Walk Like An Egyptian

That is to say with one eye on "creative" traffic & one eye on where you step!

I am staying in in Cairo, just off the nile river in Dokkir. My hotel is straight from the 1930's...the elevator is small (but cute...kinda like me). Luck much of Egypt it seems they have no fear of exposed electrical wiring.

I had no idea Cairo was this big! There are 17 million people here and sometimes it seems like they all want me to "contribute to the local economy".

It started on arrival at the duty free store...wher I was attempted to be short-changed 50 pounds, (this trick was also attempted by the friendly staff at the great pyramid ticket booth). Amazingly enough, no one in Egypt seems to have any change. The guys at the ticketing office for the pyramids/sphinx were seriously trying to convince me that they didn't have the equivalent of about 8 dollars US between them, luckily I am a man of great patience, and "praise Allah" the correct change appeared like a miracle once they realised I would never leave without my cash.

I was suprised to see so many horses and carts in the middle of the city, I actually saw a herd of sheep in the middle of Cairo...they were being fed what looked like cut grass placed on the sidewalk!

The Egyptians did a lot of work a few thousand years ago, but comparatively very little since. The cars here are proof that maintainance is optional, that being said, there does appear to be acar broken down about every 100 metres or so. Many have been abandoned, and just stay on the side of the road, gathering trash about them, and being used as a handy place to store garbage. (I find they make excellent landmarks eg: "first left at the wheelless Fiat500, then stop just before the mercedes with the roof and doors removed")

The touts by the pyramids were truly inspiring. There were guys wearing taxi cab & parking uniforms with badges removed trying to pass them-selves off as staff, guys with whistles trying to claim authority of some sort, guys on camels offering free photos and then asking for money. This seems to be an Egyptian specialty...eg:

"It is free sir, it is part of the entry fee to the pyramids, it is free"

"No thank you."

"It is 10 Egyptian pounds"

I have met many touts all over the world, these guys are up there for tenacity, but miles ahead of any others I have met in their ability to lie continuously; these guys should consider a career in politics.

In spite of that the pyramids were just fantastic, I spent most of the day roaming around, in, and when I was able...on the pyramids. the history of ther place was over whelming, but it didn't feel as spiritual as many otherplaces I have been, and I was kinda expecting a different vibe.

That being said, my body underwent a physiological transformation apon entering the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid. (as predicted).

The Sphinx was outstanding, many people I know have found it underwhelming...but it was ace! I felt more energy from the Sphinx than I did the pyramids. (Brendan...look into some of your flaky pyramid power books...I may be on to a new discovery!)

I am off to spend the day in the museum, they have over 200 000 artifacts on dis[play, so it may take a while.

My mate, Daz B. aka D-Funk has told me that during his travels in the Middle East the most authentic "Middle Eastern / Arabic" country he has been to is Jordan.

I am so looking forward to it.