Part 02: Rex Nixon letters, 21 May 1915-27 December 1916 - Page 13
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[Page 13]
5.
They said they could not charge me, as I was an "Australian". I have been to the best of hotels with them, for dinner and have got a few of them to write in french to you, the slip with the names & addresses on, is enclosed. It is a bonza climate here, at night time all the people walk about just like they do at Manly. In the daytime it is a bit warm but not as hot as some people make it out to be.
We go in from Helipolis, to Cairo by electric trams which I might mention are pretty fast. They are, or these ones are like railway cars, being as long, & wide but do not carry so many people. They are divided into four, one end first class, that is divided for women, the other end is also divided for women, & men second class, and in the middle, is an open space, no seats, you have to stand this space holds about thirty people. All the time the trams are clanging their bells, as if we had never seen one before. All the troops travel half price everywhere; the city is crowded every night, business starts about seven, or half past, everything seems to be dead until then. We have all been issued with short trousers (sailing) which come to the knees, also little shirts, made of silk, and brown helmets. Real sojers now. Think nothing of taking a taxi (for 2 piastre) 5d and to get our boots cleaned for ½ a piastre (about a farthing) a good shine too.