Arrival

Deep are the mysteries around thee,
hidden the secrets of Old.
Search through the KEYS of my WISDOM.
Surely shall ye find the way.
The gateway to power is secret,
but he who attains shall receive.
Look to the LIGHT! O my brother.
Open and ye shall receive.
Press on through the valley of darkness.
Overcome the dweller of night.
Keep ever thine eyes of the LIGHT-PLANE,
and thou shalt be One with the LIGHT.
-- Thoth,

While it was difficult not to miss my flight and remain in uplifting Amsterdam, I did sleep my way to Cairo yesterday morning, finally arriving at 4AM. I like my hostel ($33 for 7 days) and the neighborhood (downtown on Tahrir Square). After a brief nap impeded by my over-excited mind, I decided to roam around a little. The city is busy, dizzying chaotic business personified by their cab drivers. They are all over the road driving all manner of decomposing jalopies. I knew I found the right cabbie this morning when he smacked a brand new toyota cab backing out and argued the other cabbie down while driving away. Luckily he only charged me 5 LE, whereas my camel ride around the Giza Plateau was 300LE. This city is an ancient tourist trap, most are minor hustlers who see every non-egyptian as a mark, which is about 99% of the businesses in this city. One thing you can't get away from without a friendly local are Tourist Prices. Capitalism has got nothing on Cairo. There are doughboy military police everywhere, the one's in black operate as "Tourism Police" but I think most of them collect bribes from the junk peddlars and thus allow them to operate with impunity. Which wouldn't be such a problem if they weren't so agravatingly tenacious in seeking baksheesh or whatever is in your pocket. Anyway I'm just tired now.
I did visit the pyramids and sphinx and have many pictures to share once I finish downloading this Olympus program. Much more to come...