We've been in Cairo for two days now, after about 22 hours of travel. If New York is the city that doesn't sleep, then Cairo is the city that can't get to sleep. I have a balcony overlooking the Nile - the traffic and the sounds of activity are non stop. As well, there is a large presence of "tourist police": we have about 10-15 heavily armed guards stationed around our accommodations - with thousands more throughout the city. Am heading for the market today - the same one where the recent bombing took place, killing two French tourists.
Cairo is a city of contrasts - wealth and poverty. It has a 60% unemployment rate, with tourism being the largest employer. The Egyptians have been very gracious to us.
\Yesterday we took the group to old Cairo - narrow streets leading to the Coptic quarter. I prayed in a church where Christians have been praying since the 3rd century. The icons from the 8th century are amazing, and very well preserved.
We also took the group to the pyramids and the Sphinx. The two great riddles - eternal life and the nature of man.
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