My Summer in The Land of Percieved Democracy

In the suffocating heat of summer in the desert, with a car full of some of my closest friends, this morning began in an unusual way. In a taxi full of chatter, all sound is completely dimmed as the radio grasped us as its audience. The panic in the voice of the Arabic man speaking makes it evident that a simple Egyptian vacation has begun, not so simply. “Morsi has been done away,” came out of the taxi driver’s mouth as if he was translating what was being said over the radio. Due to my very basic research prior to my trip, I knew Morsi was the Egyptian president, and for whatever reason, in an unknown way, he was ousted and Egypt began erupting in a way I only believed to be possible in movies.
My deepest fears were all confirmed as the streets filled with both protestors and supporters of the ousting of President Morsi and any idea of democracy amongst the Egyptians died swiftly. There was shouting, wailing, and ear piercing shrieks as a civil war erupted amongst the opposing sides. In what seemed to be a matter of seconds, our car was surrounded, and panic washed over us all.
It took three hours to move approximately four and a half miles while traveling through the sea of people.
We arrived at an ornately decorated gate that had not been harmed, making it stand out amongst the destruction in the surrounding area. It became known very shortly after pulling up to the main gate, that even in times of chaos, Egyptians have a different way of doing things. By different, I mean, it didn’t take very long for us to realize that our safety came with a price. We all began shuffling through our bags, looking for money and other items we could use to barter with the security guards for access to some sort of shelter. Nine American dollars, a deck of gold trimmed playing cards, and a carton of cigarettes bought us access to shelter in one of the few English-speaking hotels in the area. With large glass windows, marble flooring, and fresh ocean breeze, it was easy to forget the war zone we just escaped.
Unfortunately, the break from reality didn’t last very long. The stench of war, death, and sorrow drowned out any possible tranquility the hotel, or any resort could offer. It became clear today that is no longer a vacation filled with sunbathing and drinks but instead a learning experience and chance to bond with the people of Egypt in a time of great turmoil.