Day 3 – Cairo
The night was a bizarre one, filled with bad dreams. In one, I dreamt that TBG had broken the phone, so we couldn’t take any photos. I was so angry at him. Of course, the phone was fine when I woke up. Sigh. I blame Egyptian wine.
We went up to the Club buffet for breakfast. TBG had scheduled Ali for 9 a.m. and we made that with time to spare. He took us first to a Carrefour and we had fun looking at the products. We even bought a couple of things.
Then it was back in the car for a trip out to GEM and the Pyramids. We couldn’t stop at the GEM, but did get to drive around the exterior. I couldn’t take my eyes off the pyramids. I wanted to stop, but we are going there on Sunday, so I have to be patient.
We finally stopped at a Papyrus Museum, which is basically a tourist trap. They suckered TBG in for many American dollars. However, it was clean, the tea was lovely and the restroom spotless.
After that, we went on a quest down many back streets that were barely big enough for one car, much less two passing, in quest of postcards. As we were walking in, Ali murmured, “Only buy the postcards here.” I did, amid the horses and camels. (It was located at the center for horse-carriage or camel ridden tours.) It was very fragrant, but I got my postcards.
That was enough for us and we headed back to the hotel, arriving just before noon. After a fast stop to the room, we went upstairs for the club lunch, of which there wasn’t (opps). Head back for the Bridge Café where we shared a burger and fries. While we were waiting for it, I finally found the gift shop and many, many postcards. I didn’t have enough money to pick up a shirt I wanted, but it’s just a few steps from the restaurant where we are going to have dinner later, so I bought the cards and promised to return for the shirt.
After lunch, it was back to the room for a bit of a rest from our morning excitement. I dozed a bit and then got up to start writing post cards. Mostly the afternoon was spent reading, writing and just relaxing.
Before dinner, I gave Sparky a call to wish a a good day and then I popped back into the shop and got my tee shirt. It’s red with hieroglyphics and screams tourist, but, heck, it’s obvious that I am, so no harm.
Dinner was Il Giovanni – the restaurant’s Italian restaurant. It was very good, if a bit odd. Even though we picked Italian dishes (I had a carbonara and TBG had steak), they came with a very Egyptian flair. I started with a mushroom soup (it tasted just like the one I make) with lamb meatballs. TBG didn’t like it, but I liked the change. He had a Caprice salad and then followed it with a rib eye. I likes my carbonara, but I was just about done in by the soup. I’m getting to the point of not being able to order a starter anymore. I did get some more of the Omar Kian (?) wine that I enjoyed so much.
We watched brightly-lit tour boats going up and down the Nile. As we were getting ready to leave, I asked the folks at the table next to us what they had had (it came in a bowl with a pastry crust – it was oxtail soup). We discovered that they were in our tour (The Wests – our first cruise friends) and we had a nice time chatting with them. Yay!
Back in the room, we called Jeff and Barb to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. It was nice to hear their voices. Then, more relaxing and reading. I managed to stay awake until ten.
Happy Turkey Day, all!
We went up to the Club buffet for breakfast. TBG had scheduled Ali for 9 a.m. and we made that with time to spare. He took us first to a Carrefour and we had fun looking at the products. We even bought a couple of things.
Then it was back in the car for a trip out to GEM and the Pyramids. We couldn’t stop at the GEM, but did get to drive around the exterior. I couldn’t take my eyes off the pyramids. I wanted to stop, but we are going there on Sunday, so I have to be patient.
We finally stopped at a Papyrus Museum, which is basically a tourist trap. They suckered TBG in for many American dollars. However, it was clean, the tea was lovely and the restroom spotless.
After that, we went on a quest down many back streets that were barely big enough for one car, much less two passing, in quest of postcards. As we were walking in, Ali murmured, “Only buy the postcards here.” I did, amid the horses and camels. (It was located at the center for horse-carriage or camel ridden tours.) It was very fragrant, but I got my postcards.
That was enough for us and we headed back to the hotel, arriving just before noon. After a fast stop to the room, we went upstairs for the club lunch, of which there wasn’t (opps). Head back for the Bridge Café where we shared a burger and fries. While we were waiting for it, I finally found the gift shop and many, many postcards. I didn’t have enough money to pick up a shirt I wanted, but it’s just a few steps from the restaurant where we are going to have dinner later, so I bought the cards and promised to return for the shirt.
After lunch, it was back to the room for a bit of a rest from our morning excitement. I dozed a bit and then got up to start writing post cards. Mostly the afternoon was spent reading, writing and just relaxing.
Before dinner, I gave Sparky a call to wish a a good day and then I popped back into the shop and got my tee shirt. It’s red with hieroglyphics and screams tourist, but, heck, it’s obvious that I am, so no harm.
Dinner was Il Giovanni – the restaurant’s Italian restaurant. It was very good, if a bit odd. Even though we picked Italian dishes (I had a carbonara and TBG had steak), they came with a very Egyptian flair. I started with a mushroom soup (it tasted just like the one I make) with lamb meatballs. TBG didn’t like it, but I liked the change. He had a Caprice salad and then followed it with a rib eye. I likes my carbonara, but I was just about done in by the soup. I’m getting to the point of not being able to order a starter anymore. I did get some more of the Omar Kian (?) wine that I enjoyed so much.
We watched brightly-lit tour boats going up and down the Nile. As we were getting ready to leave, I asked the folks at the table next to us what they had had (it came in a bowl with a pastry crust – it was oxtail soup). We discovered that they were in our tour (The Wests – our first cruise friends) and we had a nice time chatting with them. Yay!
Back in the room, we called Jeff and Barb to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. It was nice to hear their voices. Then, more relaxing and reading. I managed to stay awake until ten.
Happy Turkey Day, all!