Cairo Egypt - Thanksgiving09

What an amazing trip I had to Cairo over this Thanksgiving vacation. Although I couldn't find anyone to go with - I was hardly alone. The company TouchEgypt was very professional and competent. I learned a lot about Egyptian history and Muslim culture.

I stayed at the Sofitel - Pyramids Hotel in Giza. As I left my hotel and looked left I could plainly see the second largest pyramid.

I arrived Wednesday. Thursday, I was picked up by a van with driver and my guide Mohamed Yonis - since there are so many Mohameds he suggested I call him Yonis. (Eunice) We had a very busy day. We started at the city of Memphis which was the first city in lower Egypt.

He gave me a great history lesson about how the upper and lower Egypts were formed about the Dynasties. I really don't ever remember learning about Egyptian history.

We then continued to the first step pyramid This is where King Ramses (if recall correctly)was buried.

Then they took me to a carpet weaving school. Where, of course, I bought a weaved rug which I think I will hang. After that we went to rent a camel. Yonis wanted to know if he could just meet me afterwards and I said I wanted him to join me - give me more history lessons so he came but on horse. I truly enjoyed the camel ride. I rode for 2 hours with some getting on and off the camel -which the camel didn't really like! It was comfortable and I really height advantage!

It was the perfect time of year to be in Cairo - I can't image doing this in the heat of the summer. It was neat to see horses and camels running through the sand of the Sahara Desert. I didn't go into any of the pyramids but climbed a little onto the second largest one. Although this one does look taller because it is on higher ground.

After the camel ride, I was taken to a glass / essence place and then to a papyrus store and how it is made.

I continued my Thanksgiving day events by going to a friend's friend's house for dinner. She and her friends are working at the American Cairo School -so it was neat to be among fellow Americans for dinner.

Friday was a huge Muslim holiday - Eid - the feast day is celebrated with a slaying of a sheep. Those who can afford a sheep keep 1/4 of the sheep and then give the rest to the poor. So I had the day off from tours. However, in the evening I met up with an ACS family the Brownes and we went to the Sound and Light Show of the Pyramids together and then dinner. They also were using ToughEgypt.

On Saturday I had a tour of the city of Cairo - Yonis picked me up again and we headed to the Citadel. We had to take our shoes off and I put my scarf around my head to respect the Muslim the culture. I have only been in 2 mosques before and coincidently the same architect built each one - this one and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul! We then headed to the Khan Khalili Bazaar downtown - some stores were open but not many due to the holiday. Then we went to the Egyptian Museum - we saw part of the Rosetta Stone and the King Tut exhibit. Unfortunately no one could take pictures inside - in fact you had to leave your cameras in a room!

Cairo is a huge city - 22 million people. 55+% of the people are below poverty. Trash is everywhere. Traffic is insane - modes of transportation include cars, trucks, busses, mini busses, carts pulled by donkeys or horses, people riding bicycles, or donkeys or horses or camels. And there are hardly any traffic lights!