Thoughts on Egypt

We are now sitting in Milan. 24 hours ago we were sitting in a Kushari (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushari)place in Cairo, having our last meal in Egypt. More on that below. Returning to Cairo for the last evening was a great experience. Compared to our arrival, were were quite functional, at ease and really enjoyed walking the streets with the local Cairenes. 

The city is huge and intense.  Once senses that the continued struggle with entropy is slowly being lost.  But the struggle continues. 

Absent the first 24 hours in Egypt, I don't think I have ever been in a country where I have felt safer. We walked hours everywhere, in incredibly poor areas, and in the dark of night, and we always felt the sense that we were safe. People in Egypt had noted that this was the case, and we tested it. 

The people have a sense of humor and it was nice to engage it. 

I regret not to have posted more, but there have been a couple factors limiting posts. First, there has been a lot to digest and one does not want to be too quick to judge or to make pronouncements. Understanding sometimes takes time. Second, all the walking in the polluted Cairo air burned my lungs causing a cold and I had a bout of intestinal issues. Such ill health zaps energy, so the blog was the first to suffer. The low energy can lead to negative thoughts, which are more a function of poor health. Finally, I miss having a keyboard. It is a pain to write with just one finger.  

So back to the Kushari restaurant. We are sitting there eating and an elderly Italian couple are seated across from us. They were quite fashionable and we chatted a bit with them. Kushari has a mix of pasta, lentils and rice, garnished with chickpeas and fried onions. It is served with a tomato sauce, lemon juice, cumin, hot pepper and garlic vinegar. It is really amazing stuff. We had it three times, including our last night in Cairo. Quite healthy, as well. 

So we are eating away chatting with the Italian lady. She is a bit aghast that she is having pasta in Egypt. She is quite certain the cannot do pasta. The man is rather professorial and is going with the flow. 

It finally arrived and we help explain how to assemble it all. Tara notes the hot chili as a warning. 

The man begins first eating and is really enjoying it.  Then the women joins in and by the time we left them they were both really enjoying it. 

We need to open a Kushari shop in Portland. 

So the next day we are having lunch with the Milanese in Milan. How fitting. 

Today we are off to Malta for 5 days. 

Photo of Cairo train station.