Cairo - First Impressions

It's fucking crazy! It's like every single crazy person in the world tried to get a driver's license and failed, but started driving anyway! It's so much fun being a passenger here, as long as you're in the hands of a competent driver. It's like a constant rally course.

The hostel is fantastic. It's about 3 months old and is owned by an Egyptian/American/Italian guy. Great English, great prices on tours and things, so you can't go wrong.

I did however have my first experience with a ripoff artist today. I was walking down the street looking for a place to buy an American -> European power converter for my camera charger. A guy walks up to me and says, in pretty good English, 'I like your shirt'. I was wearing my Binge drinking tshirt, so this reaction is what I'd call 'normal'. He said 'I'm here on holiday, but I've been here before, what are you looking for?'
I told him I was looking for a power converter/computer shop/electricity shop/electronics shop/Radioshack?
'Ah yes, there is a radioshack this way near the Nile, I will show you.'
'You're not looking for money are you, because if you are, I won't pay you.'
'No no my friend, I'm just here on holiday, I'm happy to walk around, I'll show you.'

Off I walked. Partway through the journey I asked him where he was from. He said 'Palestine' and started talking about how Israel bombed his city and how his whole family is dead. No sympathy from me because I'm a cold suspicious bastard. We keep walking and he tells me about how cheap everything is here so I stick to the 'poor student' routine. It's a good routine which I plan to keep up.

We walk a bit more an I ask 'Are you doing this for money? I'm not paying you.'
'No no, I'm just walking around this afternoon, I like making new friends travelling.'
I smile and say, 'Me too, that's what I like about travelling. I like meeting new people, but if they try to take money from me, steal from me, or cheat me, I'll break their fucking hand.'
The look in his eyes said 'Really? you'll break their hand?' but the look disappeared shortly after as he said 'No, I have never had problems during my life. If I do something for someone, it isn't for something in return. I do it because I am good, and if they help me, it's because they are good.'

Bull. Shit. Mate.
We keep walking and he points out stupid shit to me. What do I care about a leather jacket? We get to Radioshack, I distract him while I open my wallet, and I buy my power converter. Halfway back to the hostel (which I neglected to tell him the name of) he starts talking about how he wants food. I get angry.
'You told me when I met you that you didn't want money.'
We start arguing, and since I have a beard and he doesn't, I have the upper hand. He starts gesticulating like an Arab and saying 'I need 2 euros, I'm on the street tonight, I have no place to stay!'
I reply, 'I don't have 2 euros. I have 6 pounds (egyptian pounds... so about $1.50 AUD) I can give you.'
'This is not money! This is nothing! Ask anyone! 2 euros is good price. everyone here will charge you 50 pounds!'
'I have 6 pounds mate, I'm just a backpacker. 2 euros is a whole day's food for me (haha yeah, as if). You can either take this money and be grateful, or I'll take it back and you can piss off.'
He starts swearing in Arabic.
'This is nothing money.'
'Then give it back and piss off.'
He walks away, gesticulating towards me angrily. I've just pissed off an Arab in Cairo!

I get back to the hostel, check my backpack, and notice that I already have a power converter, so my whole excursion was a waste, still, it was fucking hilarious and I got to get legitimately angry at a guy. I do like adrenaline ever so much.
I'll take the converter back tomorrow some time.

Oh, and two guys started punching each other on the flight over from Amman, but that's a story for another day. Arabs getting violent on a plane? Whoever would've thought? hahahaha