A bad day at Giza Zoo

Cairo, Egypt

10th November 2009

Today I went to the Egyptian Museum. When I got there, an African leader was arriving. It was interesting watching all the cars pull up and seeing him being whisked into the Museum. I spent 45 minutes in total looking around. Everything looked interesting but not much more so in person than say in a magazine or book.

I then got a cab to the Zoo and it only cost about 11p to get in. 80% of the people in the zoo looked at me like I was the devil. One teenager yelled at me to fuck off. My clothes weren't revealing and only my skin colour was a defining factor.

Lots of people made a joke out of saying hello and asking me where I was from. I felt like I was in a shark pit because it was most of the people in the zoo doing this.

Being white and traveling in mostly white countries, I've never been subject to much racism. I guess hatred and extremism can exist anywhere. I worry about what acts these people would be willing to perform given they're willing to swear at foreigners who aren't doing anything of interest during a day out. Next time you feel bad about foreign policy, remember there are people who hate you for who you are and, given the chance, would do terrible things to you.

The zoo is full of stray cats and they had a wide variety of domesticated dogs on display.

I didn't see any other white people in the zoo but as I left I saw a white woman entering. I felt sorry for what she was about to go through. She probably thought it would be a day at the Zoo like any other.