I'm in Egypt!!!
Arrived just before lunch time yesterday. Navigating my way through Egypt immigration was a mission in itself. Thanks to a nice belgium backpacker for showing my the tiny office in the back corner where you buy your visa!
The hostel I'm staying at was supposed to provide an airport transfer, but they got the times wrong so I got a taxi into downtown. That was such a crack up! Here's what I learnt about Egyptian driving today-
1) lane markings = optional
2) speed limits = optional
3) cleaning ears while driving = possible
4) rolling your own ciggies while driving = possible
5) eating lunch while driving = possible
6) car horn = necessary form of communication
The driver was eating this sweet bread thing for lunch and kept passing me back a slice for every one that he was eating. At first I said no, but I think he was getting offended. So I tried some and it wasn't that bad.
My hostel is lovely. Im sharing a room with 7 other girls, all who are backpacking by themselves. The place is simple, but very nice.
Funny thing happened this afternoon. I was feeling all confident so decided to go out and take a walk by myself, just to the waterfront to have a look at the Nile. As soon as I started walking people were calling out to me and kept coming up to me. Got nervous, took a couple of wrong turns and ended up completely lost in Cairo for about an hour and a half. Then I'm looking at my map when this young Egyptian lad comes up to me and asks if I need help. Thought he was trying to sell me something so tried to blow him off. Then he started talking and saying how he was studying at the university here and that his younger sister is also there studying psychology. So we started talking, and he ended up spending the next six hours walking me all around Cairo. Walked along waterfront, went up Cairo tower, and saw a few mosques. Asked him if I could buy him a meal or something, but he said he was just happy to be trying out his English skills. So anyway had a lovely afternoon/evening. Did tell me at the end though that I was silly and should not go out walking on my own again. Check. Lesson learnt.
Having a quiet one tonight as it's Coptic Christmas here and apparently things might get a little crazy. In the main centre of town there's four truck loads of police officers all standing in formation.
Love to all!
Ps- having trouble uploading photos at moment, so they will come later.