Looking Back on Cairo.

First, I want to share some thoughts on Cairo and Egyptian culture that I never got around to posting (both positive and negative, and some ironies); and also I want to list a few things that when I arrived in Cairo thought were CRAZY! and by the time I left took them for granted (similar to what my cousin Alexis did in a previous blog post a few months ago)...

- the most obvious is crossing the streets (there are no stop lights/stop signs and very little if any actual driving laws)...to cross, you just step out into traffic and hope the taxis stop on time (no joke); also, it helps to keep walking because then cars will aim to miss you...it's quite ridiculous and took some getting used to
- a culture devoted to prayer, where Islam is not just a religion but a way of life
- Koran in the door of a lingerie store
- walking down the street seeing women from being completly covered and veiled to much more contemporary outfits with bright colors, jeans and head scarves
- cell phones in the desert on camal rides
- having to go through metal detectors at every tourist site which our useless (they always go off and the guards just wave you through)
- guards with AK-47s who are usually sleeping
- people always reading their Koran
- corruption and poor work ethic (the tourist police would often give "tours" in which they would point to a red painting and say this is red, etc, - NOT exageratting - and then demand a tip for their "services")
- people won't help you without asking for a tip (difference between business friendships and genuine friendships are quite different, as I met some very nice and amicable people in Egypt)
- restoratio nwork to monuments (using technology)
- American restaurants (McD's, Pizza Hut, KFC, Chili's)

- CM