Walking Like Egyptians

We were woken at 4:30am this morning—a typically glum situation rendered much happier by the arrival of our bags.  My fatigue after roaming Cairo in search of replacement underwear was easily overcome by my joy at changing out of the ill-fitting boxers that we eventually found and into something a little more comfy.  (Note: men’s underwear is perhaps the single most challenging item to purchase in all of Cairo.)

Our underwear adventure came on the heels of a fantastic day of sightseeing that included only one obvious scam that anyway allowed us to look out over the city from the top of a minaret.  All in all, it is a story perhaps best told in pictures…

Delicious coffee at Cilantro Café.  Very westernized coffee shop near our hotel.  The American University is nearby and many of the restaurants cater to ex-pats.

The Nile!

Off to Islamic Cairo and the The Khan el Khalili Market, where you can find…

…shoes!  Also, stuffed camels, shawls, gold, silver, trinkets, etc., etc., all at Great Prices  For You My Friend!

Also…cats:

While we were in Islamic Cairo, we found ourselves on a private tour with the Muezzin at a mosque…which was fantastic, but also cost us more in baqsheesh (tips) than we’d anticipated.  A memorable experience nonetheless, especially getting to climb one of the minarets.

Today (Saturday), we walked along the Nile to Coptic Cairo.  Lots of police presence due to the recent attack on Coptic Christians in Alexandria, but the city seemed very serene and safe.

We made a friend on the way.

And ended the day with a refreshing beer on the rooftop deck of the Osiris Hotel…

…as the sun set on Cairo.

Tomorrow we’re off on our Gap adventure, where we’ll finally see the pyramids!  An overnight train will then whisk us south to Aswan where we begin our trek back north along the Nile to Luxor…a trip that includes an overnight ride on a Felucca (which I mention mainly because I like saying the word Felucca).