It’s a Small World

Night was good. Now we’re slowly, slowly crossing the border into Egypt. It’s a typical overseas border experience. Four stations to exit Israel. Get this paper, get that paper, pay the exit fee…. Meanwhile Ray has been feeling really sick so he fainted on us. We continued to exit Israel with him in a wheelchair, but had to leave it to cross no mans land.

Egypt is its regular, ripoff self. Hugely welcoming, hugely complicated. Many little forms must be filled out. Many shouts, smiles, winks and while I was waiting in the clink as it were with someone else’s binoculars, they wanted me to join them at their rickety table and eat. “You are beautiful! Here is a spoon for you, eat, please” and then he kissed his fingers and flung his arm into the air, french style.

Eventually we were allowed to proceed, minus the binoculars, and we got a wheelchair again. Now we’re parked by the Egypt Visa desk, while our tour guide outside and the officials inside argue with Heath and its a large kaffufle. Jordan is working on tickets, Ray feels rotten and the rest of us are bored. Hello Africa. I love you.

Oh yeah. We had a quiet night, as expected.