Pyramids, Arabs, and Camels, Oh my!

Long but fun day here in Cairo. Started by watching my host coach Omar's team this morning at 6am. I have to say I was certainly impressed by his swimmer's technique. They certainly had a grasp on strokes, he even had a 6 yr old boy that could swim butterfly better than many 18 year olds I know! The concept of training is the challenge here, most coaches don't want to waste time with drills, they just are constantly seeking "The Truth" in the secret to swimming fast...

So after practice, stopped by a Cafe called "Cilantro's", and had breakfast. My meal: a smoked turkey panini with chedder and a diet coke. That was about the closest to a breakfast I could get, I am starting to long for pancakes or a nice hot Chik Filet sandwich...

After breakfast, I was taken to tour the Egyptian pyramids located on the outskirts of Cairo. This BY FAR has been the highlight of my trip! Guys, I can't begin to tell you the feeling you get when you see the pyramids from afar in all of their splendor and mystique, and then get to where you can walk up close to them. THEY ARE HUGE (about 15 stories high) !!! When you walk to the base and look upwards, you seriously cannot see the top of the pyramid, just a huge wall of stones. The coaches assigned me a guide, Almayda, and she was a younger Islamic woman with great knowledge about history of Egypt. A word of warning: If you ever visit the pyramids, beware the traders that are like parasites, trying to sell you everything under the sun (literally)! They are ruthless and relentless, and are borderline abusive! Just look forward and don't say a word, and you'll be ok. So after a few pictures, I proceeded to walk into the second great pyramid to see the interior tomb. I won't lie, I was a little scared about the whole ordeal. You enter through a door, and down the ramp, to enter the tomb through a smalled stone entrance. Here's the scary part: you now are in a very faintly lit 4 ft high stone corridor that goes down into the tomb around 50 yds long. After that, there is a short chamber that is maybe 6 ft tall that is maybe 25 yards long, then back through a corridor (again 4ft high) and that travels upwards another 50 yards. Afterwards, there is a small cavern where you can lift your head to get air and not let your back cramp from being stooped over and squatted so low during the trek. Another 25 yards and you walk into a large chamber where the mummies and treasure were found. There is nothing spectacular about the room, sand floor, stone walls, and a musty smell. It is also about 120 degrees by now from the heat inside. I found myself straying with quiet, serene thoughts, wondering what it must have been like in here over 3000 years ago. Those thoughts were slowly overcome by a feeling of claustrophobia, and I made the journey out. It definitely was worth doing, though...afterwards, I was taken to the back of the pyramid, and was shown some more noteable architecture and tombs. After seeing all 3 pyramids, we went to the desert at the back of the pyramids, where I was treated to my first (and perhaps only ever!) ride on a camel. This my friends, was an experience. The camel (I was told his name is Snoopy), was lying down and I got onto the saddle. The tricky part: hanging on to the great beast as he gets up! For those of you that dont know (and I for one didnt), a camel stands up by first standing on his back legs (where I nearly am thrown over the head of Snoopy), the stands on his front (now I almost fall of the back of his rear end, where I am sure I will be kicked all the way to ther Nile)! But once he's up, we begin the journey to one of the pyramids. His handler, an arabian gentlemen that from what I heard was named Mkchhhryadshmed), led the way on foot, trying to impress me with his "best" english. A very bumpy ride indeed, it was actually not bad at all. I take that back: at one point, Snoopy made a god-awful, loud gurgling noise...I was sure his throat was being slit by the handler, but it was just a camel being a camel I guess. We stopped, took some pictures, and headed back. The handler handed me the rope, and simply said "pool back on the rope to stop". By the time I could say "huh?", he slaps the butt of the camel and the beast takes off like a demond possessed! Now I would like to say I immediately recalled what I was told by the handler, instead for a split second I was trying to remember where in my hotel my medical insurance card was. After we had covered 15 yards like a cheetah, I remembered by instructions, and pulled back on the reins and closing my eyes. Now being stopped, I grabbed the reigns and threw them at the smiling gentleman with the towel wrapped head. We proceeded back to the site, and it was time to negotiate the fee. I knew this was coming, by this guy would be a great car salesman back in the States. He says "my friend, normally that is a 600 pound ride (about $100), but because I like you, $60 will be fine" I was outraged, because I wasnt about to pay $60 for that. After some heated exchange (btw, I told him I was from England, Kensington specifically upon advice from my guide so I wouldnt be taken advantage of as many US citizens are), we agreed on $36 dollars. He wasn't very happy, and I was just afraid to get out of there with my life by this point. Then went to a few gift stores, a papyrus shop, and then back to the hotel. A short 40 minute nap, and was off to the clinic.

And here I am now, just finished off a plate of spaghetti bolognese and am watching some German programming. All in all, a good day, and a wonderful experience! Last day of the clinic tomorrow, then having a nice dinner cruise on the River Nile Monday...

More to report then!

Ron

PS- The air quality SUCKS here now, the pollution was unbearable today, eyes and throat are burning!