Egypt..wait...its part of Africa?

Arriving in Egypt, I had no idea what to expect. I knew about the pyramids and the sphynx, but that was about it. I'm not to sure about the hostel I booked, as I didn't want to get bed bugs again, but I had it booked so was just gonna check it out.

Everything is smooth (that is, after I pay 15 dollars US for my Visa), then its time to look for transportation...taxi is the best, but I hear you have to be ruthless...ok lets try this negotiating ordeal...

I start asking around...and like bees to honey, I get swarmed by taxi pushers. I try and get outside, but one of the guys muscles his way in and directs me to the "right" location. As I look back this is where my negotiation ended. I tried looking for other cabs, buuut nothing in sight...looks like I'm paying the 20 dollars price. (should have been around 10-15 dollars) Oh well I thought maybe it was a good deal.



The driver picks me up and takes me out, but its looking pretty sketchy right now as he drives right to the guards. Oh great, now there going to tax me more I think to myself...turns out I need to sign my name. I decide to use a false name...Charles Barkley...just because I don't know where its going to.

After driving around the block three times, the cab driver telling me an old run down building was my hostel and asking directions more times then Saskatchewan has people...we arrive. The guys at the front desk are super helpful and give me info on everything to get me through the rest of the day. I also meet up with a cool couple from England and we all headed out for dinner and a walk around Cairo.



Astonisghly enough, I wasn't all that culture shocked by Cairo. Yes its dirty, there are some discusting areas, and you can tell its definitely not up to par by western standards, but still. I kept forgetting that Cairo is a city in Africa. I kept wondering why there was garbage scattered everywhere and dead carcasses of animals on the streets...oh ya...thats why, its still third world.



The couple I met, were also thinking of going to the Pyramids the following day, so we arranged a cab through the hostel(much better then us trying to barter) and got set up for a day full of adventure and amazement.

One thing I really wanted to do was take a camel ride by the pyramids. I thought that would be just a fitting, once in a lifetime experience, however, I didn't realize how hard these guys negotiate. They're first option is to rip you off the most. They started the camel ride for three hours at 100 dollars. Uh nope...so I worked, what I felt was pretty hard to get it around 60 dollars. Turns out, lots of people got it for 45 and one guy even got it for 25.

Oh well, you live, you learn, you prosper...so I wasn't letting a little cash ruin my super duper experience of the pyramids. The camels were intense. They farted, hurt your ass when they started to run and even tried taking off, but it was the coolest thing...ridding this beast and staring up at the massive work of rock they call the pyramids.



IT was funny how much smog there was this day...at our first glance of the pyramids, you could barely see them because of the smog. Once you got a little closer...magnificient.

We rode around the pyramids and it was undiscribable, how, riding a camel and looking up the side of a pyramid is...it really has to be experienced. The pyramids live up to all the hype they've ever recieved...and then some. It blew my mind that it took a total of thirty years until completion, and only ten years to build.



Rounding off the Pyramids, we visited the Sphynx. There is no comparison between the two. The pyramids are huge and looming pieces of rock...the sphynx...is...well a small...artistic piece of rock. Maybe it's because of how ruined the thing is, but basically...I wasn't all that impressed and just thought of it as a tourist trap. Still, I'm not disapointed, and its even better to say that I've been.



That day sure took the wind out of my sails, but didn't stop me from experiencing more Egyptian culture...the sheesha. No its not a drug...it's some form of sweetened Tebacco. It's called a hooka back home, but anyways it's pretty darn popular over here. So me and a few friends from the hostel tried finding an "authentic" sheesha bar. And guess who found the spot? Yes that's right folks...the one and only...me. As we were walking I just happened to glance down this little side street and see a place. At first everyone was a little skeptical, but after we found out how much, and the guys were super helpful...it turned into a great time.(sadly, couldn't find it ever again)

Finally I started figuring out the art of haggling, as I entered this next day and was able to get a very reasonable cab ride to and from the citadel. Here stands the largest mosque in all of Egypt. The mosque of Mohamed Ali....and no not the boxer...I know...shocked me as well. This mosque is actually and exact duplicate of another mosque in India...the original is completely white and I think its one of the seven wonders of the world??? not too sure...kind of just stuck my ear in and listened to a tour group.



