Cairo, Egypt

4:30am, that's when my Alitalia flight landed! Mechanical problems in Rome - just glad to be in Africa. Greeted at the airport by our hotel. Had to purchase a $15USD visa for the country. Easy process so far. Met some nice people on the plane (2 Egyptian engineers who gave us their cards and said to call them if we needed anything... We were invited to go with them to their families if we felt in danger... In danger?!) Found out that we were flying in on the 2nd year anniversary of the Revolution... Advised not to leave our hotel as protest would be happening! What?!
In bed that morning/night I hear sunrise chanting from the prayers being offered for the day. The whole city sings of this Arabic melody. I lay there and ponder what's happening. Will we be safe? Will we get to see they pyramids? My life is more important than riding a camel, yet I felt a deep disappointment that we had flown all this way to be told not to leave our hotel...
4.5 hours later we awake and ask the hotel if they can at least hire a driver and show us the pyramids (in Giza outside of Cairo), they say it's not recommended today. We smile and stupidly ask again... They agree. We're off to see they pyramids, a little nervous but more excited than anything. Sometimes in traveling adventure requires risk. There's a balance. I'd never do anything too crazy but will walk the line from time to time.
Happy to say the day was amazing! Better than could have been expected. Had our own private tour of the pyramids! Was able to climb on them... The site was empty, it was like a dream...