Today Masouda and I met up with the rest of the Americans and some more AUC students.  We met at El-Fishawi, the most famous cafe in Cairo and it is located in the heart of the bazaar.  We indulged in sheesha and sweet tea, then broke into groups for some touristy shopping.

I was lucky enough to be in a group with Mohamed, who could probably talk a cat into giving him its tail.  When I spotted something I liked I would discreetly let Mohamed know, then he proceed to bargain with the shopkeeper to get the price low.  I felt incredibly guilty the entire time, because he was lower the prices down to almost nothing.  I mean, I don't like getting ripped off, but I also don't mind paying a slightly inflated price because I'm a tourist. 

The art of the bargain, is truly amazing.  Mohamed and the shopkeeper would greet each other politely.  Then they would begin an elaborate ceremony which I wish I could have had subtitles for. They would slap their knees, smack their fists, yell, laugh, and then start all over again.

            

          

Beautiful, winding and narrow.  The bazaar is like stepping back in time.

  

Mohamed treated us to an amazing meal.  There were a couple "delicacies" that would have felt at home on a Fear Factor episode, but overall the meal was amazing.