Questions I'm Continually Asked About Egypt

1. Was it hot?
Not while I was there, but it does get hot. Probably hotter than you or I could imagine.

2. It's really different there, right?
right.

3. So you love Egypt?
No, I love Ahmed.

4. Did you see the pyramids?
Every time we were in Giza, but saw them up close last time I was there.

5. Why aren't you tanned?
We weren't at the beach, and Cairo isn't a place you hang around outside.

6. Is it all desert?
With the exception of the Nile delta (a thin strip of land on either side of the River), yes.

7. Did you have to wear a burqa?
Nope. You may be thinking of Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan.

8. Well you must have had to wear a veil (head scarf)?
Nope. I'm Christian, and my religion doesn't require I wear one.

9. Is Ahmed "westernized"?
He has lots of experience with Americans and other nationalities, but he is a proud Egyptian who never thought he'd be romantically involved with an American.

10. Was the food weird?
The food was AWESOME. I ate very well. For breakfast at home we had mushrooms and eggs, assorted cheeses with flatbreads, and Ahmed's own chive salad.
Egyptian food in restaurants is great. They really need to just stick with what they know, however. International cuisine is available, but it is all Egyptianized. If you're craving Italian, have it before you go to Egypt. If you love Mexican, you'll be directed to a Chili's. You can get an Old El Paso taco kit at Carrefour, but it'll cost you $10 USD.

Food can be delivered to you from anywhere, usually up until 2 am. You don't even have to speak Arabic! Just go to Otlob and order away. We feasted on Saudi Arabian baby chickens (little chickens spread eagle on flatbread inside a styrofoam takeout container), kofta, chicken kebab, beautiful rice, tahini and some ridiculously good oily bread all rolled up and warm. Yum.

11. Does shisha make you high?
No. It's fruit flavored tobacco smoked through a hookah which is basically a floor bong. I got a little lightheaded a few times simply because I'm not a smoker and I was holding it in my lungs waaaay too long. I tried apple, licorice, mint, apricot and grape flavored shishas. Mint was my favorite.

12. Do the women have to walk behind the men?
No.
But you can if your feet hurt or if you're tired. Or if you're walking with a group of women and the men are walking with their male friends. Or if your man and protector isn't sure what's ahead, he may request to walk before you so if the unexpected occurs, he'll take the hit rather than you. For example, a deep hole in the ground. There is no general infrastructure in Egypt, and this includes road safety.

13. Speaking of roads, what's the driving like?


14. "I've always wanted to go to Egypt! It's been my lifelong dream!"
So go. Seriously. I never had that burning desire to go to Egypt, and I did. Alone. I met up with a tour group and had the time of my life. I also met the love of my life :) So just go.