Egypt. We have to have police escorts when the bus leaves and enters cities and the police need to be paid (or bribed as Rafik says).
Not the prettiest part of the Nile but still the Nile
Anyway, it was back out to the ATM to get money and some snacks for the day. A few of the girls were a little worried to walk down the streets. It is of course the final days of Ramadan so lots of men on the streets having a few drinks and watching TV after dark but they don’t really seem to pay anyone much attention. I did buy chips though based on the picture on the bag because of course the labels are in Arabic.
So tomorrow I head out for day one. It should be very exciting, Tonight I will practice a few Arabic words. “What” should be very easy to remember….it is “eh”.
Julie
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