Tuesday
It’s a case of letting the big wait begin, but that was 3 and a half hours ago.We checked out of our hotel room at 12noon and Jess and I went to hang out at in the hotel lobby while the boys caught an Uber to the pyramids. I read my book and then did some work. The day does go by quite quickly when I have a lot of work. I got a whole bunch of emails which helped to pass the time. At 3pm the guys arrived home with their stories of the pyramids which were still there. There were not too many tourists and they weren’t pestered too much by vendors. They said they walked for miles, including all the way down to the sphinx. Mike and David tried to get another more accurate photo in front of the sphinx and pyramid but I don’t think it really made a difference. It was fun for them though thinking of Mike’s Dad being there 70 years ago.
And now we are just sitting waiting. This is our view…
We are waiting firstly for 5pm when we will go to the dining area for an early dinner. Then at 7pm, our airport transfer arrives and we will spend an hour trekking to Cairo airport. After we get there, we will check in and spend until 11pm waiting for our plane to take off. Overnight, I hope to get a little sleep while waiting to land. As soon as we land in Johannesburg, we have to hot foot through passport control, then get our luggage as fast as possible, get through customs and then bolt across to the domestic terminal. Then we will be on our way home.
There is ridiculous conversation going on around me. The family is now having cappuccino.
We have stayed at the Oasis Hotel, Alexandria Desert Rd Cairo. We stayed here two nights at the start of the tour and 3 nights at the end. I have to admit that it has been fine. We heard it was 4* and that in Egyptian terms is probably 3* or less in South Africa, but I think it’s been better than expected. It’s clean. The people are helpful and attentive. The shower is hot and the water pressure brilliant. The beds are comfortable. The gardens are lovely. It is true the resort is sprawling and when you first arrive, finding your room is a challenge, but you soon find your way around. The prices of food and drinks here is not too high and we don’t feel ripped off. It has free internet around the pool which is sufficient. You can buy extra if you need at Egyptian Pound 65 per day. I’m using that now and it’s fast and reliable and can be used anywhere in the resort. As far as position goes, it’s not far from the pyramids – the Uber cost EP50 to the pyramids and EP22 back, so it’s pretty close. The price of petrol here is really cheap (half of South Africa). There are no reasonable shops in walking distance and walking outside is rough, so taxis and Ubers are the best way to get around from here. If I were to return I wouldn’t have an issue with staying here again. We used Expat Explore but I think if we came here again, I would do our own thing and not use a tour operator. Expat Explore are great but once we’ve been to a place, we prefer the flexibility of doing our own thing.
And so our tour comes to an end. God willing, next blog from Cape Town! Now it’s time to stretch my legs and go for a little garden walk.
Psalm 71:23
My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to You; my soul also which You have redeemed.
These are the days!
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
Gym:
Not too many steps yet but I guess we’ll do more now and then at the airport later.
Braces:
1 year and 55 days.