Egypt

ExploringRTW

Active member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Oct 3, 2005
Messages
214
Reaction score
1
Location
Kent & Berkshire
26th November - Egypt.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568135.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The plane to Cairo left at around 04:45 in the morning so we had to get up at 2 to get our taxi as we were about 45 mins away from the airport. Chris, the owner of Jungle Junction, actually got up (in his underpants) to see us off ! ..which was very nice. I found it hard to leave as we had made so many new friends there and I really had enjoyed meeting so many other over landers. The closest thing I’d come to a settled environment for a while. That said, once we were at the airport, I was back in travel mode again and John and I were looking forward to our next adventures…albeit sadly without the bikes this time.

It was a strange experience a the airport as nearly everything was closed and quite depressing, however we found one of Nairobis better coffee shop chain called Java and sat down to enjoy a brew before boarding.

Relations between Egypt and Kenya must be a bit thorny because after going through the normal security checks at the Kenyan side of boarding the plane we, and all the other passengers, were stopped just meters before entering the plane, (in the tunnel) to do another security check with some Egyptians, presumably from the airline as we were flying Air Egypt. Once aboard everything was pretty normal and soon we were in Cairo.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568144.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Welcome to Egypt.

The airport at Cairo was very relaxed and it was a nice “greeting” back to Egypt (John and I having been there 3 years ago for a weeks cheapie). The only small surprise we got was the request for proof of our Yellow fever vaccinations which we both had. Shortly after aquiring our visas we were approached by a very friendly chap offering tourist advice-he presented himself as if working for the Egyptian government, so, despite being very tired with our 2 hours sleep, we agreed to go to his office…where we discussed many of the things we may like to see in Egypt. After agreeing in principal a basic itinerary, his boss came in and basically threw his suggestions to one side and took over. He came up with a package which was quite expensive, and not really what John and I had planned for, so we said we’d think about it, whereupon he became quite insistent we sign up then…whereupon we became quite disenchanted and only agreed to a visit to the Giza pyramids in Cairo itself. Despite some more pressure tactics we held our ground and finally left getting a taxi to our pre-arranged Hotel.

The Hotel was fine but on our return back on our first night we became locked in our room !! We explained to reception on the telephone who tried to explain to us how to open the door (Doh !!) About 5 mins later, the Hotel handyman came and after a further 10 or so mins managed to get the door open. He then tried to demonstrate the operation of the door lock and, yes, you’ve guessed it, locked us back in…this time with him with us !!!Oh, how we laughed !!Fresh as we were from our flight. Finally we were unlocked again but we insisted on a different room in case there was a fire etc. The manager was very accommodating and soon we were in a different room.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566142.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The view from our Hotel by night.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566375.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

the view from our Hotel by Day....ironic advertisment considering the smog !

The following day our driver/guide was sent to collect us, she was to be our taster for the companies services. Mona arrived 20 mins late due to Cairo traffic (no surprise there !!). She was very nice, energetic and good company for us as she drove us to a Papyrus shop where a representative from her company was waiting to stalk us for more trips. Hoda, the stalker, was a full on tourist representative and smoked cigarettes like she was trying to save others from having to smoke them !! She was very insistent that we needed to try more of her companies services but we told her that we could secure cheaper and better services through the internet. After about 45 mins of discussion she had John and I considering a 5 star cruise up the Nile. However, the seasoned travellers we had become, we weren’t about to be sucked into anything we hadn’t considered before,……. so we booked the next day !!

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566144.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

One of many fires you can see by the side of the road/river all over.

Mona then took us off to our trip to see the Pyramids at Giza-these are the three big ones you see in all the photos of Cairo. We however had decided that we wanted to visit them by horse so we were taken to a “trustworthy” horse guide stable. After negotiating 50% off the price and getting the longest trip possible we were taken to our horses, and helped up into the saddle. Initially we were led by rope, me by another rider, and John by a guy walking in front of him. I wasn’t happy with the “Donkey” ride and asked if I could ride without the lead rope. “Is that what you want ?” came the reply-”Yes please”. About three instructions and 15 seconds later my rope had gone and I was free to charter the foothills of the pyramids…well, not quite. John also wanted to join in but his horse was considered too temperamental to be riden by an inexperienced rider so his was swapped with our guides. That done, we trotted on….but I still wasn’t happy as I did actually want to ride it properly….so I asked if we could ride fast. He asked if that’s what I wanted and agreed it could be done later. We visited the pyramids and the Sphinx-I took a huge amount of photos detailing the suns second-by-second movement as it passed over this and that artefact…….which as ever, pleased John as I filled up the laptops precious and ever dwindling memory supply.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566129.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The Pyramids at Giza

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566132.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566134.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Not quite so pretty close-up !!

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566136.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566155.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566138.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The Lone Ranger and Tonto or is it Indiana's Clones ?

