Maybe it's their desire for a better life, maybe it's the lack of a good system, or maybe it's the inherent greed of human nature.
as soon as we got off the plane, we felt the confusion and backwardness of management in this typical third world country. There is no difference between domestic and international passengers when they go through customs. As for automatic customs clearance, don't even think about it. The person who verifies the certificate is just like a village cadre working on the spot in China, moving a desk and chair for students to work there. In addition to wearing the simplest masks, "village cadres" have no isolation measures.
It's one o'clock in the morning in Egypt. We were surprised that the company selling mobile phone cards at Cairo Airport was still open so late. Because we didn't quite believe that Google Offline Map was easy to use in Egypt, we bought a mobile phone card, which was the first time we bought it abroad, and only then did we know how correct we were. Although our flight is almost the last one, there are taxi-soliciting people inside and outside Cairo Airport. Didn't you say that Egyptians are lazy? Still working hard at midnight, it should be a group of hardworking people. My first impression of Cairo people is good. But when I came to the car rental office and started renting a car, all this good impression came to nothing.
because of the ticket change, we arrived three hours earlier than the car rental reservation. Imagine that they work 24 hours a day, so it shouldn't be a problem to arrive early. Unexpectedly, there was no one at the car rental place, and the phone number left by them was not answered. We kept calling and asking Cairo people at the airport. They all said there was no way but to wait. It was already past 2 am.
Just when we were at a loss, two Cairo people came, one dressed like a human being, and the other asked us if we would rent their car. We are still a little wary of strangers and ask them if they can book the price for us at the same time. He looked at my itinerary and started to quote me. I bargained with them, and then they started to call. The final price was 51 dollars higher than our reservation price, and they repeatedly assured that their car was better than the one we rented in advance. Considering that we can sleep for more than two hours for 51 dollars, we agreed.
when they were pulling our luggage to leave, the people from the car rental company called us back. It seems that their insiders said it was false that they could not be reached. I began to ask: you said it was open 24 hours a day, why was there no one at the counter? He said there is no car now, only at 4: 31. God, we use an American car rental company. How come we don't have a car? This is the first time we have heard that there is no car in the car rental history. He said that if I didn't want to wait, I could cancel, and I said I would consider it. I left a mind's eye that "I don't scatter eagles until I see rabbits." I won't cancel the car until I see it.
I walked down the taxi hall with "Man-to-Man" and heard him say that he would take their car, so I went back on my word. At 2 o'clock in the morning, sitting in two men's cars, what kind of consequences will happen, everyone with a little IQ knows. Just when I was talking to them argue, my cell phone rang again. The car rental company asked me if I would rent their car, because he had heard that we were going to rent another company. After hearing what he said, I knew that "Man-to-Man" was not a liar. I told the car rental company that I would think about it, and he said give me five minutes.
"Man-to-Man" said that his company was in the airport, but it was not near at all. After a while, my mobile phone rang again. I knew who it was and didn't answer it. Then, the "human-to-human" cell phone rang. I guessed it was the car rental company, but they all knew each other.
when I arrived at his company, I was told to wait a minute. I still didn't understand. A silver-gray car came. That's my favorite color. A handsome boy came down, and when I saw his temperament, I suddenly realized that "human beings are human beings" and that this handsome boy is the boss. Sure enough, the handsome guy said that they called him and asked him if he would like to do this business. Of course he did, so he got up in the middle of the night and came here. At this point, the truth came out. I looked at the "child care", as if nothing had happened.
But the routine is far from over. What the "child care" told me is not the same as what he told the handsome guy. When I rented a car on the American car rental website, I found that there were many quotations for renting a car in Cairo with mileage restrictions. At that time, I felt very strange, so I specially booked a car without mileage restrictions. When the handsome guy confirmed the contract text with me, I realized that I had been cheated. My itinerary clearly says 14 days, no mileage limit, but the "child care" told the handsome boy that I wanted to rent 12 days, and didn't tell the handsome boy that there was no mileage limit. The handsome guy told me that I have to pay $41 for every extra day, free within 1441 kilometers, and pay $1.3 more per kilometer beyond this range. As soon as I heard it, I quickly figured out in my mind how much more we need to pay for at least 3111 kilometers. Not bad at math, I figured out that I had to pay almost $551 more, so I was anxious and asked what "child care" was about. He said that he didn't count the number of days I rented a car, and that although I ordered unlimited mileage, I would still limit the mileage when I picked up the car. I don't know if what he said is true. Anyway, it's too late for me to change my mind, because while the handsome guy is preparing the documents and I don't know these "routines", I have cancelled the order under the urging of the car rental company. At this time, even if I don't cancel, I doubt whether they will send us back to the airport. Now, it's dark outside, and two men are dealing with my daughter and me. This is definitely not a problem that money can solve.
