Here at last...

Here at last...we had a 9hr flight from Houston to Frankfort, then 4 hr flight from Frankfort to Cairo. We were excited, had sore backs, anxious of the unknown, and ready to go to the hotel. We were met & escorted to the hotel by Abercrombie & Kent representative & driver.
Dose of reality...the driver had to stop the car before entering the hotel drive to have the car inspected by bomb-sniffing dog.  I'm just fine with extra security. The hotel is the Four Seasons Cairo at the Nile Plaza. http://www.fourseasons.com/caironp/

We were hungry so we chose the restaurant that served an Egyptian food buffet. What is Egyptian food? Very Mediterranean...hummus, beets, creamed carrots salad, lentil soup, beef, lamb, grape leaves stuffed w/rice, and fish. Desserts are almond paste, walnuts & dates based cookies, wheat puddings w/raisins, honey coated dough-nut balls, and of course a few chocolate choices. Most delicious...
Fast Facts on Cairo!

• City of 7.8 million with an additional 10 million people just outside the city.
•  It's the largest city in Africa & the 11th largest urban area in the world.
• Capital of Egypt
• Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" because of the Islamic architecture

Okay, bell-man tells us in the morning you will be able to see the pyramids from your balcony...just look to the left...here's the picture I took from our balcony. Can you see them through the smog? Look harder, you can do it! In the center of picture behind the buildings...ha, thought they would be bigger! They are about 45 minutes away in Giza.

Beautiful, bustling city...yes, our hotel sits right on the Nile River!

Biggest surprise so far...hmmm...all of the modern, beautiful, glamourous people. The local women are gorgeous, fashion forward...high heels, boots, jewelry, and make-up. Most local women have head coverings but they are gorgeous silk scarves that are color coordinated w/ their outfits. I saw only one woman in a burka from the drive to the hotel. In the hotel very few women have head coverings & are dressed very stylish.

Here at last...Melissa 

Jan. 6, 2011  2:31 pm