We checked back in to the Santana Hotel in Cairo. I don’t think too many of us were happy about being back in Cairo, but it did give us a chance to do some things we haven’t done. Unfortunately for me the citadel was the first thing on the itinerary that morning. So I skipped it and took a nap in the car.
After the citadel we drove to the Khan al-Khalili bazaar which is a traditional market place. That place was a maze! We had a mosque as a landmark but still had to ask around when trying to get back to our meeting spot. It was a very cultural experience. A couple of us walked as far as we could to find something to eat and ended up finding a small shop that was serving some traditional food. One of them was a sandwich filled with some sort of eggplant mix which was absolutely delicious! The other was one filled with falafel, which we have had before.
We then joined the rest of the group and sat at a coffee shop in the main square by the mosque. I had a very overpriced mango juice that was not blended properly.
On the way back to the hotel most of us got dropped off at the metro station as we were going to venture out on our own to Coptic Cairo. We had the rest of the afternoon off and didn’t want it to go to waste. I thought the metro experience was going to be something that might make me uncomfortable, but I was pleasantly surprised. The surprise, however, wasn’t that it wasn’t different or crazy, but that I’m so used to travelling now that it wasn’t shocking. The first time we took it, it wasn’t too packed but I almost didn’t make it in cause everyone rushes to the door. I had an older man wink and blow me air kisses the whole time. I tried so hard not to laugh but I couldn’t help it so it seemed as though I was smiling back at him! The second time the girls got on the one of their women-only carts – now that’s different.
The first thing we saw in Coptic Cairo was the Hanging Church. Then Saint Georges church, then a huge cemetery by a monastery. Then finally we entered a Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint George where I nice gentlemen gave us a little tour. We discovered that this was where Virgin Mary stayed. We saw where she slept, where she prayed, and the well where she drank from. I sure hope I have all this information right, cause it would be embarrassing. Forgive me, I’m templed and churched out.
Then we went to the Ben Ezra Synagogue. So we’ve covered the three major religions now. Pretty cool.
That night we tried some local shawarma. I’m always excited about trying the local food and this was delicious!
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