Lived up to advance billing...
-Baksheesh and more baksheesh
-Smooth operators out for a buck
-Egypt IS hot in July
Contradicted popular beliefs...
-We actually liked the food
-We actually liked the Egyptians
-We actually didn't buy perfume or papyrus
Ahhhhh Egypt in July - Just a small scheduling mis-calculation...
It all started off so well, snorkelling in the Red Sea, air conditioning, hours on end of Backgammon but that was all before we headed inland to Aswan and the temperatures skyrocketed to a balmy 47C in the shade....yikes!
After two months in the Mid-East, Dahab was an amazing reprieve to a resort atmosphere (on a shoestring budget, of course). Neil celebrated his 35th birthday here and Robin took control of the scissors and said goodbye to his 'blonde ambition' locks.
World-class snorkelling, sunbathing, overnight trip to Mt Sinai, photo of Robin and the burning bush, and a daily dose of thick chocolate shakes all made it difficult for us to move on...but we did, and my gawd the heat!!
After a brief stop-over in Hurgada (Egyptians and travellers alike consider it the most unpopular destination in Egypt), the hottest bus ride to-date, topped off by falling victim to a minor theft incident, we arrived in Aswan at 1am. Let the sweating begin...
We took in Aswan's two biggest selling points, a desert trip to Abu Simbel (amazing!) and a 2-day Felucca trip up the Nile en route to Luxor. Both were highlights, despite the constant sweating.
We put ourselves on the express program in Luxor and after hitting the key sites (7 all told), we found ourselves on an overnight train to Cairo 36 hours after arriving. Still sweating...
Some concerns regarding our onward tickets quickly got resolved in Cairo, and we found ourselves with more time than we needed, but not enough time to tackle the Western Desert. So, in a relaxed fashion we took in the Pyramids on camels, saw the first Step Pyramid of Zoser, came face to face with King Tut at the National Museum, and continued the Backgammon frenzy in every spare moment (and there were lots of 'em).
Enough with the sweating, next stop Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, (21C at last check, can't wait!).
