Walking Like Egyptians

This guy met us at the airport and ushered us through the customs/visa process in Presidential Style. We then were introduced to our driver, who took us to Jody's apartment in a Maserati luxury sedan. This was all arranged by Jody before we arrived. Thanks Jody!

We've been in Egypt for about 4 days but there is no way we can show you or really describe what it's like. A picture is a thousand words, so we'll show you some things we've seen and tell you what little we understand of it. Actually, we have to run at this moment so we'll add some commentary later. We're safe and sound staying with Kelsey's cousin Jody, who's teaching at an international school and visiting with our friend Josh, who's on vacation from his job in Sudan and also with Uncle Brian and Auntie Joan who are here visiting their daughter.

Auntie Joan, Uncle Brian, and Ty. Relaxing on Rd No. 9

Cousin Jody, Brian and us at Cairo American College, which is actually a private K-12 school.This guy and 2 others could really use some heavier equipment to tear up this sidewalk. Labour is cheap here. You should have seen it when we came back and another guy was holding a chisel with his hand while this guy swung his hammer down on it. That's either trust or stupidity.
Ty and Josh walking down one of the thousands of crowded market alleys. Walking is often interrupted by cars, dirtbikes, scooters, and sometimes horse drawn carts coming through. They'll just honk a lot and drive through quickly. Everyone casually moves to the side at the last moment.
A sign, like many others. We think it means you should stop here? On this note, everyone thinks you should stop and see their shop. One guy asked Tyrn, "Friend, what you are looking for?" Ty said, "nothing". He said, "I have nothing. Come in and see. No charge for look."
Some stuff for sale. Most things in the shops don't look this orderly. The white things are dried starfish, and the red stuff is dried hibiscus leaves, which make a great tea.
Smoking shisha, which in this case is apple flavoured tobacco. The smoke is drawn through water at the bottom of the pipe (hookah) to soften it. Canadians call this a bong, I believe.
The charcoal on top of the hookah. It's really about the experience. The whole thing is decorated with chrome, glass, carved wood and fabric. The pipe vibrates in your hand from the bubbling in the water. All in all, it's an experience that even hardcore non-smokers like us can enjoy.
Some carpets or something for sale in the markets.
These windows are made so that the women can see out, but the men can't see in.
These women must wear their headscarves in public, but are free to shop for bras at the same time. NB, the vendors are always men.
A shop in a Bedouin market area. This one, like many, sells quilts, bags, and pillow cases.
Josh, navigating the menu for us. Our favourite dish so far: Aysh with Baba Ghanouj and a bunch of other spicy and savoury sauces.
Josh, by the Nile.
Us smoking shisha, again.
A mosque. There are calls to prayer 5 times a day, broadcast by loudspeakers on street corners. Undescribable. You have to hear it and see it.
In a cab. Cairo traffic is insane, even compared to Rome or Paris. It's amazing that there aren't very many collisions. It's a completely different system, based more on awareness and cooperation than on rules. Actually, there are no rules here.