but I won't let them treat me like a fish on the chopping board. Anyway, my English was better than theirs, so I began to argue with them. Finally, I was allowed to drive 3,111 kilometers in April and pay $151 more. In fact, I drove more than 3,311 kilometers and I was cheated by them for $251. Listen to this figure. I'm really 251. When I signed the contract with the handsome guy, the "child care" asked my daughter if I was a lawyer, because I could not only speak, but also react quickly and the logic was clear. I don't know if this is a compliment or a loss. If I am as good as he says, can I be fooled by him?
when the final car inspection began, I wanted to use "shameless" to describe "child care". The good car in his mouth not only drove more than 111 thousand kilometers, but also was "covered with scars", which was the worst car rented in our travel history. Not only that, this car "shivered" after driving 111 kilometers on the highway, and started to "alarm" on the dashboard in the car after driving 121 kilometers. When we drove to Alexandria, we found that the tire was still flat. Send a message to the handsome guy and ask him why he rented me a low quaility car. Isn't it a good car? He said it was a good car, which was a "reminder" for us. I said, "You're lying, it's obviously that the rotation of your tires is not good", and then he didn't reply to me. I don't know if the handsome guy was inspired by God when he prayed. He called the next day to say "I'm sorry" and asked me to go to the gas station to repair the car. Use you to say?
Although I was unhappy when I saw the broken car, I comforted myself. It was very good and low-key, and no one would look at my daughter and me. But when the "child care" got the "stolen money" from the handsome guy, before leaving, he asked me if I was satisfied with his help. I said ok out of courtesy, and as a result, he said that he helped me find the best deal, implying that I needed a tip. I get angry when I hear it. Why can he be so thick-skinned? Thinking that more is better than less, I ignored him and drove away. I thought to myself, this is the first time I have been cheated, and I hope it will be the last time. At this moment, I looked at the dashboard in the car, and the hour hand pointed to 4 am.
Next to the Egyptian Museum, an enthusiastic Cairo man knew that we wanted to eat authentic Egyptian food, so he took us to a restaurant called Felfela, which was very expensive in his eyes, and said, Are you waiting for a tip outside? The interior of this restaurant is very beautiful, and the food is quite good, especially the bag. It is delicious when it is warm. This is the first delicious Egyptian meal we ate in Cairo. When paying, the "routine" of Cairo people came again. I want to pay a credit card. The waiter said that only cash is accepted, plus tax and tip for meals. One ***495 Egyptian pounds is equivalent to about 31 dollars, but the sign on the table clearly allows you to swipe your card. I didn't say anything. I gave him 611 yuan. What kind of money is he looking for? One 21, three 11, and the rest in fives. I was suspicious at first sight. Why did such a good restaurant give me a pile of change? Didn't it have 111 yuan? I asked him, "Is the change right?" He said no problem, and counted it in front of me. After counting, it was 111 yuan. I said you should give me 115 yuan, didn't you? He looked at me with no embarrassed expression, turned around and left, then gave me 5 yuan, and I didn't mention it, so I went straight into the bag. I wouldn't care if I didn't have the experience of being fooled by renting a car, just 5 yuan, which is only equivalent to 3 cents. I know that Egypt tips everywhere, so I specially prepared a lot of 1 dollars for small expenses before I left, but I just don't like the "routine" of Cairo people. Appear a virtuous face, and then do a trick to treat our IQ as a monkey. I hope they can know that if they want to get what they want by small tricks, the result is nothing.
The trick of Cairo people is not over yet. At the Egyptian Museum, the tickets for my daughter and I add up to 241 yuan. I gave the conductor my change of $111 in the restaurant, and added another 111 and two twenties. After counting, she said there was $11 missing. As soon as I heard it, the alarm in my head rang again. Without saying anything, she asked her to bring the money. She paused and was reluctant to give it back to me. I counted in front of her, and she was speechless. Bullying my IQ again, I will never promise again.
