CAIRO = CHOREOGRAPHED CHAOS

Yep, it's here. The end of the first travel leg, Istanbul to Cairo, is complete. We are at the Sun Hotel in Cairo, close to the Egyptian Museum. (It's about a jillion times better than the Cairo joining hotel last year - the loathsome Bluebird.)


Yesterday was a loonnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggg, hot kinda cranky day with group dynamics in full play. We woke up at 2:30AM to make the long climb up Mt. Sinai for sunrise. I rode a camel most of the way up, which was awesome and star/moonlit and very bibical-esque and much kinder to my nether regions than those of the men's. I jolted awake a couple times, realizing it was probably not the best idea to fall asleep on a sheer cliff when I was not tied on to my beast.


Stumbly, rocky walk back down the mount and then onto Daphne for the drive to Cairo. Grumbling bag consolidation at the side of road to make unloading at hotel easier. Endless drive around Cairo, in worst traffic of trip, attempting to find the hotel. Everything out of the truck for those of us not continuing down to Cape Town. Noticed that one of those onward travelers already snagged my net the moment I unloaded it. Thought I lost the bag with the remaining Kitty money in the chaos, but had only over-organized. Ignored requests to leave behind things like "shampoo, lotion, wet wipes" so onward travelers don't have to spend their own money to buy more. (Never, and I mean NEVER, have I seen the level of cheapness & moochiness that I have seen on this trip.) Nice hot showers restored equilibrium, at least on a surface level.


Went to a great "last group dinner" at a place called Felfela. Well, all but three pax who decided they'd had enough of group dynamics - oh, about two weeks ago. Kofta, kabobs, rice tangine, saucy little vegetables, red wine. Delish. But one of those situations where people throw the money they've decided they owe on the table and immediately leave, thereby resulting in a large shortage that has to be funded by the few responsible parties that are still at the table. Seriously? Seriously. My blood doth boil. I HATE stingy people and those who assume others don't mind chipping in extra for them. ERG.


A few of us went out with one of the locals (Sammy) to a pub for some beers. Beers were good, his teeth were not. Crazy black stumps and gaping holes are us. Accompanied by very close and in-your-face comments. Whew. Literally.


Many of us were up all night making good use of communal bathrooms. Perhaps Felfela was not as good as it seemed???? UGH.


One hundred percent of kitty duties fulfilled this morning, with the happy ending of a $29 refund to each pax. WHOO HOO!!!!! Changing to a private room for tonight and tomorrow, and flying out to Nairobi tomorrow night . . . where oh where does the time go.


HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE AT HOME!