A Cold Is A Cold Is A Cold
Sandy Powers
September 10, 2011
Several years ago, my husband, two daughters and I flew Egyptian Air from London into Cairo International Airport. Cairo, the capital of Egypt with ten million people, is the largest city in the Arab world. After retrieving our luggage, we grabbed a cab to the Ramses Hilton that nestled on the banks of the Nile River. From our rooms we watched the feluccas sailboats navigate down this longest river in the world. For centuries, felucca sailboats have been the primary transportation on the Nile. These traditional boats grace the Nile today as they have since the time of the Pharaohs.
On our first full day we made arrangements for a guide through the American Express office in the hotel. When we finished breakfast our guide was waiting for us in the hotel lobby. Ashraf was charming, spoke perfect English, and was delighted to meet an American family for the first time. He was particularly fascinated by "those metal things" on our oldest daughter. He had never seen braces before.
Ashraf arranged a taxi to transport us around Cairo. Our first excursion was to the three pyramids on the Giza Plateau, a short distance from Cairo. Largest of the three, the Great Pyramid of Khyfu stood as a testament to the great workmanship of the ancient Egyptians. At that time it was permitted to climb Khyfu. As we stood near the top of Khyfu, we were awed by the breathing taking view of Cairo and the sprawling Sahara Desert that encircled Cairo. If not for the life of the Nile, Egypt would be a wasteland.
The best way to view the Pyramids, Ashraf assured us, was by camel. As I got comfortable in the saddle, my camel titled his head towards me and starting sneezing. Ooze soaked my knee to my ankle.
The camel owner, walking along side, yawned, "The camel has a cold."
Staring at my wet leg, I moaned, "Now, so do I."
On our first full day we made arrangements for a guide through the American Express office in the hotel. When we finished breakfast our guide was waiting for us in the hotel lobby. Ashraf was charming, spoke perfect English, and was delighted to meet an American family for the first time. He was particularly fascinated by "those metal things" on our oldest daughter. He had never seen braces before.
Ashraf arranged a taxi to transport us around Cairo. Our first excursion was to the three pyramids on the Giza Plateau, a short distance from Cairo. Largest of the three, the Great Pyramid of Khyfu stood as a testament to the great workmanship of the ancient Egyptians. At that time it was permitted to climb Khyfu. As we stood near the top of Khyfu, we were awed by the breathing taking view of Cairo and the sprawling Sahara Desert that encircled Cairo. If not for the life of the Nile, Egypt would be a wasteland.
The best way to view the Pyramids, Ashraf assured us, was by camel. As I got comfortable in the saddle, my camel titled his head towards me and starting sneezing. Ooze soaked my knee to my ankle.
The camel owner, walking along side, yawned, "The camel has a cold."
Staring at my wet leg, I moaned, "Now, so do I."
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