Khan el-Khalilli Bazaar

Slept in this morning and then went the famous Khan el-Khalilli market. First of all we got a bit lost and wandered around thinking “this is it?” Then we found “it”. Very different stuff than found in markets elsewhere. Almost everything is made in Egypt. Let it be said that we contributed to the local economy in a significant way without overdoing it! We were told to always offer 50% of the stated price...on everything...taxis, souvenirs, camel rides...;o))....but you really need to hold your ground…which I had no trouble doing but Laura was the weak one. ;o) Regardless, we both got what we wanted. We had a stop at the oldest coffee place in the world..or so they say. It has been open 24 hrs day x 387 years or something like that. All the coffee places (lots of them!) have lots of “couches” instead of tables and chairs. Very cool. We were at the market for about 5 hours. The best thing we got there was a pair of earrings made from Egyptian 1 pound (dollar) coins. We hooked up with this jeweler (don’t ask) and I was asking for coin earrings like I got in Jerusalem. Laura said too bad they didn’t make earrings out fo the Egyptian coins with King Tut on them....which are beautiful. He said he could make them while we waited…and he did. They are awesome and one (well two, actually) of a kind as we each have a pair. Oh, and while waiting I made friens with some locals and smoked a hooka!!…and ate a ¼ of of a French fry pita (nothin' bad about that combo!)….all courtesy of some guys sitting around “our” jewelry shop. Back to the hotel at about 6….going for a swim and then a cruise on a falluka….(one of those Egyptian sail boats) on the Nile. The Pyramid light show will have to wait for another time.
We are off to Jordan tomorrow morning and then a long drive to Petra. Not sure when we will have Internet access next!