I’ve been remiss in keeping the ol’ family blog updated. In some cases it’s the same old domestic banality just in a foreign land and language (where hilarity and daily doses of humiliation ensue). In other cases, it’s trying to respect my kids’ request for privacy (soooo hard and sooooo boring). More often, it is a overabundance of blessings that keeps me from documenting every single trip. But Egypt was different. It was different in so many ways. And even though I could write for days on our very short time there, I will start with a brief overview and some pictures for posterity.
Egypt is a trip of a lifetime but I honestly don’t know if I could recommend it to just anyone. It’s right there on the edge for me. It’s definitely not comfortable. But it is amazing. It looks like a heavily polluted war zone in places, but it’s also mindbendingly beautiful. It’s definitely a different culture, language, landscape, and government. But their crime is lower than in the US and I didn’t worry about pickpockets or thieves there like I do in NY, Rome, Lisbon, etc. There’s abject poverty, but few beggars or pan handlers. There is grit and dirt and dust and sand, but there is still love and laughter and children playing. There is terrible exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke everywhere, but there’s also the smells of jasmine, incense, and cinnamon. Some areas seem like dull, endless sand-colored piles of rubble and rubbish. But then the tent makers market makes you realize there’s more colors and patterns in this world than your imagination can hold. I wish we had a second day to go back through the markets. I felt the first day was spent trying to get our bearings and trying not to stand out (spoiler: impossible). I really wanted more time there. Speaking of standing out: Meredith and I both felt uncomfortably different the first couple days without headscarves, despite many people telling us it was ok not to wear one. To our eyes, we were very much in the minority, and it was only in the last two days when we wore head scarves all day long that we felt more at ease and less obvious.
The pyramids were amazing but the true treasure of Egypt is its people. We met amazing, welcoming people (who kindly did not bring up American politics). My heart breaks for them because of the downturn in tourism. The economy is truly suffering. While we were there 9 people were killed at a Coptic Church 28 km outside Cairo. That will only drive more tourists away. We also had the distinct pleasure of being invited to a co-worker’s wedding celebration. What a fun evening experiencing a new culture in a completely genuine and joyous way.
For those who are lucky enough to go, unless you are fluent in Arabic and are savvy to the chaotic traffic patterns, you must have a guide and a driver. You must be prepared for checkpoints. You must be prepared for a constant presence of heavily armed men. If you get the opportunity to go to Cairo, you may not have a relaxing vacation, but you will get to see a very different part of the world, especially if you have never ventured out of Europe and North America. And in the current climate you will have world treasures practically to yourselves. No real lines or crowds until tourism picks back up and your dollar or euro will take you very far. I am so glad we had the opportunity to visit.
View From Our Summit 