Cruising The Nile, and Couchsurfing in Cairo

Our first attempt at Couchsurfing in Egypt was successful. We met up with the usual group plus a few more in Tahrir Square downtown Cairo. From there we headed over to the East bank of the Nile to catch a ride on our pimped out boat that will whisk us down the river with loud arabic music and lights included.

It would have been a little boring if it wasn’t for joining our CS friends. They are a blast! Everyone is so friendly and we all get along just perfect. We did a little ice breaker type of game and had each person go up and stand at the front of the boat to pose for photos. Some did not want to be included but we all made it to the front for our 15 second photo shoot.

We sang and danced our way down the Nile as we passed all of the biggest name hotels in the business which lie along the banks of the river.

Before we know it, our hour is up and the 13 of us split the bill. The damage? A whopping $.0.70 cents per person for the hour. The night ends at a shisha cafe in downtown where we all share our latest and greatest travel plans.

Our new friend Mohamed explains that we can stay at his place tonight but because he is already hosting someone at his place that we will have to sleep on cushions on the floor. We agree and head off to Maadi with Mohamed (our host), and Khurim an couchsurfer from England. We arrange our bed on the floor and wake up the next morning with a sore back. It’s okay though because today we will meet a family that takes us in, teaches us new things, and defines the true definition of Egyptian hospitality. We just don’t know it yet…