If You're Greedy You Get Nothing

Tony and I decided we would go to Maadi Island this morning to have a look around. We had spotted it when we went on the falucca ride and I'd read a little about it. Off we went on another excursion - caught a taxi into the train station on Shara Tessa (just in case the post office was open and I could send the Gladstone kids their letters :-( sorry it was closed).
We only needed to ride one stop today but when the train pulled up we both wondered if it was an actual station because it looked like a construction site. And there were a lot of young guys just hanging around so we made our way out of the station and along a street that looked like it headed in the direction of the Corniche (the road beside the Nile). Once clear of the crowds out came the map to get our bearings - right on track so off we went again.
It took us another 15 minutes to reach the gate to the island. There were a few police milling around outside the gate but we are so used to them being everywhere we just ignore them now if they re in a group. Otherwise it's the usual greeting and a smile.
To get to the actual island you have to cross a bridge and sitting at the entrance to the bridge were the 3 trolls. I had read that the cost was 10LE but they would try to bump up the price if you were not Egyptian so I was ready for it, sort of. Only one spoke English and when we asked him how much he said,"30LE." We replied,"You're joking! It's only 10LE," was rebuffed with, "not today." So we turned and walked back towards the road. I was peeved about the laughter that followed us up the ramp but then again who got the last laugh? We saved 30LE and missed out on a walk around a park about the size of Western Springs. They missed out on our 30LE entry and any money we would have paid for lunch in a café.

The entrance to Maadi Island.

A view across the military hospital helicopter pad to the island.

Maadi Island I don't think we'll be back to see you again in the near future all because of the 3 trolls who live beside your bridge. I wonder how many other foreigners they turned away today.