In a City On the Sea

Today passed quite quickly, I must say. I was actually up at a decent hour (9:30, shh….) to get ready for classes today, of which I had five hours. I really wish classes started earlier than 11, because then I’d be done earlier and have a much more regular sleeping schedule. Gar. All the same, after classes a bunch of us (Matt Lowes, Anne Wilborn, etc) went to Mahattat Ramal to relax before walking/taking a cab to Bahry. We went to a seafood restaurant that was absolutely amazing. Expensive (in Egyptian terms) but amazing. Too bad the area is inconvenient to get to from my neighborhood.

After that we walked in the direction of our homes for a bit, then decided we wanted ice cream, so we stopped for Roz b-Leban mixed with ice cream. Also quite wonderful, if very different. After more walking we found our way to a relatively empty beach ‘café’ (which means it was a bunch of plastic chairs and tables spaced evenly on a stretch of sand) and sat. It was a lovely view/atmosphere. Very little beats sitting on the beach sipping a beverage without the gross sand-related issues. Until the café owner asks 10 pounds for a soda ($2). We argued about the ridiculous prices, but because we don’t speak Arabic well yet and are foreigners who wanted to get home we let it slide this time. Next time I’m saying the price is ridiculous, handing him money and leaving.

I’m a little stressed because tomorrow I’m going to Cairo for the weekend. Whether for one day or two I’m not sure, but I’d like to do all the logistical garbage myself so I feel comfortable in the future. Obnoxiously enough, when I tried to call several hostels to make reservations all the numbers from Lonely Planet seemed to be wrong. I’ll just have to figure it out when I get there, and hopefully it won’t be as bad as my last time. I’m always stressed out in big cities, but big foreign creepy cities are worse. Wish me luck.