Few months ago one of my egyptian friends has visited me in Poland. Her first impression was - "What a hall - everything on the streets in polish language!". Well somehow it was understandable, she was in Poland.
What I realized lastly - that not only in Poland everything on the streets might be in polish. I experienced that last two weeks in Hurghada in EGYPT. Somehow I was going to Egypt with expectations to experience egyptian everyday life, to have a problem with communication with people, to see everything on the streets written in arabic...
I got dissapointed. Firstly I came to the hotel ful of polish tourists. Noone there was even trying to use English. I was shocked when I have seen people saying "excuse me" to the foreign people in polish in the dinning room.
Then going out of the hotel. Walking down the street. Entering first shop to buy some juice. And... I heared Egyptian asking me in polish "hello, are you looking for water?". Afterwards it was happening all the time, everybody on the street was saying to me "dzień dobry" (good morning/hello).
It took me also some time to realize that almost everything is translated in to polish (or even worser written only in polish). While walking around the city I have seen I lot of advertisments in polish, information in the toilets not to put toilet paper into to toilet and many other differet important information.
Very popular was to write on the doors of travel agency - "here we speak polish". And they did! We entered one tourist agency to buy a diving trip. Altough we were there with egyptians friends over there guy who was talking with us was drinking out vodka and complaining about polish embassy in Cairo, because he didn't get visa and he was planning to go for language course in Warsaw.
It was before our trip to real Egypt, but after coming back I still have found some shocking polish accents. In da hotel we were having a nice dinner next to pool and of course what I have heared - the very old polish song;) And lastly in the airport - I went to the bar and there were two TVs with - polish channels!
Well maybe it shoudn't surprize me, maybe with polish people is the some like with spanish, they are not able to learn English so everybody around is learing their language.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Welcome to Cairo
Finally I am in one of the biggest cities in the world (more then 20 millions) and you know it doesn't look so big. I have to say it is quite east to get used to busy streets and people all the time saying "Welcome to Cairo".
First day I spent in the nice hotel recommended by our friends. From outside it doesn't look like hotel - at first you have to enter from one of the busy streets and take a lift to the third floor to get to that place. from inside - amazing:) It was really nice especially during the breakfast where we went in our pijamas and we were explaining to other guests that they have to take everything by themselfs (what was of course not true - we just didn't know).
Then we had to move to other place - youth hostel. There were few options - to call a international cap (expensive one) or to go out on the street and try to take normal cap. Of course we decided to the second option. In the beginning it was not so easy because the drivers asked for 20 EGP and we were told that it should cost 10! but the third taxi driver took us for 10:) He was trying to speak to us in arabic:) it was really nice but I didnt understand anything.
Next - hostel. Very nice place. I was really surprised that you can get to good quality room for only 140 EGP for 2 people for 2 nights:) but we done it.
What I like the most in Cairo are small cafes, the local one where there are only egyptians smoking shisha:) And after having so long walk from out hostel to egyptian museum we decided to chill out in one of those cafes.
Well people are friendly, food in the local fast foods on the streets good, still the city looks a bit exotic, so what can I need more...
First day I spent in the nice hotel recommended by our friends. From outside it doesn't look like hotel - at first you have to enter from one of the busy streets and take a lift to the third floor to get to that place. from inside - amazing:) It was really nice especially during the breakfast where we went in our pijamas and we were explaining to other guests that they have to take everything by themselfs (what was of course not true - we just didn't know).
Then we had to move to other place - youth hostel. There were few options - to call a international cap (expensive one) or to go out on the street and try to take normal cap. Of course we decided to the second option. In the beginning it was not so easy because the drivers asked for 20 EGP and we were told that it should cost 10! but the third taxi driver took us for 10:) He was trying to speak to us in arabic:) it was really nice but I didnt understand anything.
Next - hostel. Very nice place. I was really surprised that you can get to good quality room for only 140 EGP for 2 people for 2 nights:) but we done it.
What I like the most in Cairo are small cafes, the local one where there are only egyptians smoking shisha:) And after having so long walk from out hostel to egyptian museum we decided to chill out in one of those cafes.
Well people are friendly, food in the local fast foods on the streets good, still the city looks a bit exotic, so what can I need more...
Sunday, July 6, 2008
You would never believe - airport story
Amman airport - people are waiting for flight to Istanbul, Aga is not there
People are getting into the place to Istanbul - Aga is still not there
All the people who were waiting are on the bord - Aga is not there
Amman Airport is sorry for Aga, she will not flight home tonight
But no!!! Aga is coming!!! How come? What happened?
read the whole story...
After two amazing weeks in Amman it was time to come back home. I went to the airport (with 4 more polish people and 4 swedish) to catch the plane Amman-Istanbul and then Istanbul-Warsaw. We came to the ariport with few friends but only people with tickets and passports could enter the airport so we say goodbye and went into the building.
