"The World at Its Feet" a Cairo Travel Page by leigh767

Civilisation started out in Africa, and one of the first structured societies to develop was the region known today as Egypt-- and the immense history shows. From each lane and alley, history seeps from the very pores of this city named El Qahirah, or "the victorious".

Though overwhelming at first, you will eventually get used to the 4am morning prayers blasting from public speakers, the incessant honking, the seemingly-haphazard driving. But at the end of the day, it is perhaps the people, and not the (still stunning) pyramids that you will remember best.

Hope to show you what I mean in the following pages. Enjoy.

Snippets from crazy encounters and lessons you will keep for life:

* Being offered sex: "you want good time? 5 minutes"/ "I very big 2 meters"
* Food poisoning bonanza, thanks to our weak foreign stomachs: "Right, so I've developed a system to describe it including a list of things like colour, consistency--" "Ok STOP right there."
* Being chased by dogs in a town and graveyard: Find out just how fast your legs can pedal.
* Useless cycling mantra: "My bum doesn't hurt... My bum doesn't hurt..."
* Sleep is precious: Getting startled out of it by daily prayers through public speakers at 4am is not.
* 2.30am is the best time to cycle in Egypt summer: Fantastic discovery useless when you discover that room to bikes have been locked up by hotel staff. Return to bed at 5.30am with punctured spirits.
* Chewing on sugar cane while holding a gun: Our police convoys have the system of the universe all worked out.
* Random hotels: one key fits all. Hurrah for room security!
* Vehicles: Did you know, a cargo truck going in the opposite direction can, if going fast enough, pick up shards of glass on the highway and whip it in your face? Neither did I.
* Bum groping: Be quick and you'll be able to slap the guy on the face and attract attention froma policeman at the same time.
* Bazaar talk: "Hello! I don't know what you want but I have what you need!" Gotta love 'em shop keepers.

The Arabic architecture, language and music is jawdroppingly stunning.

Such beauty! Such form!

It is one of those times when one can only fall silent and gaze in humbled wonder at the masterpieces from an ancient culture.