Zipping into Zamalek

Holy cow. 20 hours later, and I am here. Whoa.

So, I am officially in Cairo. It's about 5:30, and in fact, after arriving around 2 this afternoon, not that hot. I was expecting 110 degrees, which it may be, but the dryness counteracts any sense of traditional "heat."

After landing, I proceeded through customs, only to encounter a most unusual system of clearing passports which consisted of handing your passport over, having it stamped, and then having the guard nod his head slipping the passport into this room behind him. Three more people were to pass through, and the two people already waiting received their passports after the others were processed. So, this system of exchanging passports on every third person. There is some highly intelligent, complex security rationale behind it, I hope.

Following this, I retrieved my bag, and then realized the likelihood of my finding the AUC taxi driver was dramatically reduced since we were delayed in Rome for over an hour, and he may have left with others. I found another taxi driver, or, rather he found me. He was incredibly kind, or incredibly skilled in soliciting wary Americans. I hopped in, and on the way out, the Egyptian police stopped us, tell me to roll the back window down, and sign my name in this book which looks oddly like one at a wedding reception or something. Just to sign my name.

During the 45 minute ride into the downtown, it was just amazing. It's difficult to put my finger on, but the initial long strips of highway lined by palm trees and billboards for Chili's (Egypt has Chili's, go figure) and ice cream bars, followed by the Mario Kart action of 30 year old Trebants with brightly colored flags maneuvering in and out of traffic, and then just the vibrant energy getting off the highway and into the neighborhoods was stunning. This great bustle I've never seen before. Most European cities now appear on life support in relation to this.

After reaching the dormitories, greeting the heavy security force, I was warmly, very warmly welcomed by the receptionists who bore welcome gifts. In the lobby adjacent there is a massive television, and then the entrance to a beautiful courtyard. I'll post the pictures soon. My dorm is like a palace. And everyone is very, very helpful here.

I am not really jet-lagged right now, and I never really do get jet-lagged come to think of it, regardless of how many timezones I criss-cross. I will say, however, I do feel a little spaced out...it's as though I am either in a time warp, contorting backward either 30 or a thousand years depending on where I am standing or walking. But that's not really it either. I don't know what it is. No matter how many countries I visit, how many flights I board, there is still something just a little bit amazing about getting on a plane and then getting off in a totally new world in a matter of hours. This was all right here all along. Egypt. Waiting?

Alright, I am going to go to the bookshop now...maybe find some dinner.