First day in Cairo - doubt

I found my first day in Cairo very much flavored. After having lodged at Ketty's place, an amicable Belgian woman who has become my first host on Couch Surfing, and who was also welcoming another Couch Surfer from Belgium, I, despite an immediate jet lag, decided to begin my journey to a bustling downtown Cairo. I decided, though, that I visit the Old Cairo or Coptic on my way to the city. There, I went into an old church called St. Georges and had some local tea with the locals afterwards. While strolling, I found that many locals enjoyed having their pictures taken, especially the young ones. I ended up taking loads of pictures just of them. Just next to the church stood the mosque named Amr Ibn Al- Aas soon as I walked in my hands instinctively did their job of snapping the scene. I sat down and had a quiet hour for myself. I was at peace just to be able to listen to those chants from the old Quran-an scripture.

It was 3 p.m. when I took a metro to downtown Tahrir Square and rushed myself into Egyptian Museum to Sadat station where I'd gotten off. With the International Student ID (ISIC) (I made one on Khaosan Road), I ended up paying half of what I was supposed to pay without (60 Egyptian Pounds, L.E.), which I was very much happy about. In it, I was amazed to have seen those ancient artifacts and evidences left from the civilization. Had I be more passionate about archeology, I reckoned a more pleasant visit. I nonetheless left the place with a heap of wonders on my shoulder and a deep appreciation, especially after having decided to pay extra (60 L.E.) to see those mummified bodies of the kings (i.e. Ramses II) and queens (i.e. Hatshepsut) as far back as 2,000 years ago. The bodies were amazingly intact and to have starred at those temples face-to-face in a foot-long distance, I was totally in awe.

I left the museum 3 hours later to get a taxi to Khan el Khalili the world's oldest/famous open air market that still remains unchanged since the 14th century, I was without my knowledge, however, about to be trapped by an apparently friendly taxi-driver. He marched his way through Cairo's typical congested street and offered me a cheap ride. He told me he'd take me to the Giza Pyramids since the market wasn't quite yet at its best hours to visit. On he told that I could ride a camel around and see the sunset by the pyramids and bring me back to downtown - all for 30 (L.E.). He seemed unquestionably nice however and I was gullible enough to buy his hoax. Once on the way, I started to feel apprehensive after pretending to ask for his number in case I would use his service in the future. I tricked him into saying I didn't get the number right. In turn, he gave me a different set of numbers that I for once caught he was just making it up. I was still on a mobile and my instinct told me I was no longer on a safe ride. Again, I tricked him into saying that I had a back pain, which I in fact did, and that I needed to get out of the vehicle for a stretch. I thought I would get away with this trap swiftly. Unfortunately, as I flagged a new taxi on the roadside, he jumped right out of his seat and started abominating me into words and turned into a different person; a brother to enemy. Worst yet, he started demanding me for more money and tugged some 70 L.E off of my wallet and left dissatisfied. What a ride!

I though to myself after the day (after having gone back to the market which was just fantastic): what if I didn't get out of that taxi and let him take me to where he said he would. I didn't trust him wholeheartedly as I learned more about his ploy (I thought that at least), but rather I told myself to take this 'leap of faith'. It could be just another tourist trap and I might have enjoyed the ride. Or it could have turned out truly unpleasant. What would have happened if I didn't cheat the destiny? What would have happened if I didn't have this doubt at all?

In the end, I was glad all this happened. One truth I know for fact however is that I never drank as much water as I did here; 5 liters at least in the first day. I just felt I have absorbed Cairo it all in... in o n e s i n g l e d a y.