Aug 7

Got up early, wanted to have breakfast but ran out of time paying the bill and arranging for a ride to the airport. Eventually it worked out and I was off. From the time I got to the airport till I got on the plane I had to show my passport 5 times (for some reason)

Long flight - comfortable enough but torture nonetheless. Arrived in Chicago and while waiting in line, someone had a heart attack. Unsettling to say the least.

Did you know that Americans make foreigners (but not Canadians) get fingerprinted as they come into the country? Bizarre. Why does anyone go there? They did it to the woman just ahead of me. I was all ready to be indignant but he didn't make me (though he was thinking about something long and hard after seeing the Syrian stamp) and I made my way to the next gate (why Ohare has terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5 but not 4 I can't figure out. It was interesting to be able to follow background conversations again.

The other weird thing is that you can't check your baggage through an american city to your final destination. NO IDEA WHY. So I had to wait for my bags and SERIOUSLY walk 100 feet and give them to the guy there waiting for them. No checks. What the point of that was is beyond me.

Short flight. Arrived no problem. Chuck was waiting and back home (which felt very weird)

Aug 6

Checked out the hotel in the morning. Took the hotel ride to the airport. Security not bad there but not used to the metal detectors at the gate too. Short flight - under two hours - but still a round of beverages and a full meal (Love Turkish Airlines). Arrived no problem got ride back to the city centre, walked back to the Blue Mosque, bought a couple of souvenirs, called Michael. Met him later for coffee and a light meal - first practice at telling my stories. Went back to the hotel and slept.

Aug 5

did basically nothing. Fly to Istanbul tomorrow (walking around a couple of drivers mistook me for someone who knew where things were)

Aug 4

Wed. Maybe try MCC today, maybe not. Strong feeling that I am done (leave Friday morning). More relaxing, realized my sandals are starting to fall apart. They only have to make it to Saturday (shouldn't be a problem as I won't be walking much anymore)

Aug 3

Woke up very early. Ok breakfast (crepes!) Driver takes me to all 3 pyramid sites. Amazing (see pictures)

But now I'm done. Collapsed back at the hotel 3 hours ago and I have barely moved since (feet hurt again) 3 more sleeps here (2 full days) maybe I won't be doing much. After the pyramids, what else is there to see?

(on the way today I saw a truck carrying thousands of stacked bricks - but not secured. On the way back - at every bump in the road - there were bricks strewn across the road)

Walked around in the evening, had supper and returned to collapse and sleep for many hours

Aug 2

4 more sleeps in Cairo (then Istanbul and home)

Slept in, another miserable breakfast (at least an egg this time) then switched hotels. Took a while to find a taxi that knew where the new place was. But around 11 AM i find it and check in. Wait an hour for the room to be cleaned (found a great coffee shop nearby) return, rest in room, take a taxi to Islamic Cairo, walk around, haggle for keychains, walk some more, ignore touts, eventually take a taxi back, eat shwarma (not nearly as good as Damascus), have an ice tea at the coffee shop (not great, coffee is better) return, rest, go meet Diana tonight.

Met Diana and another MCC worker. Had Kusharie then walked for ice cream, returned about 12 AM. Interesting talk. Typical MCC workers.

Aug 1

sink broke this morning, water everywhere

Saw the Egyptian Museum (after a lame breakfast) and the Nile (liked it better). There is something about the idea of digging up coffins and putting them on display that bothers me.

Called Diana, hopefully meeting her tomorrow (inshallah), relaxed, and cooled down and then went for a walk. Relaxed again as I listen to a long sermon? over the loudspeakers, he has been going on now for at least 20 minutes. If it is this loud here, I can't imagine what it would be like if I was there.

Switch Hotels tomorrow! (Supper, tv, reading, sleep)