Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Finally!!!!!

26 hours, people...that's how long it took us to get here, and we were PEEVED...until we got off the plane and started giggling and snapping pictures imediately. I mean, literally GOT OFF the plane Beatles style...down some stairs and then had to walk across the tarmac...it was retro...AND HOT...this whole place is like New Orleans in summer...and it's OCTOBER!

So far we've only gotten royally screwed over once. The taxi driver from the airport will have bad juju til he DIES. However, after that we have become hard asses and when the uppity chick at Hotel Ali (where we're currently staying) tried to screw us over by "upgrading" our room, I got all "oh no you didn't" on her. Well...passively. Now we're experts on the "con". Some kid tried to give us a "tour" today and we were like "we're not paying you buddy". God forbid anyone tries to just be nice to us...we'll probably just scream "no money" in their faces.

Tomorrow we're taking a bus to the desert. This is the one "tour" we've opted for, since the Sahara is not totally safe for tourists by themselves (Dad, CALM DOWN). It's gonna be crazy, and beautiful...and dirty (we're talking plastic bags for toilets). After that, who knows.

Oh, and did I mention we landed smack in the middle of Ramadan? For all of you who are NOT Muslim...let me enlighten you...these people FAST all day for a month. You know what that means? WE fast all day. Well, not totally but it's taken us most of the day to find a place to eat. Weight Watchers, eat your heart out. But then night comes and it's like a party in the streets. We're trying to take some covert pictures...we'll see how they turn out.

Ok, this post is getting long and there's no air conditioning in here. Or anywhere. Air conditioning, whaaaa? Our room has two units built into the stucco of the wall, but they're obviously just there as decor since the knobs have all been removed. Some people prefer hanging art, some just build it straight into the wall. Oh, and our bathroom...the smell...you ever get a little too close to a sewage plant in the middle of the summer? Yeah, that's our bathroom times 8. And yet...I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. This place is amazing, people. You all must see it. All of you. Right now. If not sooner.

Ok, that's enough, I'm beginning to gush. Time to reapply the sunscreen and hit the Souk. Jealous, aren't you. You should be.

11 keep(s) me blogging:

Anonymous said...

oooh i'm totally jealous.

I expect lots of photos.

seriously. lots.

have a blast!!!!

Mycaelus said...

Yes, I am jealous. Mail me some Sahara sand to tide me over until I can get there myself.

slaghammer said...

A worldly traveling friend of mine suggests that you don't hold anything for anybody. You can hold a door, just no boxes, bags, sacks, cell phones, etc.

Sarah said...

HI!

The Future said...

Sounds like the first thing you are going to want when you get home is a shower, until then enjoy your pig pen state. I take it clean hands are a joke. Have you had any orange blossom water poured over you yet? As I recall,
Kate W. in Hideous Kinky wasn't all that clean, I guess that was your clue. I think your idea about not being naively polite is a good one. I guess the good news is, 3 years in New Orleans prepared you for the weather, right? Can't wait to hear about the Sahara, is that where you're riding the camel? Enjoy all that is different.
Love you,

Me said...

Hope you have a super time! Lucky bastardo!

Anonymous said...

I'm almost disappointed that there aren't any photos up yet!

alphawoman said...

Yes I am jealous and get those pictures rolling!!

Anonymous said...

Remember that dream that you had? The 'Me: Ohmigod, I forgot pants!' one? Did that happen? How was the in-flight movie?

d said...

this is all fantastic. the heat. the stinky bathroom. the inexpensive male prostitutes. but when the hell do you get back? that's what's really important. is that posted anywhere? no, seriously... i'm asking. i'm too lazy to read your other previous posts to see how long your trip is.

anyway, stop being so selfish. get back home and update your damn blog.

Anonymous said...

And so the saga begins...