First days in Cairo

This will now be my fourth time in Egypt and by this point when I come it's like returning back home to somewhere very familiar. It's crowded, noisy, dusty, and I love it. It is exciting to be here with someone who never has before because I get to see her impressions and hear her opinion of Egypt! On our first night we arrived too late to do anything but check in at our hostel, so the next morning we started out at a great welcome to the country: The Egyptian Museum.

Front of the Egyptian Museum

It's good that they are soon to open a new, modern building because the current museum leaves a lot to be desired. The two most exciting exhibits are quite astounding (King Tut and Mummy rooms), but the rest is not well organized, displayed, or labeled. There are hundreds of artifacts just sitting in various rooms but no one knows what they are because there is no name, date, or label. Nevertheless Egyptian history is fascinating and hieroglyphics and statues never fail to impress me.

After we treated Marissa to her first koshary experience (koshary is a very Egyptian food and my favorite thing to eat here! It is a mixture of all kinds of carbohydrates- pasta, rice, lentils, chickpeas, onions, and tomato sauce on top. Delicious for vegetarians!)

On the Nile

In the evening we toured the city some more- saw the Nile, Cairo Tower, and of course watched more of the World Cup! Later we got to meet up with some good friends who I only get to see once a year, if I am really lucky. We also got to eat fuul, another Egyptian specialty, which are fava beans mixed with a few vegetables and spices. A popular and now favorite place is in Garden City by the American Embassy. Just a cart in the street with some picnic chairs and tables, it has some of the best fuul in Cairo.

Our second day we dedicated to seeing the pyramids. Even though it was my second time there they never fail to amaze and impress. This time I was able to enter the second pyramid. To go inside you have to crawl down a long ramp with stairs, yet down a very small space (not good for claustrophobia!) After going down and up again you reach the tomb chamber. It is not very impressive to the eyes now because all was taken to the Museum, now all that remains is the sarcophagus of the pharaoh and the realization that you are in the complete middle of the pyramid. 100 meters up and you reach the top!

In the afternoon I got to see some more old friends and watch Argentina lose their chance at the World Cup. I also had to take another trip to the eye doctor, though this time was more successful. At least I'm getting to visit a doctor in every country that I go to. We watched more football at night, which luckily Spain one that time, and after we got ready for traveling to Mt. Sinai and Sharm el Sheikh the next day.

Cairo by night