Greece & Egypt

So when I was in Athens I went to the Acropolis, and some other ancient sites. I think I mentioned it before but Athens is a beautiful city, and its relatively cheap for Europe (if you dont go out drinking). Another thing that I did in Greece which was cool was go to the governmental palace. There you can watch the changing of the guard. The soldiers wear a very traditional uniform, and have a very ornamental ceremony that shouldn't be missed (plus its right next to Syntagma Square and the Plaka).

I'm sure Seargent Instructor Staff Sergeant Areas will be raging through Charlie Company barracks leaving a path of destruction from Quantico to Egypt after he sees this one!!!

Tommy Raynors brain

Acropolis

More Acropolis

I will give you an example of daily expenses:
- Hostel 18 Euro
- Stolen bread for breakfast from hostel FREE
- Acropolis and ancient sites ticket 6Euro with student card (Im obvioiusly not a student, but had the dude make me one)
- Peaches, bannanas and nectarines for lunch 1.5Euro
- Water .5Euro if you buy a big bottle and refill in restaurant bathrooms (all water in Athens is drinkable)
- Two gyros to go for dinner (takeaway is cheaper) 3.6Euro

Total: 29 Euro or $45 a day

After I went to the acropolis and around Athens the next day I went to Sounio, which is about a 70km drive east. Sounio is the southernmost point of continental Europe, and is where the Greeks built the Temple of Poseidon overlooking the sea. After visiting this, you can go down to this hotel and swim at their beach for free. The beach is really beautiful. On the way to Sounio I met a couple (Ivan & Dinah) from Bosnia, and we spent the day together. I have met a few Bosnians, but never had the time to chat with them like I did in Sounio. They were from Sarajevo, and were really happy with their country these days. Sarajevo is cool because its a city, but like 20 minutes away is the mountains with skiing, mountain biking, and things like that. Ivan said some days after work he just takes the subway directly to the mountain for skiing in the winter which is cool. I learned about Yugoslavia (Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, and Macedonia) and the struggle for independence of each country and about Malosevich. One interesting thing is that the currency in Bosnia is the Mark which is pegged to the Euro with a two to one exchange rate that does not change with time.

Sounio beach

Me with Dinahs hat eating a sandwich like a choncho

Temple of Poseidon

Me showing Ivan the way

The next day (really that night) I headed to the airport for the 1.5 hour flight to Cairo. In the Cairo airport I met Ashley. Ashley is my friend who lives in the same town as me upstate in NY. I met her at work two years ago, and we have been friends since. We went to this hostel "The Australian Hostel", which was funny because it was nothing but Egyptians there. The manager, Amr was really cool and was really helpful. We got in at 4 in the morning, and stayed up to see the sunrise over the Nile. Walking around early in the morning is a bit weird. Ashley was super nervous about how to act as a female and didn't feel safe, so we just saw the sunrise and headed back to the hotel. I will say that during the day it is no problem for women to go anywhere touristic. Europeans females wear short shorts, and travel alone no problem. At night I suppose it could be a little uncomfortable for women, but it can be done - it depends on your comfort level. Me, I dont give a shit for anyone or anything and am a man so I have no problems. I also have spent probably a year total of my life in Iran so I am used to the middle eastern mentality with the bargaining, hastling, the mentality, etc...

This was the first guy we met in Cairo. He was covered in foam for some reason (wtf???)

Cool monument to this guy who whooped the British out of Egypt

After taking a nap we went to the National Egyptian Museum which was about three blocks from our hostel. It is the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. I made friends with a guy, and he let us into the mummy room and allowed us to take pictures. They were taking away peoples cameras, so we were lucky to have this guy on our side. Egypt is all about the backsheesh (tips). Anything you do, you have to cough up some money, and depending on the area most of the time one pound isnt good enough ($.30).

Ramses III - look it up

That night went to the bazaar which was huge. That was where we found this...

And this guy

The next day we went to the pyramids in Giza (30 minute drive from Cairo). Most people think they are out in the middle of nowhere, but in fact they are about a two minute walk from a KFC and Pizza Hut, and are just outside the urban sprawl of Cairo.

Egypt!

When I was in the desert I am such a fucking yankee chanco that when I saw this in the oasis I thought it was a hamburger, and tried to eat it!!!

Camel Ride!!!

I was thinking of developing a new television series. COPS - on patrol live from Giza!

Great Pyramid. When I was coming down a cop with a klashnikov was motioning for me to come down, and I thought I was going to get arrested for climbing the pyramid, but then it turns out he was trying to take a better photo of me!

The exchange rate is $1 for 5.3 Egyptian Pounds. They have a meal called Koshary which is made of beans, macaroni, tomato sauce, and some other unknown stuff. Its amazingly good, and they give a tea kettle of hot sauce with it for 4 or 5 pounds for a whole meal. A $.90 meal that fills you up cannot be beat with a ten foot pole. Kabob is more expensive, but you def can live on a shoestring here.

I will say this - unless your tolerance level is high, Egypt can be stressful in the summer. The temperatures in south Egypt are around 42C (110F), it is dusty, and the people selling goods in the bazaar are pushy. In short Egypt is not for the faint at heart. In reality all the places I have gone to have been like that, but I suppose that with the heat it only makes it more difficult. On the other hand, if you have a positive attitude, and are willing to be uncomfortable for a lil while and make some sacrifices Egypt is amazing. Egypt has had problems in the past, but tourism is up, and they dont stand for terrorism. There are cops everywhere with klashnikovs and MP5s loaded with kevlar helmets and steel barricades in case anything goes down (which it wont). In 1997 62 tourists were murdered in an explosion in Luxor (where I am going next), in 2004 Isreali tourists were targeted in the Taba Hilton in the Sinai Peninsula (killing 31), and in 2005 a series of attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh left 88 dead. Im not going into the details of why these bombings were executed, but the people of Egypt really hate this and try to downplay it just as I will here by calling them "accidents". Aside from this, Egypt is waaaayy safe. They have no theft, and I feel really comfortable everywhere. They drink, but its not popular (against the principles of Islam) and its a little tough to find beers. When you can find, they are expensive.

Also, I think I am planning world tour number two already. Im thinking something along the lines of:
- Honduras (Bay Islands) & El Salvador
- Colombia
- Bolivia
- Argentina (in the summer - Patagonia)
- Brazil (maybe)
- Maybe tour east europe by train (Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania)
- Greek islands by boat
- Overland to Turkey
- Syria, Lebanon, Israel, & Palestine
- India (maybe)

Alternative is to cut out the eastern european countries and do:
- Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgystan

If you are interested, let me know and we can find a way to save the money...