Time to catch up on Egypt I think even though it seems like a dream now even though it was only 9 days ago! (written when I was in the UK and then lost memory stick)
It was very hard to work on that Thursday – who could concentrate when you were going to be going to Cairo! Off to the airport in 2 kombis, ours went via the back routes to avoid Gilooly’s but we all arrived at the same time. The others had a very interesting driver – he had umpteen wives – one of which was a deflowered nun!
Luckily there were no long queues at the airport so we were very quick through to the other side – apart from Buti – he had too many creams and lotions and potions in his hand luggage so they made him go back and check it in.
Over to our normal spot in the News Café – not the greatest place and the service is AWFUL but there really isn’t much choice, and then we all drifted around doing our final bits of shopping until we boarded the plane. Luckily it was not completely full so Brenda and I had 4 seats between the two of us so were able to get some sleep.
Day 1 : Friday 30th April 2008-06-12
Arrived in Cairo and there was a chap waiting to escort us through immigration and out through the airport – he wasn’t very good as he lost half of us along the way but we all ended up at the right place in the end. Then we met our guide Hashim who escorted us onto the bus, loaded the baggage through the window and then off we ventured into Egyptian traffic. No traffic lights and no lines on the road but because they are not aggressive and give way to each other there are very few accidents. Sounded like Louis Botha – beep beeping all the time from everyone.
We arrived at the Hilton Ramses which unfortunately we could not check into immediately so we sat in the foyer for a while and then went to have breakfast in the Terrace dining room – most amazing chef who could flip omlettes and eggs in a most spectacular fashion!
Then still had time to waste so off we went for a walk along the Nile – necessitated crossing some roads – a frightening task that required nerves of steel and must have given Hashim some worrying moments about his little flock! Then we walked up the road – could not believe where we were!
The buildings in Egypt are quite unique – mostly unpainted and incomplete – apparently if they are complete and painted then they have to pay tax so…. a city full of unfinished buildings (predominantly cement square frames and brick fill).
Hashim was able to get rooms for us at 10:30 and due to people arriving back in the foyer LATE we no longer had time to go to the Mosque and Citadel (due to it being Friday things closed earlier than usual) so all plans changed and we were off to Siddara and Memphis (no Elvis only Ramses II!).
Siddara is one of the oldest pyramids – a step pyramid with a well excavated surrounding, must have been fantastic when it was complete. Very hot and the sand is quite rocky and whitish.
As you can see from my rosy cheeks – it was hot and look at the sandy shoes – originally brown.
The cobras are for security – always shown on the headdresses of the Pharaohs so that they could strike and kill any enemies.
From Siddara one could look across and see the Giza pyramids in the distance, really magical and we saw our first camel.
What was also remarkable was the sudden transition from the date palms to the desert – just a complete cutoff from one to the other.
The we were on the way to Memphis, via a small village which specialised in carpets. Aha, time for me to suss out camel blankets! First of all we watched young girls knot the rugs (I had a go and didn’t do too badly!) and then looked at large looms – beautiful complicated pictures being woven) then upstairs for s complimentary glass of hibiscus tea and we all had to sit and listen to the sales spiel with beautiful silk carpets flashing before our eyes. There was a glorious large silken carpet – only $75 000!
Then it my time for the camel blankets – asking price 3000 EP – I offered 500 – came down to 2000 – still too much so no sale!
Off to Memphis which had an enormous statue of Ramses II, a smaller one, some lionesses and other statues. How on earth did they carve such large perfect statues!
We were all starting to flag a bit by then and so back to the bus and off to lunch – a lovely outdoor restaurant called Andrea’s – beautiful fluffy pitas that we saw being cooked in an outside oven and lots of lovely hummus, tahina and great roasted chicken – also seen on spits outside. Our guide (name) sat with us but did not eat – she has patches on her head – supposed to help her diet a la acupuncture! She is incredibly knowledgeable about Eygptian history.
(And I’m off to the hospital restaurant – tomato soup, roll and an apple – the Executive Athlete team should be proud of me!) Thankfully my debit card allowed me to draw money – was in rather a twizz about it as my credit card was declined at Avis at the airport and I would have been stuck – had to borrow £10 from Dorothy over the road this morning to buy milk!
After lunch – off to a Papyrus factory … a demo of how it was made and then of course the sales talk starts… and of course I fell for it – but only at 200 EP less than they first asked! Will look lovely above our bed.
Back to the hotel for a quick shower and change and Brenda and I went for a quick walk along the bridge – there was a film shoot and we sot involved so some Eygptian TV show will have us strolling along!
Lovely – no crime and no bothersome people – in fact the opposite – all very friendly and welcoming.
Then back to the hotel and up to the 36th floor which has a restaurant with fabulous views of the city.
Then at 6.30 - off to the Sound & Light show at the Pyramids – heralded in by an Eygptian band playing….. bagpipes!
Absolutely magical!
And still not time for bed – off to dinner sailing the Nile in a felucca!
And then it was the end of Day 1 – Wow! We dropped like stones when we finally got to bed – and had an early start planned for the next day!
Day 2 – Alexandria
Up early for a quick breakfast – next casualty – Abraham has a funny tummy – oops! Sonia had been the first and so she now had all the medication as well as Geraldine so we dosed him up and off we went – 200 odd kms off to Alexandria.
Its quite developed along the road – first a techno park and then farming estates – need a lot of money to do that because it takes a lot of time and water before the desert becomes established. Lots of dovecotes and an arab stud – very interesting.
And now I'll have to scratch my brain for the rest of it!
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