Nov. 5, 2007 – Luxor Airport – Luxor to Cairo – 12

The flies:

I’m heading back to Cairo and then later tonight to Tanzania. I’m sitting in the airport again, waiting for the delayed Egypt Air plane. I’m going to miss Cairo but I’m certainly not going to miss the flies. I have literally not had a single meal outdoors, inside a restaurant, at my hotel, or at the airport without being accompanied by one or more uninvited flies – usually a whole family joins me (well, family is important in the Middle East).

Taxi Drivers:

Taxi drivers seem to love Middle Eastern songs with the word “habibi” in them. If you sit in a cab for more than the length of three songs, you will inevitably hear a “habibi” (which means “my beloved”) song, which must mean the Cairo taxi drivers are the secret Romeos of the city.

Brown marks on many mens’ foreheads:

I have started to notice many men with a brown spot on their foreheads the size of a quarter. I think it’s a fungus from putting their heads on the carpet (which is shared by many) at the mosque five times a day for years. I began inquiring about it. Here were some of the responses.

It’s a sign from God that he has a place in heaven because of his strong devotion.
It is a natural mark from praying a lot. Not a fungus but more like a gift.
It’s ingrained dirt that would go away if he stopped praying.
It’s a sign of pride.

Egypt Air – Luxor to Cairo

On my return flight to Cairo I have the great good fortune to find myself sitting next to none other than Dr. Zahi Hawass, the famed archeologist from the Valley of the Kings! He is traveling with a friend and they are both very nice. Dr. Zahi Hawass says that if I had only met him a few days earlier my life would have been changed forever. He would have taken me along on his archeological adventure while in Luxor. They invited me join them to dinner but, alas, my flight to Tanzania leaves tonight so it was impossible. I did, however, accept a ride (one and a half hours) to my hotel with them, and we got to know each other much better. We exchanged contact information and Dr. Hawass will be in LA in December for a lecture. He invited me to his talk. Life works in strange ways!

Fun Facts:

Cairo has the oldest functioning university in the world, the famed Al-Azhar

Cairo (or al-kahira in Arabic) means the Vanquisher, or the Triumphant