The Crazy Adventures of Wes and Adam in the Middle East - Episode 2

Hello Everyone, now our adventures have really begun. This is great!

Day 1: Well, after long flight from New York to Switzerland, then to Cairo, we got of the plane in 100 degree weather to immediately be greeted by a 'friendly local'. He took us to a 'government' tourist information - i had read earlier in my guide about this kind of thing, but didn't listen to it enough. Anyway we bartered him down on a tourist package for Cairo, Giza, Luxor, and Aswan. This is exactly the kind of thing my travel guide warned against, but is a safer way to go (our families can be happy about that:) Then they drove us to our hotel '3 stars' ... sometimes no hot water, sometimes NO water. Then on the street another 'friendly local' said he worked at the museum (lie) and took us to a papyrus shop (Egyptian paper with art). We bartered for a couple. Apparently everyone acts nice, says they will bring you where you want to go, then take you to a shop and get a commission. Cairo is a Mix between Mexico and New York, is has like 17 million people, lots of high-rise buildings, but poorer than Mexico. The traffic fatality rate is some 40x more than most places in the world, we found out why, crossing the street is 'really fun' and apparently is impolite to have your lights on; even at night! So people flash and honk all the time to get attention.

Day 2: Visited The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx. Really amazing. Again, poor people everywhere trying to sell stuff, give you a camel ride, maybe take you for a desert adventure and take everything you have... Back in the city, stuff is sooo cheap, lunch and soda - $.50.  We saw 'Troy' $1.50. Seriously though, we were the only white people we ever saw anywhere except the tourist attractions.

Day 3: Cairo Museum, Coptic Church area with Orthodox Christians, a girl gave us a tour. She was the top of her class, but didn't get a full ride scholarship to the US, instead two other girls did; not to represent the school, or Egypt, but ISLAM. Muslim women have another Muslim take their seat if they get off the bus, so she doesn't get to sit there. Her dad is the only Christian at his work and is risking losing his job right now. That’s how it is. To give more of a perspective, we met a worker in a museum, he makes $50 a month, and works 8-5, 6 days a week. No wonder they call us 'kawaga's' -rich, tourist, idiots; when we spend that in a day.  Anyway, then we saw the light show at the pyramids, is was pretty cool. Before it there was one of the 'Prayer chants' (from loud speakers 5 times every day from all mosques).  It was incredibly violent and loud. "Allah is God, Mohamed is prophet, come and pray..." in Arabic of course. Took the bus back, again, driving is an amazing/frightening experience....

Day 4: The Citadel (huge mosque area) , The dead city (poor people living in old tombs), the cancanilly bazaar (millions of people and thousands of shops, shoes, shesha pipes (bong with tobacco), jewelry, papyrus.... it seriously went on FOREEEVER. Cairo tower, ate on the rotating top, and ended up being a half an hour late to meat for our train (elevator line... ) then Wes lost his wallet in the Taxi. Ok, Egypt is really safe though! You might get ripped off or scammed if you’re stupid, but... They are so scared of hurting American tourism, there is tourist police everywhere... seriously; when we swam in the Nile today, they were really worried about crocodiles, or us getting hurt because of that. And, the taxi driver turned in the wallet; he called our Tour Company, and they called us today! SO Wes can go get it. It was a 'fake wallet' but still had $50, old id's, student id (important- 50% off everywhere). Anyway, we made our train to Aswan.

Day 5: Aswan, lake Nasser (biggest reservoir in the world, like 300 miles long) if the damn broke it would kill 98% of Egypt's people) Saw some cool temples, went on a felucca (kind of sailboat), swam in the Nile,  and are now taking a cruise up the Nile.  

Till next time, Wes and Adam out.  (Written by Adam, last one was by Wes)

(p.s. if our adventures are not exiting enough for you let us know to remove you!, or give suggestions, more detail, less, crazier adventures, Wes or Adam writing?)