GETTING TO CAIRO, EGYPT
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2008
1
99
319
Trip End
Sep 02, 2009
Cairo,
Egypt
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Up at the regular time with the mosque. Len tried getting on the internet and we couldn't connect through any of the unsecure listings. Will try again at the airport.
The hotel provided a shuttle to the airport, we are not that far so it was a short drive. We walk in and then go through security first then find have to find Qatar Airlines. The guy can't find us in the system, I was getting worried, but then he says there we are! We check the back packs through, my 22 kg pack is now 31 kg. What do I have in there that weighs so much? We then have to go through another security, where there are reminders about no liquids over 3 oz or 100 ml. We put our 1.5 litre bottle of water on the belt and it goes through, no problem!!! Then through passport control where we get our books stamped and through duty free shops, there are lots of them here and upstairs to the gate area. We sit and wait, I spoke to a mature English couple heading back to Cambridge after visiting their son in Dubai for the past month. I wanted to get rid of a chick book and she looked like she would appreciate it and did. Len got on-line and checked our emails. I sat and watched a guy come up with a extra big shopping bag full of scarves! He stuffed as many as he could into an already full duffle bag. If our flight hadn't been called I would have asked him where he got them and how much did he pay for them. On board, we are in the back of the plane and it is quite full. Only a 45 minute flight, but the crew did serve us all water, and a cheese pizza pop type thing and juice and then cleaned it all up.
We did fly over The Palms and Atlantis Hotel! Just an incredible sight seeing it from above. The water is such an aqua blue, lots of big ship all over.
We stop in Doha to get a connecting flight to Cairo. We get off the plane on the tar-mac and get on a bus and ride to the terminal building! This seems so old fashion and not modern for Qatar Airline that bills themselves as a 5 star airline. We go in through passport and security and end up in another large duty free shopping area. We find our gate and then I go down to check out what is in the duty free shops. Not much, didn't see any scarves, just lots of booze, cigarettes, nuts, along with toys and electronics. We had packed sandwiches not thinking we would get anything on the previous flight, so we ate them and then checked in for the next leg. We all ended up downstairs in a little room waiting for the bus and back out to the airplane, lots of stairs to climb. This was a big 330 airbus and hardly any passengers. It is a 3+ hour flight, we get a choice of fish or chicken, juice, pop, wine or liquor you could want all complimentary!
It was hazy coming into Cairo, lots of smog and dust in the air I guess. We do not have an Egyptian visa, so first we have to get one. From what I have read we need to have a tour itinerary as to where we are going and when we are leaving, I figured we would have to fill out an information form as we did in Cambodia and Thailand. Surprise, we come down a ramp and see lots of small bank outlets, you go her, pay $15 US and they give you a small square fancy piece of paper. You take this along with your passport to the passport area. The guy looks through your passport, sticks the fancy piece of paper in my passport book and stamps it and that is all! No forms to fill out no explanations to give as to a tour timetable. Too easy!
We then went and got our backpacks and went to get a taxi. This is where we met a man who tells us he is with tourism and he will help us get a taxi, no charge. We go through security with our luggage, this is interesting! A man feels your bag, or picks it up and then gives you the o.k. to leave. We go to a counter and pay $20 for a taxi to take us to our hotel. This seems a bit expensive, but we couldn't find an alternative. A man picks up our bags and helps us to the car (not marked as a taxi). I show the driver the address and we leave. Len has to sign a paper at the gate as we go.
It takes us about 30 - 45 minutes going all across town. The driver is quite good and points out the kings residence, mosque and other buildings that he thinks we will be interested in. It is a long ride in lots of traffic and lots of pollution from the older cars. We eventually end up at a hotel, the plan is I go in and make sure it is where we are suppose to be while Len stays in the taxi (same plan as in Kho Chang Thailand).
I know right away that it isn't the right place as the hotel we were going to showed black and white tiles on the floor in their reception pictures, this one has carpet. Reception says no, but I am taken upstairs to another reception. I say to the guy this is not the place and show him the address I am looking for and he says no. I head back down in the elevator, but can't find the main floor, so I get out and walk down the stairs. I tell Len this isn't the place. The driver doesn't believe this. He calls his office. Luckily there is a tourist police there and another man passing by who stops to help us. He looks at my reservation paper and says he know where the hotel is. Meantime, the driver is talking to his office and they think we have changed the name of the hotel from the first paper we showed them. I get the little paper out and the man on the street tells the office yes, they are the same address on both papers. The office tries to speak with me and I know he is asking for more money, I give the phone to the man helping us and tell him no more money. He give the phone back to the driver and we get in the car to leave. The driver gives the phone to Len and Len tells him no more money, sorry you made the mistake and it is your problem, good-bye. The driver is ticked but we eventually make it to the hotel in another 20 minutes. As soon as I walk in I know we are at the right place as the tiles on the floor are the right ones, black and white. We say good-bye to the driver who is still asking for more money.
Now they are trying to find our reservation! I think this can't be happening, but after flipping through lots of paper they find our reservation. We are first taken to a room with 2 twin beds, I ask for 1 bed and they show us a room with a double bed just down the hall. We go to the restaurant on the 10th floor for dinner. I have tomato soup and toast, Len has onion soup and a hamburger. First they bring us nice buns and frozen butter, my soup is not hot, Lens soup is perfect. I send mine back, comes back hot. We wait for the hamburger, it eventually comes, there are 2 of them and French fries, but is has mayonnaise all over the buns so Len sends them back and says never mind, we are full anyway.
We go down the street to the Sheridan to use the ATM. There is a casino inside the hotel, we walk it, have a look at the machines and tables and then leave! I think that is the fastest we have ever been in and out of a casino ever!
On the way down the street we are befriended by a local with a welcome to Cairo, where are we from, what a beautiful country, do we want a tour, come into my shop and it goes on and on. Just about had to be rude to get out and ride of him.
Back at the hotel we ask about tours and Len asks if there is a room that we can see the Nile River from, the manager says yes and we move again to 707 where we have a little balcony and we can see the Nile River from here. We are one block back from the Nile Street. So we watch tour boats go up and down all lite up with coloured lights and then head off to bed tired from the travel day.
Oh, for those travellers reading we are at the Pharoahs Dokki. It is an older hotel, but clean bedding and bathroom. Price is right.
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