The Journey

Our journey began with a bit of a panic.  Since we are living in the age of online check-in, Errin dutifully started the process only to discover that the travel agent has not given us the appropriate booking number…and it was a Sunday.  So we had to wait until the day of departure to check-in after several phone calls to the travel agent and airline.  Errin was able to check in but my reference did not work….a few more phone calls and that issue was resolved – at least we knew that we were both confirmed for the flight to Amsterdam even though we were sitting rows apart and in the middle section!!!  What kind of a travel agent doesn’t book your seats together???  Not the greatest of starts, but we decided to head to the airport earlier than the required time just to see what could be done.

The lady at the check-in desk was apologetic as the flight was full and there were no seats available together in economy…..only in economy comfort.  Errin asked her so nicely that the lady must have felt sorry for us and booked us seats together with no extra charges (even though we heard the folks at the next check-in desk be told that they would have to pay for the economy comfort upgrade!).  Yay!!  So all’s well that ends well.

A pleasant flight with a very friendly cabin crew – KLM sure puts Air Canada to shame.  We sat beside a charming South African, who was in the window seat therefore trapped by us two beauties, thus spawning the classic line from Errin’s lips – “just climb over me”.  Not to be taken out of context.  Later in the flight this was followed up with – “I can’t believe he climbed over me and I didn’t know!”  Ah, the winning combination of sleeping pills and wine!!

What about “pinch the base and blow” as the next winner?  Get your minds out of the gutter, I was merely trying to inflate my neck pillow and finally remembered the specific technique!

Amsterdam.  We had several hours to kill so decided to head into the centre of the city and walk around.  This is when you realize that dressing for Cairo weather may not have been the best course of action, but oh well, we survived. 

Never having been there I was quite happy to go wherever, so we just walked around the core, visited the flower market (tons of bulbs!!), had a warm beverage in one of the many cafes, marveled at the scores of bikes chained up waiting for their owners to return after a hard days at the office, and then there was the Red Light District.  Who can say they have really been to Amsterdam if they have not been there?  It was quite the eye opener and that was in daylight!  We were taken aback at the “window displays” and can honestly say that it takes window-shopping to a new level!  Enough said. 

And other than appreciating the canals, the rickety looking canal houses and visiting the aforementioned district, what else does one do in Amsterdam?  Eat pancakes, of course.  We were getting a bit chilled so it seemed like the perfect time to head indoors and savour the delights of Dutch pancakes.  An order of small pancakes with melted chocolate on the side and a healthy dusting of icing sugar…..what’s not to like?  Quite delicious and not too filling, so that left enough room to have a poke of chips- another national pastime it seems.  You can get all kinds of toppings but Errin stayed traditional and went with ketchup. 

Time to head back to the airport and get a massage.  Well, why not?  Errin splashed out and got a neck and back massage for 10 minutes while I waited (and took photos, of course).  Then the lady kindly allowed us to sit on the massage chairs for as long as we wanted – pure bliss!  I felt like I was being attacked by a four-fisted creature in the chair, but kind of in a good way.  Wouldn’t mind having one of those chairs at home.  We’ll be back there on our return!

Next flight to Cairo – 4 hours this time, so not so bad, and arrived in Cairo sleepy but excited.  Once we had picked up our luggage we headed out into the airport and were met by the tour operator rep, Ramez, who has turned out to be quite delightful…and very chatty!  He is also smitten by Errin who he believes is a dead ringer for Sandra Bullock!

The hotel is close to the Giza Pyramids and therefore a decent distance out of the centre of Cairo.  It has meticulously kept gardens which the rooms are built around and looks quite pretty….all except our section of the hotel which is located by a tennis court and a small basketball court – fine as long as no one plays early in the morning, jokes Errin.  Oh you guessed it……bed by 3am only to be awakened by the bouncing of a basket ball just after 7am!!!!