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Published: September 11th 2008
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Have had a major culture shock recently. This week I have traveled through Egypt on my own and it has been tough to say the least. No one speaks english and I have been ripped off left, right and centre. But all is good...... because I am now in Alexandria and feeling very historically minded and cultured.
It is currently Ramadaan here which means that everyone is fasting until 6pm everyday. This is a big problem because things are very quiet during the day.Yesterday I ate Mc Donalds by myself in the middle of this food court at a massive shopping centre. I was the only one eating and lots of people were staring at me. Very uncomfortable! Slowly but surely I am getting use to the stares because of my dress and revealing flesh (on my arms) but it still creeps me out a bit.
My hotel overlooks the mediterranean ocean and I have perfect views on the 10th floor. Luckily this makes up for the bad, bad decor and lumpy bed. No-one in the hotel speaks english and it's really difficult to order food. So I have been eating lots and lots of cake! Because thats all
The head of Akhenaten
King of the 18th Dynasty. He ruled for 17 years. I know how to say in Arabic! cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I tried ordering fries but the bought me boiled eggs!!!!!! go figure!!!!
So yesterday I was in this huge shopping centre trying to find the post office but much to my amazement no one could speak english.... and I was ready to give up when this lovely guy offered to help me out as he could speak english. He was soo nice that he took me to the post office then escorted me to a taxi and then offered to take me out for dinner that night. Oh Rachelle, Rachelle, I should know by now that nothing is ever free!!!! So at this point many things go through your head, killer! rapist! or lonely dinner all by myself. I told him I would meet him at the restaurant at 6! (good intuition kicked in!)
I headed back to the hotel and fell asleep.... only to wake up at exactly 6, so then the mad rush was on and I was only 20 minutes late. I thought this was very good timing! When I got there he said he had something to show me and I
am thinking......... oh oh! but he walks me to this beautiful palace where we sat and watched the sunset oooohhhhh. Then we caught a cab to the beach and drank cocktails etc. All in all things were going quite well and then I start to think..... mmmmmm this is sounding and looking more and more like a date........... and that is not sitting well with me so I suggest we head back to the restaurant for dinner. This is the part I call arabic men showing their true colours!!!!!
He wanted to spend the whole night with me and was going on and on about how it was our destiny....... and I was getting the shits (angry to all you europeans and canadians) We finally went to this great seafood restaurant. The food was awesome and the prawns were massive. All was going great and back on track until OMG! he got down on one knee and said that he had always dreamed of marrying a western girl, would I be his wife. I must say that I have gone over this moment in my head many times in my life, there are a few men in my time
that I had hoped would pop the question..... but this was not how my dream proposal went. I was speechless until I told him he was crazy and then I asked him to take me back to my hotel. He started to become even more persistent suggesting the night was young (it was 11pm) and he wanted to show me many other places. EEEEWWWWW he even grabbed my hand and kissed it EEEEEWWWWWW. Finally I got so angry that I gave him my stern teacher look and said 'It's my holiday and I can do what I want, and I want to go back to the hotel now. If you don't take me i'll catch a cab' with that he took me to the hotel and told me he was very angry. I got out and he left.
Man, it was such hard work. These guys are really possessive. But all is good and I laugh to myself now. All along people have said to me that I should meet some locals and let them show me a good time...... so I do this and look where it gets me!
The following day I headed off to do
the tourist thing. I started in the Alexandrian library which is one of, if not the largest one in the world. Here I was able to view information about one of the seven ancient wonders of the world- The Lighthouse. This is where archeologists have found many ancient ruins from the time of Alexandria. The first ruins discovery was only made in the 1990's and they still find things today. You are able to go for a dive to see the ruins that have not been unearthed but my adventure underwater still remains a challenge and I am happy to view the ruins they have put on display. I also visited the roman ampithetre and had lunch at the Cecil hotel. The day was great and ended with dinner (cake) at Delices. I have fallen in love with Mango juice here in Egypt, drinking at least 5 a day. It's the real deal, pulp and all.
Throughout my time in Alexandria I lost count of the amount of males that whistled, hooted and proposed marraige to me and by 7pm I locked myself in the hotel just for the peace. Alexandria is a very interesting place but one I
am glad to see the back of.
I am currently back in Cairo staying at a really nice hotel. I have spent 2 days relaxing by the pool and have not left the saftey of these walls. I can see the pyramids from my bedroom window..... very cool!
Tomorrow I begin my peregrine tour through Egypt so I will have lots to share in my next blog. I have really enjoyed this last few days of down time and am ready for my next adventure..... ooooooo how exciting!!!!
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Dave
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HA HA
Sorry to say but i found this a very funny read! Hate to be in your run in with the english speaking local situation (Well the male locals in general) but i would of thought after teaching so many back chatting "Middle Eastern" kids you would have some good one liners. haha I bet the Seafood was worth it compared to cake or boiled eggs for breakfast/ lunch/ dinner haha