Egypt Almost a Bust

I've been in Egypt two days at the Port of Safaga on the Red Sea. It was almost a bust. 

I tried to make arrangements to fly and stay overnight in Cario to go see the pyramids. The ship's excursion was cancelled because of the bombing of a tourist bus in Giza on the way to see the pyramids. I tried to make my own arrngements but couldn't get cooperation via email or phone with four different Eygption tourist agencies.

I called the states to my ever faithful travel agent in Little Rock,  Carol Wenger Bojorek at Sue Smith Vacations. I gave her the impossible task of arranging a shuttle from Safaga to Hurghada an hour away, catch a flight to Cairo, then a tour guide to Giza, a hotel at the airport, then a flight back the next day to Hurghada and shuttle back to the ship by 9:30 pm. This call was made just the day before.

She tried but among other things she couldn't make the arrangements unless she was an Egyption travel agent. I could have taxied to the airport, maybe caught a plane, maybe get a guide in Cario and maybe make the one flight back that would ge me on the ship before it left. That and it was 100 degrees. I slept in.

Eighty percent of the ship went on the Luxor tour, a 6 1/2 bus trip each way, 110 degree weather there and no shade. Top that with a couple of hours of walking and stair climbing of monumental tombs. Again, I decided not to push my luck with on 2/3rds of my heart available for the task. Everyone that came back from that excusions a little while ago looked totally exhausted and beat up.

Top that off with watching Lawrence of Abrabia onbaord ship in the Insignia Lounge and and an hour and a half into it, something happened and the movie broke down. Nothing going right. 

Next, I had to swat flies in the Terrace Restaurant. All the servers at the buffet kept the food covered and were constainly waving large napkins over the food as well. About 20 servers all waving white cloth napkins unendingly in a slow rythmn back and forth. No place on earth had more flies than here, by far.

I took the shuttle bus into town.  We had an armed securty guard sitting up front with a H&K assault rifle strapped under his suit jacket. Then they just dropped us off in town only to be mobed by taxi drivers and street venders.

I thought I'd buy a shirt I liked at one store but, the vendor was so pushy and rude I just left. I visited the beach walking around behind the hotels for about an hour admiring the Red Sea. I was told by one passenger who'd been snorkling in Sagaga that the coral was so healthy and beautiful in many differnt bright colors. Maybe it was just pretty just under the surface. Topside it was dirty, hot, full of flies and trash.  The roads and sidewalks were treacherous and apparently never maintained.

I went to where I was dropped off to wait for the shuttle bus back to the ship. No shade. After a few minutes the shop keeper who had been so overbearing came out and waved me over.  I thought at first he was still trying to make a sale. When I stayed put he came over and said he had been rude and he was sorry.  He invited to sit in his air-conditioned shop while I waited on the bus. He offered me a cup of hot tea. The tea was a black tea with mint. Apparently everyone on earth knows what good tea is like except in Americans.

His name was Adam and he apologized several times.  He and I traded family stories and showed each other our children's pictures.  His baby was 4 and mine is 24. He told me he was a Christian and ashamed of his behavior.  I reassured him we were okay.  The bus came and I returned to the ship.

Everything on the surface is rough and not so pleasant but, underneath? Well, I'll just left feeling a lot better about Egypt.  If my plans had worked out the way I had wanted I would never have met Adam and heard him talk so lovingly about his daughter.  Things have a way of working out okay. The reason I am on this trip is for the experiences and this was a good one. 

Sky Blue Man and Sky Blue Mosque.

Watched Namma Lines ferry unload earlier, cars, trucks, people with large 4-wheel carts.
35 hour trip to and from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, closest port to Mecca.
I don't know why these two ships were tied to this man's head.