Egypt

I arrived in Cairo and got a taxi to my hotel. I then ordered some lunch and waited for my tour of the pyramids that afternoon. My guide picked me up and we got to the pyramids around 2:30. I had all intentions of riding a camel but it was just too cheesy and I could see how much of a money grab it was so decided against it. I had previously watched a documentary on the pyramids so alot of what he told me I had already known. The pyramids closed at 3:30 so we were very rushed. They were amazing but if I had to do it again, I would not get a guide and I would go so I had more time to explore. He was talking a mile a minute and just snapping pictures and not really even looking in the view finder haha. Regardless, I still had a good time I just would do it differently next time. 

That evening, I wanted to go back and take a photo at sunset. This was quite the adventure. I decided I would walk back cause it's super close to my hotel and get a nice sunset picture. As I started walking men were yelling things at me and it was pissing me off so I hopped in a cab. I held up 3 fingers indicating 3 pounds and said pyramids and he shook his head yes so I jumped in. Once we drove into the gates 4 men jumped right on top of the car and a man jumped in and then was like "no be scared". He explained they were closed but that he worked there and could take me inside. But i said no, I went in today and paid, all i want is a picture. so he said his blurb again at how great the picture would be inside for only 80 pounds so I said again, a little more frustrated this time that no, I JUST want a picture I am not paying again. So he was like ok well you need to go to the other side of the pyramds and I was like yes I know thats why I asked the cab driver to take me there. So then he jumps out and another man jumps in. I was like NO I DONT NEED ANYONE TO COME WITH ME I'M JUST TAKING A PICTURE!! then he starts trying to sell it to me, I interrupt him but he says no no don't interrupt just listen just listen so I listen and then I say no i just want a picture. At this point, I think im almost yelling haha. Then he tries to convince me 3 more freaking times until i'm flailing my arms and yelling hahaha. So he's like ok ok well you can go up on that roof to get a better picture and I was like no i will just take it here, get back in the cab and go the hell home!! and he was like it's free don't worry about it. So up I go. I take a couple pictures WHILE he is trying to tell me how much better the picture would be inside. I ignore him and finish and go downstairs. Before I did that, the cab driver then started yelling cause he said he didn't agree to 3 pounds so I ended up having to give him 8. So I walk down from the roof and the guys like here you can look in the store and buy some perfume, NO I said haha. So then I was like can you grab me a taxi and explain I am only paying 5 pounds please! He was like oh well why don't we walk through the village? I was like because I just want to go home!! He WILL NOT take no for an answer and there are no taxis to be seen cause we are no longer on the main road. So he said he will cut through the village until we get to the main road, I refuse but he doesnt stop walking. So I have to follow cause I don't know where I am. Men are saying things to him and pumping their fists so my initial reaction is... he is taking me to his house to rape the shit out of me... perfect! So I put the scenarios through my head and decide I will just run screaming if anything goes down. So obviously, none of that happened and we made it to the main road where he says "so if you would like, no pressure, you could give me something" so I acted stupid saying, oh like what? and he just repeats himself. I was like are you talking about money? and he was like ya I left my workplace (no you didn't you were sitting on your ass until I came along, your workplace closed at 3:30) to take you around and got you a nice picture and walked you through the village. I was like I did not want any of that yet you insisted so no, i'm not giving you any money. And then shit went dooowwn!! He starts SCREAMING at me! You damn tourists, why you come here! You damn english yada yada yada so I just keep walking, trying not to punch him and cry at the same time and then find my way back to my hotel. I finally get back and vowed that I am never leaving it again haha. So that's my story lol hope it entertained you hahaha. I will now spend the next 2 days pool side working on my tan. I did however finish  my last book and really wish I had a kobo so I could just download a new one but that would mean leaving the hotel, negotiating with a cab driver there and back and well... finding where they sold them. So I will likely not do that. 

When I went to Siwa, I had planned on staying for 3 nights. When I arrived, I was the only person in the hotel. The best part of travelling alone is meeting people, and well I wasn't going to be meeting anyone. The town was very quiet but came alive at night... when I was trying to sleep haha. Anyways, it was 8:15 and still no sign of anyone to make me supper so someone told me about a restaurant down the road so off I went. I hadn't eaten since 5 that morning but didn't really feel hungry so I just got a bowl of rice. I met a guy from Italy, he was about 55 maybe and then his friend who was from Australia, closer to my age came and met him. We talked for awhile and they decided they would come with me the following day to the desert. I met a couple of local guys at the restaurant who were very nice! The next day we were off to the desert! 

It was the most amazing thing I think I have ever seen. Huge sand dunes for miles and miles! We took a 4 x 4 jeep and I felt like I was on a rollercoaster. We would flyyyy up the very steep dune and then you would have to give enough gas to get over the hump but not too much that you would flip right over on the other side because it was a 80-90 degree drop. I still don't know how we didn't flip! I definately should have taken some Gravol before going haha. We then stopped to do some sand surfing which was really fun! And then we went to a fresh water lake in the middle of the desert and spent a couple of hours swimming there. We then went to a hot water spring and back to town. We were there for about 5 hours. I had already booked my ticket out of that town but then when I got back and after I met that girl I had wished I would have stayed for another night, just at a different hotel. We met up at the restaurant and the local guys invited us to eat with them. One of them had just moved back from Calgary so we all talked about Canada for awhile and how cold it is haha. I had a great last day there.

I will definately be back to Egypt, with at least one other person to talk to haha and then I will do all the things I had originally planned to do. I havent been able to do them due to the protests because most things are downtown and I don't feel comfortable going alone incase I stumble across the wrong street or something. It is quite cool tho seeing all of the military and their guns and tanks on the streets when I was on the bus but it's one thing to see them and then be in on the action, so for now, the hotel is my home haha. 

Hope all is well back home, miss you all !! Next, I am off to Greece on July 18th!