I have two questions for you...

First, you said you both had looked all over for a place to buy falafel. So why did you think these men knew where one was close by? You don't say you verified exactly where they were going to go for you.

Which leads to the second question. Do either of you speak Egyptian Arabic? Perhaps the men could not understand you and were too proud to admit they couldn't or simply just misunderstood. When you trust someone to do something for you, you need to accept how they might do it different than you wanted. Otherwise, do it yourself.

I have to also say that you say some pretty bad things about these people yet then you defend trusting them? It sounds to me like you are judging them by your standards and worldview.

I currently live in a developing country (Kosovo) and some things are really hard to deal with sometimes. But I try to look outside myself and look at why it might be different than what I would prefer and think is "right". War (and the results of it which last for generations) and poverty will make any person not act their best in some situations, let alone just plain cultural differences. Add on to that the destruction to society that colonialism has caused and the anger that people have from the results.

It may not seem "fair" but white Western travelers need to travel in such countries with a large amount of understanding and humility. You personally may not have caused the problems that their country has, but you certainly have benefited by living in a country that has. And Canada is still no exception.

I feel your article would be much better if written from the idea that the cultural differences and problems you had were just more than you want to deal with, instead of repeatedly saying the people constantly scammed you and were the problem. There is nothing wrong with not enjoying a culture/place, but there is something wrong with insulting the people and how they live just because you don't like it.