Morning in Cairo
It is Wednesday morning and my very first in Egypt. My very first on the African continent. Hooray for this very smoggy sunrise!
Someone here in Egypt at some point got the very distinct impression that I am important. Let me color this picture for you: I stepped off the plane and there was a very kind gentleman holding a sign with my name on it. Spelled correctly. An impressive feat. He then escorted me to a second gentleman and the two of them flanked me as we journeyed through the airport, ahead of the throngs of people waiting in line at passport control. I kid you not, ahead of everyone. First class on down. Those who have waited for football tickets at U of O with me know that I believe a special circle of hell is reserved for those who cut in line. Especially if those in line are sleep deprived. And YET . . . I did not stop the madness. The two men even stood on either side of me, arms crossed, as I waited for my bag, which I simply gestured to and they took care of. Then they escorted me out of the building and ANOTHER two men met me at a tinted-windowed, black Mercedes. One of which, a giant body guard. They took care of my bags, I had bottled water waiting for me in the car . . . If I had seen this display I would have thought, "She must be some dignitary's daughter . . . who apparently enjoys riding in coach. So she's important AND humble. What a wonderful example of a human being." When in reality, I'm just an over indulged Admin Assistant coordinating a conference in a country where business is slow, and everyone is bored out of their mind.
I received a very wonderful tour of Cairo from the back seat of my Mercedes. Bear in mind that I haven't seen the city in daylight yet, but so far the buildings are a fantastic array of modernist, French and middle eastern influence. Everything looks a little dusty because, well it's dusty here. But so incredible. When I mentioned that even our oldest buildings in Portland are probably only 150 years old, the driver giggled and called them children. Palm trees and electric blue accent lighting abounds and inevitably the first two stores we passed were a McDonald's and a Starbucks. USA! USA! You may have old buildings. But WE have expedient food and beverage products! Suck on that!
At the hotel I was greeted by another 6 people, given a tour of the building and of the Gold club (of which I am apparently a member . . . ? Not going to mention it). I was given a complementary greeting drink which was a delicious vanilla version of Mertinelli's. I climbed the PRIVATE spiral staircase from the Gold club to my floor and entered my room. It's fabulous. And I feel ridiculous.
Today I brave the streets of Cairo. . .
Someone here in Egypt at some point got the very distinct impression that I am important. Let me color this picture for you: I stepped off the plane and there was a very kind gentleman holding a sign with my name on it. Spelled correctly. An impressive feat. He then escorted me to a second gentleman and the two of them flanked me as we journeyed through the airport, ahead of the throngs of people waiting in line at passport control. I kid you not, ahead of everyone. First class on down. Those who have waited for football tickets at U of O with me know that I believe a special circle of hell is reserved for those who cut in line. Especially if those in line are sleep deprived. And YET . . . I did not stop the madness. The two men even stood on either side of me, arms crossed, as I waited for my bag, which I simply gestured to and they took care of. Then they escorted me out of the building and ANOTHER two men met me at a tinted-windowed, black Mercedes. One of which, a giant body guard. They took care of my bags, I had bottled water waiting for me in the car . . . If I had seen this display I would have thought, "She must be some dignitary's daughter . . . who apparently enjoys riding in coach. So she's important AND humble. What a wonderful example of a human being." When in reality, I'm just an over indulged Admin Assistant coordinating a conference in a country where business is slow, and everyone is bored out of their mind.
I received a very wonderful tour of Cairo from the back seat of my Mercedes. Bear in mind that I haven't seen the city in daylight yet, but so far the buildings are a fantastic array of modernist, French and middle eastern influence. Everything looks a little dusty because, well it's dusty here. But so incredible. When I mentioned that even our oldest buildings in Portland are probably only 150 years old, the driver giggled and called them children. Palm trees and electric blue accent lighting abounds and inevitably the first two stores we passed were a McDonald's and a Starbucks. USA! USA! You may have old buildings. But WE have expedient food and beverage products! Suck on that!
At the hotel I was greeted by another 6 people, given a tour of the building and of the Gold club (of which I am apparently a member . . . ? Not going to mention it). I was given a complementary greeting drink which was a delicious vanilla version of Mertinelli's. I climbed the PRIVATE spiral staircase from the Gold club to my floor and entered my room. It's fabulous. And I feel ridiculous.
Today I brave the streets of Cairo. . .
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