Birthday Dinner by The Great Pyramids! FASHION: Off White Linen One Shoulder Jumpsuit with Detachable Gold Lame and Metallic Green Brocade Skirt. Tailored Made in China.
Our last day in Cairo fell on my actual birthday (which I had clearly been celebrating for over a week already…typical only child, right?). Spoiled by a fantastic boyfriend – I woke up to the sound of room service wheeling in a table with fresh pancakes and cold champagne. While the waiter popped the cork, Brett surprised me with another birthday treat – stunning diamond hoops. The day was off to a spectacular start! Although I must say that I would have been happy with a bowl of Rice Krispies and a Hallmark Card – so long as Brett was there beside me. That said – what girl doesn’t like champagne and diamonds!
The plan for the day was pretty simple: room service, a bit of sightseeing and lunch, some pool time, and dinner in a tent overlooking the pyramids. In my opinion, it was the equation to the PERFECT 30th birthday! A good friend of mine recommended a lunch spot in Al-Azhar Park that overlooks the Citidel and offers lovely views of the entire city. The weather was actually very pleasant that day with a nice breeze, and because it was Friday (the Muslim equivalent to Sunday for Christians) the park was hopping! Honestly, I was a little concerned when we first got in line to buy our tickets to the park. I couldn’t believe it – the ticket counters were divided by gender! Brett and I had to stand in separate lines. Although the funniest thing about it was that my line moved faster, and I was still able to buy 2 tickets. So – it really didn’t make all that much sense….
Lunch in Al Azhar Park. FASHION: Silk Chiffon Animal Print Jumpsuit with Metallic Gold Empire Waste Detail. Tailored Made in China.
Inside the gates, the park was filled with people. It was wonderful to see all the families scattered about sharing picnics and playing games. We strolled for a bit and weaved our way to the restaurant, located at the highest point of the park to provide the most optimal views of Cairo. While the park appeared to be full of locals, the restaurant had more of an eclectic crowd of tourists from all over the world. The menu offered some familiar options (sandwiches, salads, etc.) as well as some popular Egyptian dishes. After stuffing our bellies and taking in the views, we heading back to the hotel to relax by the pool.
SIDE NOTE: I want to be sure that I am clear about something for anyone visiting Cairo….even though I have not mentioned it – we did NOT skip the Egyptian Museum. It is a must see! How can you leave this city without seeing the mummies and the treasures from King Tut’s tomb? The answer is that you cannot! Tip: you have to check your camera at a little security building outside of the museum by the ticket office. We learned this the hard way and waited in line to get inside the museum twice. Also, we went without a tour guide, but I think you might find a guide helpful. The museum is in the process of moving to a new location, and it is not all that easy to navigate.
Now….back to the birthday! After the perfect amount of Vitamin D, we headed up to the room to shower and get ready for dinner. Our fabulous concierge, Noha, organized a tent dinner for us overlooking the pyramids. She timed the reservation perfectly for sunset. We feasted over lamb and chicken kofta (kabobs), delicious hummus, and other Egyptian cuisine. Not to mention…I smoked a hookah pipe for the first time in my life. The most popular flavor of tobacco used is apple. Truthfully, this
Smoking a Hookah Pipe
sounded terrible to me (let’s just say there may have been an incident in college involving an apple martini) but it was actually sort of fun and the apple taste wasn’t very strong.
At the end of dinner, Noha came to escort us to a “different” table for dessert. Little did we know that she (with help of course) had prepared an entire surprise birthday party complete with balloons, confetti, belly dancers, traditional Egyptian performers, and cake! What a treat! We even got to learn a little belly dancing ourselves….
Surprise Party!
While Brett and I rested from the belly dancing lessons (harder than you might think) in the tent, I noticed a man in the distance holding what appeared to be a rather large dog. Brett agreed that something looked a bit off, and slowly we both realized that not even Cujo had paws that size. It was not a dog at all – it was a lion. I knew that it was probably some sort of money making scheme – but I really didn’t care. How many opportunities do you get to hold a baby lion? Plus – it saved me the expense of a microdermabrasion treatment. Their tongues are no joke.
At the end of this perfect night, I found myself feeling sincerely guilty. It had been the best day. Thank you, Noha and everyone at the Four Seasons 1st Residence! To Brett – there are no words…. You seriously outdid yourself!
Next up: Luxor
A Blonde in Beijing 
YOU FORGOT TO TELL ME ABOUT THE LION CUB…I LOVE THE PICS. SAW ALLISON HUTSON THIS WEEKEND SHE SAID SHE IS READING YOUR BLOG AND HAS REALLY ENJOYED IT. SHE, AS WELL AS YOU, LOOKS FABULOUS BY THE WAY!!!