Here we are in Egypt. I have been looking forward to this part of the world for a while. The team is on a high now, after a tremendous journey in the kingdom. I feel full of energy, ready for some more experiences in Africa… On a ferry boat after boarding the bikes on, it was a quick and soft ride across the red sea before reaching Egypt by night.
I have to say it was a real workout to get the bikes cleared, going through a rollercoaster of dramas and paperwork issues. So, be prepared to spend at the very least 4 hours there before heading off in town. I can definitely feel the climate difference, much more cool and a nice fresh breath. Our first main city Cairo and its famous pyramids was the highlight on this journey. This city is just huge, over 22 million people, traffic is chaotic and lots of pollution. But, the Nile and the old part of town are a must to see.
Egypt attracts millions of tourists every year, so expect to be surrounded by many wherever you are travelling. It was also disappointing to see the level of trash on the touristic sites. I found it difficult to spend quality time in any sites we visited as it was just too crowded to the point you want to escape. I met with a few locals and before I knew it, I found myself on the cruising at night on a speedboat of the Nile…
I am now concentrating more on our hospital visit in Cairo as it was involving young children very ill. No matter how strong one can be, those moments are difficult, very. That hospital visit was more stop for us to try and make those kids smile for an instant. Try and get their pain away for a short time for better comfort, or given them time to play with them…
Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast offers some aspects of the beach front city. Again, I did not find much there typical as status, monuments or other landmarks that would be specific from the Egyptian culture. The team has been travelling for over 9 weeks now, the group is strong and looking forward to push on in Africa.
