A Typical Day in Egypt...

... is hard to find, at least for our group. One day, we're sitting in lectures from overwhelmingly intelligent AUC professors or impossibly chaotic "Survival Arabic" classes, and the next day, we're knocking several monuments off our to-see lists. Then, who knows? Maybe we'll hop on a plane for a couple days of intense touring in Luxor or intense relaxation by the Red Sea (even relaxation is an intense experience on Global).

To give you a better idea, here are a couple highlights and snapshots of what we've done in the last 16 days, in addition to regular class:

Survived some typical traffic jams and walking across streets in Cairo
crosswalks DO NOT exist here--your life is on the line at every crossing

Discussed the pollution problem in Cairo with Professor Swanson of AUC
any undeveloped/unused square inch is free space for trash dumping

Navigated the great Khan al-Khalili market in Medieval Cairo
Some of us (me) are better at bartering than others (Adam).
Lessons: always watch your belongings, say 'no' even when you really want it,
and NEVER try it on if you haven't already agreed on a price

Did all the great and necessary touristy things at the Pyramids, with a St. Olaf twist
Jumping and 'walk like an egyptian' pictures, singing Um Ya Ya inside the pyramid

Befriended camels-- for 50 L.E. apiece plus baksheesh (tip)
Camels aren't native to Egypt: the Persians brought them
when they first invaded around 600 BC 

Stood in awe of all the beautiful ancient Egyptian art that still survives in so many of the temples and tombs we visited.
The colors for their paints come from the various different colored sediments between the limestone blocks they quarried for their monuments - everything but blue and green (which came from precious stones)

Imitated monuments with strength and poise
The Step Pyramid of Saqqara is the first real pyramid we know of - the "builder" originally only had the first level or 'pylon' built, before adding on more layers to guide his soul back after death. Later rulers improved on the idea.

Kicked ourselves for not knowing how to read/interpret hieroglyphics--guess we've just gotta trust the tour guide!
Anything written inside an oval (called a 'cartouche') is usually the name of a king or queen

Visited both the Valley of the Kings (saw 4 tombs: Rameses I, III, IV, and V/VI - they share a tomb) and Hapshepsut's Temple before 9am so as to avoid burning alive in the desert
The head egyptologist in charge of the Valley of the Kings published a book with lots of pictures of the tombs, so naturally, he banned camera usage in KV because why would you want to take your own amateur pictures when you can buy a book of professional ones for $50? If you had x-ray vision and could see through the temple behind me in this picture, you would see the Valley of the Kings.

Witnessed the Luxor Temple by night
My pharaoh-crush is Rameses II-- isn't he just a hunk?

Watched the sun come up over Luxor from a hot air balloon (just hours after our group's 1st encounter with karaoke)
There are few things more magical or inspirational than flying 3000ft above a city (and it's ancient monuments) and still being able to hear the wafting tones of the Call to Prayer

Snorkeled in the Red Sea
Didn't find any Moses-era Egyptians still walking around... with all that coral, it would have really hurt to walk across that sea-bed, even with sandals on!

Took a day off to lounge in the sun (and shade, for those of us sunburned from snorkeling) of Hurghada

Every day brings a new adventure, whether it's at a café here on Zamalek (in Cairo) or in a completely different city! We're off to Alexandria this weekend -- stay tuned for more fun times ahead!

Have you been to Egypt or another country in the region? How were your experiences different/similar to what I've described? Leave a comment below!