Chapter 24 - Cairo (part 1)

Saturday 8th June - Heading to Cairo

The plane had just taken off with Bo and Lauren onboard heading for Cairo. It was a small plane with twin propellers on either side and eighty seats in two rows of two. Bo and Lauren were near the back, with no-one around them. There was no crew on board so no refreshments would be served, equally no distractions, as the only toilet was positioned near the front.

Bo undid her seat belt and leant over to Lauren. "We have the back of the plane to ourselves."

Lauren looked around, it was true, the next passenger was at least seven rows in front of them. In total, there were only about twenty passengers and most of them were in the front rows. Lauren looked behind and there were nothing and no-one. "Well, I think that man on check-in fancied you," Lauren answered, returning to flick through the in-flight magazine. She knew what Bo was implying but wanted to tease along for a few minutes.

"Ah-ha no, I don't think so. More like he was scared of you. What person asks an airline to sit at the back of the plane as it's statistically safer? And when he dared to ask why you proceed to tell him that most planes fall from the sky nose first and that people sat at the back have a 40% higher survival chance." Bo raised her eyebrow, "Seriously, Lauren, I'm surprised we were even were allowed to get on." Bo said, poking her lightly in the side, and slouching back in her own seat.

"Oh Bo, I'm sorry. You see I get nervous at airports. I'm ok in flight, just the apprehension of airports scare me." Lauren answered, facing Bo taking her arm and linking her own around it.

"Baby, I didn't know that. What scares you?" Bo asked, stroking Lauren lightly on her cheek.

Lauren settled further in her seat, she hated to tell anyone about her insecurities, but it was their first step to sharing so she couldn't not tell Bo. "Well, first It's all the security checks to simply check in my bag. They ask you things like did you pack the bag yourself? Which I'm always cautious of, I'm like, yeah, who do you think packed my bags? Do they think I have bag packers that follow me around on all my journeys? Then they ask did I leave it out my sight, and I'm thinking only when it was put in the back of the taxi. I guess I didn't see it then. Then they ask could someone have tampered with your bag? And I get nervous, do the taxi drivers have people lurking in the back waiting for a suitcase? I never know how to answer that. Then I'm worried that they put the wrong sticker on the bag and it ends up in another country, that one lone bag we have all seen in airports that go around and around on the carousel until someone realises and takes it off. Finally, I'm petrified of airport security. The eye scanner, the fingerprint scanner, the body scanner. They all make me nervous. I worry I left my tweezers in my bag and I have them confiscated. Which baffles me, really what harm can they do, surely the glass litre bottle of vodka that is in my bag from duty-free will do more harm. I then get so nervous I can't give eye contact, which makes me look suspicious. I always get pulled, like I did today. I get frisked, which sometimes I enjoy so I involuntary smile, which makes me look even more suspicious. So, I'm called over for the swab test. I'm made to remove my shoes. I have to do the whole-body scanner thingy again. The whole process is just daunting for me. I only relax once the plane doors are closed and we're on the runway and I sneak a shot of vodka from the duty-free bag."

Bo was laughing beside her. Lauren is normally so composed, how she's crumbled by the airport amused her. Also, she agreed with the tweezers, nodding enthusiastically while Lauren was speaking. "Oh baby, my baby genius is knocked into confusion by airports. I will promise to be your personal traveller from now on and make sure that you are never stumped again." Bo took Lauren's hand and kissed each finger, before resting it on her lap.

"Laugh if you wish," Lauren smiled. "Tropophobia is real for millions of people."

"Tropophobia hey. I have a tropophobia also. I fear your top, and feel you should take it off." Bo said, pulling gently on the hem of Lauren's light blue vest.

"Tropophobia is not a phobia of tops Bo, It's the fear of certain places or situations, like airports or airport security." Lauren giggled and playfully slapped away Bo's hand. "Or maybe it's hodophobia?"

"Well I'm still scared of this top and hoodie of yours, so maybe you should remove it?" Bo lifted Lauren's hoodie and tugged on Lauren's vest top, this time lifting slightly and softly caressing her flat stomach.

"Vestiphobic hey?" Lauren asked.

"Yes, very scared of this vest," Bo replied.

Lauren giggled into her hand. "Vestiphobia is a fear of clothes baby, not only vests."

Bo swallowed hard, "Yes, I fear all these clothes." Bo stood up and reached into the overhead locker and pulled out a thick woollen blanket and lay it down over their laps. "Start removing them all."

