Cairo

May 21

Egypt so far is an expensive comedy of errors. I left my camera battery charger at the hotel in Bangkok and it's hard to describe the frustration of trying to explain the predicament to either of the Bangkok or Cairo hotels where inevitably I end up with someone whose english doesn't effectively extend to the distances needed to help me and each 4 minute call costs 60 EGP (10 USD) regardless of productivity. Oy! On a brighter note... Today was filled with the architectural interest of Cairo - pyramids, sphynx, coptic churches, the Citadel, historic mosques. Egypt has a permanent, timeless quality to it that is hard to fathom.

May 22

More about CairoYesterday I got to ride a camel while visiting the pyramids. Camels seem to be very disgruntled creatures, but they're very picturesque in front of the pyramids. Mine was the happiest one of the lot I think. His name was Easy Does It which I found very amusing. :) The ancientness of the old buildings here is staggering. We visited a church that's about 1700 years old, the pyramids and sphynx (of course) and the Citadel of Saladin. It seemed like a lot of things were closed under restoration so we were unable to see some of the other highlights. Driving here is its own adventure. I know taxi drivers everywhere are more aggressive drivers, but here there is no use of lanes, street lights are completely ignored, and honking is used as all means of communication. At one point the other evening we drove past a block with police in riot gear lined up solid along the street. It looked very scary and serious, but there was nothing in the newspaper the next day so we never did figure out what was going on.

May 23

Cair Bazaar Khan al Kalili Yesterday we went to the Egyptian Museum and shopping at the big bazaar. The museum was as expected - lots of sarcophogi and papyrus. My favorite part was the room dedicated to King Tut. It contained the headdress/mask that's so famous in images. The bazaar was relatively quiet as many of the shops were closed (for Sunday). They sold hookahs and lanterns, touristy kitch, belly dancer outfits, and jewelry. I've never been proposed to so much in my life as walking down the streets of the bazaar. The vendors would call out "What are you looking for? lamp? scarf? Egyptian husband?" Many of the proposals were dependant on purchasing something from their shop. I think it's hilarious, but I'm not quite sure how to take it. I prefer to think that I just look like a tourist with my light haircolor that's pretty uncommon here.