Cairo: The Preface

We get off the plane in Cairo at 1:30AM. In line for customs, we see a man with my name on a valet sign. I had requested a car from the airport so we hail him down. He quickly introduces himself and holds out his hand for our passports and $15 for the Egyptian visa. We give him what he wants, and as we watch him power walk away Camille let's out a "uhmmmmmmm, guys???". Oh shit moment number one of the trip: check. Don't worry, this guy was legit, he got us our visas without a bribe (which is apparently require for most foreigners trying to get visas) and quickly whisks us through the Diplomat passport control.

Hurling down the interstate at 120KPHs in the median used to not phase me in Morocco, but I guess I've been spoiled by 2 full years of the US and its "traffic laws". I spent most of the trip holding on for life but the few glances I steal out the window remind me I've been transported to another side of the world. Street signs scribbled in handwritten Arabic, traffic jams caused by watermelon vendors standing in the middle of the street hawking their goods to passing cars, mosques transcending the nondescript skyline, dirt run-off from the streets mixing with trash to turn curbs into ramps, and all the while the quasi-banter between two people that barely speak the same language with the cab driver. When we arrive at the hotel 45 minutes later, its apparent we're not in Kansas anymore.

I wonder why we've stopped for so long at the hotel gate as a German Shepard and a machine gun armed guard check the underside of the car for bombs. We pass through a metal detector and x-ray machine and I hand my passport to the front desk for check in. The desk man's tired eyes perk up, and someone hits the big red button in the middle of the desk. "Mr. Passarello we've been expecting you," as the tan suit clad hotel manager arises from his slouching on the sofa nap to introduce himself. Even though we're not supposed to check in for another 13 hours, they have our deluxe suite ready for habitation. Guess they don't get too many SPG members.

As much as I appreciated the personal tour of the whole hotel, I just wanted to go to bed, so I was relieved when we were left alone in our room. Not thirty seconds later, I can't sleep. The very idea of sleep is laughable, because I HAD to see the pyramids. I drag an equally drowsy Derek and Camille outside to catch a glimpse of the last existing wonder of the ancient world. We round the corner of the pool deck where they should be visible from, and all squint into the 3am darkness.

"...those're it?".

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