Arrival in Cairo

Missy cooling off in the pool
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Believe it or not, it took us over 19 hours to get from Toronto to Cairo! We set off from Toronto at around 5 pm (EST) on Saturday to arrive into Paris (at 6:00 a.m. their local time) only to find that our connecting flight (which was not for another seven hours) was from another terminal. Se we lugged our carry on, climbed up and down several staircases, took a few shuttle buses only to wait in a small, uncomfortable and unfriendly departure lounge. It’s not at all the image that one would associate with Paris but here we were without a place to get any decent breakfast or coffee or even seats where we could lie down. We picked up some croissants (at least that was something French) and then, while I read, Missy just sprawled on the airport floor and went to sleep!

Shoe Shine for a buck!
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Finally, it was time for our flight to Cairo. The six hour flight went by quickly for two reasons: a racy paperback and a charming passenger seated next to me. I learned that his name is Ismail and he was visiting his family in Egypt. He was born and raised in Alexandria and had spent a few years in Cairo where he completed his university. So, where are you now, I asked – thinking maybe he was now in Paris. “I live in Montreal” he replied! No way! I said. And, just like that, a friendship was fostered, stories were told and business cards were exchanged. I’ll be sending him a link to this blog as well – so, Ismail, if you’re reading this, smile!!

We’d spent close to 19 hours traveling – and in terms of the time difference – we were now 26 hours into our journey.

Wherever I lay my head, that's my home!
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The flight from Paris brought us in to Cairo at around 7 pm (on Sunday, Cairo local time) and Ismail and I said our good byes with a promise to keep in touch once we’re both back in Canada. Missy and I were tired and we looked it! We’d spent close to 19 hours traveling – and in terms of the time difference – we were now 26 hours into our journey.

It was another two hours before we were comfortably checked in to our hotel – JW Marriott – which is in one of Cairo’s suburbs and not too far from the airport. We chose this hotel because we are in Cairo for just one night. Tomorrow afternoon, we fly to Jordan where we will tour the rose city of Petra. Our real tour of Cairo starts when we return back to Cairo from Petra in about three days. However, our flight tomorrow to Jordan does not leave until 6 pm and our car will be at the hotel to pick us up around 4 pm. There’s no way I’m going to spend an entire day inside the hotel. Maybe I can get a taxi and do some local sight seeing on my own. I should ask the concierge. But I’m exhausted right now. Missy and I will go down to the 24 hour coffee shop and get something to eat and then we’ll call it a night (or is it day, or evening!?!). I’m too tired and my body is confused. Hopefully, when I wake up tomorrow, it will feel like morning!! :)