Of course there was a lot of controls in the very baginning. First showing your passport and ticket to get into the airport, then lagguage and personal control. All females went to the special cabin and were searched (instead of going through the gates). After that my hand lagguage was marked that I have to go to the more detailed control.
Well that moment I was still having my passport in my hand. I went to the special table - IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AIRPORT WHERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE - and I have started taking out everything from my backpack (small one but I have a lot of things). The officer told that everything is OK and I have started packing.
Suddenly...
I realized my passport is gone. I am loosing a lot of things so I started looking for that. I was sure that it is in my backpack. Then I have asked polish group to help me, because I couldn't find it, and it is always better when someone else will look for that. After few minites the atmosphere was getting more seriuos and everybody was running around and looking for my pass. After around 30 minutes, after checking every lagguage by everyone, checking the movie from cameras on the airport - we didn't know where my passport is.
I am not flying with you...
Time for check-in was ending. I couldn't come so I told to my companeros de viaje that they have to check in, and take care about themselfs. In my head there was only one question - what next? I was trying to talk to those officers, but their English was pritty bad and they were saying all the time "don't worry" but not what to do.
After Polish Group came back from check-in we prepared they for going back and me for staying:
- i gave Ania all important documents - train tickets, other tickets and all I thought they might need
- I gave Ania all money thich we got for travel reinbursement
- I took the simcard with Jordanian number (I thought I will need that)
- I took from Grzes postcard to his Grandmather, he forgot to send
- I gave them all unnessesary stuff I had
- i ensure myself that I know what to do (with going to embassy, police and so one)
Looking on that from this perspective I was very calm and racional. I was freaking out only once, when I realized that I might not go to US for my exchange. Well of course staying longer in Jordan it will cost me a lot of problems in my University and my boss at work would freak out (especially that I was in the last phase of preparation to the next project, and only I knew whats going on). But from the other hand having a bit more holidays in Jordan it was tempting:)
I was laughing from to things - firstly we said with my Jordanian friends few hours ago - see you soon, and it was very soon, that noone was even dreaming about:) Secondly I had a lot of contacts with polish embassy in Amman already this year and it would be funny to go there and visit them and say that yes it's me the person who was anoying you for almost 2 months with calls, faxes, e-mail and so one:)
Splitting with the polish group
It was already time for me to go to police station and for polish group to go to transit. I have found some helpful people on the airport (especially the manager of Turkish Airlines - he was amazing! and so helpful thank a lot) and also that time I got SMS from one of my Jordanian friends, so I answered (I think not so polite) what happened and I was exchanging with him SMSes till everything was fixed.
I went to the police station on the airport, I was there not alone, of course I had to wait, but finally one policeman who could speak English came:) So some people were making the report and I was sitting and chatting with this one who could speak English. The guy from Turkish Airlines ensure me that I will not pay for a new ticket. I took some contacts where to call in order to rebook my ticket, I was getting my papers confirming that my passport was stolen (or I lost it - or something in between).
My phone start calling.
In the police station someone was trying to reach me. I was answering but there was no connections. Different numbers were calling finally - I have heard Ania, "We found it" - she was screaming - "We are next to the gate 12". I told it to this policeman who was standing next to me, so he run to take my passport, I took all my documents from the desk of policemen and the guy from Turkish Airlines start calling someone.
I still didn't know what is happening, it was late, I didn't know if I can fly tonight or not. But they stopped the plane and were waiting for me. This policeman who had my passport told me that he will not give it to me and he will company my till my plane. So I went with him to check-in. Noone was there but manager from Turkish Airlines was already calling someone who can open check-in (they even toom my backpack), when we went to border control, but there was no officer and they were also calling for someone, the funiest thing was that this guy even didn't have a pen and I had to borrow him.
And like that waking through the airport we afound gate number 12. Som eof my friends were already waiting for me. Big hug at first, then we started laughing. I couldn't stop. Last SMS that I am on bord, I sit down and felt that all the emotions are gone, totally! And not even connected with this situation, but also with all stay in jordan. It took me few seconds to put my Jordan's experience behind me, into some nice memories.
I was tired...
And where was my passport?
I still do not know how did they found it. They told me that my passport was in the pocket of one German guy. He realized that he has one additional passport and he gave it back. He told that he has no idea how this passport get into his pocket!
.
"You would never believe" - series
Lastly I am laughing that everything that might happen it will happen to me. I hope that this series of articles will not me to long, by this I understand that nothing unusual will happen in the future.
First 3 articles will be about situations I faced all of them within one month. One story it is "elevator night" the next to you will see:)
First 3 articles will be about situations I faced all of them within one month. One story it is "elevator night" the next to you will see:)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Perfect holidays
I have booked my holidays finally, everything is fixed, everything is paied - I have a plane on 10th of July 7p.m. from Lodz. I am flying to Egypt.
It was not easy to find something, especially when there are a lot of things to do inbetween. I have a bit more free but my friend with whom I am flying is so f**ing busy that even on our perfect holidays we will have to hurry up.
