Entry 7 - April 3, 2009

After hauling our luggage down to the basement and checking emails one more time, we headed out to the Westerkerk. I’m so glad we did! The 30 min tour was awesome and we got to see some amazing scenery. The view from the middle of the tower (we couldn’t go to the top) was beautiful and I hope the shots come out. We were blessed with another sunny day so the conditions were perfect. The walk up the tower though…oh my. Almost vertical spiral staircase & ladders that made even me a little nervous. But like all things in Amsterdam, it was worth it.

After that we hopped on a canal ‘bus’ and went in/out the canals for about 1.5 hours. It was great; we got a whole different viewpoint from the water. That ended at Centraal Station where we quickly walked back to the hostel to get our luggage (side note: the basement was just a sea of suitcases and bags – you couldn’t even walk down there. We were literally climbing on top of bags just to get access to ours). Then back to the train station to head to Schipol Airport, which is where we are now. Our flight to Cairo has been delayed by about 45 min, and we just found out that we’ll have to re-check our luggage when we get there. So short layer over + delay + rechecking luggage might prove to be a bit of a problem. But I’ll just pray that all works out. We’re really looking forward to just getting to our hotel tonight in Sharm and just crashing! Logan’s knee is really acting up so hopefully it’ll get better as the days go on. I must admit I’m a little nervous heading to Egypt and not knowing the language. And not being sure of our connections or hotel transfers, etc, etc, etc. I know the Lord has already gone before us though and will keep us safe. I’m just so thankful once again for this incredible opportunity to travel. I’ll write again from our hotel in Sharm…hopefully!

….NOPE! Not writing from Sharm at all. Actually I’m lying in a bed at the Fairmont in Cairo because sure enough, we missed our connecting flight! Here’s the breakdown:

· Our flight leaving Amsterdam was delayed by 45 min
· Our connecting flight was leaving Cairo 1.5 hours after we were supposed to arrive
· We finally arrive in Cairo with 30 min to “spare”
· We try to walk off the plane but are instead stuck behind a women and her toddler that she refuses to pick up
· The arrivals lounge was PACKED – shoulder to shoulder. We needed to get our luggage, recheck it, and then check ourselves in
· It’s now 10:15…
· We go over to this ‘transfers’ counter and show our visas, and this gentleman tells us to come with him…sketchy, but alright…
· We skip ahead of the line, out luggage becomes priority, we’re rushing through crowds trying to keep up with this guy
· Get outside the main terminal and we’re immediately hassled by taxi drivers pretending to work for the airport
· Speed walk over to what ends up being the wrong terminal
· Almost get checked into a flight going to LUXOR (not Sharm)!!
· Walked back through crowds of Egyptians and literally felt like raw meat
· Waited for 45 min, now fully aware that we’ve missed our flight, for a shuttle to a hotel
· Met some random guy who kept asking if we plan to party and ‘do some hash’
· Met Martin from Amsterdam who also missed the same connecting flight…he somehow got a really, really strange illness while on the previous plane and how his entire body is shaking – it won’t stop! He’s been sitting (shaking) in a wheelchair this whole time, poor guy.
· We helped Martin to the same hotel as us and into his room (none of the staff would help) and we’ll help him out again in the morning – aka, in about 2 hours.