Egypt, the pyramids, sphynx and start of the hols.

So. it was off to Egypt to see the sights. Flew out of Edinburgh to London where we met up with William and Sandra and where Gordon and Sandra eventually told Mrs. B. that they were going with us as well

Flew out two hours late with Egyptair, no drink on the plane, but we had made up a little with three hours in the lounge in London!!
Landed at Cairo and it took the plane 20 minutes to taxi in to the terminal building, then we had health checks, immigration, and had our first run in with the locals looking for tips.

met our local rep and headed for the hotel by mini bus. Journey to the Sofitel Sphinx was 40 km and took nearly an hour through a city with a population of 18 million which swells daily to 21 million. En route - now 1 a.m. our rep was trying hard to sell us various trips - so into bed, thirsty as there was not even bottled water in the rooms, at 2 a.m.

Up again at 8 a.m. and picked up at 9 a.m. - then we discovered that the pyramids were within walking distance from the hotel, and we could have done it all ourselves. BUT the local guide - Alvira was excellent and made the morning very interesting.

First stop was the Great pyramid of Giza, then up onto the plateau for a view of the adjoining two before heading on to see the Sphinx - all within the one massive complex.

Short of time at the moment so a bit rushed.

Out of the complex, which is very well organised, and has to be considering the thousands of folks who visit every day making tourism the third highest income for the country.

We had cut our day out short but the Company still managed to get us into a papyrus centre to see how it was made and then to try and sell us their wares. They made out that the work was all original and produced by the students at Cairo Art College - what a load of rot , we saw so many of these so called centres and there was papyrus paperwork all over the place, and off course you then had to start the haggling. BUT that is another story.

Heading off with Sparky now to RA Esk 42 at Dalkeith.