Yesterday we were still recovering from jet lag, so today turned in to our first tourist day in Cairo. After last night's traditional Egyptian meal at a restaurant, a felluca(sailboat) ride on the Nile, and a visit to a nightclub/bar to meet some of Kait and Shady's friends, we made plans to get up very early and see the Pyramids before the hottest part of the day. Now if we said we were going to get up early to do something in Minnesota it would typically mean 6:00 or even 5:30, in Egyptian time it is much later--we left for the Pyramids about 8:30. Their apartment is a mere 15 minute drive from the Pyramids. We walked around the dessert for about 2 hours--the 3 large Pyramids, 3 small and the Sphinx. Mike got his camel ride(the camel's name is Moses) and we had many photo ops. It is as awesome and unbelivable as you imagine it would be. The Egyptians have a very unusual marketing plan however--it's called "endless pestering". Apparently it works for them, it would never work in the world of Disney.
This afternoon Shady dropped Mike and I off at the Egyptian Museum for a few hours of exploring it on our own. It was full of Ancient History and it was fun to do some people watching, hearing the different tour guides in lots of languages--today was some French, Japanese, Spanish and German. We gave Shady a call when we were done and he was again able to pick us up. He has given us a cell phone to use while we are here--all the conveniences of home. Well almost--they have no running hot water, dishwashing, cooking, showers are all a bit like camping was when I was a kid.
The sights here are all so foreign that it is overwhelming to put in to words. However the one thing that is quite unique is the driving/traffic patterns and behavior--there is none. It is such organized chaos that it almost makes sense. The rhythmn is not stop and go, it's keep moving and use your horn! Shady is a pro, Mike is forbidden to even try!
We had Egyptian pancakes(fateer) tonight --more like pizza. Very good. Enjoy the pictures, we head for Alexandria in the morning. Love, Karen and Mike
5 comments:
Hey, look everyone, it's Indiana Jones! Ha ha....you look great up there on Moses, Michael! Thanks, Karen, for the blogs. It's been fun to follow your adventures. Take care and carry on with the fun!
Love,
Val
OMG look where you are ! Have a safe and fun trip.
Your cousin Phyllis in San Diego
Ha! This is awesome. I've thought about visiting Egypt, but now I can just vicariously visit though you (and let you worry about the imodium).
Very entertaining.
-Brian Schomburg, your cousin in Saint Paul, MN
May 9th, 2007
Mike,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! WE HOPE YOU ARE HAVING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE!
FROM ALL YOUR STAFF AT PARKSHORE
Hi Everyone- will write more when we end up someplace with wireless. Had a hot air balloon ride at sunrise over Luxor. Then to the Valley of Kings. Having a great time. Life on the Nile is something I could get used to. Mike
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