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566140.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

A view of the desert surrouning Giza.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566156.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The Sphinx

Finally we left the tourist areas and headed back towards the stables. I reminded the guide again that I wanted to ride fast and after a few more minutes I got my first but brief canter with my camera bouncing all over the place-it was a bit of a shock initially but also quite exhilarating. Soon we came to a stop and waited for John. John didn’t share my appetite for bouncing around on a bike with 4 legs. Next the guide and I were faced with an uphill section-I was told to let my horse run as fast as it could as the hill and sand would act as a mediator for the horses speed. Then we were on the flat again and I started to go quickly, soon I found some rhythym to the bouncing up and down and started to enjoy it-I hadn’t felt this exhilarated for quite a few years. We came to a stop again and John and his man caught us up. The final canter in the sand was again on the flat and I was warned that as the horse was now warmed up that he was really going to want to stretch his legs and I would need to reign him in very tightly. I didn’t ever fully appreciate the word tightly until we were off-I think this horse was called Huyabusa as we streaked across the sand at what seemed to be about 40mph, or there abouts. I loved it, I mean I really loved it. My ride completely overshadowed seeing the pyramids, and I expressed my gratitude in words and tip when we returned to the stables. Fantastic !!

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566377.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

An example of traffic in Cairo-not a city for the impatient or lovers of their cars smooth lines !

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566379.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Another example of traffic in Cairo !!!... :eek:

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566380.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Some friendly locals :D :thumb

As part of Hoda’s itinerary for us Mona collected us and whisked us off to the Egyptian museum and a whole host of other museums and monuments around Cairo. We repeated this whirlwind of viewing experiences the following day too and took in the oldest and largest Muslim temples in Cairo, a Christian Coptic Museum, the original pyramid in Cairo and a finally an Egyptian Bazaar which was pretty much as you would expect.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566151.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

One of many artifacts to be found in Cairo-this one was near the first known pyramid and features a minature of The Sphinx which you view through a hole in a rock.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566154.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The first know pyramid to embrace the techniques used for the later and known ones, such as at Giza.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566376.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

An example of militarty head gear displayed in the Military museum.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566381.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

!!!????!!!!! :blast

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566384.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Views from in and around Cairos oldest Mosque

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566382.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566385.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566386.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566387.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Views of Cairo itself.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566389.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566390.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

A tank manufactured by the British at the Military museum..I kept looking out for Corporal Jones !!!

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239566391.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

A very grand pulpit seen in a Coptic Church.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567596.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

One of a number of mosaics displaying Christian history outside the Coptic Church.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567602.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

A variety of different tombs for the Coptic Christains from the very poor to the more wealthy.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567594.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567591.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567603.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Graves of English servicemen who died during World ar II

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567599.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The begining of our walk through the Bazzar...wasn't too bad in the end.

Finally Mona took us, exhausted, to the train station where we were booked on an overnight train to Aswan, from where we were to catch our 5 star Nile cruise. Our room on the train was much cleaner and efficient (all the switched worked!) that the train we’d taken in Kenya but lacked a lot of character-There was no dining car with men in whites serving you your dinner. Instead you were served an air-craft style meal in your compartment. John and I decided to watch a video on the laptop and got settled down to Peter Sellers and one of the Pink Panther movies when,, 40 mins later,…the battery came to a need for re-charging. Disgruntled and un-entertained we concluded that it was bed-time and went off to our respective bunks. Neither of us slept that well. Breakfast was not memorable and we soon arrived at Aswan.

We were met by our guide and taken to our Hotel where we were given an hour to freshen up before discussing the continuation of the “Hoda” itinerary. That afternoon we got to visit the Agape temple by boat and one other. As on the next day we had a very early start for a planned visit to Abu Simbel and so we were off to bed early.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567929.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Seen in Aswan-It was probably carrying water.

At about 2:30 we were up again and fed some coffee and given a packed breakfast for our journey. As we “tried” to leave our coffee server stood in front of me with his hand out pretty well demanding a tip-I refused as he’d done nothing special- he then rubbed his fore-finger and thumb together to indicate more urgently that he wanted a tip. I looked him straight in the eye and said no, walked around him and got into our mini-bus. This is one of the most niggling problems of Cairo in particular, and in smaller doses, Egypt in general.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567928.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Abu Simbel...yes, the two temples there were cut piece by piece and moved to another site so that their original foundation points could be flooded to facilitate a new dam.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567935.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567938.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Gives a better idea of scale and perspective.

There were a whole group of buses and minibuses waiting to go in a convoy to Abu Simbel. When we did finally leave it was chaos and reminded me of our wacky races experiences from Guatemala.(see our entry on this site for further details.) Abu Simbel is impressive-the whole temple/tomb had been taken down and moved piece by piece to its current site, and as I say, it was impressive. We were then taken back to Aswan and our five star cruise. We were met by our guide Samdi who was to accompany us on the cruise and associated tours. But before we boarded the ship we were taken to some botanical gardens by Faluker(an traditional Egyptian sailing vessel). The gardens were established by a British chap who'd collected different species from all around the world. To be honest, it was pretty unimpressive to us.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567950.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The Nobels tombs seen from our Faluker

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239567953.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

A Faluker

We were teamed up for our cruise with a lone Australian immigrant from the UK, Anne, who we travelled with for the next three days. We saw the temple at Luxor, the valley of the Nobles, the valley of the kings and Queens and heard more about Egyptian mythology and Pharoes than is healthy for any one sane person to take in in just 3 days.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568137.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Our Five star cruise, very nice but not really 5 star.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568155.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

...however the artwork of our room man was better suited to a 5 star rating

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568330.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

This one made John jump as neither of us had seen it when we walked in.

