Egypt Contiki: Leaving home

Waking up on the morning of our date of departure, I went into my sister’s room with my first moment of doubt.

“I may have underestimated six months”.

“Too late now”, she said.

I was leaving home for the longest time in my 21 years. After a teary farewell at the airport, two nine hour flights and a bout of food poisoning, we made it to our first destination, Cairo, Egypt. 

 

International departures, Melbourne Airport

During the drive from the airport I experienced a huge culture shock. Cairo definitely did not look like Melbourne. I noticed rubbish lining the streets, unfinished apartment buildings, and particulalry the different road rules. Not only were people driving on the opposite side to Australia, they seemed to be obeying no rules at all. It was simultaneously scary, exciting and intriguing.

Cars double and triple parked in the streets

Although we fought sleep, landing at 5am in the morning with the time zone difference encouraged us to check into our hotel, and take a little nap. Alarm was turned  off at 2pm, and at 7pm we finally stirred. Jetlag sucks.

Hungry and keen to explore Cairo, we got directions to a restaurant located on 26^th of July Street. Not able to read any of the street signs and still half asleep, we wandered the streets before going back to bed without dinner.

Then, at 4:30am, a strange noise came from out in the streets. Right outside our window.

There were trumpets, a voice over a loudspeaker. Singing.

Prayer call.

Omg, so loud.

This happened again at 5am, and several times throughout the day. Would not expect to hear this in Melbourne!

Livi taking in Cairo from our hotel window

Our first real day in Cairo we met our new roommate and decided we would venture outside again to buy food when a lady staying in the hotel overheard us and offered to take us to a restaurant.

She was later called the crazy lady.

Claiming she knew her way around the city she took us through winding streets, past shops and street side markets. She even tried to put us into a cab, going “to the bazaar, of course”.

Deciding to fend for ourselves, we made our way back to the hotel in a cab (who knows where this woman took us) for some traditional spaghetti bolognese.  As we were advised not to drink the water in Egypt, we were very careful about fresh foods washed in water and which hadn’t been cooked. Fair to say we ate a lot of bread and pasta.

That night we met our Contiki group, and finally found the restaurant, GAD, on 26^th of July Street. Success! Interestingly, a margherita pizza came out with vegetables on top.

An early night was essential to combat jetlag, and to prepare for the massive day ahead. Also to brace ourselves for the 4:30am prayer-call-wake-up-call.

Yours in jetlag, Nikki