That's When You Know You're in Egypt for Sure
Trip Start
Sep 07, 2008
1
90
148
Trip End
Dec 09, 2008
Cairo,
Egypt
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
This morning, Click led the way to the Athens metro station, a healthy half-hour clip from the apartment. We had to change subway trains twice, but each time the markings were clear in English and we got on the plane with no problem.
Hey guess what -- those rules about only three ounces of liquid in your carryon -- they apply on all international flights, not just American carriers. Did you know that? I didn't. Neither did Wreath of Roses. So before we hit the security checkpoint at the Athens airport, we ran back to the front desk and asked to check our bags. It was only as the bags had sped off on the conveyor belt and we were through security that Wreath of Roses realized that her camera and wallet with all her cash and credit cards was in the bag we had hurriedly checked
Egyptian B & W cab with luggage rack on top
.The flight was barely two hours long, and they served us a full meal. We had fish, rice, vegetables, roll, and chocolate cake. But the star was the guava juice. I've never had guava juice before. American air carriers that charge $2.50 for a soda and offer no food for a five-hour flight should be ashamed in comparison.
There was a camera strapped to the bottom of the plane so we could watch takeoff and see our own shadow below us on the in-flight monitors.
We had some adventures making it through the passport check at the Cairo airport. First we had to fill out declaration forms, then we had to buy tourist visas, then we had to have our passports stamped. But our luggage arrived with no problem, and thank goodness Wreath's camera and money was intact.
The cab driver from our Cairo hotel met us at the airport, again with no problem. He strapped our luggage to the top of his black and white cab with a rope. Click had a great time taking pictures of the millions of minarets we passed on the harrowingly dangerous drive downtown and the Arabic license plates on all the cars
Egyptian license plate w/ Arabic letters & numbers
. (I'll post pictures when I get back to Athens.)Our hotel is wonderful. It's dirt cheap, especially with the 5:1 exchange rate, and it's run by a fabulous man who is helping to arrange all our excursions for us. If you come to Cairo, you can't go wrong with Walid at the Paris Hotel. Tomorrow, the Pyramids! I can't believe I'm in Africa. I can't believe I'm in Egypt. I can't believe I'm in Cairo. Thank you, God.
During the flight, there was some kind of music video on the monitor (maybe Coptic?) featuring what looked like Arabic pop stars, and I managed to write down some of the perfect lyrics for our Egyptian adventure:
When the grandpa holds his grandson's hand and the rosary in the other
The grandson's feelings are so innocent and pure
He's just bought his new galabiyya [a floor-length robe worn by Egyptian men]
When he says to his grandfather that he wants to perform the ablutions
And asks him to go perform the prayer
That's when you know you're in Egypt for sure
That's when you know you're in Egypt for sure
When people soothe you when you're sad
When people rejoice with you when you're glad
Where every corner attests to its great history
That's when you know you're in Egypt for sure
That's when you know you're in Egypt for sure
When your simple home becomes as big as a palace
When it becomes such a rich place
Jesus and Mary lived here for years among the kind people
That's what Gerges and Nasr tells us
That's when you know you're in Egypt for sure
That's when you know you're in Egypt for sure
![[11] Camel and Pyramids](http://images.travelpod.com/users/el_condor/thumbnail.asia_2005.1143747660.picture_032.jpg)