On our final morning we took a baloon ride over the valley of the kings and queens which was the highlight of our cruise. Finally we saw our last tomb/temple etc and, jibbering, we were offered the opportunity of keeping the same mini-bus we’d been carted around in, to take us to Hugharda where we planned to do some diving, and had reserved a room in the Hilton there. The journey was long and after a few false starts we found our Hilton-there were actually three in the area.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239570422.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

One of the many tombs we saw - this is still painted as it was originally. i.e. no restoration.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239570421.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239570413.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239570419.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

A few of the many scenes we saw all over Egypt.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569700.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569667.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

A few more of the many scenes we saw all over Egypt.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239570418.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569697.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The Baloon Ride

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568334.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Ignition.......

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568336.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Thruster test.....

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568348.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Lift-off !!

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568349.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568342.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568338.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Just before sun-rise

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568331.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Sun-rise !!! :cool: :D :cool:

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568344.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568345.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

A few shots giving some perspective to our flight

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568332.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568346.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568347.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568340.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569661.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

All good things must come to an end....and this was the smoothest end you could hope for !!

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568339.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

One of our welcoming commitee !!

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239570414.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

This building was in the area of the Tombs of the nobles and the wall line was built to look like water.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569685.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Also part of the tombs of the Nobles.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569684.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Note how the original colours have survived !

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239568156.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

The outlook from the Temple of Queen Hatch-epsut, the only female pharaoh to rule Egypt.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569695.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

An Obelisk...in Luxor if I remember correctly.

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569692.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

This building had been built on foundations of an old Mosque with out it being realised !

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569687.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

John, Anne & I just before leaving for Hurghada

<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239569686.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

Hamdi, our guide. knew more about Egypt's history than I think is healthy for any one person to know about anything !!


<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/15737427/239570415.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">

We had to travel in covoy to Hurghada and had to wait until 6 o'clock for the start. The start of this convoy, like the convoy to Abu Simbel as well, resembled something from Wacky Races.



After some initial investigations I found that the dive school at the Hilton was prohibitively expensive, and after a bizarre but helpful experience with a local cab driver, I came across a PADI certificated dive school where we could dive for about a third of the price of the Hilton so we gave them a try.

It cost us £22 for being collected from our Hotel, a boat for the day, unlimited tea/coffee and soft drinks, lunch, full scuba gear hire and air, and Dive Master for a whole day which included 2 dives. The dives were fine and so was dinner. I dived on two separate days and John on three-I couldn’t make the last as I had picked up an ear infection which had become far too painful to enjoy my fourth and final dive the previous day.

An unexpected surprise was an e-mail from Sylvia, who’d I’d met in Jungle Junction in Kenya who advised me she was passing through Hurghada and “would I like to meet up?”. I did and so we spent some nice time together. John enjoyed his two more dives….and spent the next week reminding me of his additional experience and benefits resulting from his overall additional one dive he’d done over my total. !!

We left Hurgahda and went to Sharm el Sheik with the express intention of diving on a World War II British supply-ship wreck, the Thistlegorm. It has a variety of Royal Enfield motorcycles and Bedford trucks. When we got there our experience proved to require an additional dive to see that we were suitable candidates to be taken out…yes, even with Johns additional dive, it wasn’t enough. Dive prices in Sharm were high and we were getting discouraged. We finally let go of the prospect of diving on the Thistlegorm as we just didn’t want to cram in another dive that day, and found ourselves a cheaper diving company who we booked up with to dive at Ras Mohammed, a well known dive spot.

This turned out to be a good move-we were given one Assistant Instructor with 1500 dives under his belt who gave us both some very helpful advice. Ultimately he said that we were both good divers, just lacking in experience. We beamed and that concluded our diving in Egypt.

We took a car from Hoda back to Cairo as we couldn’t face the faff of getting on and off coaches. We returned to a 3 star Hotel advised by Hoda to be of 5 star quality. It was ok but no more, and in the wrong end of town. We know she meant well but after the Hiltons, this was only just acceptable.

To complete our stay in Cairo we decided to take an evening out on the Nile for to see a Belly Dancer. The evening started off disastrously as the support band were atrocious and drove most of the people on the lower deck of the boat to the upper. However when the Belly dancer came on she was entertaining, and the act that followed her, an amazing male dancer supported by a dwarf, yes, a dwarf was incredible and saved the whole evening. We had a good time in the end and it fitted as a suitable end to our time in Egypt.

The following morning we packed and got our last “Hoda” car to the airport. We flew with Austrian Airways and it was a pleasure. Nice attendants, plenty of leg room and a relaxed flight back to the UK via Vienna. We were met in the UK by an old friend, Habib, who was the last person to see us when we set off in July 2005. How appropriate.

Mike
 


Back
Top Bottom