Egypt - the first impression

Ok. So, day one in Cairo, we are picked up early in the morning by our tour guide. He seems really nice and speaks English rather well so we head with him to our first stop. To Bank. This time, the bank machines work. It turns out that Beth can only get money from certain banks here, and for me, I can only take out egyptian pounds a day. Ha ha, I have a 1000 dollar limit at home, but I didn't thnk it would transfew all the way over here. Good thing I'm not in Japan!!

Anwyay, we have a little money now, we pay Bradley back, and we go right to the pyramids of Giza. WE stop at the stables so we can rent a camel...though again, they were more expensive than we'd planned on.

We walked aorund the sphynx for a while, which was awesome. It's really neat to be in the place where art that big was done so very long ago. And afterward, we got on our Camels (which is an experience in itself, getting up and down is a little nerve wracking!), and walked around the pyramids. The actual huge pyramids!! And yes, they are as big as they say they are, and as awesome.

We also went to Sakkara, a step pyramid, and the first one built in Egypt. the story that comes along with it was quite funny, and just shows the vanity of the kings. They also apparently used to Kill kings after 30 years, so young people come be raised up, but once Egypt became one nation, they decided to make new rituals instead. They had to run back and forth between two pillars shouting "I am GoD!" h ah ah ah a, ridiculous!

So, some things that we've noted so far are : BOys like to stare, and everyone wants a tip...and they ask for it and won't let you out, or down, or through without one. It's really sad actually the way that they shamlessly ask for money.


Our guide explained to us about Liberation Square. Where in the 60's a whole bunch of women went to the square and took off their big robes, wearing only underclothes. But he neglected to tell us what happened after that big moment. Apparently, these women made it so that there are no laws for how women dress here, but I know that because my head isn't covered, it's clear they think I'm a hoar. Too bad I guess. I think the men still have quite a bit of control over what the women wear, whether or not it is law.

We've seen plenty of children out of school, working to make money. Our guide himself has worked since age 6. So sad. He told me I could easily work in an international school here...which I don't think I'm gonna do. It's actually a really really dirty city. They have so much to offer in the way of tourism, but based on male bahaviour and the lack of effort they put into their sights, I don't know of any traveller we've met who would ever like to return. Once is enough. What a loss.

It is interesting though to see women in Full black birka's, holding babies, on the back of a motorcycle with a man in a long tunic and wrapped cloth hat atop his head. Strange image. And they use donkey's for everything here too. And camals. They go into parking lots' just like cars and motorbikes do. Very funny.

We also spent two days in Luxor. We took a "sleeping train" from Cairo to Luxor overnight. IT was a horrible trip, but I couldnt' imagine being on the "sitting trains" with all the locals and men. Ick. So, we arrived in Luxor rather early in the morning. We were greeted by a friendly and very pudgy man (everyone here seems to be fat or thin - like sickly thin, no inbetween). He brought us to our Hotel where we took a nap before meeting our tour guide. His name was Abduh and he took us around some really neat temples. It was awesome to see the statues and faces of pharos and the places where so much history too place. Really, it was neat. They have small market's around each tourist sight with more trash from bazzars, but these guys get right up in your face. They do not shout at you from their store, they walk right in front of you trying to but you off, saying "good price, good price" Well, honestly, you couldn't give me most of that stuff for free, so you have to ignore them all. It makes me a) really not want to shop there, they are too pushy. and b) hate them all.

It's all sad, because every one you pass by try's to get your money, and then there were some girls who were trying to chat just to be nice and talk to someone from a new place, and I walked right by them like they were also scam artists. I felt awful after, but I've been trained already to ignore or be rude jsut to get people to leave my personal bubble.

Anyway, the evening in Luxor was fun. We rode a boat (that should not have been in the water) down a river to "banana island". The boat had to be towed all the way there, but the banana island was nice. WE saw the banana's growning, saw some oranges, figs, papya's and mangoes too. And then we explored the "farm". It was gross, as most things here are gross, dirty, full or garbage, empty of anything that we'd have. It's not that I feel bad for them having nothing, because I think I could be ok with nothing myself. It's that they don't take pride in their places, and jsut let garbage and dirt anf filth accumulate. Even our hostel in Cairo is like that. Several of teh floors are unfinished and filled with garbage. Gross! So much spave unused in the city because they never finish anything. And with 20 million people in Cairo alone, you'd think they'd try a bit harder to be efficient. Clearly I don't know...after all, I'm just a woman. :)

So, the second day in Luxor, we went to the west bank. We saw several interesting tombs, King Ramases the 4th, 1st and 9th. Very itneresting. We would have gone into King Tut's tomb, but it was an extra 50 pounds...which is ridiculous. Man, they get you with admissions, we've paid so much to see these things.

WE did get to see the temple of Queen Hajypsuit (phoenetical). She was the only female pharoh, and therefore, awesome! I loved hearing her story. Our tour guide actualy made us a CD of the discovery channel documentary on her bceause we were so interested. Anyway, we totally got scammed too. Our Tour guide was so nice, you really want to like him, but there was one place the scribes village, which was the tomb of some of the scribes of the king, and very well decorated tombs with colours, and they display supposed every day life instead of other things. It's true it was cool, but it cost like 20 bucks, and when you got in, there were no tickets, no other tourists, and some guys that had to unlock and open secret gates. I guess we saw somethign rare, that not many see, but it seemed sketchy.

Our Luxor tour guide also offered us a good price on jewlery with heiroglyphics on them. Actually, I got a "silver" ring and it's really cool, spelling all my name in heiroglyph letters, but it's not really silver and has turned my finger green...I guess you get what you pay for. WE have also gone into some coold shops to see how papyrus is made, perfune, and alabaster. We didn't think we'd buy much, but we did get a few things, and the creating of this stuff, especially papyrus is awesome! I'd have got my dad a painting, but he wouldn't have liked any of their art...but it was neat to see anyway.

Finally, we were going to go to Cairo, which is home base while in Egypt. We had to wait at the train station for about an hour (because nothing is on time here). While we waited, several trains pulled up. All of them were full of men, who just sat in their cars and stared at us. Gross. They woudl cat call or whistle, and when they realized we didn't want to give them the time of day, they just looked at us, obviously being dirty, and would talk with their friends about us like we couldn't see or hear them. I'm gonna say that about 100 guys just watched. So gross. I've been in places where they watch you before, but for this length of time, it was shameful of their parts. Really, get a life, or a wife. And not us because they are way to creepy. Honestly, I will not come back to Egypt because of the men, in your face, being all "in control" and not being taught that staring at people is rude (and it's not like they've never seen a foreigner...tourism is fairly big here so they can't be that shocked).

I really hope abu is better or I'll say good-bye to the middle east!

Anyway, back In Cairo, after another crappy overnight train, we got to the station and our guy wasn't there to pick us up. We waited from 6 am until 7 am, standing around, being gawked at, and then we took a taxi to the national egyption museum, and had to walk the 10-15 back to the hostel - where we arrived and they didn't even have a room for us! We were not impressed at all. I was angry and told them so. Obviously they pulled the "but we were waiting, andhere's the sign (as they pulled out a wrinkled sign with Brad's name)...but I wouldn't have it and told them I was angry, they weren't there, if they were, then within an hour we would have found them and if they were THAT late, why would we wait for them? So, they paid us back the cab fair and upgraded our room to one with a private bathroom. Thank-goodess.

I suppose we'll see what the rest of Egypt brings...it's been an experience so far!