Lauren bit down on her lower lip, looked around the plane, saw that no-one was watching and did as she was told.

They landed an hour later, re-dressed and both beamed with smiles that reached their eyes. That was the mile-high club as it should be, not crammed into a toilet. They were happy that they had not been disturbed, most of the passengers had either headphones in, were asleep or reading.

Cairo airport was like the one in Sharm, both big, both recently renovated and both with large glass facades mirroring the entrance. They searched the belts until they found the one for Egypt Air Express and waited patiently for their bag to arrive. Despite Lauren's reservations they had put both their luggage in one suitcase. Lauren had wanted to carry two smaller sized ones with their luggage split between the two. Bo knew now why, after all, she was a tropophobe. Bo had convinced her to do it her way, and now they were standing and waiting. Bo had snaked her arms around Lauren's waist from behind and rested her chin on her shoulder. With every passing bag that went by that was not theirs, she felt Lauren tense a bit more.

"Relax baby. It will arrive in a minute." Bo spoke quietly into her ear.

"And what if it doesn't?" Lauren replied, tapping her foot impatiently.

"Then we stay naked for the weekend." Bo laughed. "No seriously, we buy more clothes."

"But I have packed something special and I would hate to lose it," Lauren replied, still checking every bag.

Bo stood back, "Baby, It's your birthday. I supply the gifts."

"It's not a birthday gift, don't worry. It's a thank you gift if I enjoy my weekend." Lauren turned around to face Bo and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

"And what if you don't enjoy your weekend?" Bo asked.

"I will just keep it then until you do something worthy." Lauren smiled back at her.

"Well hold that thought, as here it comes." Bo pointed to the silver Samsonite case that was coming toward them.

"Oh, oh that is my bag." Lauren shrieked.

"I will grab it," Bo replied. "You know I will always love airports."

Lauren smiled, "Whys that?"

"I met you in one," Bo replied, before walking off to grab the bag.

Oh, she will definitely get that gift now, Lauren thought, she deserves it.

They walked outside and the heat was suffocating. A different kind of heat to Sharm, it was thick and humid. It was still early, only eight am so the sun was not fully out yet. Bo turned to Lauren who handed her sun cream, obviously thinking the same thing.

"So what now?" Lauren asked, rubbing the lotion into her arms and face.

"It should be here," Bo said looking around.

"What, our ride?" Lauren asked, also looking around the arrivals car park.

"Ah, there it is," Bo said excitedly and took hold of the suitcase handle. She walked toward the drop kerb.

Lauren noticed the black Mercedes and smiled. The smile faded however when Bo walked past it and stood in front of a Landrover Discovery. It was cream in colour with the green steel roll bars showing. There were three seats at the front and two rows of four at the back. The black roof was pulled back and standing beside it was a short, stocky white man wearing orange Bermuda shorts and a brightly coloured yellow shirt. He had mid length, unkempt grey hair and an ash blonde moustache. His glasses were worn around his neck on a string and under his arm, he had a clipboard. Lauren could make out the words of 'Local Flavours' on it. A small onslaught of panic had set in, what had Bo done?

"Hello, Ladies. Welcome to Cairo. Can I help you with your bag?" he spoke in a thick Yorkshire accent, accentuated by the campiness in his tone.

Bo looked amused and Lauren smiled. Bo handed the bag over and helped Lauren jump into the back. The man got in the front and turned to face them.

"So which one is the birthday girl?" he asked, looking down at his clipboard, "Lauren Lewis."

Lauren held up her hand.

"Eyy, well don't be worrying 'bout a thing ducky, we're going to have a superb weekend.", he took her hand and shook it. "So you must be Bo." turning he shook her hand also. "I'm Jeffery, not only your driver, tour guide and hotelier, but by the end of these three days your friend." He flashed them both a warm smile. "I know when I'm wanted and know when to make myself scarce. My partner, well my husband now, Timothy is waiting back at the hotel. We have two other couples, two men from America, and some ladies from Spain. So, buckle up, we will arrive in an hour. Any questions?" He looked between them both, receiving no answer, he turned in his seat, started the engine and drove away.

Bo looked at Lauren, she wished she could read her mind. She bet she had lots of questions, but knowing her she would wait until they were alone to ask them. Bo sat back in her seat, why had she listened to Tamsin. This was going to be a disaster.

