March, 2021

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A Breakdown of My Trip

The Flight

My first flight was a 2.5 hour little jaunt to LAX. Then an 11-hour marathon to Paris. I definitely recommend enough alcohol, that you start to fear you may do/say something stupid (but not enough to be inebriated), then pop 2 Tylenol PMs as soon as you board. It’ll be the best flight you ever took.

I woke up 30 minutes before landing, ate, then took advantage of my 7 hour layover, with a tour of Paris.

The 5-hour flight to Cairo was packed and I sorely regretted not upgrading to business class.

Lodging

I got picked up at the airport by someone from the Hostel I stayed at (for free!). It was 2 am their time.

What I Did

First I had a Panic Attack

then i woke up and had another Panic Attack

then – i was fine.

I went to Giza and rode a camel to see the pyramids, sphinx, etc… I went to religious museums, took a cruise on the Nile, went to the Red Sea, wondered the streets, and chilled with some local kids I met. It was an amazing experience.

Takeaways

It is HOT. And you will most like not feel comfortable in less than a long sleeve and pants (due to the culture). Therefor, I recommend black (no sweat marks), loose fitting, non-cotton, shirts.

No ones going to stone you if you were a short sleeve or whatever, however I strongly recommend dressing like the locals. Not just out of respect, but because your experience will be so much more authentic is the locals are comfortable around you.

Your money goes A LONG ways, unless you are staying at a tourist hotel doing tourist things. The more tourists you get together, the more expensive things get. I stayed at the hostel for a week and there were a lot of things “put on my room” and it cost me $130, before tip. Touristy hotels are that per night and not even that nice.

For every Mosque, there are Christian churches. The Muslim religion supports 2 other religions (because they are so similar) – Christianity and Judaism.

A outlet converter does not mean you can use your blow-dryer there. Mine blew up immediately.

Don’t think you will be able to find hair ties at your local market.

Your hair will dry out.

No TP. Expect bidets.

Alcohols not really a thing unless you’re in a tourist area/hotel/cruise.

Don’t EVER even think about driving there. It’s fucking insane.

Everyone chain smokes.

Very generous people.

You are expected to haggle. It gets fun and they love it.

If you plan to get a hotel with the opposite sex, you best be married. Especially if one of you are brown. Seriously.

Every six hours, you will here a prayer throughout the city. It was creepy at first but soon I started to find it calming. It’s beautiful.

Itinerary

• Portland to Los Angeles – DL 2379

  Mar 18, 2021, 12:25 PM–2:39 PM

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  Los Angeles to Paris – DL 8553

  Mar 18, 2021, 4:25 PM–Mar 19, 2021, 11:15 AM

  Flight Time: 10 hr, 50 min

  7-hour layover. Perfect amount of time to do a tour of Paris!

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  Paris to Cairo – DL 8622

  Mar 19, 2021, 6:10 PM–11:30 PM

  4 hr, 20 min

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  Cairo to Paris – DL 8623

  Mar 24, 2021, 1:50 AM–5:40 AM

  4 hr, 50 min

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  Paris to Los Angeles – DL 8395

  Mar 24, 2021, 10:15 AM–2:10 PM

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Resources

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