If the day hadn’t already been extraordinary enough-walking through Garbage City, standing in awe at Saint Simon’s Church-Rasha had one more surprise in store for us.
She invited us to have dinner at her home.
A traditional Egyptian meal, cooked by her hands, shared in her space.
And of course, we said yes.
Getting There: A Lesson in Patience and Perspective
Rasha gave us instructions on how to reach her neighborhood. We’d take the train from the city center, she said. She told us exactly where to go, how much it would cost, and which stop to get off at. Easy enough.
Or so I thought.
Let me tell you-the moment we stepped on that train, I realized we were in for an adventure. When I say it was packed, I mean shoulder to shoulder, barely breathing room, at least a million people (okay, maybe not exactly a million, but it felt like it).
The kids started to whine.
“Too many people.”
“Why are we doing this?”
“It’s hot.”
And I get it. I started second-guessing myself too. Had I known the train would be like this, I might’ve hesitated. But I reminded them-and myself-that this is why we travel. To get out of our comfort zone. To see life beyond our bubble. When in Rome... or Cairo.
The ride took about 35 minutes. As we moved farther from the city center, the train slowly began to empty. The air changed. We could breathe again. And as the crowd thinned, I looked around and realized we were seeing a completely different side of Egypt-quiet, native, local.
Arrival: Family, Food, and Familiarity
When we got off, Rasha’s daughter, Ratel, was waiting for us at the station. She greeted us with a warm smile and helped guide us through the unfamiliar surroundings. A few moments later, Rasha appeared—with a tuk tuk ready to take us the rest of the way.
One wild tuk tuk ride through narrow streets later, we arrived.
Her home wasn’t in a tourist district or some fancy neighborhood. It was in a modest apartment building, full of warmth and love. Dinner was waiting for us-laid out, ready, welcoming. We were actually eating at her sister’s apartment, which is typical in her community. Her entire extended family lives in the same building: sister on the ground floor, father on the second, aunts and uncles on other levels, and Rasha herself on the sixth floor.
Breaking Bread, Building Connection
The dinner was incredible.
So many dishes I’d never tried before-flavors that were new but comforting, spices that told a story with every bite. The kids lit up with every mouthful, mmm’ing their way through the meal, smiling and laughing.
It felt like being with extended family. We sat, we chatted, we broke bread. There was no rush, no pressure. Just presence.
After dinner, we climbed the six flights of stairs to Rasha’s home. I won’t lie-my legs were tired, but the warmth that greeted us at the top was worth every step.
Her space was cozy and welcoming. It reminded me of Jamaica-family-oriented, grounded, with a quiet sense of pride. She made us tea, and we sat and talked some more.
Games, Laughter, and Shared Humanity
As we talked, her nieces and nephews came by to visit. Language barriers didn’t matter-within minutes, they were playing Snakes and Ladders with the boys, laughing like they’d known each other for years.
I watched them and felt so full.
While the kids played, Rasha and I talked about life-motherhood, work, dreams, what it means to be a woman holding it all together. She’s strong. So strong. But also kind, real, and full of grace.
The Kind of Experience You Can’t Book
This wasn’t a food tour.
It wasn’t a cultural activity from a travel brochure.
It was a real invitation into someone’s life.
This is the kind of experience you can’t book online.
This is the kind of travel moment that reminds me why I’m doing this.
Why we left everything behind to see the world, one human moment at a time.
I’m forever grateful for this evening-for the food, the laughter, the connection.
If I could do it all over again, I would say yes in a heartbeat.
One Unforgettable Day
From the alleys of Garbage City…
To the quiet awe of a church carved into a mountain…
To dinner, tea, and laughter in a home filled with love-
This day was everything I want from travel.
Real.
Raw.
Grounding.
Beautiful.
It changed something in me. And it reminded me of the kind of life I’m choosing, one day, one country, one deep connection at a time.
If you ever find yourself in Cairo-don’t just visit. Experience.
Read Part 1: Garbage City
Read Part 2: Saint Simon’s Cave Church
