Rik: Egypt

Our first day was not the best but probably not the most unusual day for Egyptian standards. First we said goodbye to our parents and Jantine, and set of to Paris and from there to Cairo. Only when we're at the gate and took the bus to the airplane it made a nice loop back to the gate. This because the airport had a malfunction. So after a delay of a hour we could finally leave. I sent a email to the company to let know that we wouldn't make it in time for the taxi. And just as you would know, there was of course no taxi. So after calling the hotel and a bit of waiting we arrived at the hotel. I was already a bit prepared for an hectic drive through Cairo towards our hotel, with knowing how driving in Delhi is done. Lotte was a bit scared of the driving a la Egypt, and was happy to be in the hotel. I knew how she felt because that was the same reaction I had 6 years ago in Delhi.

After a good night sleep we woke up and were just in time for the breakfast. Just as we decided to go shopping we met part of the group in the lobby, after hours of talking we went with the newly met group towards the center of Cairo to have an late lunch or early dinner. The following day we met the rest of the group, so in total we have a group of 18. A few Aussies (Ben, Simon, Allen, Janis, Jane), a couple from the states (Corey and Jason), Brits (Stuart, Maddy, Matthew, Barbara), African (Nadia), Irish (Ryan), Hong Kong (Sarah) and the dutchies (Dutchy/Jeroen, Rinkse, Lotte and myself).

First stop for our group was Cairo here we visited a.o. the Giza pyramids and sphinx . And the Egyptian museum which has the impressive mask of Tutancamum.

Second stop after our days in Cairo was Alexandria. Once an important city which had one of the ancient world wonders the lighthouse of Alexandria. Nowadays there is a fort on the spot where the lighthouse used to be. The bibliotheca of Alexandria was not as amazing as some would say but the amphitheater was.
Alexandria is the second biggest city of Egypt, and that's probably true it is at least equally hectic. People are as in Cairo genuine and polite.

After a few days in the two biggest cities we went off to the port town of Port Said en Port Faud. The first is located in Africa and once you take the ferry to Port Faud you are in the Asian side of Egypt. The town is at the beginning of the sues canal but that's about it for sightseeing.

After Port Said we took our truck towards the south, towards st. Anthony monastery. It was a nice monastery but that was about it. Maybe this was because of the weather that was poring down on us. For hours it was raining so much that the road to the other monastery, where we were supposed to be spending the night, was closed. As it goes with overlanding sometimes things don't go the way you want it to go. So the road was closed but there was another way, unfortunately for us the monastery forgot that they were full and we were forced to go somewhere else. It was still poring and camping was the last option, the second to last option was to stay in a motel. Luckily they had a few spots left, in the rooms that were being renovated that is.

After this hectic night we left towards the beachside where we would spent the night. This ride would take us the whole day with the debris from last night scattered on the sides of the road. Bogged cars and trucks, cars and trucks moved meters at the road or flipped upside down.

The last days before uploading this we were in a resort which is way to luxurious for overlanding. It is nice if you have spend weeks camping but we didn't even do that yet so for me it was a bit to much. But hey it's overlanding you get to places where you normally wouldn't go to. Resorts are one of them ;-)

Whilst uploading this we are in Luxor for a few nights. Luxor is the greatest open air museum and city on the world. With many great sites among the valley of kings and queens and the temples of Karnak.

After spend two nights here we will go to Aswan and spend time there at the great sites this city has to offer. And last but not least we will go to Abu Simbel before we head of to Sudan.

Egypt was a well worth visit if you have an open mind and can see the beauty through the empty resorts and the rubbish in the cities and countryside. The food is a real treat with it's tasty falafels, koftas, hummus and kosharys.

We got a nice mixed group of retiries and the youngsters. All of different nationalities and travel experiences. This will be a great group for the 4/5 months to come.

We will give a update on Sudan in a few weeks.

Rik and Lotte