The Friendly Skies
It is so good to be home, but it was a long trip to get here. The last day in Cairo was a "free day," so we spent the day around the beautiful pool at our resort, swimming, chatting, and eating well. In the evening, after dinner, we finished our packing and got a very short rest before heading to the Cairo Airport about 12:45 a.m. Before the week we spent here, it might have been unnerving to see the armed guard at the airport entrance, but knowing what we know now, it's just normal Egyptian behavior.
The airport is quite nice and very new, reminding us again that conditions in Cairo don't have to be the way they are. After checking our bags and getting through security, we found a little coffee stand that was open in the middle of the night. It proudly served mediocre hot chocolate and day-old muffins to weary travelers such as ourselves. As we sat near the gate, 3:15 a.m. arrived, and that is the time for the first Muslim call to prayer. Sure enough, a man took a position near us, facing Mecca, and sang the call to prayer. Many other men joined him in the time of prayer, and I couldn't help but reflect on how we as Christians tend to hide much more than that. Would we issue a public call to prayer in such a place? Or would we hide quietly and hope no one notices us? It's worth pondering.
The trip from Cairo to Frankfurt, Germany was uneventful, and we got a bit of sleep (or some of us did). Upon arrival in Frankfurt, we wanted two things: Starbucks and McDonald's. Funny how much you long for touches of home when you've been away for eighteen days. After we found both (which was not easy...none of us cared for the Frankfurt airport...it's not very user friendly), we headed to our next gate and waited on our final flight home...United Flight 941.
We had to go through yet another security check before we could board, but the flight itself, though full and uncomfortable, was again uneventful. We even arrived at home a few minutes early, breezed through customs and met our rides home.
I am glad I went to Egypt, but I have no desire to return. I've seen what I wanted to see, and felt safe during the time we were there, even with the historic nature of the events of this past week. And I'm so glad we went to Israel, a place Rachel didn't think she would love as much as she did. There is always a part of me that stays behind when I visit that holy place. Though this was my third trip to Israel, I'm fairly certain it won't be my last. Who's up for going with me next time?
The airport is quite nice and very new, reminding us again that conditions in Cairo don't have to be the way they are. After checking our bags and getting through security, we found a little coffee stand that was open in the middle of the night. It proudly served mediocre hot chocolate and day-old muffins to weary travelers such as ourselves. As we sat near the gate, 3:15 a.m. arrived, and that is the time for the first Muslim call to prayer. Sure enough, a man took a position near us, facing Mecca, and sang the call to prayer. Many other men joined him in the time of prayer, and I couldn't help but reflect on how we as Christians tend to hide much more than that. Would we issue a public call to prayer in such a place? Or would we hide quietly and hope no one notices us? It's worth pondering.
The trip from Cairo to Frankfurt, Germany was uneventful, and we got a bit of sleep (or some of us did). Upon arrival in Frankfurt, we wanted two things: Starbucks and McDonald's. Funny how much you long for touches of home when you've been away for eighteen days. After we found both (which was not easy...none of us cared for the Frankfurt airport...it's not very user friendly), we headed to our next gate and waited on our final flight home...United Flight 941.
We had to go through yet another security check before we could board, but the flight itself, though full and uncomfortable, was again uneventful. We even arrived at home a few minutes early, breezed through customs and met our rides home.
I am glad I went to Egypt, but I have no desire to return. I've seen what I wanted to see, and felt safe during the time we were there, even with the historic nature of the events of this past week. And I'm so glad we went to Israel, a place Rachel didn't think she would love as much as she did. There is always a part of me that stays behind when I visit that holy place. Though this was my third trip to Israel, I'm fairly certain it won't be my last. Who's up for going with me next time?
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