(The Intro below is from Egypt I )

I had always wanted to go to Egypt. So much history, so old, so sophisticated.

I had very limited time so the only place I went was Cairo and nearby.

It was one of those places that if you wanted to cross the street you had to be born on the other side–the traffic was unbearable.

People were friendly, as you will see, and there’s one photo of (adult) men playing leapfrog with great glee.

The pyramids, the camels (oh my God, the camels) were wonderful, the Sphinx, the tourists– it was a kaleidoscopic place, things happening everywhere.

In one incident I got fed up with the guides in the museums everywhere wanting tips. So when we got to some obscure pyramids I refused to go into the museum there with my friends. I just waited outside in the desert. I walked around. I was completely alone. It was wonderful.

Since I always love rocks, stones, and even pebbles, for their intrinsic beauty, I bent down, picked up some and started to examine them. A moment later there’s a guy at my shoulder (from God knows where) who says, “The little ones are 50 cents and the big ones a dollar.”

I laughed so hard my friends ran out to see what the hell I was laughing at.

A wonderful place.