Egypt!

The first day of our tour proper we met with the other 5 members - now 7 kiwis and 6 Aussies - they are great and we have melded into one group. Our Tour leader is Ayman - lovely young man who is a bit shell shocked at having us to take care of.  We will try not to give him a hard time but any thing is possible.

Because of the revolution Tourist numbers are way down - good for us but a tragedy for the Egyptians who rely so heavily on tourism for income.  They are all very welcoming and we feel completely safe getting around apart from the crazy traffic where everyone risks life and limb including children and babies being dragged across the streets between cars and trucks and everyone tooting madly . We had our own security policeman who indicated it was like herding cats.  He was fully armed and never left us alone for a minute except when we all went in different directions.

First up was the obligatory visit to the pyramids and the sphinx - easy with so few tourists.  I didn’t go inside the chambers but some did and relished the experience.

We went early before the heat and after lunch Egyptian takeaway not McDonalds!  Visited the dusty Egyptian museum soaked in history - stupendous collection of antiquities.  All exhibits available including tutenkhamens mask, royal jewels beds, chairs, and furnishing all coated in gold, and after all these centuries still pristine.

Boxes and boxes stacked waiting to be packed/unpacked.

Museum is right near protest square and next to the building burnt out in the first few days.

Nobody has any sympathy for ex president and his wife and can't wait to see them in prison for years and believe their illnesses are just a ploy.

We visited the papyrus museum where we saw paper being made in the way of the pharoahs and some of us purchased a genuine piece.

Returned to hotel and caught the overnight sleeper to Luxor - double berths private cabins boxed dinner, toilets - no comment!  Clickety clack up and down ladders all night.

Breakfast 5am and boarded horse and cart to Karnak Temple.  One of the most celebrated temple complexes.  Early start meant no tourists and we’re glad to be out before the heat and hordes arrived.

Boarded our cruiser - the Nile Dolphin - for four days of luxury then left for dinner at local restaurant - some of us went by donkey - an hilarious experience not to be missed.  Our route took us through local villages and we saw life which has not changed for centuries and then visited the local bazaar  - more like bizarre!!  Harrased by the locals desperate for a sale their incomes decimated by the revolution.  Ann got an offer of marriage and/or baby,  Pat and Annie have bleeding hearts - Pat buying bags of junk as she takes on responsibility for all children and can’t say no - engages small dirty boy in conversation - did he go to school - yes he learns english and scottish.  Pat asked where are parents. He said Mumma at home and baba.  Finished explanation little face on closed hands  - reply \\\'all finish!

Lorraine has learnt to say la Shokran and has been admired for her fine arabic. Tricia and Bet march resolutely on. Bet tells them to bugger off and they understand!

Jan can't help examining every piece of fabric and they pounce. Egyptians are consummate flatterers any thing for a pound .

The balloon ride over the Nile Delta and the Valley of Kings and Queens was spectacular we looked down on fertile plains of patchwork, fields farmers working in the half light - the sunrise was gorgeous with desert on one side palm trees mountains and valleys on the other. Pats DVD from little man videoing us is missing from our boat and has gone to another somewhere on the nile. About 420 boats on the Nile but Pat confident.

Entering the Valley of Kings and Queens was amazing and going down into some of the tombs was a wonderful experience. 

We have visited a Nubian school and had a meal with a nubian family on the roof of their house - having sailed serenly for a couple of hours on a Feluca.  Gorgeous, silent exotic and beautiful relaxation.

Our last night on board was an egyptian night - we all dressed up and had a wonderful time dancing singing and doing the Macarena.  We didn't even have to borrow the bedsheets to look Egyptian.  Fun fun fun all the way.

More to come when we get this Egyptian technology sussed!!