I Don't Want a Freakin' Camel Ride!!!!!!

Alright, I all makes perfect sense. Several 5,000 year old geometric shapes in the middle of a desert are an undeniable tourism draw. A culture of trading will most certainly continue a trend of trying to get the best price for their wares. Sadly, uniformed buyers throughout the ages have paid whatever local merchants have asked, as they are clueless about local economic valuation. These are all logical. I totally understand how and why and who. But that does NOT mean i want a freaking camel ride around the pyramids!!!!!

I have been to Cairo a few times now. And from the second i stepped off the plane several years ago on my first visit, i serious disliked the place. How is it that airport officials will lie to you saying "It's impossible to get a taxi for 50 EP, you need to pay the 100 EP for the airport service"? Yet the moment you step outside, you can get 50 EP without even trying. From arrival at the airport to departure Cairo is a messy, noisy, dirty stay full of hassle and lies. Without question, some of the sites available are world class, but i question whether it's all worth it.

I have stood across the road from the Egyptian Museum, waiting a chance to brave the anarchy and chaos that are Cairo roads. "Hello, my brother. Where are you from?" comes the seemingly hospitable greetings of a random local. "Canada." I reply. "Oh really? My brother lives in Canada! What is your job?" he continues. "I am a teacher" i answer, not feeling the need to go into the specific details. "So am I!!! Where you go?" he segways, as we are clearly now soulmates. "I'm heading across the road to the museum" as i state the obvious. "Oh no! The museum is closed today. But i know a private papyrus museum around the corner. Come with me" How stupid does he think i am? I can clearly see tourists entering the building which is merely across the bloody road!!! And how does somebody so boldly and unethically lie so freely right to my face? But this is only a minor example of the crap you put up with in Cairo. I'm not even going to start on the disgusting sexually aggressive behaviour unsurpassed anywhere else in the world.

And then there's the pyramids. Although countless similar structures dot the

general area, pretty much everyone is heading to the Cairo suburb of Giza. Getting there is half the battle. Taxi drivers generally refuse to use a meter (thus giving a fair price), yet will somehow refuse to take you for a negotiated price that is anything less than double. Then, as you approach the Ancient World Wonder, there is an unavoidable stop at the driver's cousins camel stable. "No, my friend. The Pyramids are 15 kms away. It is impossible to walk there. You must pay many entrance fees equalling $50." First of all, i can see the Pyramids, they are 600 meters away. Second, the admission is 60 EP, not $50. Once actually on the grounds of the Pyramids it's impossible to make it more than 10 meters without the constant hassle of someone trying to sell you something. In the event you are foolish enough to agree for XX pounds for a camel ride for you and the wife, at the end of the ride the driver tells you it was British Pounds, not Egyptian pounds and it was the price per person. Liars and cheaters the lot of them.

Admittedly, it is completely unfair to judge an entire population on the actions of a few. On the contrary, i have some amazing Egyptian friends. And in the end, these guys are just trying to make a living. To be fair, if some idiot tourist is willing to pay $50 for a glass souvenir of the pyramids made in China, it's their own damn fault. Sadly, for the average tourist, this is the Egypt you are exposed to. If it wasn't for the fact i had an extended lay-over to some place MUCH better, i wouldn't have gone back to Cairo at all. And i will do everything in my power to ensure i never have to return again.