First problem we have to face it - if we will get on the airport on time. It is a bit risky. Why? Our plane take off at 7pm. It means we have to be at 5 pm on the airport. The airport is in another city around 250km from Wroclaw, where I live. There is no hiway connecting this two cities, there is even no fast way. There is only one road through a lot of vollages with a lot of cars:)
We cannot take any train or other public transport, because Ania (my friend) has exam that day and using any of the public transport she wont be able to go to exam. So there is only one possibility - take a car and go by car and be hopefull that Ania will finish fast and there wont be any traffic on the road.
And there is one more problem, someone has to drive this car. Ania has no driving licence, but she is claiming that she is a perfect pilot. It means I have to drive. Well - I am kind of unexperience driver. Well I have my lincence since 7 years already but i have never drive. I need to make 250 km one way and I think I haven't driven for more 250 km total in my life :) I have never overtaken a car and I am kind of fraid of other cars. But if Ania is not afraid to go by car with me I will do it:)
Plan for perfect holidays
Maybe at first some technical info - we are going to Hurghada, it is on the Red Sea. We took last minute offer Fortuna - what means that we have provided plane, 2 meals and insurence and a hotel, but we do not know where - someone will tell us after landing. We can get 3* hotel somewhere in the middle of nowhere or we can get 5* hotel in the beautiful area. I don't mind, most probably I will not spend there more the one night.
Still I do not know a lot about my perfect holidays - but till now plan is:
a) go to Hurghada and check out the place we got (to fulfil curiousity)
b) have fun with friends on the red sea (around 3 days)
c) move to Cairo - have fun, go shopping, absorb the culture (around 3 days)
d) move to Alex - meet old friends, go to JiJi, have fun, make a party, swim in the meda sea
e) go back to Hurghada - swim in the red sea for the last time and come back
So what ir the recipe for perfect holidays?
Take:
- a lot of free time
- nice places with palms
- nice places with water
- a bit of alcohol
- good friends (old friends and new friends)
- a bit of adventure
- a bit of lasyness
- a bit of fun
- a bit of partying
- a bit of flirting
- something exciting
- a lot of resting
- some luxury
- some backpacking
- a lot of pleasures
- some surprises
- something unknown
- obligatory spa and good massage
- feeling of being free
- photocamera
mix it all together - and you have your perfect holidays!
It was not easy to find something, especially when there are a lot of things to do inbetween. I have a bit more free but my friend with whom I am flying is so f**ing busy that even on our perfect holidays we will have to hurry up.
First problem we have to face it - if we will get on the airport on time. It is a bit risky. Why? Our plane take off at 7pm. It means we have to be at 5 pm on the airport. The airport is in another city around 250km from Wroclaw, where I live. There is no hiway connecting this two cities, there is even no fast way. There is only one road through a lot of vollages with a lot of cars:)
We cannot take any train or other public transport, because Ania (my friend) has exam that day and using any of the public transport she wont be able to go to exam. So there is only one possibility - take a car and go by car and be hopefull that Ania will finish fast and there wont be any traffic on the road.
And there is one more problem, someone has to drive this car. Ania has no driving licence, but she is claiming that she is a perfect pilot. It means I have to drive. Well - I am kind of unexperience driver. Well I have my lincence since 7 years already but i have never drive. I need to make 250 km one way and I think I haven't driven for more 250 km total in my life :) I have never overtaken a car and I am kind of fraid of other cars. But if Ania is not afraid to go by car with me I will do it:)
Plan for perfect holidays
Maybe at first some technical info - we are going to Hurghada, it is on the Red Sea. We took last minute offer Fortuna - what means that we have provided plane, 2 meals and insurence and a hotel, but we do not know where - someone will tell us after landing. We can get 3* hotel somewhere in the middle of nowhere or we can get 5* hotel in the beautiful area. I don't mind, most probably I will not spend there more the one night.
Still I do not know a lot about my perfect holidays - but till now plan is:
a) go to Hurghada and check out the place we got (to fulfil curiousity)
b) have fun with friends on the red sea (around 3 days)
c) move to Cairo - have fun, go shopping, absorb the culture (around 3 days)
d) move to Alex - meet old friends, go to JiJi, have fun, make a party, swim in the meda sea
e) go back to Hurghada - swim in the red sea for the last time and come back
So what ir the recipe for perfect holidays?
Take:
- a lot of free time
- nice places with palms
- nice places with water
- a bit of alcohol
- good friends (old friends and new friends)
- a bit of adventure
- a bit of lasyness
- a bit of fun
- a bit of partying
- a bit of flirting
- something exciting
- a lot of resting
- some luxury
- some backpacking
- a lot of pleasures
- some surprises
- something unknown
- obligatory spa and good massage
- feeling of being free
- photocamera
mix it all together - and you have your perfect holidays!
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