Where Civilization Meets

by Evans Bio Boampong (Ghana)

I didn't expect to find Egypt

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I still had places left that I didn't manage to get to last time around, and so I decided to explore Egypt because I had people telling me from one end of the world to the other that it was worth it. It was. Just a quick story from the road. When I boarded the but on my way to the airport, I was immediately in "travel mode. I easily caught my flight, and I was off. It feels like I have entered a dream. I guess, somehow, I had given up hope that I would ever really travel. For the last three months, I've been back to my country, working long into the night most days. Now that I am here, I must make sure to appreciate all aspects, and not just let the time pass. Bit of excitement in the flight. A guy from Ghana was sitting besides me and not that he was also visit the same place and country. We really talk much about our visit Egypt, and later on I unknowingly fall asleep. Six hour flight to Cairo, bit unpleasant with full flight, 4 squalling kids who never shut up. Eventually do get there. Changed a bit of money, wait in the long queue for passport control. Then out the other side into a dark, dreary arrivals hall. At the Cairo International Airport, I have to wait for 3hrs to borad into another flight to Sharm El Sheikh. Sitting waiting at the airport a lady from Russia ask me if she can sit beside me although I was really little surprised because there were a lot of empty seats there. Nevermind, shortly we started introducing ourselves to know each other and found out that we are going to the same place and will be in the same flight. It was a little bit of fun. Now, the long wait begins. Got through immigration, must wait now until dawn to go into the city. Eventually, enter the city at midnight, I board into a bus to my hotel, took a nice, long, hot shower - ah! Then slept the next five hours. Not enough sleep, but it did return me to the land of the living. My clothes in my luggage was really cold so I couldn't change close that I was wearing so I fall asleep with my underwear. In the morning people start arriving, and the new day begins. I was attending a program, World Youth Forum 2019. My first good morning mode was to see people from different cultures and countries attending the same program with me. It was really amazing. Out in the lounge chatting away with the usual mix of travellers. Strange to be back. Despite my travels, though, I do not fit in. The true traveller is a sensitive beast, it can detect the newcomer to its midst... Basically, I'm still too wound up from work, and worn out from the journey. Early bed. There was not activities for the program the next day so me and my other friend that I meet at the hotel who was also from my country atttend the same program with me decided that after our breakfast at the hotel restaurant we will visit other friends from other hotel just 10mins walk from our hotel. We were not able to find the room number for the person we were looking for at the other hotel. We came back to our hotel and walk through at the back of the hotel to go swim at the Red Sea. I was freezing when my legs just get inside the sea, so cold and difficult for someone like me who don't know how to swim and even in a cold water. I told my friend to let us go back to our hotel. On my next day I went with bus to see