Day NINE: The Cairo Zoo, Sailing on the Nile, Guerrilla Warfare, and Grand Cafe

Of the many attractions in this fabulous city of 30 million people, the Giza Zoo is a must-see. Thursday we piled into two cabs and risked life and limb on the Corniche as we sped off to see the lions and tigers and bears, oh my! You know the Aladdin theme song? About Prince Ali?

He's got seventy-five golden camels
Purple peacocks
He's got fifty-three
When it comes to exotic-type mammals
Has he got a zoo?
I'm telling you, it's a world-class menagerie

That's a pretty apt description of the Giza Zoo. We saw more white flamingoes than anyone ought to have to see in one day, a HUGE hippo lumbering around, about 20 roaring lions, some black asian bears, hawks, monkeys, orangutans, chimpanzees, and loads of other interesting creatures. We petted a Bactrian Camel named Sarah, fed some pelicans, and the brave men amongst us even held a lion cub. Not a very happy lion cub, I might add.

After our zoo adventure, we stopped by MetroMarket to get dinner supplies and came home to make fajitas. We all liked sailing on the Nile, so after dinner, we gathered up some drinks and some chocolate chip cookies and spent an hour playing a rowdy game of catch phrase while floating down the Nile, much to the amazement of our boat captain.

A choice gem from that game:

I'll spare you the specifics, but we were all completely confused and subsequently laughing riotously when Meredith sought to elicit "Guerrilla Warfare" using such clues as jungle, helicopter, parachute, Jim Elliot, and Nate Saint. I wonder if Jim Elliot was aware of his involvement in such dubious activities??

Another round of cappucinos, mochacreamos, and lemon mint juice at Grand Cafe finished off the evening. Family is such a blessing.