Advertisement
I learned many things today on our adventures;
1. call before going to museums.
2. saying your a student doesn't get you the discount.
3. don't try and take what looks like a short cut.
4. little old egyptian women can restore ones faith in this country.
5. don't go to KFC for dinner, even in a moment of weakness.
6. the super market can be a dangerous place for one's waistline.
7. doing laundry is exhausting.
Today provided me with many learning experiences starting with the Museum of Islamic Art. The museum "contains one of the world's finest collections of Islamic applied art" according to the Lonely Planet guide, which also informed me that is was closed for restoration and would re-open in 2006. Wary of this fact because thing run on 'Egyptian time' I searched the internet and found an article that said it would open dec. 15 2007, this was assuring enough to jump in a cab and go. When we arrived on the side of the building it looked as if it could be opened, but when we got to the entrance we saw a board on the door and peering in the windows we noticed
scaffolding. It never dawned on me the Egyptian time would be lagging TWO YEARS behind...lessoned learned, call ahead.
A little disheartened and disappointed we decide to get back in a cab and go to the Egyptian Museum instead. It was a very hot ride, but we got to see a part of the city that we may not have otherwise. All the maydan (squares) were surrounded by beautiful ornate old buildings and mosques; I tried to snap some pictures but the cab jetted off before i could. Arriving at the Egyptian Museum I was again brought back to my first visit here. The court yard was dotted with palms and criss-crossed by marble side walks. We shortly learned that saying 'ana taliba' (I am a student) means nothing to the ticket sellers if you don't have the international students card...added to the 'things to do' list. The museum is full- and I mean FULL- of amazing artifacts; King Tut and all is notions, many mummies (which I was not about to pay another LE100 to see) jewels, statues, ect. the lack of full AC made the visit almost too long and many things started getting repetitive. I recall taking
pic where the guard tried to take my camera
there is a picture of me here at 14 so i had to get another one many photos the first time I was at the museum when I was younger, but apparently that is no longer allowed as I found out by a guard trying to take my camera. I think that he didn't have the balls enough to do it as I smiled and he gave it back to me. When Kelly and Kaneish went to look at the expensive mummies I took a stroll around the top floor where I found king Tut and all his sparkling gold jewelery and tomb things. I then took a seat and reviewed some Arabic, it was very nice.
Pressed for time once we got back to the dorms after a long time at the museum Kelly and I were going to grab a quick bite for dinner at the Coffee Bean which is a 5-10 min walk. A block away from the dorm I deiced to go straight as it would LOGICALLY take us to the rode that we want...but oh wait, many things aren't (western) logical in this city. After 15 minutes of being lost and standing on a corner looking at a map, a very nice little Egyptian lady tried her hardest to help us. Her English was very good, and she walked with us to the end of the street saying that this is what Egyptians do, "try to help regardless of nationality". She enlisted the help of a cab driver and soon we had about 5 people trying to get us to where we wanted to go, the only problem was non of them knew where what we were talking about. After the lady insisted that I take her mobile number if we need anymore help we parted with a many thanks and good-bye. In a moment of dyer weakness Kelly and I duck into the first restaurant that we see...KFC. I am ashamed to say that I ate at KFC in Cairo, I try to eat at places I don't have at home but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Since we had a disappointing dinner and sat through a pointless meeting- where they happened to provide pizza after- kelly and I returned to our room where my laundry pile was looming. For the past 2 days I had been checking the washing machine on every floor because the one on my floor and the one below don't work. Finally I found a working unoccupied machine...three floors down. Regardless, I grab my clothes and through them in. Kelly and I took a nice stroll to Alfa Market because we needed some snacks and CHOCODATES!!! (chocolate covered almond stuffed dates). During this visit- #3 since we moved in 4 days ago- we found lots of delicious (read fattening) goodies. Apple Fanta, very similar to sparkling apple juice but not healthy. I found the bakery where I got little bread sticks that have a bit of a chili flavor to them and black sesame seeds on them, very very delicious. Also a date filled pastry, it was very disappointing. I think it is what my cousin described to me and told me not to get, I must have been too blinded by my love of bake goods to think. Also nutella in a convenient tube, just squeeze it on and go. Oh, sometimes I just love this place.
On the stroll home we received a truck load of men saying 'welcome to Egypt' which is very common and one never really knows what they mean, I then again decided that there are things I do not love about this place. Laundry being another thing I do not love, I had to take my laundry out and search the floors for a working dryer. The one on my floor was working yesterday so I thought that was a safe bet...wrong again. I take my wet laundry out and head down stairs to find a working dryer. Success was found just one floor below, now I have clean clothes for a while when the search has to begin again.
all in all it was a pleasing day, we got to see different parts of the city and meet nice helpful people. I would say the ups of today make up for the downs.
ma salama,
erin
Advertisement
Tot: 0.068s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 6; qc: 44; dbt: 0.0388s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Aunt Lisa
non-member comment
wow
Wow, looks like you are having quite a time. Take lots of pictures. You and Kate have an open invitation to come up to Ct if you want when you are visiting NY. We are just one hour from the city. xoxoxo Aunt Lisa