Well, just a quick update as we’ve had a few problems accessing the internet. Hopefully will be able to do a more detailed update with photos later on.
We had 9 great days in Egypt. Saw so many temples, tombs and statues which were just breathtaking, but must admit we got a bit templed out by the end of our time there. We had a 4 night cruise down the Nile which was really good – it’s as if time has stood still, there are so many scenes that could have come straight from biblical (and earlier!) times. Cairo was a huge contrast to the cruise – loud, busy and quite polluted, but the people were really welcoming and very nice. The only painful part is the hassle you get from vendors – and vendors are everywhere. If they are not selling something they are begging, but generally they will try to do something for you in return for money, even if this is just them offering to take a photo of you or showing you where something is, but they do expect payment. Everyone will ask you where you are from and when you say Australia, they all ask Melbourne or Sydney? I think these are the only 2 places they know of in Australia (either that or it’s only people from Melbourne or Sydney that visit Egypt).
The food was really good and we seemed to be eating all the time, must have been all the walking we did that gave us an appetite. However, as seems to happen to the majority of visitors to Egypt, the Mummie’s Curse visited us!
The rest of the tour group members were really nice, a mix of Canadian, American and Australian, and we were a small group of 14 which was great when visiting the temples etc. Our tour guide was great and full of really good stories. He is an Egyptologist and expremely passionate about his country and its history.
Photos now added.