Timothy was waiting at the entrance of the hotel when they arrived. It was a thin building that stood between two others. The location was ideal, just off Pyramid Road and only a few minutes' walk from the Giza Gates. The journey had been in silence, with Bo and Lauren simply holding hands the whole journey. Something about being with an openly gay man made them feel more comfortable about their display of affection. During the journey Jeffery would shout out places of interest to them, however much of the time was spent listening to show tunes or Andrew Lloyd-Webbers greatest hits. Both of which amused the girls. The small sign over the entrance said "Hotel Şerefe".

The lobby reception was small with a semi-circle table far left. On it was a round, metal bell and a visitor's book that was open. To the right was a well-travelled library overfilling with books. Straight ahead was a wide staircase and to the side of this a corridor that had signposts for the kitchen and lounge area. Bo checked them in while Lauren spoke to Timothy.

"So you're the birthday girl. And very pretty if you don't mind me saying so." Timothy spoke, taking Lauren's hand and kissing it. Lauren blushed. "Is this your first time in Cairo?"

"Actually no. This is my first time with Bo though and already it is different." Lauren turned to Bo and smiled. Bo returned the smile, unsure if that was a good thing or not.

"We'll, just to let you know you have today and tomorrow free to do as you wish. Tomorrow night we will be taking you out and will bring you back Monday morning and then straight to the airport. Your plane leaves mid-day, so we will have time for breakfast first. I believe your girlfriend wants it all to remain a mystery for you, so that is all I will reveal." Timothy made the sign to zipping close his lips and winked over at Bo who had now finished the registration process.

"You can eat here if you wish, we have a rooftop restaurant, or we can bring you room service? If you would like to dine out we can recommend a few local places that will look after the tourists, without charging the tourist prices. We can also arrange for any additional guides or if you wish to be independent, but not miss the sights, we can assist in hiring you both Segways. You can nip between the side roads and avoid the main road." Jeffery turned to Timothy "You know darling better than me, those roads are dangerous."

"Oh yeah, only too well. It was back in 1985 when I had my accident, went flying in the air, lost my leg." Timothy said, sadness in his eyes at the memory. He lifted his trouser leg to reveal an artificial limb. "They have four lanes, but they make seven. There's still nowhere safe to cross, It's like playing a game of British bulldog."

Jeffery interrupted the silence that followed, "Do you need a hand with your bag?" Bo shook her head no. Jeffery continued, "You are in our best room. The whole top floor, you have an amazing view of the city skyline, and all that you requested Bo is in there. So, we trust you enjoy your stay, and please come down and see us if you need anything."

Bo and Lauren walked up the stairs with Bo carrying the suitcase with both hands while Lauren had her brown, leather messenger bag over her shoulder. Two flights of stairs later they came to a large oak door. Bo took the long metal key from her pocket, it had an even longer wooden stick attached to it with the room number 1 burnt into it. Inside was amazing and beautifully decorated in gold and creams. The large four poster bed dominated the room on an elevated platform facing the French double doors. The sheets were silk. An en-suite was to the far side with gold handles that led into a contrasted black and white marble room, with a double shower on one side and a corner jacuzzi bath on the other. The towels were made from the finest Egyptian cotton, they continued to walk around the rooms and Bo was pleased to hear the 'wow's' and 'oh my god' coming from Lauren. The flowers she had asked for were on the dresser and the mini bar was stocked with the requested champagne and a bucket of fresh strawberries.

"Bo this is beautiful, come look," Lauren called over from the Juliette balcony. Not big enough to sit on but enough to stand on. The view looked over all the other buildings in front and onto the Main Pyramid.

Bo walked over and wrapped her arms around her waist and rested her chin on her shoulder for the second time that day. It was a beautiful view. "Do you know what's more beautiful?" she asked. Lauren shook her head. "You baby, you."

"Bo, this is so great."

"Really? I wasn't sure after I saw your face when Jeffery picked us up." Bo fidgeted behind her.

Lauren turned and put her arms on Bo's shoulders. "This is perfect."

