29.12.2018 Larnaca to Cairo
H and I flew from Larnaca to Cairo and got a late evening taxi to Giza. All was confusion with the taxi as we thought we were going to the “Steigenberger Pyramid Hotel” but it is actually called the “Cairo Pyramid Hotel” and does not get its new name until the New Year. Assuming Steigenberger actually completes the purchase. I recommend they wait until they get it up to standard.
30.12.2018 Giza, Cairo
Happy Birthday Holly!
We got a driver from the hotel and drove to the Pyramids. Not surprisingly there is a lot of security following the recent bombings. First stop was a look inside the Great Pyramid which is a really strenuous climb that has to be made bent over.
While not planned, we ended up haggling for a couple of camels and loped around the Giza plateau pyramids and Sphinx for an hour or so then saw the Khufu Solar Ship museum. An irritating cultural thing is when camel drivers and others scoff at the size of tips they are offered. This is even when the tip is generous. We found the best way to deal with it is to carefully take back the tip, pretending to look for a bigger note, and then walk away rapidly.
I had a quick visit to the Pyramids 40 years ago while travelling to my first job in the Gulf of Suez. I only had the time for a quick camel ride and tipping then.
31.12.2018 Giza, Cairo
New Year’s Eve 2018/2019. H spent the morning doing her favorite blood-sport of baiting hotel managers.
I have added a link to “Dinner For One”. This is a 1963 comedy sketch in English that is well known to all Germans and is always played on New Year’s Eve. It stars British comedians, Freddie Flinton and May Warden. Oddly it is virtually unknown in the UK. It is always played on New Year’s Eve in Germany.
James: By the way, the same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: The same procedure as every year, James!
James: Well, I’ll do my very best!
The hotel offered a show for NYE at $100 per head. They had the usual dinner, belly-dancing and countdown to midnight. H got a possible offer of free tickets to shut her up complaining about the defects in the hotel, but we didn’t follow up on it as we had to be up very early to catch our flight out of Cairo. We just stayed in the room which was big but not quite as presidential as billed. As we had a good view of the pyramids we were hoping for some fireworks or lights or music or something. Unfortunately, midnight came and went without a peep, so we just had some fizzy and turned in. To be fair it was only New Year for a small number of western tourists. Chinese tourists and local Muslims and Coptic Christians all think the year ends on different days.
Just a few observations about Egypt as this is my fourth trip to the country. The built-up areas, and particularly the suburbs of Cairo, are about as unattractive as built-up areas get. On the drive between airport and pyramids there are mile after mile of homemade-looking tumbledown brick and concrete apartment blocks. Most looked unfinished and empty. I can imagine it looks even worse in the daylight. Egypt also has a slightly intimidating feel to it these days. There is a lot of, perhaps understandable, security here and papers are checked repeatedly, and bags are X-rayed until they glow. There are also many badged “officials” everywhere whose role in life seems to be to grab you by the elbow and introduce you to their father who will then introduce you to a cousin who will then do some unwanted service for an undisclosed fee. Maybe it’s just me.
01.01.2019 London
At 05:30 we were on the road to Cairo airport. Next stop London Heathrow. Rented a car. Collected Roland from Mark and Jenny’s and drove to London Gatwick and a hotel in the airport for the night. Not the best way to spend New Year’s Day but it was quiet on the roads.
Next stop; Florida.
