Horseback Riding in the Desert

In the last couple of days, I've been able to explore Cairo a little more, find my way around the island of Zamalek (it's the island where I'm living, and it's situated in the middle of the Nile), and do some pretty amazing things. Two of the pictures below are from a late night horseback riding excursion I went on with a group of other study abroad students and SOLs. We rode through the desert in Giza until we got to a little camp where we took a break, drank some tea, and watched the horses do some tricks (or at least the guy leading us tried to make the horse do some stuff). The horses looked emaciated, and that was sad, but it was my first time riding and I had a fantastic time. It really hit me that I was in Egypt when I looked over to my right and there were the pyramids in all their splendor. Even from a distance, their sheer magnitude is breath taking. However, look at them while a horse is galloping under you and the stars are glittering above you, and you'll truly know that you are in fact in Egypt. Since the beginning of grade school, you hear about ancient Egypt and read stories from "A Thousand and One Arabian Nights," but you're never really prepared for something like this. I can only hope to have more experiences like that.

I think the pollution and/or cigarette smoke is starting to get to me. I have a pretty sore throat, and I'm looking forward to my weekend trip to Alexandria, where I hear the air is clean and refreshing.

One of the things I love about Egypt is the people. The people here are so nice and generous. The way they light up when you speak to them in Arabic is truly something special. Of course, they want to end up speaking to you in English to practice. I try to respond in Arabic. It makes for fairly comical discourse.

Tonight I'll make the hour and a half journey over to AUC's new campus.

The first picture is of the Cairo tower on the south end of Zamalek taken at sunset. The second picture is of the first camels I saw in Egypt. The third is of my group preparing to go riding in the desert.

Ma'a salaama,

Blair