Ahlan wa Sahlan

Here I am in Cairo Airport.

Last night we arrived in Cairo after nearly 24 hours of travel. Every bit was worth it. We were greeted by our very hospitable host, Ahmed, who escorted us to our hotel at the Giza Pyramids Resort.

Culture Shocks: I forgot just how unruly driving in non-Western countries could be. We cruised without regard to lanes, pedestrians, or general safety to our hotel. We were all a bit freaked, but I have to say, I loved it. Dinner was very American, but our host told us plenty about local foods which hopefully we'll get to sample.

First Impressions: Egypt is very nice to travelers, ready to cater to our whims. The airports and hotels are luxurious. But as we saw out the windows on the driver around the Circle (beltway), this is very much an attractive facade. One wonders what daily life must be like. In any case, you can see the pyramids looming in the distance through a gap in the buildings, obscured by smog and clouds, but far larger and more grand than you'd imagine.

Now we back at the airport, getting ready to board our hour-long flight to Luxor. Today we will travel on the west bank of the river, seeing the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queen. Pictures to follow.

Some rules for my pilgrimage:

I will be pickpocketed;
Don't freak out.

I will miss a connection;
Use it as an opportunity to explore.

I will find myself in a culturally embarrassing situation.
Enjoy it.


Time to go.