Day 3

Well, I suppose this is the real start - met up with the group today. Grand total (excluding the two leaders) of six of us, four Brits and two Aussies (four m and two f). Seem a really good crowd - how they will put up with me a generation and more ahead of them remains to be seen. Three of us are doing the whole trip to Cape Town. There are lots more joining us when we get to Ethiopia.

This afternoon was spent with our local guide in the Egyptian Museum in the heart of Cairo - there is just so much to see that none of us were able to take it all in (particularly as there were goodness knows how many other guides giving their own tours in a variety of different languages). Of course, the highlight is everything from King Tut's tomb - yes, I saw the exhibition when it came to London some forty years ago and again 17 years ago here, but you have to be a real philistine not to be overawed by it all. Not just the mask (of course) - to me, it is just beautiful, not pretty or good looking, just beautiful. But even the little things like the beading on some of his sandals and the stitching on his underwear.

Sonya (our guide) told us that whereas previously, before the revolution against Mbarek, she worked perhaps 4-5 days a week, our group was the first work she has had since June, such as been the downturn in levels of tourism.

There is a STRICT STRICT STRICT no photos policy inside the museum (and they check your bags as you come out as well as going in presumably in case you might have nicked a statue or two) so just photos of the outside (totally non Egyptian, designed by a Frenchman in the Greek style) - the pond in front is filled with lilies and papyrus to symbolise the Lower and Upper Egypt of antiquity.