Cairo and Alexandria "The Non-Touristy Tour"

Nothing that I do is 'classified' but much of it has to remain vague.
I met an old colleague and we traveled from Atlanta, through Paris, and into Egypt via Cairo.
Cairo is a relatively small area to hold so many people. The news there is that there are 25 million people in Cairo. After being on the highways I believe it! Four marked lanes easily becomes 8 lanes of traffic at rush hour. Buses, cargo trucks, vans, passenger cars, and motorcycles all share the road with donkeys and wagons!
As a westerner, I always find this fascinating. No matter where it is in the world.





We traveled the highway from Cairo to Alexandria with friend who live in country.
My general rule is, if they are not nervous. I'm not nervous. If they start to get fidgety, then I get a little nervous. For the most part, everything went ok with the travels and neighborhoods were in.
"Just don't stick your phone/camera out the window and take pictures."

 

What would a trip be without food? The best meal I had was a meal in an airport. We ate with the people, and they ate to exist; two meals a day. There was not much luxury in our food. Chicken was a premier meal. Pigeon, goat, and rabbit are common meats.
Every breakfast was fava beans and a boiled egg. Cumin powder makes it edible. Wish I would have taken my Smoky C's! There were vegetables, but not safe to eat where we spent the week.




Here are a few pics from the area I was in for most of the trip. It was western Alexandria, on the coast of the Mediterranean.

 

We did catch the Pyramids of Giza! This was an awesome day. They were everything I expected, and more.
The week had been a rough week (gunfire on the streets, sleep deprivation, nerves on edge, and food difficulties). The trip to the Pyramids was worth the other headaches.

 

so much garlic! drool.... http://www.eseeknives.com/forums/index.php?attachments/img_3430-jpg.8005/

 

I was trying to figure out what that was. Thanks for sharing, it is sad that such a cool, historic place can't be more enjoyable.

 

They,(someone) just discovered a "new pyramid" I was reading today. The entrance? and a stone? I think.

Here
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39484988

 

I saw a semi trailer stacked about 10' high. Wish I could have gotten a pic.

It was enjoyable, but not a place to take your family on vacation.

YW. He cooperated well for the photo.

They also uncovered a large statue last week in that region. There is much construction going on in Cairo. There will probably be much more unearthed.

 

Thank you sharing. Very cool!

 

Thank you very much for posting your photos.
Regards,
Kevin

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Cool. Glad to be able to.

You are welcome.

No problem.

Glad we went two weeks ago instead of last week. We were super close to the location of one of the bombs that went off last Sunday.

 

Very cool trip. I love visiting ancient ruins. And other cultures. And seeing others visit them!

 

I have been to pyramids in Mexico, and to several mounds within the Cahokia culture here along the Mississippi River.
Would live to visit Machu Picchu in Peru....one day.

 

So many places to go! I was reading about those Mississippi River mounds a while back. Extremely interesting. There are some other ruins in Peru you'll have to see when you hit Machu Picchu. And don't forget Lake Titicaca!

 

If you ever get to the STLO area the Cahokia mounds and museums are worth the stop. There are mounds associated with that culture that stretch through Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. The serpent mounds in Ohio are also worth the stop if one is into this sort of thing.

 

Thanks for the pics and write up. Good stuff.

Was just wondering if serpent mounds was related. There are also an additional network of lesser known Indian burial mounds here and elsewhere also I'm sure.

I have not traveled the world. I want to really bad. Egypt and Turkey seems like such interesting cultures in that part of the world. Having been there and made it out safely, are you happy for the visit during troubled times from an experience perspective, or if you could have your choice would you visit during a time of peace (assuming that is in the future at some point)

I just haven't been able to earmark the funds for travel. I really need to do better about a travel budget. Hard to justify for the experience vs. a tangible/long term life improvement purchase here. Kind of ridiculous that I have not traveled. Everyone that knows me always assumes I'm traveled until they find out I'm not which makes me feel even more certain I could get a lot more out of it than a normal person.

 

What is peace in that part of the world? It seems that there is always an uproar of some sort. Quiet times are certainly easier on the nerves, but most of my trips have been to central and South America. I will say that, after being in Cairo and Alexandria, Mexico City now doesn't seem so bad. Most people in Mexico let you pass without stopping to stare and glare, as they have seen many gringos. I can also fake enough Spanish to get by. I cannot fake Arabic, and it seemed that I was the only white man some had ever seen on their street. We were, mostly, in neighborhoods and not in tourist areas. Certainly, around the pyramids the peddlers and guides were familiar with Caucasians. "American? American?" No, I'm from Georgia. They never knew the difference. Hah.

 

Alexandria is real adventure for people who have never been to Northern Africa or the Middle East, it is definitely not for the faint hearted. Blending in is the key. I found people there very aggressive at trying to sell things or give rides/tours, yet amazingly friendly and welcoming in the streets off the tourist trails.
-RB