Mid-Adventure Funk

Today was not a happy day. Everyone was cranky, nothing went as planned, and the energy level in the group is at an all-time low. Originally, Michael told us that he train would be getting into Cairo between 6 and 7 am, so everyone was prepared for an early wake up call around 530 for breakfast and such. Personally, if I know I have to get up early, I’m awake for 2 hours before that, half dozing and checking the clock. Well, breakfast came at 7:30 and the train didn’t get in to Cairo until 9, so everyone was already cranky from being told the wrong information and having an interrupted night of sleep. We then found out that we could not check in to our hotel early. So, from a sweaty, sticky night of sleeping on the train, we went straight to the Citadel.

The Citadel was pretty cool, and the mosque interesting as well. They make all the girls cover up upon entering, but apparently my kosher outfit was totally hallal, too – they just made me wrap a shall over my arms and neck, as opposed to dawning a full-on gown. 

From the Citadel we went to the Hel Hallal (?) market which, from the itinerary, sounds like a traditional souk. False. This is just another tourist market where they sell you endless pyramids, sphinxes, and scarves. A totally unnecessary hour and a half spent in the heat, hot, sweaty, tired, and hungry.

Today also happened to be Karolina’s birthday, and Michael was determined to do something very nice for her. So, the intentions were there as we rushed through our lightning-fast lunch at Hard Rock Café. Karolina was sung to by the whole staff and stood on a chair as the staff and everyone in the restaurant danced to  La Bomba . However, the whole thing was very strange. We were rushed through lunch, only allowed to order one drink, and Karolina barely had time to eat a slice of her birthday cake before we were rushed out and into taxis home. The whole thing made very little sense and we never found out why we were pushed out of there so quickly.

When we got back to the hotel Michael gave us our briefing on our trip to Mt. Sinai the next day, pissing some people off in the process. He can be very nice and helpful, but he can also be quite the moody asshole. He doesn’t like to be questioned and I really think he resents our group’s need to understand his directions. The need wasn’t there before, perhaps, but I’ve started asking many questions and that got the group started. So, I’m on his shit list now.

We spent the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel. At night, we redeemed our funkified day by having one of the best meals of the trip at a restaurant not far from our hotel called Falfalel. 

They served traditional Egyptian food, along with pasta. Only two of us were brave enough to try new things (me included, of course) and everyone else got the pasta. We washed it all down with a couple of beers (HURRAH for restaurants that serve alcohol, they are few and far between in Muslim countries) We headed home early in anticipation of our 5:30am wake up call!