First Impressions of Cairo | Egypt Travel Blog: Day 0 (Part 2)

Airport to the Oasis Hotel, Alexandria Desert Road, Giza, Cairo, Egypt

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My airport guide brought me to a car in the parking lot. There were no other passengers or guides. He said the driver would take me to my hotel, so we headed towards my hotel, which would be about an hour's drive.

After exiting the airport, the highway to Giza seemed to be on high land and it offered a very nice view of Cairo from afar.

My first impression of Cairo was on the drive from the airport to the hotel. The first thing on the street I noticed was that no one was following lanes and driving was chaotic. Some drivers were cursing at each other for trying to cut through or whimsical overtaking, although it seemed to be the norm. I instantly realized that I was no longer in Canada.

One strange thing that struck me right away is the intertwining of ancient and modern Egypt. Although it’s a modern city, Cairo still has that ancient feeling. It’s like Ancient Egypt lives within present Egypt’s modern structure and modern landscape. I have not had this kind feeling anywhere else - that I am in a very ancient city. The structures, air, noise, smell, landscapes, sights in the distance … everything reminded me that I am experiencing a living history 3000 years old. 

I noticed lots of frames of abandoned buildings that were never completed. I was not sure why so many abandoned buildings were left standing like shadows of ghosts.

I will write more about Cairo in future posts, but if you want me to summarize Cairo, I will tell you this: Cairo is crazy, intense, chaotic, confusion, mayhem, noisy, polluted, hot, unthinkable, uncontrolled, disorganized, and dirty.

But don’t get me wrong here. I didn’t say I disliked Cairo. What I mentioned above is what makes Cairo unique. Cairo is also colorful, vibrant, ancient, full of life, welcoming, safe, friendly, bubbly, warm, and accommodating.

There was something about the ancient sprawling mega metropolis that tugged at my heart and I put Cairo on my list of Forever in Love. I will not hesitate to visit Cairo many times in the future.