OVERLAND IN EGYPT - Day 1

We got on our bus at 7:30 am and then started on our trip to Cairo with lights flashing and horns honking (our police/security escort). We stopped first at Citadel of Salah El Din on the highest hill in Cairo. We took pictures inside the Mohammad Ali Mosque and then wandered outside to look at the beautiful panoramic views of downtown Cairo. The mosque itself was not overly impressive – but I’m sure holds great meaning to the locals who still pray there. While enjoying the view, I had my first misty glimpse of the pyramids.I must say I felt very excited. The Egyptian fellow who pointed them out to me then asked for a tip. Everyone here has his hand out! With a 19% unemployment I guess this is to be expected.

Our next stop was at the Museum of Antiquities. This museum is only half a block from the square where millions of people were demonstrating only a few short months ago. Fortunately, this 100+ year old museum was not harmed during the demonstrations and although people did break into it, only a few items were taken. All but three pieces have been recovered. Concerned citizens formed a human chain around the most priceless objects in the museum and most likely saved it for being pillaged. The golden objects of the Tutankamen exhibit remained untouched. I was fortunate enough to see this exhibit when is made a world tour in 1970. I saw some objects at Expo 86 – but now to see the exhibit in its home is very special and something I never expected to see. I find the whole experience here rather surreal.

The next stop was to drop our things off at the hotel and then get ready for our Light and Sound Show at the pyramids. It was quite fantastic. With the voice of Omar Sharif and I can’t remember the other one telling the story of Cheops and other family members. It was a beautiful way to be introduced to the pyramids. Tomorrow we get to go back there and see them in the daylight.

Cairo is very noisy, crowded and filthy. As I sit here writing tonight, sirens have been sounding constantly for the last 20 minutes or so. The traffic is unbelievable – You see everything on the streets from cars criss crossing and honking, buses pushing their way through, donkeys pulling carts, people pushing carts, people riding horses or donkeys, people jay walking everywhere, motorcycles with up to 4 people on them and of course no helmets, people trying to sell stuff, - (oh the sirens finally stopped – but the horn honking hasn’t). I have yet to see a car that doesn’t have scrapes down each side. The white lines on the road are only a suggestion – and other than that it is every driver, person or animal for himself! At 10:00 at night – every 5th vehicle on the road has no lights on it – or it is a horse, donkey, bicycle etc. Enough about the traffic. As for the dirty streets – that is a shame. Garbage is everywhere. I saw a shopkeeper sweeping out his store and he just swept the plastic garbage onto the road. It is quite bizaare.