Today I was up...the mosques do that for you at 5 am. I went back to sleep and then read my book. I finally got out of bed and had my walk through shower. A walk through shower is this: When the shower is hot and just when you get all lathered up it turns cold...that makes me squeak and walk through...!
I go to the front desk and ask Ahmed about going to Giza. He advises me that I should be back at the hostel at about 2pm as the celebration may get out of hand. Actually he says that they are expecting pro Mubarak protesters and that could make things sticky. I say okay, I'll be back. He gives me his phone number just in case I need it
I go to the front desk and ask Ahmed about going to Giza. He advises me that I should be back at the hostel at about 2pm as the celebration may get out of hand. Actually he says that they are expecting pro Mubarak protesters and that could make things sticky. I say okay, I'll be back. He gives me his phone number just in case I need it
.
I walk down the street to the Metro get on and head to the Giza station. After warding off a couple of touts I get on the bus and sit beside two girls. One of the women is getting the money together for the driver and I hand over my money to her. She gives me my change. All of about 20 cents? This is all handed to the driver and then there is a bit of conversation. The man beside me says that the driver wants double the fare from me. I say no. I say I pay the same as everyone else. The girls agree with me.
It is weird, you are driving through this suburb and then all of a sudden there is the Cheops pyramid. It is surreal.
At the end of the bus ride, of course, I am treated to a tour guide getting on and trying to get me to visit his place and they take me in the back way. The back way is the stalls for the donkeys, horses and camels. I am not impressed. I get out and walk in the direction of the gates. 60 Egyptian pounds. Very reasonable.
I walk down the street to the Metro get on and head to the Giza station. After warding off a couple of touts I get on the bus and sit beside two girls. One of the women is getting the money together for the driver and I hand over my money to her. She gives me my change. All of about 20 cents? This is all handed to the driver and then there is a bit of conversation. The man beside me says that the driver wants double the fare from me. I say no. I say I pay the same as everyone else. The girls agree with me.
It is weird, you are driving through this suburb and then all of a sudden there is the Cheops pyramid. It is surreal.
At the end of the bus ride, of course, I am treated to a tour guide getting on and trying to get me to visit his place and they take me in the back way. The back way is the stalls for the donkeys, horses and camels. I am not impressed. I get out and walk in the direction of the gates. 60 Egyptian pounds. Very reasonable.
Today, I decided to not say anything to the various touts. Saying Shukrah, or no thanks just fuels them. Not saying anything does seem to work. They must think I'm a mute. I keep my sunglasses on and so they can't see my eyes.
The Sphinx is smaller than I expected. It reminds me of the fish story...it was THIS BIG! But still an amazing piece of work for it's day. There is a tour group of about 50 Egyptian people and only about five foreigners. I hang a bit to see what the tour guide says about the Sphinx. The head of the Sphinx was a depiction of the king's head was for the great knowledge of the king, (it lost it's beard when it was shot off) and the body of the lion was to depict that the king was as strong as a lion.
Do you want to ride a horse lady? Ride a horse Lady? Ride a camel today for you 10 pounds? Somehow riding on a hot animal today doesn't seem to be cooler alternative to me. I walk around the site and visit the pyramids. Amazing. Not all the sites are open today. It only takes about 2 hours and the sun is hot so it is time for me to go.
I hope that the museum is open on Sunday. I hope, I hope.
I come back the way I came and the sisterhood is looking out for me again on the bus. It brings a smile to my face. I give a small child that was acting up my compass to play with...while I was getting to the next transfer spot. He looks at me in wonder and the mothers look at me and smiles....wonder what they are thinking?
I get back onto the Metro and off at Sadat Station which is where Tahrir Square is. The military are checking all people for identification and I'm asked to move over to where some women are checking women's ID. I pull out my passport and she opens it and I'm not sure she even knows what she is looking for. Oh, well, I'm in the square.
There are hundreds of thousands of people here. All peaceful. All welcoming. I have several welcome me to Egypt. Some want to talk to me. My arabic is limited at best so that doesn't work. I want to take some pictures. There is a flower box (no flowers) and a women extends her hand smiling down at me to help me up. They are painting the Egyptian flag on everyone's faces and they are selling Egyptian flags and bandanas. They are extremely organized. There is food and water for everyone. They are waving flags from the businesses and the houses around the square. Some men are climbing the monuments and waving flags. There is chanting and it is all peaceful. Amazing. It literally chokes me up. This is at 2pm.
The party goes on into the night. The fireworks come out and the people are dancing in the street and chanting. There comes a giant Egyptian flag being floated down the street on the backs of several Egyptians.
Signs saying "Support Freedom travel to Egypt".
Signs saying, "Please get our stolen money back."
All this was peaceful.
I am watching after dark from the rooftop of our hostel. I am just amazed at the number of people. Traffic winding it's way through the crowds and no one hurt. No fights. No alcohol. Nothing but celebration.
The largest party I've ever been to and it's extremely moving.
Music is playing and the sounds of gentle celebration continue. I'm lulled into sleep by the sounds of freedom for Egypt....
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