Saturday 24-05 - Barhain

Bahrain is a posh little airport, kinda like Hong Kong. Our flight consisted of 90% men. It was a touch unnerving, but at least the service was good.

We got into the airport and the topdeck guy was waiting for us. He took us straight through getting our visas and onto a mini bus to the hotel. We hardly had to wait at all or talk to anyone. Being tired, our english would have been little better than our arabic.

Once refreshed in our room, we decided to get money changed. As we walk out a man starts walking with us. He tries to explain that he was at the hotel desk and we were probably too tired to remember. He wasnt really. But we chatted and he showed us how to get to the Sheritan Hotel to change money and get a map.

He said not to go the Hotel, as they would rip us off, instead we should use the city center. The city tourist office, he said, would have cheaper maps (15egp instead of 30egp at the Sheritan).

Then he took us to the ;tourist office;, run by his friend. His friend sat us down near some other perthians he was shmoosing. While he was talking to them, he gave us some tea (the tea was actually quite good). As I drank the tea, I eyed the door, trying to figure out at which point we should excuse ourselves. At last the friend came over and sat down, before promptly trying to sell us papyrus prints and perfume. We listened, asked a few questions then excused ourselves.

At the Sheritan we got US and Egyptian money, then found a map for 15Egp.

This part of Egypt is the type of area where you dont look at anyone in the eye, or they try to sell you something.

We walked down the road to this food place (that also sold papyrus and perfume) and got falafel. It had salad and mashed beeans and falafel in pita,and cost the equivalent of 30 cents.