1) It was very clear who had flown on an American Airline before and who had not. Those who had not disregarded all flight attendant instructions as we approached Cairo. One man stood up, opened an overhead bin, and started rummaging through his stuff just as we touched down. Then, during that awful time when the people in the back of the plane have to wait for the people in the front of the plane to get off, all these lost-looking Egyptians started saying very politely: "excuse me, excuse me" and made their way up to the front of the plane! It was as if all the rest of us had just stood up to stretch our legs, and we were in the way. Very strange. I wonder if they even have flight attendants on other country's airlines.
1a) I don't really want to dwell on the plane, because it's just not that interesting, but I saw "The Secret Life of Bees" on it. Did anyone else think that Dakota Fanning's character was a little too young for her love interest? I didn't watch it with sound, so maybe that was acknowledged, but either way, I felt creepy watching her lick honey off of his fingers.
2) The "Old" Terminal at the airport is the one that was most recently built, and "Upper Egypt" is in the south. I wonder what else they got backwards.
3) I have always marveled at how traffic in New York City considers lane lines as mere suggestions. Well, let me tell you, they are strictly followed compared to how the lunatics follow them here. Our cab never went faster than 25 mph, so I never felt in imminent danger of death, but as far as I can tell, the next lane over begins exactly one half inch on either side of your car, and an appropriate stopping gap is 2-4 inches. Not to mention, people are constantly just standing in the middle of the road.
4) Every few hours, the call for prayer can be heard throughout the city. I'm sure this is nothing new for anyone that has ever been to a city that is predominantly muslim, but the first time you hear it, it is haunting. But, as the day has worn on, the strange wail of prayer over crappy loudspeakers has become more and more comforting. It's kind of neat to think that there is something as intimate as mass prayer, however illogical and strange it may be to me, that everyone in this enormous city takes time out of their day to share with each other.
5) In the future, I will put political stuff in their own posts, but for now, when the waiter at the shwarma joint/hookah bar/backgammon hall/harem (not really) found out I was American, the only thing he wanted to talk to me about was Obama. This may not be representative in any way, but this guy did not trust him at all. He is, though, willing to give Obama a chance. For now, he thinks he is okay, but he is not willing to give unconditional support. Can you imagine that? These are a people who are staunchly religious and politically open-minded.....
I felt like I was there while reading your blog. Very well expressed.
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