Walk Like An Egyptian

  Cairo, Egypt
Thursday, November 23, 2006

Its been a long road since I left home on August 5th. I have traveled over a good bit of the US, Western Europe, and now Africa. Traveling for a long period of time, especially alone, is a great deal different than taking a vacation. Going on a vacation is something people do to escape something for a time: work, school, bad weather, whatever. I find nothing wrong this, we all need a break from things sometimes. Long term travel though isn't always about pleasure and relaxation. In fact it is often very exhausting! This is especially true in Africa so far, requiring me to hurry to get things done and then posses superhuman level of patience to deal with unanticipated delays like bureaucratic BS. It reminds me of a motto I often heard in the Marines; hurry up and wait. I often have a lot of time to think about things, like why the heck am I traveling around the World burning up the last of my money in the first place! Well it may seem a little cliche but to wake up in the morning and see this answers all those pesky "why" questions.

Awsome Sight!

Its those once in lifetime moments that seem to come so often for me these days that make it all worthwhile. And its not just those post card moments that are precious. It can be something as ordinary as a conversation with someone on that street that gives me greater insight or new perspective on a place. Long term travel is not about escaping or running away from anything. Its about running towards something, finding out more about the World around you and about yourself too. Even get ripped off can be a good learning experience! I don't know if it will help me make a lot of money someday but that's my reason for traveling.

Anyway, on to Cairo. This is such an amazing city! I have never been to a place with such a combination of the old and modern. The combination of old rust bucket cars, new BMWs, bicycles, and horses drawn carts seem to represent every age of road transportation in the last 100 years. And the traffic is ranks among the most chaotic I have ever seen. Forget terrorists, just make sure you watch every direction simultaneously when crossing the street! All these cars also substantially contribute to the awful level of smog that blankets the city putting it on par with Beijing and Mexico City for World's most polluted cities. The buildings contain elements of French, Italian, American, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern architecture displaying the convergence of so many cultures all in on place. The police here don't carry hand guns either. They all carry AK-47s and seem to be everywhere, especially downtown and at the monuments where larger groups of them congregate. It is nice to have all that protection but is also makes you feel a little uncomfortable with all these guys carry assault rifles surrounding you all the time.

When I arrived here I took a bus from the airport to downtown. I decided to stay at a place recommended in the Lonely Planet called Pension Roma. This place totally beat all my expectations! For only $7.50 a night I got a nice room with a balcony, free breakfast, and all the hot water I want. This staff was also very friendly and helpful, answering any questions I had about Cairo. The first day I decided to pay a visit to the Egyptain Museum which contains many of the riches of ancient Egypt including the amazing gold sarcophagus and mask of King Tutankamen. Unfortunately they do not allow you to take cameras inside and I don't see how taking pictures is going to damage all those statues and sarcophagus. It was interesting nonetheless.

The next day I went to have a look at the last of the eight wonders of the ancient world, the Pyramids of Giza. These larger that life monuments are over 4600 years old! Even though it was full of people trying to see me junk or offer me camel rides, the place was everything you see in the pictures and more. It is definitely one exotic local that everyone should try to see once in their lives. I spent the rest of the time here with a private tutor studying Arabic, although I can barely say anything yet, and preparing for the road ahead. I had circumstances that didn't allow me time to visit much of Islamic Cairo and Coptic Cairo. Since I will be coming back here again before I travel to the Middle East, I will write an entry and post pictures for that part of Cairo then. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!