Back to the Pyramids of Giza again. The weather was freezing and windy today, but I didn't mind taking another trip. We had the usual hassles of touts trying to sell us horse and camel rides. Here was the conversation:
Dude trying to get us to take a horse ride: I will take you on a horse ride, very good price.
Me: La shukran, mish aiza dilwati. (No thanks, I don't want one now). (The idea behind this is that the guy will realize I speak Arabic, therefore NOT a tourist, and go away).
Dude: OH you speak Arabic. I will give you Egyptian price!
Me: I said, no thanks.
Dude: Later?
Me: Maybe. (Damn, I know better than to say that!)
Dude: Promise?
Me: No, I won't promise. (He goes away and tries to talk to my friends who don't know any Arabic....then he comes back over to me. I already know what's coming.)
Dude: They said, ok, they want a ride. (he's totally lying).
Me: Good, then go take them. (He realizes I didn't fall for it and gives up, this whole process actually took about 10 minutes.)
Poor guy, I can't blame him for trying, but WHY don't they get it? The harder you push, the more people will resist!
Tom (a fellow serving in the Ukraine) and I decided to head up the hill to get a better view of the pyramids and the city. An old man came up to us and offered to take some pictures. Of course I knew he was going to expect some money afterwards (baksheesh)- and that's fine. After taking four or five pictures, I reached into my purse to give him about 10EGP (about $2.00) and he had the balls to ask for...wait for it...200EGP..like $40.00! I couldn't believe it! Was he serious? Do people actually pay that? I laughed in his face and walked away. The trouble is that this is why people HATE Egypt. It's a constant battle of harassment and being cheated. It really ruins what should be a great experience.
Later that day we headed to the Khan el Khalili or "The Khan" as it is affectionately known. Cairo was an important merchant town on the Silk Road and The Khan, established in 1382, was where all the trade occurred. The Khan is a maze of streets that includes all kinds of shops and cafes. It's easy to spend all day roaming the side streets and getting lost in the sights and sounds of the shopkeepers and the muezzin in the mosques during the call to prayer.
It is the place to go to do souvenir shopping and test out your haggling skills. I hate haggling. Just tell me the fair price and let me pay it! I bought a few scarves and that was it. I'm waiting to do the real shopping until right before I leave Egypt for good.
It also seems to be a gathering place for the young local artists. They brought their sketch pads, chalks, pencils and paint brushes and gathered around sketching the ancient architecture of Islamic Cairo.
Artists drawing in Islamic Cairo.
Even old dudes like to take pictures of the old city.
The Khan.
The din of the Call to Prayer.
Dude trying to get us to take a horse ride: I will take you on a horse ride, very good price.
Me: La shukran, mish aiza dilwati. (No thanks, I don't want one now). (The idea behind this is that the guy will realize I speak Arabic, therefore NOT a tourist, and go away).
Dude: OH you speak Arabic. I will give you Egyptian price!
Me: I said, no thanks.
Dude: Later?
Me: Maybe. (Damn, I know better than to say that!)
Dude: Promise?
Me: No, I won't promise. (He goes away and tries to talk to my friends who don't know any Arabic....then he comes back over to me. I already know what's coming.)
Dude: They said, ok, they want a ride. (he's totally lying).
Me: Good, then go take them. (He realizes I didn't fall for it and gives up, this whole process actually took about 10 minutes.)
Poor guy, I can't blame him for trying, but WHY don't they get it? The harder you push, the more people will resist!
Tom (a fellow serving in the Ukraine) and I decided to head up the hill to get a better view of the pyramids and the city. An old man came up to us and offered to take some pictures. Of course I knew he was going to expect some money afterwards (baksheesh)- and that's fine. After taking four or five pictures, I reached into my purse to give him about 10EGP (about $2.00) and he had the balls to ask for...wait for it...200EGP..like $40.00! I couldn't believe it! Was he serious? Do people actually pay that? I laughed in his face and walked away. The trouble is that this is why people HATE Egypt. It's a constant battle of harassment and being cheated. It really ruins what should be a great experience.
Bribe the guards with like a dollar and you can get great pics like this!
You try to gouge me for $40.00 old man????
Sphinx butt!!
You try to gouge me for $40.00 old man????
Sphinx butt!!Later that day we headed to the Khan el Khalili or "The Khan" as it is affectionately known. Cairo was an important merchant town on the Silk Road and The Khan, established in 1382, was where all the trade occurred. The Khan is a maze of streets that includes all kinds of shops and cafes. It's easy to spend all day roaming the side streets and getting lost in the sights and sounds of the shopkeepers and the muezzin in the mosques during the call to prayer.
It is the place to go to do souvenir shopping and test out your haggling skills. I hate haggling. Just tell me the fair price and let me pay it! I bought a few scarves and that was it. I'm waiting to do the real shopping until right before I leave Egypt for good.
It also seems to be a gathering place for the young local artists. They brought their sketch pads, chalks, pencils and paint brushes and gathered around sketching the ancient architecture of Islamic Cairo.
Artists drawing in Islamic Cairo.
Even old dudes like to take pictures of the old city.
The Khan.The din of the Call to Prayer.
No comments:
Post a Comment