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Trip Start Sep 04, 2008
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Trip End Ongoing


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Friday, October 17, 2008

Everyone has a crazy cab story, but Egypt is something else.  Service taxis go between Cairo and Alex all the time.  Basically, they're small vans that hold about twelve people and leave as soon as they're completely full.  These drivers and all young and reckless, driving like it's a video game.  Cisco and I took one to Alex from Cairo, we were both nervous, but luckily I slept most of the way.  However, on the way back from Alex, my driver was apparently crazier than all the rest.  We were running at about 100 mph most of the time, sometimes dipping to 75 mph.  Well, the driver would come literally within a few inches when passing cars, and following distance was nonexistent.  Honestly, without the windshield, and due to the blunt front end of the van, the front passenger could have literally touched a few trucks we were following.  We did actually hit a truck at one point, at 70 mph.  No exchanging insurance info, police report, or even a small use of the generally neglected braking system.

Honestly, take Ramses's II's lowest servant, the one that got out of pyramid building because he was "special."  Transport him to the present and blindfold him.  Introduce him to liquor until he is entirely intoxicated, I'm talking W.C. Fields drunk.  Place him in a vehicle without instruction or the use of his sight.  He will proceed to use the unfamiliar modern contraption more efficiently and in a safer manner than a modern Egyptian.  Given the choice between the two, I would side with the inebriated ancient idiot. 

So I've realized that I slept in a bus three out of the last four nights, going to and from
Siwa as well as from Cairo to Taba, which is at the Israeli border.  I'm now staying at my friend Amir's house in northern Israel for a couple weeks.  It's nice to have an actual place to stay, do laundry, and of course save money, as Israel is very expensive.  In fact, the shekel has recently gained some on the dollar.

Cisco, Amir, and I went out last night in Tel Aviv.  I haven't drank that much on this trip, but Tel Aviv has a very lively night scene.  Then this morning we came up to Amir's house, which will make a nice base for trips around the country.

Also, I was able to upload a lot of pictures today along with some videos, so check those out.  Amir also brought me a new camera, so I shouldn't miss anymore sights.  My old camera was working about 1 out of 15 times.
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