Finishing our time in Egypt. Yesterday was a long van ride from the desert back to Cairo. We shared the van with the driver, his brother, his sister and his brother's wife. The wife wore the full veil. We weren't sure what to do or say as she sat their in the front seat staring ahead at the beginning of our ride.
Then, she turned around and said hi and told us she was pregnant and not feeling real well. She moved to the back of the van to relax and we were on our way. After we got out of town she removed here veil and chatted away with her cousin.
We still haven't figured our the head covering/veil situation. They range from the very stylish, colorful veil, color coordinated with jeans and a flashy top, all the way to a full black burka type arrangement, some without even a slit for the eyes.
The pregnant gal seemed quite comfortable without the veil on in the car, talking to us, but when we stopped midway for a bathroom break, on went the veil again, and as we approached Cairo, again the veil went back on.
We surmised that since I was a married, older man, that the veil wasn't necessary in the van. Haven't researched this yet! Anyway, she was very pleasant, and enjoyed talking to us whether or not the veil was on. Our prejudices continue to be swept away!
The evening finished with a Nile River Dinner Cruise. Expected a traditional menu, got a "cruise-style" buffet dinner with loud music, not real pleasant until the Sufi "whirling dervish" showed up! A lot of neat history here, but the bottom line is this guy whirled non stop for about 20 minutes; quite a show.
He was quite friendly.
Three long flights back home. The real world has reintruded itself. As we were approaching Heathrow Airport, they announced that if any of us were in India during the recent terrorist activity that law enforcement would be at our gate to interview us. And, indeed, there was a SWAT team of sorts of 6 men awaiting our arrival. We were one of the last to leave the plane, none of the passengers were in conversation.
We hope you enjoyed reading our Egypt blog. Our trip was a study in contrasts. From the crush of 20 million people in Cairo, to the gold artifacts found in the 3000 year old tombs in the Valley of the Kings. From the hustle of the Red Sea resorts to the solitude and barrenness of the White Desert.
We found the Egyptian people like everyone else on this planet. Doing the best with what they have, hoping for even a little improvement in the future. Looking out for themselves and their families and appreciating and honoring their neighbors.
We are currently flying at 36,000 above the Atlantic, preparing to reenter our busy lives. What was striking throughout the last three weeks were people's comments, both Egyptian and travelers like us, of a hope for a better future. Worldwide, we fight a diminished expectation for the future. The US economic debacle is indeed affecting people around the world.
Almost without fail, when we tell people we are from America, we get a thumbs up. People around the world like Americans, indeed, they want a healthy America. Their expectations for the future are optimistic. Their fear and mistrust from the last eight years was palatable. But, they now share hope. I hope they, and we won't be disappointed.
