Lovely, Lovely Doha

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Cookie went out early to take photos, she has gone picture crazy making up for the two days we had no batteries I guess. Then had breakfast and went out walking. We had very little time before we had to leave but we used it wisely.  We walked down the street and found a store to go shopping, of course. On the way we marvelled more at how clean and modern the city is, and the shop was also amazing. There were price tags and it was clean and orderly and nobody followed us or hassled us at all. Plus the stuff was like super cheap. We wanted to stay in Doha forever. But we couldn't so ran back to the hotel, Cook almost  missed our shuttle because she just HAD to run to the bakery. Made it to the airport and had wonderful coffee. Then on the plane for Cairo . The airport in Doha was beautiful and clean and had toilet paper and nobody supervised us or asked for money. Wow. Flight was good,unusual in that the plane was taking off and there are still people walking in the aisles and the stewardesses are freaking out trying to get them all to sit. Doha was beautiful to fly over, took picture out the window. Had veg food again, lovely lovely. Then landed in Cairo, the visas were ridiculously easy, just bought a couple of stamps (like postage stamps) and stuck them in our passport. Back to supervised peeing and money requests however, oh well it was a nice break. Then went out to get our bags, they made it and double yay there was a car from the hotel, the dude was standing in the crowd with a sign with my name on it. Came to find out that it was the owner of the hotel who came to get us, his name is Hesham and he gave us a mini tour of Cairo on the way to the hotel and slowed so Cook could take pictures. The hotel is new, just opened in August and it is good he picked us up because it didn't have a sign and too new for a taxi to know it. Super close to the museum and very cute inside. Bright and colorful and our room has like two walls of windows. Hesham told us about the hotel and showed us a picture of his adorable little girl. Then he drove us to an ATM and back to the hotel, after which we walked downtown and window shopped. It was so cute all the families were out shopping and the kids were so cute! These guys started talking to us, come get a business card   on and on. Of course that wasn't really the deal, we got to the shop (big shocker) and they tried to give us tea, then we said could we just have a card. So the one guy sent the other one to go get one, who doesn' t   have cards in their shop, and tried to keep us from leaving. The perfumes smelled lovely, but, bye. All the guys use the same lines, so it is pretty easy to smell the hustle coming. So if you are ever in Cairo watch out for the following- "please come take a business card" "enjoy our hospitality (or similar)" "come have tea" or    "oh you are from ... I/my friend live there". All lies. Got some wonderful little pizzas to eat from a bakery, not pizza as we are used to it exactly but oh man so good.           

It looks pretty, oh so pretty....