Since my DRC visa has been handled, which was the one I was most stressed out about (Egypt just goes to NYC, which is only a 45 minute drive if I have to head in and grab it in person), it was time to book my flight.
I’ve been checking out flights over and over again trying to decide when to leave and what to do and kind of playing the whole scenario around in various different ways… and a few weeks ago I stumbled upon a flight with a 12 hour layover during the daytime hours in Cairo. (Yes, hence the Egyptian Visa necessity.) As I mentioned before, Egypt and the Pyramids have been on my top 5 for AGES but it’s never been a convenient time *and* the volatility in the region has deterred me from a vacation there.
However… a layover? For 12 hours? WHEN THE PYRAMIDS ARE THIRTEEN MILES FROM THE AIRPORT?!
It’s basically the reason the word serendipity was coined.
So when I went to book my flight, I searched for that same flight again, to no avail. Called my mom hysterical (sorry mom) that I couldn’t find it and I was devastated that I’d miss out on Egypt and as I was on the phone with her furiously refreshing different dates and times and discussing drop-off options with her, THE CAIRO LAYOVER POPPED BACK UP!
I may, MAY have squeaked in her ear joyously. It’s a thing that could possibly have happened. [Lesson to learn from this — DO NOT GIVE UP on finding the flight you’re hunting for. It’s probably there if you just take some extra time to hunt for it. I simply kept changing dates and airports and other options until the flight I wanted became available. You can also call up United and ask them for assistance, but that was my last resort since you have to pay a fee to book your ticket through an agent. Ew. ]
We then debated the merits of booking Egyptair for a few minutes before mom said to me, “If you really want to see Cairo, just do it,” and I said “aahhhhh screw it, I’m booking it.” I hung up with mom, called my bestie Erica to also confirm that if mom couldn’t drop me off she would be able to…. and then
I PUSHED THE “CONFIRM PURCHASE” BUTTON.
2 Minutes, 40,000 Miles and $70 later…. I booked a flight to Cape Town via a 12 Hour Cairo Layover (and a short stop in Johannesburg, SA).
Friends…. I am going to South Africa!!!