They kissed on the balcony until Bo stopped them, reminding her that they had a full day of sightseeing to do and they would never leave the room if she continued to kiss her like that. Instead, Bo suggested a shower, Lauren remarked that would only make her hotter and wetter. They giggled, remembering that is what she had said on their first beach date. The shower for two was great, also gave a bit of distance so the temptation was temporarily squashed. Bo loved Lauren's body, an athlete, she knew she visited the gym regularly and was a teen tennis player. She had lean muscles, defined contours, and small breasts that stay perfectly in place. In comparison to her own body, that was naturally flat and toned, with big breasts and shapely hips. Lauren smiled over to Bo, she was also admiring Bo's body and loved every inch of it. They needed to get out the shower soon or Bo would be right they would never leave this room.

Half an hour later they were redressed and standing in the reception area. Bo was talking to Jeffery while Timothy was checking in new guests. Two men in their early twenties, both wearing city shorts and shirts buttoned up to the top. They had almost identical hairstyles that were short on one side but longer and lifted high on the other. They wore flat loafers type of shoes and big designer sunglasses.

"Ready?" Bo asked taking Lauren's hand. Lauren nodded and they walked outside. It was only a few streets to the gates of the pyramids and Bo paid the entrance fee. They were inundated with requests to be their tour guide, some, more persistent than others. Bo was friendly but firm and after a few had attempted they were left to walk in by themselves. What they saw was nothing short of spectacular. They were standing in the grounds of the last remaining ancient wonder of the world. Three magnificent pyramids still standing the test of time.

Bo looked around and saw the grassy hill to the side, with a large willow tree in the centre. "Ah-ha, just where Jeffery said it was. Come with me." They climbed the hill together and were happy to find no-one up there. Bo took off the backpack that she had been carrying and pulled out a blanket and lay it on the ground. Lauren hadn't even realised she was wearing one, she must have got it from Jeffery, she thought.

"You know I love you most when you geek out on me, I was kinda thinking as you have been here before and have read up on these pyramids, maybe you could talk to me about them?" Bo asked, kneeling on the blanket. Lauren joined her and sat down, back resting against the tree. Bo lay down and propped her head up onto Lauren's lap. Immediately Lauren's fingers combed through Bo's hair.

"I also brought us some breakfast. So, tuck in, then tell me all I need to know." Bo said, reaching over and opening her bag bringing out some cheese and ham croissants.

"I would love to Bo. This is perfect." Lauren replied. "So, first, the Grand Pyramid, the largest one over there," Lauren pointed to the right, a croissant in her hand, "was built two and a half thousand years ago by the Pharaohs' to be used as a tomb and is estimated that it took about twenty years to build. The Grand Pyramid is believed to be the first one, this was built for King Khufu, the other two for his successors Khafre and Menkaure. Do you remember the story of the warrior Orion and the star's constellations' that I told you about?"

"I remember your naughty tattoo story, and the night you showed me the star's baby." Bo looked up.

"The story continues, as these three pyramids are precisely aligned with the constellations of Orion'." Lauren stroked Bo's cheek. Bo lifted her head for a quick kiss.

"Wow, why is that then?" Bo asked.

"No one really knows. There are many unknowns around the Pyramids. The most impressive of all is that the sides of the Great Pyramids are almost immaculately oriented with North, South, East and West. It weighs 6.5 million tonnes, which to put that into perspective a small car weighs 1 tonne." Lauren bit into her croissant, then continued. "Did you know that the croissant was originally Turkish, and not French? allegedly the word came from the Islamic crescent." Lauren took another bite.

Bo laughed. Lauren was the only person she knew that had so much random knowledge, it sometimes scared her. "Do you always have to do that word thingy?"

"What etymology? the meaning of words? sorry, I can't help it, I'm a curious person." Lauren giggled. "So back to the Pyramids, there has never been any recovered bodies, experts think the Pyramids were tomb raided for gold and other jewels that were said to be buried inside. The Pharaohs believed that it will be with them in the after-life. In 1954 they discovered a forty-seven-metre-long boat sealed in the pit of the Great Pyramid."

"All that in those?" Bo asked, impressed with what she was hearing.

"They're deceiving, many tunnels are inside. Let's finish eating and get a closer look."

They finished their breakfast and Bo placed the blanket back in her rucksack. They spent the next few hours walking around the site. It was exactly how Bo had imagined, Lauren pointed out the sites, explaining them better than any guide could. It was fun, interesting and they both were having fun. They even managed to get a few stragglers along the way, listening to Lauren and her unique way of explaining the history of the site. They didn't mind especially when at the end, by the Sphinx they tipped her $50.

