Firsts - Cairo, Egypt

The only shot I got of Cairo from the air.

The Each and Every Team Africa Edition in Cairo!

Surreal can hardly describe what it felt like to see the little airplane icon move closer to Cairo on my flight's mini-TV screen. It would be my first time to a new continent in 20 years, my first time to a Middle Eastern country, my first time seeing a wonder of the world.

After arriving at the very modern Cairo International Airport, I made my way to immigration hoping the plan to meet up with Jessi and James would go swimmingly. And after a few minutes of searching, it did! We made it! We got picked up by Moussa, a part-owner of the Jasmine and Australian Hostels where we were staying. Moussa is a great guy by the way. If you're ever in Cairo and need to stay somewhere budget, look them up. Anyway, it was again surreal to see everything written in Arabic, to see men and women dressed in traditional Egyptian clothing, to see no lanes on the road, and to generally experience almost everything for the first time.

Our hostel was located in the middle of downtown, close to Tahrir Square, where the revolution took place not too long ago, and to the Egyptian museum. The city was buzzing when we arrived at around 11pm. We were reminded that much of Egypt was still observing Ramadan and that nighttime was when everyone got out to eat. The Australian Hostel is in an oldish building that had one elevator. With no doors! That was a trip. In any case, we checked in, got to our room (which was nice enough for $6/night and had AC!) and pretty much knocked out BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO THE PYRAMIDS BRIGHT AND EARLY.

Downtown Cairo at night

The Golden Arches in Arabic

Cairo in the day

Tahrir Square: post-Arab Spring