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Published: August 8th 2007
Harrods
Next level!Today we wake up in London, but tonight we’ll go to sleep in Egypt. I can dig it. But before I can go make googly eyes at Nefertiti—I choose her because Cleopatra’s men always ended in destruction…man, she must have had the goods!—we will first have to deal with Heathrow International Airport. This is the place where the whole plot to bring down airliners using liquids commenced, thus, making traveling worldwide even more painful than the post-9/11 days. It’s not just 100ml size containers for your liquids inside the little baggie, it’s only one carry-on. Not one personal bag plus a backpack or laptop, ONE bag period. And then there’s all the clueless people who congregate in the middle of the concourse just so that a cart has no room to maneuver: A) do I run over Meli or B) crash into a stranger? B, if I am forced to choose. The line to get to passport control was long. There was a fast track, but that was only for people flying first or business, my frequent flyer elite status couldn’t save us this time. Again, the rookies made everyone suffer. The people who saw those ahead of them
Brekkie
I'm about to smash being told “only one carry-on bag allowed” but somehow thought they were immune from this rule, slowed things down. The illiterates who passed sign after sign displaying the 100ml container plus zip-lock bag liquid restriction. The deaf who did not hear the stoic British gentleman with the non-American accent continually repeating all of these instructions. It was them. They’re the ones responsible for the inefficiencies this time, not the British equivalent of TSA. It’s the people. Have the people, and not TSA, been the cause for blame all this time? Will I have to soften my disdain towards that facet of the American government? Even if I’m not forced to choose, the answer to the aforementioned question is an unequivocal B.
Far Out Brekkie I digressed. Brekkie this morning is at Giraffe, a hip restau-bar-lounge. Giraffe's winning philosophy is to provide a relaxed, comfortable dining experience with a focus on healthy and ethical eating. A global, hippy, trippy place. Check them out:
www.giraffe.net. On day one, we walked passed here and were intrigued, but never got around to it. No day but today! Giraffe is very inviting, with their treasured cocktails that are 2-for-1 during Happy Hour advertised on
Brekkie
There are bananas in between the window menu and on every table. The staffers remind me of, and I hope I’m not insulting anyone here, their counterparts in Oz. Not quite on the level of Tim at Kat Bahloo’s, but terribly friendly, no doubt. Don’t speak! The pictures do justice to the meal: pancakes topped with blueberry sauce and bananas in between and fried eggs on focaccia with portabellos on the side.
Sorry Marcelo Family! Meme has found a new home The last two items on our check list are to see Harrods and to try to gather receipts in hopes of collecting the nauseating 17.5%!V(MISSING)AT we’ve been accruing with each purchase. I’ll kill the suspense; we didn’t get one pence at the airport, which only adds to my diatribe above. We first go to the Palace Theater, where we are told that the receipt given to us had a VAT number on it and that’s all that’s needed. This saves us a trip back to Naram Carmicie. Harrods humbles us with ease. I once said Ibn Battuta Mall was the finest shopping establishment we’ve ever seen. It’s been displaced. Ibn’s is eye candy. Harrods is a gourmet dessert, like a tomate confite
Harrods
Memorial shrine to Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed. farcie aux douze saveurs—I can’t wait to get to Paris. And chances are, they actually have that very item. It’s lush, lavish, luxurious, laced with the best (I’m out of L words). On the lower level is a shrine dedicated to Princess Diana and Dodi al Fayed. The Fayed’s are Egyptian and the theme is obvious in the store. When we first arrived, Meli picked up a directory that also had a “list of things to do while in Harrods.” She is most excited about the To Do item that involves receiving a free sample of “product” from M Lab. The woman asks Meli what product she uses and then hooks her by distancing their company from the Dermalogicas and Vichys of the world. Their cosmetics are medically based. “Medically”. The doctor-to-be is sold. Well, interested in the free samples. She doesn’t buy anything. We can’t afford it. Our next mission is to get a little sumthin sumthin as a “hello and thanks for hosting us” gift for Cairo, and we’re figuring some food product from Harrod’s would be nice. Besides, Meli wants to see the chocolate room. And oh did she see it. Again, forget Ibn Battuta Mall, Meli
Harrods
The colors are too perfect for these to be real fruits and vegetables. Guess again. wants to live right here, in the chocolate room or maybe even the seafood room. There were candies and chocolates of all types, some mimicking colorful fruit perfectly. I don’t think Meli wanted to leave the room, but we had a schedule to adhere to, so she got a box of delicate little batons of milk chocolate and hazelnut. Tying for “best room ever” was the meat and seafood room, where you could purchase the freshest of everything or sit down and have some sushi or oysters. Were it not for the fact that they oyster bar was closed, Meli would have taken out a bank loan to try those yummy delicacies. It is just next level.
Friggin’ Murphy Now, it’s back to the Great Eastern to gather our schtuff, but not before turning in our Oyster Cards and getting back the deposit, which will be used pay for our trip to the airport. The trek from Liverpool Street to Heathrow is 90 minutes long. I told Meli this morning that we should leave earlier than normal because you just don’t know what will happen with the Tube. While generally reliable, most subway systems experience problems more often when
Harrods
Aphrodisiac you have a flight to catch. Sure enough, the train ahead of ours malfunctions about 5 stops from the airport. We switch trains and get within one stop of the airport before we are told to exit and take the next train to get to Terminal 4. Not a malfunction, it’ll get us there faster than going around the entire airport by staying on the train we’re on. Murphy’s Law: if something can go wrong, it will. I was kinda kidding when I mentioned that the Tube could break down, but a lot of truth is said in jest.
Heathrow is a zoo today. I’ve already provided the requisite details to support this notion. The British Airways Lounge is relaxing. There is no free wireless (W.T.F.) but computer terminals available. There is also a mini-buffet with French Onion soup, salad, salami and other cold cuts, cheese, crackers, and a full bar. With Oz on the brain, I choose Shiraz.
Cairo, where even in the dark you can see the light Ah…the Mother Land! It’s nice to be back. We get in after midnight and first stand in line to pay for an entry visa. Meme wants a multiple
Harrods
Crustaceans entry visa because she is leaving for the USA in three days but returning to Cairo before meeting me in Paris. The language barrier prevails and we are both charged U$15. Hmmm, there is no way the single entry visa and the multiple entry visa are the same price. We reiterate that we want a multiple entry visa for Meme; in return we get smiles and head nods and “it’s ok.” At 1am, in Cairo airport, this is not the battle to fight. Let’s hope he got it right. Tito Armando and his driver are waiting for us. He’s holding a sign with our names on it. That’s money!
From the airport, we drive through Nasr City and on the highway where the Unknown Soldier Memorial is located, where Anwar Sadat is buried. We also pass the stands that Sadat stood in while watching the annual military parade celebrating the "successful" campaigns during the 1973 Egypt-Israeli conflict. Overlooking the city is the famous Cairo Citadel. The Mosque of Mohamed Ali is illuminated, its towering minarets reaching for the stars. Once in Maadi, the area where Tito Armando and Tita Marie lives, an area of predominantly diplomats, they show us
Harrods
The Oyster Bar didn't open until 11am. Otherwise, Meli would have been there. Who am I kidding? We couldn't afford it even if it was open. BTW, this picture was taken at 10:48 am. to our room, give us towels, and demonstrate the workings of the A/C in our room. I can already tell, this trip is going to be HOT!
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Mandell
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What up cousins? It appears somebody will definitely have some working out to do when they get back....those pancakes look serious.....send a brother a plate. Great talking to both of you last week...glad all is well...just booked my travels to SF for the big week.....we will get ignorant at the ceremony...you know how we do....run hard!!!!