Day 9: Cairo, Egypt

Today is the day I have been most excited about and it was a super early start!  I knew it would be a long day so I had to grab a quick breakfast.  The ship common areas are so empty at the crack of dawn.  I'm on deck 8 looking down on deck 7 and deck 6.

Anyway, I grabbed my bag and headed out to the meeting spot at 530am.  We have another armed guard on board today.  It is a long trip with a lot of busses headed to Cairo.  I mean anyone not going to Cairo is a bit crazy to me.  Why go on this cruise and not go see the pyramids?  So that’s what I am doing today.  One thing some might not notice about cruises is they stop in ports that aren’t necessarily close to what you want to see for example we are in Alexandria, Egypt, which is 135 miles or at least a 3 hour bus ride to Cairo.  This isn’t uncommon so be sure you check your actual port stop to the city the cruise is claiming to stop in . . . cruise lines will usually put the major city you are wanting to visit in parentheses. 
Shore Excursion:  Classical Cairo

We are leaving Alexandria which is 2nd largest city in Egypt.  Now to settle in for the long drive from Alexandria to Cairo.  Scenes from bus window.

Those weird shaped tall things are pigeon houses.  They are made of mud bricks and and pigeons are raised for food and fertilizer.  They are very common.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

This is where I started to understand some countries complaining about over tourism.  I think every person on our cruise ship showed up at the same time and it was a mad house!  Absolute disaster and difficult to even see the exhibits much less enjoy them.

  

Since our tour was so long we took a lunch break at the Helnan Dreamland Hotel.  It seemed like it would be a nice hotel to stay but we were here for a hotel catered lunch . . . honestly, it was like a banquet room type set up. I would have a preferred a quick box lunch and have more time to see something around Cairo.  We departed for the real highlight of the day, The Pyramids of Giza.  It was so windy but super cool to see.

. . . and ME living my best life! It was so windy!

 . . .  and The Great Sphinx of Giza . . .

You know it was just as amazing as I thought it would be.  Crowded?  Yes, but it was much easier to spread out in the open area outside.  Scammers?  EVERYWHERE!  We had been warned by our guide to hand our phone or camera to no one because they would demand a lot of money to get it back!  Before we left Cairo it was time for our let’s stop at our friends’ shop. At least they did show us the papyrus making process which was interesting, but I quickly exited and found the bus. As we left town I noticed the traffic was insane . . . pedestrian and car . . . seems like no rules and people just walk when they wish.  My heart stopped a few times thinking I was about to see someone get hit.  Groups of people would just stand in the middle of traffic and have a little chat as if it was no big deal.

It was a long trip back to the ship.  I thought I would sleep but nope!

A quick shower never felt so good after being outside all day and then a quick meal at The Local for a Coney Island Hot Dog which was good!

And of course pineapple at Indulge Food Hall

I find it funny that my best day so far and hardly any photos.  And now it is pjs time!