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Cairo, Egypt
Sunday, Mar 08, 1998

Cairo. Land of Egyptian hospitality, NOT

David Murray
2007-02-02 02:25:41

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We were on our way to Cairo via Rome. We had to swap planes and we had a three hour wait for the plane to arrive. Being an airport, you walk up, you walk down, you have seen it all. That was five minutes, and so we were stuck there with nothing to do for two hours fifty five minutes. Tick, toc, tick, toc, slowly the clock counted down. What seemed like four days, we were being pushed onto the plane like cattle. Well we were cattle class, what do you expect. Five more hours and we were landing in Cairo. Through customs, and we jumped into a taxi and asked to be taken where all the dodgy hotels are situated. First experience, no indicators, I am going left, so I use my horn. I am going right, so I use my horn. You are to close to the left/right or front/back, I use my horn. They also only drove with parkers on and would flash their lights to let people know they were there !!!! We arrived at the hotel and it was closed as it was falling down, so we went to the Swiss hotel next door. Now this hotel was bad, even the cockroaches were evacuating this one, but we stayed as it was cleaner without them. We had a quick look around and all around us were mechanics working on cars, that realistically should be crushed !!! Went to bed as we had a lot to see before we moved on. Once awake, we went outside to find a quick bite to eat. Now normally, not much phases me, so I was wearing shorts, and these Egyptian ladies with moustaches, pointed at my legs and started laughing. I tried to turn it around and pointed at their moustaches but there were more of them than me, so I ended up a crying mess and quickly put my jeans on. We then were grabbed by a local driver explaining that he would take us to the sites for an exorbitant amount. We agreed on a far better price and then we were off. First stop was to get a fake Student card. One problem, because I was to old, they would not sell me one but Lucy got one which would make things cheaper for her. We then hit the Papyrus factory. As today was half price day, but not mixing it up with Student day, which is also means half price day, we could buy things for half the price. My fingers were trembling with trepidation. Let me at them, I want to spend, spend, spend, but first, Egyptian hospitality, have a Pepsi to calm you down before you go crazy So we saw them make it and we bought one. God knows why. I suppose we are suckers !!!!! Next stop the Pyramids. Everyone studies the Pyramids and the Sphinx at school, so to see them was one of those things that needs to be crossed off of the list. We arrived, got the horses, and rode. Now they are kind of impressive, but I was disappointed actually. Rubbish everywhere and the Sphinx was a real let down. It was tiny. I mean minuscule. Basically, that was it. Back at the hotel, and as we were doing this in the back of a twenty ton Mercedes truck, we met our driver who was an Aussie by the name of Glenn. I could see in his eyes he would be up for some serious drinking and card playing nights. Now to find the rest of the crew.