"You know we could just stay here and sell tours to tourists?" Lauren beamed, counting her five $10 bills over and over again.

"And what would I do?" Bo asked, playing along.

"Well, you could sell crafts." Lauren giggled.

"Really?" Bo stopped and put her hands on her sides. "You can see me making crafts?"

"I can see you doing anything that you wanted to baby."

They walked back to their willow tree and sat talking for a few more hours about anything and everything. Some Egyptian history and some history of their own. As the sun started to set in the distance they made their way back to the hotel, the words that Lauren spoke earlier going around in Bo's thoughts. She thought I could do anything, does that mean she wants me to try and do something else rather than bartending? They were stopped by Timothy and Jeffery as they entered the reception who wanted to know how their day was and Lauren was busy explaining all her favourite places.

"The Sphinx amazes me still, a lion's head on a human body. Mark Twain wrote, The Sphinx is grand in its loneliness; It's imposing in its magnitude; It's impressive in the mystery that hangs over its story." Lauren said as Bo held her close behind.

Timothy and Jeffery looked at each other, "Darling that was so sweet. Now if we can steal Bo for a few minutes, I will make sure she's back with you in just a few ticks."

Lauren smiled and nodded before kissing Bo gently on the lips and walking up the stairs.

"So Bo, how is it going?" Timothy asked, "Did we get it all right so far, I know from your many phone calls you were a bit apprehensive about this tour?"

"It's great thanks, and I'm sorry if I bothered you. You see she's special."

"We can see that. Very smart lady." Timothy nodded at Jeffery, who nodded back in agreement.

"She's a genius actually." Bo proclaimed, proudly.

"I think you both are," Jeffery said. "You both are very lucky to have each other."

That night they had dinner at the rooftop restaurant. A peaceful ambience as they ate under the stars. After dinner, they went back to downstairs, passing the boys that checked in earlier. They made polite introductions and returned to their room. Bo popped open the champagne and took the strawberries from the fridge. She rested them on the floor by the bed where they were sitting. Pouring each a glass she settled down next to Lauren.

"This is great Bo," Lauren said taking the champagne flute to her lips and drinking the cool drink.

"I saw it on the film Pretty Woman and thought one day I would do that." Bo giggled.

"Did you know that there are forty-nine million bubbles in a standard bottle of bubbly?" Lauren said, holding her flute up to examine better.

Bo just smiled.

"They say that the sensation of these carbon dioxide bubbles popping on the skin is exhilarating," Lauren said.

Bo choked back her drink.

Lauren took a washed cut strawberry and dropped it in Bo's glass and one in her own and drank her drink down. Reaching with her fingers she took out the soaked fruit and put it in Bo's mouth.

"Tasty hey?" Lauren asked.

Bo drank her drink in one also, taking the fruit from the bottom of the glass and returning the suggestion to Lauren, who happily ate it.

"Yes, it is. But I'm more interested in this bubble popping feeling." Bo raised her eyebrow. She was surprised when Lauren sat up onto her knees and faced her, taking the bottle by the neck from the icebox, she took a large mouthful. She leant in and, with the liquid in her mouth, and sucked on the side of Bo's neck softly. The mixture of Lauren's warm tongue and the cold liquid popping on Bo's skin drove Bo wild causing her to moan out loud. Finally, Lauren stopped and swallowed the liquid.

They looked at each other for a moment, and before them flashed a feeling of completeness. Love. The greatest love they had ever known. They undressed each other slowly, just looking into each other eyes. They still had passion but did not feel the urgency of their normal love-making. This time was different. In silence, they continued to kiss each other all over their bodies, sometimes with the champagne in their mouth, sometimes without. They took their time, savoured every moment. The balcony window was open and the cool night air blew through the room, cooling their hot bodies as hours passed. They were gentle, loving and only the sounds of soft moans and words of love filled the room. Lauren and Bo took turns drinking the champagne from their bodies, pouring the liquid down their stomach and catching it between their folds, licking the length of each other as the bubbles popped. In between love-making they would whisper words of love or simply watch the night, as it turned from light to dark to light again. Eventually falling asleep in each other's arms, never fully wanting the night to end.

As the early sunrise shone into the room Bo and Lauren woke both feeling something extraordinary following their night of lovemaking. Something had changed. Something had shifted, they both felt complete, they felt loved and they felt that today was the first day of the rest of their lives.