Egyptian Adventure #3

We have used up every ounce of our luck today -- thus my safe numbering system. We stayed late in bed, ate a fine breakfast and watched the news -- which was mostly about the new troubles in Tahrir Square and McCain going on at length about how we had to "do something" about Iran before we left it too late... Thus telling the whole world via CNN that we need to go to war sooner rather than later and other countries should join in too. Yes, we know how well that worked out in Iraq!

Soha, Ron and I had a good conversation about this many of the stories that are spread to foster hatred. She told us that the majority of Egyptiansbelieve that all the Jews were warned to leave the twin towers before they were destroyed. Ron dealt with that myth by pointing out the loss of life in at least one finance company that was mostly Jewish run. I pointed out that these stories are told by the same kind of people who sent out those dreadful lies about all Muslims being terrorists. Soha agreed that AlQuaeda and Islamists were basically terrorists. They are as much afraid of them as we are. We all agreed that bad people are everywhere, and we have our own at home too.

Well that was enough of that for one day. Hedayet arrived, still with laryngitis, and volunteered to take us wherever we wanted to go. We have been warned to stay away from the museum, but Ron thought he would not be happy to be in Cairo and not see the pyramids. So we went to Giza. The pyramids were just as they always had been (awesome) but, we were really shaken by the many new apartment buildings that have been built on the west side of the Nile since we were last here. Hedayet explained that when the revolution occurred, the builders just moved into public land and built everywhere. When a quasi government was formed by the military, they just paid a small fine and kept building.
The saddest thing was the sight of so many people trying to make a living from tourists in Giza, and no tourists around. Our friends here even told us that they have no incoming Friendship Force group this year. The opportunity was assigned to Canada, and they wouldn't come because they were afraid. Our experience is that the danger is about as great as it is anywhere in the world right now. Tahrir Square didn't look any different than most of the Occupy areas in the USA. Last night's troubles were caused by them having an army in charge. The only guns were in the hands of soldiers and police.

Well, due to such activities, these poor people who make their living from helping tourists were all trying to persuade us to allow them to take us to the pyramids; which was not on our schedule for today. We just wanted to see the area. Ron had the opportunity to walk around and take pictures and see the Sphinx.

Driving in Cairo is a constant source of amazement. Each driver we have been with has shown incredible skills. I consider myself a good driver, but I would never drive here! There are simply no rules and, somehow, once that is understood, no quarter is expected or given, and, somehow, it works. At least we didn't get killed today.

We came back to Soha's house with a large bouquet of flowers for her birthday. We had a lovely supper with 2 of her grandchildren with us -- who were delivered to her house by their driver. They were such beautiful children; they both, at 11- and 7 years-old spoke beautiful English. After birthday chocolate torte and silly singing, we showed the youtube film Ron made of the Egyptian's visit to Oregon -- they really loved that. Then more family arrived so, after introductions and a short exchange of conversation, we disappeared into our bedroom to leave them to visit together without the need to communicate in English.

AND SO TO BED Hugs, Noreen