Cairo Traffic

I have been assured that you have to pass a test and get a license to drive in Cairo. But, from the looks of the traffic, I find that hard to believe. People don't appear to obey any traffic rules. So crossing the super crowded streets on foot, when people don't even use lanes, is a challenge. It's like human frogger. But I am slowly developing the skill of walking like an Egyptian. When I feel like I can't I find an Egyptian to use as a human shield. They don't seem to mind. But I think crossing the street is one of my favorite parts of life in Egypt.

Still at the park

So I met this Egyptian named Ragab who has been showing me around Cairo. It's fun. He's nice. Whatever. An Australian guy had this guitar that he made at the park so I had to play it :) He was taking pictures of people all around the world playing his guitar. On the entry ticket to the park it said, twice, not to bring musical instruments. In English, even. Nobody arrested him that I saw, though.

Al Azhir Park

Or maybe it's Al-Azhar park. Or maybe it's not either. It's a park that's on the edge of Cairo and overlooks a lot of the town. I think it's privately owned and so it's kept really clean. The view is nice and there is a breeze. On a clear day, like this day, you can see two of the pyramids at Giza.

Around Talaat Harb

A few pictures from around my hotel. This is a nice area downtown and there are some good places to get cheap food.

Egyptian food

Here is my favorite food so far in Egypt. It's called kushari.

More around the Dahab Hostel

Here are a few more from around the hostel. I have a lot more pictures but it might get boring since they're all lot alike. There is a picture of the elevator here. It doesn't have a hole in the floor. I guess they fixed that. It has an elevator attendant who pushes the buttons and opens the doors for you. I need to tip him but I haven't so far. I figure I'll wait till I leave and give him one big tip.
So, my hotel is pretty cheap. About $6.25 per night. I paid 500EP for 14 days.

Views of Cairo

Here are some views from my room. I have a nice window that gives plenty of air and ha a great view of lots of buildings. If the buildings weren't in the way you could see the Nile from my room, easy. The beds are big foam mattresses, but pretty comfortable. The pillows are rock solid, so I'm glad I brought an inflatable.

Dahab Hostel

I made it to Cairo but nobody was there to meet me at the airport. I was supposed to confirm with the hostel about picking me up, but I couldn't get an email through b/c their account was always full. So I waited, hoping, but had to take a taxi anyway. I paid 60 pounds at the airport counter and then I tipped the driver 20 more. I know that was too much. But I didn't quite know what else to do.
So I got here and got my cute little room. Yes, there is no AC and no fan, but 7 floors up you don't need it. There is, so far, a constant wind and the room is very cool at night. There are communal bathrooms and showers but when I showered last night the water wasn't hot, but I hear that if you wait long enough it is.
There are cats that live here and have the run of the place. They feed them cat food, which is better than the table scraps that most cats around here get.
There are people staying here from, so far that I've met, the US, Germany, France, England, Holland, Australia, and Japan. I've been listening to the Germans converse just to practice.
My Egyptian Arabic is not too good, but I can say enough to make people happy and then pantomime the rest.