CAIRO!

I AM IN CAIRO EGYPT on the AFRICAN CONTINENT! I don’t think it has sunk in yet, but I had my first glimpse of the pyramids as we drove to our hotel. (Right - on the bus ready to head to the border crossing! I'm not going to list everyone here because that would just take too long). This morning we loaded the buses early to go to the Egyptian border. We arrived at the border and crossed it relatively problem free. The only hitch was just before we were to cross into Egypt, we had to wait. Our travel agent was late and HE had out visas. Without that, we couldn’t cross into Egypt. So, we sat (or stood as it was) and played games.
Finally our agent showed up. We got out visas and crossed the border into Egypt. I wish I could have taken a picture of the welcome to Egypt sign. (Left - Map of the Egyptian Taba Border Area. This was the best I could do of getting a picture of the border. It is a military zone). We got to our new buses and took a long time loading them. We were going to drive down along the edge of the Sinai Peninsula for safety purposes (to avoid coming close to Gaza), but we went across instead. We only did that because we had a military escort (one in front and one in back) the entire way to the Suez Canal. I guess they weren’t even sure if we would be able to get to Egypt because they had shut down that crossing into Egypt completely, to keep the refugees from going into the main part of Egypt, but we have connections and so were able to get that escort.
We drove under the Suez Canal, and then stopped just past it for a short break before continuing on. It took a long time to get to Cairo. (Right - my first real glimpse of Egypt from the bus). That is partly because at one point our bus driver stopped the bus, got out without saying anything, walked across the street, stuck out his thumb and bummed a ride. We didn’t really know what was going on, but we got out to stretch and take pictures. He came back soon after. I guess the bus was low on oil and he had to go get some.
But the other problem was traffic, Cairo traffic. I was so relieved to make it to our hotel, the Oasis Hotel in Giza. We crossed the Nile to get here, and saw the Pyramids while we drove. It was incredible and rather surreal. I still can’t believe I am in Egypt!

In the Desert Crossing the NileFirst View of the Pyramids