After the Citadel and such...me and the couple from England walked around parts of Cairo, that I know tourists don't see. Every street we went...we had more people staring at us. I bet they haven't seen foreigners in these parts for a long time. They were even hosing down a naked small boy on the street...funny differences. Still the best experience was taking the local metro. Jammed packed with locals, no air con, no tourists and still better then anything Canada has. It was sooo cheap, but if I was by myself...hmmm...we'd have to see. Still it was perfectly fine and a cool experience to say I've done.

Finally some North American action. Yes if you didn't know...the new James Bond comes out in November...or should I say...came out? It arrived opening November 5th here in Egypt...so yours truly made sure he could go see it...especially since it only cost three dollars...yes...let me repeat that...three dollars. Me and pretty much the entire hostel came and saw this great once in a lifetime movie experience. For the first time ever...I sat through a movie intermission. It was pretty funny...the movie's going along fine...then all of a sudden...the lights go on and intermission pops on the screen...the face of the English guy was hysterical...he was sooo upset. Unfortunately...they did edit out all the steamy parts...sheesh...whats James Bond without him seducing the girl???

After the North American action...is back to good ol Egyptian history...one of the worlds greatest museums...the Egyptian Museum.



This museum is more like a huge wearhouse full of Egyptian stuff, just they have some small explanations. Sadly, since you can't cover up the massive rock Egyptian figures, people touch and prod all over them...therefore some of the items are deteriorating because of all the finger's...still, this place was outstanding...one of the few...museum...musuems that I enjoyed. Best rooms...King Tut's collection of gold, jewlery...and boy oh boy...the golden jeweled mask...that thing...tough to describe. Next best...the Royal Mummy room. Yes it cost me extra to get in, but completely worth it.

Most people say it takes two days to do the entire museum...well I did it in a day...four and a half hours to be exact...no breaks. Also I saw all the best sections and skimmed through the sections that are sooo similar. Oh look another head of Harion...and another...and another...and...



Also...I had to pay of the security guard because he caught me taking pictures...supposedly pictures are not allowed...news to me, as I saw tons of people snapping pics all over the place...sheeesh...little bugger.

Now...onto the mayhem...mischief and haggling that is...the El Khalili bazaar. One of the worlds largest markets...this place spans so many blocks...you could actually get lost(I did) Finally, I was able to perfect the art of haggling...finding the nicest Egyptian silks...pashminas and spices...oh did I mention spices.



Actually what ended up happining, was I allowed a local to "lead" me to find something, but of course they actually only lead you to their shop...his happened to be tucked away from the main market in the spices area. At first me, and the girl following along were a little skeptical, but finally, are noses were bombarded by more senses then the U.S has capitals. Still at the end of it all...the guy never did tell me where the postcards were...sheeesh...you can't find help anywhere.



After the day of crazyness...it was time for a little cruise down the Nile at night on one of their infamous night cruises. These boats are all decked out with trippy colours and load music leading to a great night of fun. Booked by the hostel guys, we were able to get it for a measly five dollars each...which turned into a great time.

Cruising the Nile at night was so beautiful, peaceful and just utterly amazing. Also who gets to say, they danced on a boat, with a mix of people from all over, while cruising the Nile...ya...this guy.



So I did the Nile at night...well now it was time for a historic boat ride during the day...the Faluka. Even though the guys at the hostel had been great about booking things for cheap, me and three other guys decided to haggle our own boat. The hostel quoted us for 50 dollars for two hours...well...we got it for 10 dollars for two hours. Ya turns out I finally figured out the art of the haggle.

This was one of the most relaxing things I've ever done. Gently floating down the calm Nile...with the sun's rays pouring over my face...just sitting...enjoying...being. Another great perspective of Cairo, that most people would not be able to experience. I loved the faluka boat ride...even if the guy was very pushy for tips at the end.



Still, aside from all that, my favorite part of Cairo...is the streets...or better yet, the driving. I love how the roads have lines, but no one uses them. There are no traffic lights...or if there are...ha...no one uses them. Learning to cross the streets can be a challenge, but I actually enjoyed the crossing part...it was such a rush...I even made a video to show you how it should properly be done.



Well...boarding the plane...I felt Egypt was one of the best parts of my trip so far. The culture is so different from our own, that it makes it that much better. I just wished I planned more time. There's so many other places to explore. Guess it gives me another reason to return.