Susan Hawthorne #206 Cairo 1985 (in response to Efi)

the first time I went to Cairo
it was an impromptu decision

one day later the same flight
from Athens to Cairo was hijacked
landed at Valletta in Malta

they shot many travellers
especially the Americans and Jews
the row behind were Israeli Jews
the row in front Americans

often wondered whether
my time would have been up
I remember the women from
the Philippines were allowed off

I loved Cairo the noise the dawn call
even the traffic though it scared me
the museum knocked me sideways
all those mummies and gold

I wandered the market
got off the buses happily
went to the pyramids and rode
to Saqqara on a camel (ouch)

the souk was enticing
one pound lunch from the Hilton
but beware the ice in G&Ts

one day I will go again and drink
coffee and eat sweets at Goppis



I can't be sure I have the name of Goppis correct, but nor can I find it online. I'll correct this if anyone can help.