Pollution, Pigs and Pyramids

Cairo. It's not stinky the way Bangkok is, but boy is it polluted! There is a very thick layer of smog and dust enveloping Cairo, and the cloud never appears to lift. Buildings get lost in the smog - it's pretty foul.

I met my new best friend in my room - Riani. She's 24, South African, an intern (who hasn't seen Grey's Anatomy!!! I told her to get the DVD) and my new friend and fearless leader. She's been hijacked, shot at and has saved people's lives and can speak all these African languages which she says at the Egyptians to bamboozle them. It's great. Anyway - she being the fearless leader, I basically follow her around. And lucky for me - our first outing for food in Cairo involved some freak (i.e PIG) groping me as I walked past him. What the?? Riani got groped as well somewhere else, and so she yelled something African and magical at the guy, and he ran away in a very Napoleon Dynamite-esque manner. he he he... We couldn't find the restaurant our tour leader told us to go to, and since everywhere else is apparently too hardcore for our delicate Western stomachs we ended up at KFC (I am SO ashamed, but it's better than food poisoning) where we were leered at by every single male in the restaurant. We kept searching around the streets afterwards, but realised it wasn't the best district to be in - there were no women anywhere, and the word "Hello" had suddenly taken on a slightly more sinister tone. (insert spooky music obviously).

We went to the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza which were just the COOLEST! My God they are HUGE!!! I pity the poor bastards that had to build them!!! It was a little hard to see the tops because of the pollution, but they were amazing. And the armed guards were on camel back, which was hilarious. Camels run pretty fast though. Mental note for Mt Sinai. eek!!! And there were all these weirdo guys trying to take pictures of Western girls and hold our hand. Yucky. Again - "hello" is best not responded to.

After that we had Egyptian take-away - felafel in pita! It was so yummy! And it cost about 50 cents!!! Then we had a papyrus demonstration which was bloody boring, but I bought some anyway. Joy. My first purchase in Egypt.