no friends!!!

I made it out of Cairo yesterday, and my headache is almost gone already! This city is pretty intense! I'm not quite convinced about going back every month or so for work. It's a lot of hard work.

I got there a couple days before the work week to hang out and see the city. My buddie Hugeback moved there last week, so we checked out his new neighborhood (Maadi ), and started things off with a couple nights of pub hopping. I was quite impressed with the pub scene, as it's a huge upgrade from the Emirates. And a place where the locals know the words to Marley songs is always a plus.

Getting around the city is quite an experience on it's own. Out of everywhere I've been, it's most comparable to the Indian streets with Bangkok smog. I think I saw only a couple of street lights there, and they weren't being used. Most traffic is pretty slow going, as there are around 18 million people living in the city. But without traffic lights, things run a little hectic. Also, about 80% of the cars in the city are 30+ years old!! I managed to rip off a door handle off of one taxi. My buddie Umar wanted it for a souvenir.

Here's a photo I snapped of a passer-by:



While I had to work 6/8 days I was there, I still managed to make it too the pyramids and the main Egyptian Museum. A few pictures:




Exterior of the Egyptian Museum:


Here's a mummy King from something like 1300 b.c.




I stayed in Hugeback's corporate flat for a few days, and then once his visitor-lady-friend came I stayed at an old palace which is now the Nile Marriott.


There are a few tourist places that I didn't bother with on this trip, as it seems as if I'll have to go back to the hospital every month or two. The children's cancer hospital we work at is pretty righteous. They don't charge for their service, and it is offered to any kid from anywhere with cancer. The building is very modern, and the facility is top-notch. I think everyone working there is quite proud of what they are accomplishing.