The Pyramids

The long trek to Cario, Egypt began on the afternoon of September 5th with a ride to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Exactly twelve hours later I was enjoying a cup of café latte in the Lufthansa Airlines lounge at the Frankfurt, Germany Airport. Frankfurt is a very well organized, clean, and modern airport. With each visit there I have been impressed with the cleanliness, efficiency, and security. It is very similar to Atlanta in that it acts as a major hub for travel to and from many parts of Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The flight from Frankfurt to Cairo (often spelled Kairo in Europe) departed exactly on time and headed on a southeasterly course over Germany for the nearly 2,000 mile flight. We passed over Munich and south of Salzburg, Austria, along the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea toward Athens, Greece. At 39,000 feet and 540 mph, I could see the eastern European cities including Zagreb, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, and Titograd pass by on the flat panel in-flight display. The displays help you appreciate what a really big place the world is. As we came across the Mediterranean Sea, we were moving at 580 mph. Bagdad was two hours to the east.

The purpose of the trip was to participate in the Egyptian International Economic Forum. Egypt has made serious efforts toward becoming a dynamic emerging economy on both macro and micro economic levels including making changes in its legal and regulatory framework. The goal of the country is to become a larger player in the international marketplace. Signs are encouraging as international players have reacted through capital inflows and hiring which have triggered growth in new areas for Egypt. (read the full story -- including a visit to the Pyramids)

Travels September 18, 2004 03:33 PM