We take the bus to the airport in the late afternoon. Actually almost past the airport as, despite Maggi's having said "airport" as we got on, and despite the airport's being a main stop, the driver continues on past as we belatedly realise that he's not going to stop. Not a long walk back, fortunately.
Jane and her friend Jan are there, on their way to Morocco - a two week holiday involving a six hour camel trek and overnight in a tent in the desert. They have a connection in Cairo - after a thirteen hour wait. The waiting bit begins here, as the plane leaves nearly two hours late, having first arrived late from Cairo and then been obliged to change a wheel. We're given vouchers for €3.50 (£2.90, $4.60 CAD) for a snack as we wait, which runs to a small bottle of water and an extremely small packet of crisps each at airport prices - but there is a small meal on the hour and a half flight. Cold, but quite nice.
We're not optimistic about the promised airport pick up by the hostel/hotel (often a borderline call in Egypt). But no, the poor man has indeed waited for us - for about 3 hours by the time we've purchased our colourful visas ($15 US each) and cleared customs. So we're outinto the warm Egyptian air, and driven back throuogh Cairo's amazing traffic, past the city of the dead, through Tala'at Harb Square, and - another block - to Vienna Hostel. It's on the third floor of the building, reached by an antique cage of a lift. The rooms are basic, but they're clean and there is a shower in the loo with extremely hot water and plenty of water pressure, though no soap. Mohammed, the teenage student son, offers to go out to buy some, baksheesh no doubt in mind, but we decide to wait until morning. A quick look out the doors to the tiny balcony at the once classic building opposite and a quick check of the internet (wifi in the rooms!) and it's midnight.
Jane and her friend Jan are there, on their way to Morocco - a two week holiday involving a six hour camel trek and overnight in a tent in the desert. They have a connection in Cairo - after a thirteen hour wait. The waiting bit begins here, as the plane leaves nearly two hours late, having first arrived late from Cairo and then been obliged to change a wheel. We're given vouchers for €3.50 (£2.90, $4.60 CAD) for a snack as we wait, which runs to a small bottle of water and an extremely small packet of crisps each at airport prices - but there is a small meal on the hour and a half flight. Cold, but quite nice.
We're not optimistic about the promised airport pick up by the hostel/hotel (often a borderline call in Egypt). But no, the poor man has indeed waited for us - for about 3 hours by the time we've purchased our colourful visas ($15 US each) and cleared customs. So we're outinto the warm Egyptian air, and driven back throuogh Cairo's amazing traffic, past the city of the dead, through Tala'at Harb Square, and - another block - to Vienna Hostel. It's on the third floor of the building, reached by an antique cage of a lift. The rooms are basic, but they're clean and there is a shower in the loo with extremely hot water and plenty of water pressure, though no soap. Mohammed, the teenage student son, offers to go out to buy some, baksheesh no doubt in mind, but we decide to wait until morning. A quick look out the doors to the tiny balcony at the once classic building opposite and a quick check of the internet (wifi in the rooms!) and it's midnight.
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