What an interesting day it has been. I've never really transitioned from one non-western culture to another. Leaving South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe behind all I could think about was getting out to the islands in Greece. I have taken a trip to Athens once before so mentally I had been gearing up for solid European standards of food, accommodation and beaches. What I didn't realize was that I would need to pass through Cairo international airport on my way there. Cairo is definitely not Athens and after landing there today I am amazed at how different it really was.
We had a hell of a day today! First we got off the plane and since we couldn't check our bags thru (non star alliance airline) we had to get our bags and recheck then w/o going thru customs!
Since we left the one thing Paul and I always say is, "if I lose everything but my passport I'll be okay." we never let our passports out of our sights but if we do leave them somewhere we're always locking them up! So at the transfer desk they wanted them. We handed them over and were told for the first time (of many) to, "go sit down."
That simple phrase could sum up my entire Cairo experience. Go. Sit. Down. We must have been told this so many times I lost count. It didnt feel like we were at an international airport at all. I felt like I was in another world. I began longing for the seemingly efficient in retrospect Asia airports.
Long story short we got our bags. Were told to wait for the shuttle bus to the other terminal. I'm thinking Washington Dulles type shuttle. Nope, it was a tiny minivan with a man blaring Arabic music and singing to us through his sips of tea. How much coffee and tea can one culture consume!? I was convinced vegemite was the Achilles heal of the Aussies but what would Egyptians do if caffeine was taken away from them?
We drive over to the other terminal via a runway. Yup, we have to wait in line with airplanes to get there. Efficiency.
Then we get searched. Paul tells the "security guard" that he has a knife. They scan our bags and I tell them no liquids and no knife. I had both. But it seemed like such a rinky dink operation that I knew I'd get away with it or play dumb. Pauls knife is a big deal and we go thru negotiations that we're "checking!" our bags. At one point Paul is on his hands and knees trying to explain "under the plane." I'd put money on these guys DID understand what we were saying but just wanted to confiscate the knife bc they knew they could. Of course while the matter is being sorted out we're told to go. Sit. Down. Sooo infuriating!
We had Starbucks and Cinnabun and thankfully after passing the gate marked Bagdad we were on our way to Athens! Whew!
