Day 13

All of the sudden, people are starting to act worn down.  There are only a few more days left on the trip, but everyone is physically and mentally done.  We had been moving at a fast pace up until the resort, but something about leaving and jumping back into go, go ruggedness destroyed the morale, toughness, and mental game of most in the group.  It is also harder to be in Egypt than Israel (I hope you didn't get the wrong impression of Egypt from the resort.  Egypt is very poor and dirty.  That's why the resort is so surreal and disturbing to be at.)  I have been very enthusiastic, excited, and energetic for a long time.  This has been the best trip of my life, but I think I am being attacked because I woke up this morning with a very bad attitude.  I feel tired and nauseated, and for the first time I want to be done and go home.  Oh, and another excuse to whine.  My sunburn hurts.

The bus trip from Taba to Cairo is about six hours through straight desert.  It was uneventful, except for stopping at the worst W.C.'s (water closets (bathrooms)) you can imagine, and crossing under the Suez canal.  It is a man-made waterway for ships that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.  It cuts out the sail around Africa.  We got into Cairo, complete with a police escort.  Thank you for drawing attention to us by your sirens and flashing lights.

I felt pretty terrible.  We went to a small shop to eat something like Kosheri, but for the first time on this trip I refused to brave the foreign food in front of me.  I just sat there, complained to Sam, and ate a powerbar. The only MERICA'n food I have.  Thank you for listening, Sam.  It looked like a bowl of trash.  This is only because of my bad attitude of course.  When you feel sick and want to leave, it's amazing how much you notice all the negative things.  The mangy cat sitting over the food they are preparing... the smog and dust everywhere (it literally blots out the sun).. the dirty restaurant... the loudness of the city (everyone honks every two seconds on the road.  Its ridiculous.  Hello, honking doesn't have an effect anymore when EVERYONE is doing it all the time.  And the roads are in a constant traffic jam.  Tons of cars.  Cairo is crazy.).. and the smell.  Cairo is an experience you need to have.  Just check your attitude.  It so sad, crowded, dirty, and poor.  I said this before but it is the largest city in Africa.

 These are the scariest elevators.  Our room is one of these windows on the 11th story.

Sam and I got a room together.  Fun stuff!  Since I feel terrible, Im going to bed early while the kids go see a movie.  It will be hard to sleep with the noise.  You wouldn't believe how loud it is here.  My mom is very sick.  I think we ate something bad in Taba.  Weston is still dying too, so he is with him mom and in bed.

I hope I can have a great attitude tomorrow even if I don't feel good.   Only two days left!  Sicknesses and bad attitudes could be disastrous when a group of people are together in Cairo.   Help us to still get along, build each other up, and get the most out of the end of this trip, Lord.