In Tutanka hall of Egyptian Museum, although I was not cheated, I experienced a very funny thing. Just as I cooed at Tutankhamen's gold mask and wanted to take a picture, a male administrator stopped me and asked me where I came from in English. After I said America, he immediately asked me if I could marry him. I told him that after I got married, I would ignore him and go to see other exhibits in the hall. As a result, this man repeated this question with me, and I was so angry that I called my daughter who was watching the mummy in the corridor. He actually asked my daughter if she could marry me, and then began to explain it to us for free. I don't think he has a crush on me in a long dress, a headscarf and a mask. I can only say, is he crazy about America?
the loss of trust in cairo people made me count the money I exchanged at the airport again after I returned to my hotel. Before, I changed $511 at the airport, and I didn't count it, so I put it directly into my bag. Although I don't remember how much it cost, on the whole, the large number is correct, which makes my impression of Cairo people not bad.
I thought I was immune to Cairo's tricks, but I was still doomed. Going to azhar Mosque, in order to find a parking space, I was gestured into an alley by a Cairo man, and then I got on a thief boat. The people inside ask for 51 Egyptian pounds, and they can't bargain. As soon as I hear them, they are asking exorbitant prices, because I still know the charges for parking spaces in Cairo. At the National Museum of Egypt, I stopped for nearly four hours for 21 yuan, which was obviously "killing people". But we have no choice but to return the car, because this is "a road through the ages." After I said yes, he let me off. He stopped the car for me in the future. Unexpectedly, he drove his daughter away, scaring me to run around behind. Fortunately, it was an alley, and he didn't drive fast. As soon as I pulled the back door, I sat in and asked him why. This man didn't understand English. It turned out that he was helping us to park, and he stopped by an alley that was narrow enough for only one car. I have to admire the parking skills of Cairo people. It's hard to park the car like a crack in a pyramid, and it's hard to insert a blade.
After coming out of azhar Mosque, I finally understand why they are so "horizontal" that there is no room for bargaining. This is a Muslim residential area. There is only one alley in the whole area. There is no parking at all, and there is no exit. We can only drive forward in winding alleys, and the roadside is full of people and small shops. The cell phone signal has disappeared here, too. We look for the exit like headless flies, but we can't find it, so we can only move on. My heart is beating violently. I wonder if there will be danger waiting for us in this maze-like Muslim area. The danger is coming. In such a narrow alley, it's hard to pass a car, and there are oncoming cars. I gestured to the car to back off, and the car backed off to a small corner. The driver in the car yelled at me. I didn't know a word of Arabic, and I didn't know whether he was retrograde or I was retrograde. Anyway, I didn't understand it, but my trouble was not solved. There was a sharp turn to the right, and I couldn't turn it when I tried. The local people showed me the way and it scraped a little. Now I know the benefits of renting a broken car. This scratch is not "obvious" at all on a broken car that is "black and blue". Get off the bus and ask the man who shouted at me to help me. He was also very good. Three times five divided by two helped me bend over. When we stayed in this maze-like Muslim alley for more than 41 minutes, I saw the road again, as if I had seen a savior. At this time, it is already "the east wind is gradually rushing and the setting sun is slanting."
The experience of being "cheated" in parking like this also happened in the Popular Science Zone. Originally, the police said that parking on the roadside was free. As a result, an uncle asked for 51 yuan, and I said 21 yuan, and he agreed. If I hadn't seen his age, I wouldn't have given him a penny. The last time I was cheated was in the hotel. The hotel provides free parking, but on the morning of our check-out, another old man came over and asked for the parking fee. I didn't care about it with him, just as there was a $5 bill in my bag, I gave it to him. As a result, he gestured with both hands and said 21 yuan. I didn't like it when I heard it, so I challenged my IQ and told him "free". I don't know if he understood, but then he retracted his hand and took the initiative to help us wipe the dew on the car. My heart softened and I wanted to give more, but I gritted my teeth and drove away with one foot.
Although we are often cheated by Cairo people, we can still feel the simplicity of Cairo people with faith. My daughter and I, two foreigners whose headscarves are not authentic, walked around the streets in Muslim residential areas without any trouble, which made my affection for Muslims increase again and again. When we were driving in the maze of Muslim alleys, countless Muslims volunteered to guide us, clear the obstacles that hindered our driving by the roadside, and warmly waved to us. The hotels we stayed in were all bad, but their attitude was excellent, and they didn't charge for our early check in. These wonderful things were deeply left in our memory. While we hate Cairo people's tricks, we are also enjoying the warmth brought by their kindness.
Cairo, which ranks with Rome, Athens and Xi 'an as the four ancient capitals in the world, is a city that we can't forget after countless turns. And this is unforgettable, definitely not because of beauty. If there is a regret medicine in the world, I would like to take one for the day in Cairo. The daytime in Cairo is a city that makes us feel that we will regret not coming, but even more regretful when we come. However, when the curtain is closed at night, it should be opened.