Egypt

Egypt...Going I didn't even have any expectation really...except for that I thought it would be cheap...I couldn't have been more wrong about that! :( The first place we went the couple leaving warned us that the owner there will get every cent we have out of us...and he tried...we actually had to make a run for it after shoving some money at an employee there for the one night we stayed. The city is huge with a sea of old dilapidated (most half finished concrete buildings With all the roof tops piled with trash and satellite dishes mounted on top...including our hotels. We switched hotels 3 times and ended up trying "the 4* hotel in the tourist area"...the place had it's day once I'm sure...In 1950 it was probably the place to stay, but they hadn't even upgraded a thing since...still the original carpet and several floors (that the rickety elevators would randomly stop at) were dedicated just to dumping garbage. There was a big pool there, so at least we had a little respite from the heat, so we stayed. (And swam in my bikini despite the stares from the muslim women covered from head to toe) The city of Cairo just really had nothing appealing about it besides the pyramids (that are in the city) Every alley, rooftop, vacated building or any open space is piled with trash. The air is so thick with pollution and dust when we would take a picture at night all you can see it the dust reflecting off the flash. All of that aside, the worst part was the hustlers...they are everywhere. You may think they are just being friendly to point you in the right direction, but they want money, and even then, as it happened to us several times, they will point you in the wrong direction to make you walk by a shop where the next person tag teams to hustle you in. But in the end things did get better :) (but it came with a hefty price tag) The bell boy found us a faithful driver that waited for us everywhere we went and our last three days were nearly hassle free. We visited the big pyramids...They were amaZing. 4aw mummies ans went into tombs. And although the pyramids were littered with what seemed like could fill a dozen or more dump trucks, it was a once in a life time site to see...incredible really. So, to make the most of I gave in to the hustlers and splurged for a camel ride through the dessert around the pyramids...we are still "walking like Egyptians". ;) We also took a dinner boat cruise up the Nile river...with great entertainment. When we finally got a little out of the city to see the oldest step pyramids and we were able to see there is a much prettier side to the county. And yes, I realise it is a third world country and we stayed in one of the largest cities in the world (20+ Million people!)...I realise it wasn't going to palm springs or anything...but I at least thought it would be far cheaper because of it, so I'm a little bitter. Well, now we're on the plane to India! I look forward to getting to the area of Kerela (south India) "God's Country" they call it. We have a cabin on a lake/back-waters at the beach. And if we face hustlers and pollution in India we are well prepared...after Egypt, no matter what it has to be better :)