After a long flight and a stop in CDG Paris we arrived in Cairo. Bryan had decided to use his old mission hardcover suitcase one more time. After waiting, waiting, waiting it finally arrived all wrapped in Delta Airline plastic. I don't know when it popped open but he definitely can feel okay about throwing it out now (but he probably will keep it anyway. We only lost one thing -our new $55 dollar memory card. Probably made us a little careful about taking pictures. Otherwise you probably would have seen a picture of his suitcase wrapped with the pretty orange rope that he used the rest of the trip.
Egypt was having their first vote. The polls were closed at 7:00 but we were taking this picture around 9:30 and on the left hand side you might see the line of people that were waiting to vote at the police station there.. They just kept coming. The people were so proud of the turnout and of how many women voted. It's a fun time to be there. There is a lot of history at this hotel too. Egyptian rulers, Churchill, FDR and Chiang Kai-shek for the Cairo conference. Carter, Sadat and Begin in 1979 for the peace talks. During the First World War, an Austrian officer was caught naked chasing a woman through the hotel corridors. In his defense, he quoted an Austrian army regulation which stated that an officer may wear any costume appropriate to the sport in which he is engaged.
You quickly feel the baksheesh (tipping) pressure. They tell you to bring lots of dollar bills. Someone is holding a sign and helps you through the visa and customs process and helps get you out of the airport. Tip. A porter takes your bag. Tip. A tour company rep and driver pick you up. Tip and Tip. We didn't tip the man who showed us where our room was but did tip the hotel porter. The dollars are going fast.
Then we see the view out of our window and the flowers in the room and in the tub and the fruit and cookies by the bed and the tiredness goes away (well not really) but you do feel relaxed and happy. Aaah! I Can't believe we are here looking across the street at the Great Pyramid of Giza. The only remaining ancient 7 wonders of the world. Crazy.
Egypt was having their first vote. The polls were closed at 7:00 but we were taking this picture around 9:30 and on the left hand side you might see the line of people that were waiting to vote at the police station there.. They just kept coming. The people were so proud of the turnout and of how many women voted. It's a fun time to be there. There is a lot of history at this hotel too. Egyptian rulers, Churchill, FDR and Chiang Kai-shek for the Cairo conference. Carter, Sadat and Begin in 1979 for the peace talks. During the First World War, an Austrian officer was caught naked chasing a woman through the hotel corridors. In his defense, he quoted an Austrian army regulation which stated that an officer may wear any costume appropriate to the sport in which he is engaged. 
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