Pyramids, Khan El Khalili

As I'm in the middle of an allergy attack, I figured it was an opportune moment to update the world on my adventures.

Where to start..... Yesterday we walked to the Khan El Khalili, a huge marketplace full of twisted streets, mud, tons of people, and every kind of shop imaginable. It was ridiculously fun - especially when we finally found Mahmoud's 4 story bellydance shop AKA the most amazing place you will ever spend tons of money! :D Mom and I both almost immediately fell in love with two fabulous red costumes (luckily impulse buy costumes were budgeted for in el-student-loany!). The top sizes needed a bit of adjustment, so Mahmoud called the tailor to come in and meet with us in a couple of hours. While we waited, we picked out some fun presents for our friends, and got an amazing lunch of pitas, hummus, falafal, eggplant, chicken, and mango juice.

After lunch, we went back to Mahmoud's and made some bellydance friends while waiting for our appointment. Dance is such a great community thing - I swear I could go anywhere in the world and make dance friends... When the tailor arrived, we went to the fourth floor dressing room with her and quickly discovered that she doesn't speak a speck of English! Between hand gestures, and my minimal Arabic somehow she and I managed to accomplish a basic understanding of each other though. Mom's costume will need a custom made top that I will pick up and bring home with me in June. We have a fitting for her tomorrow, at which time I will be picking up my adjusted red costume, and start the process of custom ordering the first costume on my actual shopping list. a;lsgdkn;laksg :D yay!!


To finish out that day, we made our first attempt at bargaining, at which mom totally failed, but I was OK at. I still think we paid too much, but whatever. It's a learning process.


Moving on.... Today we went to the Pyramids (at Giza, Sakkarah, and Dashur). The sites themselves were pretty cool, except that there were no signs to explain what anything is. It was kind of fun tromping around them though. Giza was FULL of Egyptians trying to get money out of tourists.
Here is an example of some of our interactions:
(earlier in the day)
Hello miss! Welcome to Egypt! Where you from?
us: Colorado. America
Ah America! Obama good! Here, come! I take your picture in special spot! (leads you away from everyone else to remote spot)
us: Uh.... um ... OK? You are going to ask for money aren't you...
No money, no money! Here give me your camera. (takes camera, puts you in corny pose with your hand on top of pyramid and takes picture)
me: Thank you, here let me take a picture now (I take camera back from dude, and he starts looking upset)
Here wait, give me camera! I take picture of both of you! Together!
me: no thank you...
Ok, then give us a little something. a little baksheesh (tips).
me: ugh. here's two pounds, now thank you, bye!
wait miss, you realize this is a very small amount??
ETC...

Later on:
Hello miss! you want camel ride?? Cheap price Cheap price! You know how much? 20 egyptian pounds!
me: La. Shukran. (no, thank you)
Come on miss, very cheap price, good deal.
me: scusi, non parlo inglese (excuse me, I don't speak English, in Italian)

Or:
Hello! Welcome Egypt! Here, I take your picture, give me camera.
me: La. Shukran. I know your tricks ;)
Ah ha! Well you know... we must make a living
me: I know :)

Or:
Hello miss! Welcome to Egypt! Cheap price, come ride camel! Best views! Panoramic views!
me: No thanks, we have our own camel.
Oh really?
me: yes. His name is Rob, he is 50 feet tall and pure black.
Very nice, you tell good story. where you from?
me: Timbucktoo
mom (best line EVER!): A Maasai tribe.
(best response ever) Oh, very nice, nice to meet you. Welcome to Egypt.

Conclusions:
Touristy places get really old, really fast. Stick to the less traveled places.

Yeah.... We'll leave it at that. Haha.
~Kerry