Everything was going well until we got into our transfer car at Cairo airport... it was the ride from hell!
I now know why so many tourist buses crash in this country. The traffic is insane: no lines, battered cars everywhere, incessant horn honking... We were weaving in and out of traffic at what felt like 100km an hour, narrowly missing other cars by inches. I sat in the back praying for my life and glad I couldn't see very well through the sunshades on the back windows. Don't even think about crossing the roads here. Best to shut your eyes, say a prayer and then cross at a constant pace, doing so at your own peril, hoping for the best.
Things only went downhill from there. I really don't trust hostel world anymore. We were dropped off at an old, rundown, dirty (although everything is filthy here) apartment block and had to walk up 4 flights of stairs as the elevator didn't work due to no power. Although, I wouldn't have gotten into it even if it was. It did not look trustworthy. We were then greeted and shown into our room: a large, musty, sparsely furnished foom filled with mosquitos. Our beds were saggy and we really shouldn't have pulled back the sheet to look at the mattress. I wanted to cry. According to Lonely Planet we were lucky to have a ceiling fan (note: fans are good as they block out honking horns and calls to prayer at what I consider ungodly hours of the morning).
Jon and I barely slept as we were feasted on by millions of starving mozzies who apparently like the taste of the African insect repellant 'Peaceful Sleep'. It was anything but peacful! I got up in the morning with a puffy, bruised eye and cheek (no, Jon did not hit me) and bites up and down my arms and legs. Jon did not fare much better.
The good thing about the hostel was that it turned out to be right near the hotel we had to meet our tour group at. We walked across and checked in... heaven. I have booked us into here for our last two nights and cancelled the other place.
In the afternoon we visited old Cairo, otherwise known as Coptic Cairo where I got groped on the bum by an old Egyption shop keeper I bought a scarf from. He had one arm around Jon and the other kept going to my butt despite me hitting him... Gross!
Coptic Cairo consists of a few rundown old churches with great coptic paintings. One church apparently was where Joseph, Mary and Jesus camped out when they fled from Herrod. Egypt's oldest synagogue (dates back to the 9th century) is also here and is said to have a spring where Moses was found in the reeds. The narrow, cobbled alleyways created a lot of atmosphere but I still can't get over how dirty and derelict everything is here. Nothing is maintained very well or restored.
In the evening we met our tour group - seem like a nice bunch. Around half of them were missing their bags when they arrived! I guess we are lucky.
I now know why so many tourist buses crash in this country. The traffic is insane: no lines, battered cars everywhere, incessant horn honking... We were weaving in and out of traffic at what felt like 100km an hour, narrowly missing other cars by inches. I sat in the back praying for my life and glad I couldn't see very well through the sunshades on the back windows. Don't even think about crossing the roads here. Best to shut your eyes, say a prayer and then cross at a constant pace, doing so at your own peril, hoping for the best.
Things only went downhill from there. I really don't trust hostel world anymore. We were dropped off at an old, rundown, dirty (although everything is filthy here) apartment block and had to walk up 4 flights of stairs as the elevator didn't work due to no power. Although, I wouldn't have gotten into it even if it was. It did not look trustworthy. We were then greeted and shown into our room: a large, musty, sparsely furnished foom filled with mosquitos. Our beds were saggy and we really shouldn't have pulled back the sheet to look at the mattress. I wanted to cry. According to Lonely Planet we were lucky to have a ceiling fan (note: fans are good as they block out honking horns and calls to prayer at what I consider ungodly hours of the morning).
Jon and I barely slept as we were feasted on by millions of starving mozzies who apparently like the taste of the African insect repellant 'Peaceful Sleep'. It was anything but peacful! I got up in the morning with a puffy, bruised eye and cheek (no, Jon did not hit me) and bites up and down my arms and legs. Jon did not fare much better.
The good thing about the hostel was that it turned out to be right near the hotel we had to meet our tour group at. We walked across and checked in... heaven. I have booked us into here for our last two nights and cancelled the other place.
In the afternoon we visited old Cairo, otherwise known as Coptic Cairo where I got groped on the bum by an old Egyption shop keeper I bought a scarf from. He had one arm around Jon and the other kept going to my butt despite me hitting him... Gross!
Coptic Cairo consists of a few rundown old churches with great coptic paintings. One church apparently was where Joseph, Mary and Jesus camped out when they fled from Herrod. Egypt's oldest synagogue (dates back to the 9th century) is also here and is said to have a spring where Moses was found in the reeds. The narrow, cobbled alleyways created a lot of atmosphere but I still can't get over how dirty and derelict everything is here. Nothing is maintained very well or restored.
In the evening we met our tour group - seem like a nice bunch. Around half of them were missing their bags when they arrived! I guess we are lucky.
3 comments:
Hi Guys, greetings from me. I am so glad you loved Barcelona, it is a magic city. I cannot believe it, I was there at this time last year, living the good life. Jon, please look after those legs. Karyn try and get some sleep away from the snoring?? Enjoy Cairo - that is still on my wish list. Stay safe and your are in my prayers. Love to you both Marja xx
Thanks for the continuing great diary reading. And the photos have brought the recent entries to far greater life. What a fab time you're having.
Glad we have heard no more about Jon's cellulitis - just hope and pray "no news is good news" and that you haven't quietly lost a leg.
And the traffic in Cairo - how did it compare with Indonesia or Vietnam?
Anyway, thanks guys for the continuing greta write-ups and the pikkies.
Love, Helen & Fred
Well you have been away for a month now...and I hate to say it, but I am missing you guys!! Not only are you not around for midweek mid-day macca's lattes (Jon at least), Emily has gone and got herself a boyfriend so I don't even have her to call on as much :(
Not much happening here except we have all had the flu, followed by gastro and now Sam has a chest infection and been diagnosed with asthma! Anyway, enough whinging. It has been great reading about your adventures, you have to make sure you put some photos up of the pyramids...I've always wanted to see them.
Take care and stay safe!
xx
PS Brent wants to know if the fishing was good in S.Africa and what type of fish was in that photo
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