What a City!

This place is CRAZY! Cairo Population 22 MILLION and NO stop lights! Everyone just charges ahead until they're locked in, and then everyone just starts beeping their horns and pushing forward in every little available space. You take your life in your hands when you cross the street--our bus driver slammed on his brakes and almost hit a person on a scooter. Stores are open 24/7 and people are out walking around and shopping at 4:00 a.m. I don't think these people ever sleep.

What a hotel! I could (already AM) used to this style of hotel. Four Season's Nile Plaza is a-maz-ing!! I'm typing on our 19th floor balcony overlooking the Nile watching the boats and listening to a lot of car beeps below. Luckily, our sleeping area is two rooms away from our balcony, so we're able to sleep at night.

This a.m. We went to the oldest mosque in Cairo. It was built within the old Roman walled city. The city itself was conquered by the Muslims around 900 A.D. The mosque is made of all alabaster and has several domes and minarets--it's very beautiful. The floors are covered with big rugs so everyone can pray on the ground, and everyone has to either remove their shoes before entering, or put on shoe covers over their shoes. There were several school groups there, as well as lots of other tour groups. Our group sat on the floor in a corner while Ahmed (our Egyptologist) gave us a primer on the Islamic faith. While we were listening to Ahmed and asking questions, one of the school groups surrounded us and all these 5th graders started taking pictures of us with their cell phones. Probably just because we were their first American encounter in their young lives.

We left the mosque and drove to "Islamic Cairo," and walked along the streets of the Khan El-Khalili, the old walled city of Cairo. The streets are one big sensory overload bazaar for SHOPPING! As you walk along, each vendor tries to get you to buy his wares . . . "Make my Day. Spend your money here.". "I have what you looking for.". "Lady, how much scarf you want? I had Ahmed show me where I could buy REAL papyrus, so I bought a couple papyrus paintings. Most vendors sell papyrus made from banana leaves and it's poor quality, but the real papyrus has a fabric-like texture and won't tear like the knock-off papyrus.

Now for the real challenge . . . We'll be trying to fit everything we bought in our tiny suitcases! My fabulous dream trip has come to an end, and we'll be back home on Tues, Oct.12. We're hoping to get back into the swing of things this week because my mother is coming over and we have tickets to see Bill Cosby at the Merrill Auditorium this weekend! I would love to come back to Cairo in 20 yrs. to see the changes, but if I don't make it back, I'll be totally content with all the wonderful memories of our trip to both Kenya and Egypt. I think our next big trip will be David's dream trip--Australia--in the unknown future.


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Location:Cairo