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Egypt, 2005
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Me and my friend Tobias went for a two week backpacker trip in Egypt. Many things happened and there were 'lot to se.
The journey included: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Hurghada, and more.

WHEN

Feb 17 to Mar 03, 2005 (15 days)

a

62 ENTRIES (chronological ordered)

 
 

Thursday February 17th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Hurghada

(travel diary) Arrival: Egypt

Category: Egypt, 2005
A first hello from a hot and blue-sky Egypt. Temperature is about 25 Celcius and wind is non-existent.

We are currently sitting in an internet cafe in the southern part of Ad-Dahar. We are waiting for a bus that will take us to Luxor. The bus trip will last about 5 hours.. we are prepared with lots of water. We will need it...

The flight went very well. We had prepared for lots of troubles on the Hurghada Airport, but it went very smooth. About 30 min after takedown we were out of the airport! After that we took a really worn taxi for about 30 pounds (Egyptian Pounds) to Ad-Dahar. After the taxi-ride we walked around trying to locate ourselves: looking for landmarks, street names etc. It was hard, even with "help" from city inhabitants.

We became really hungry after a couple hours and around 5pm we sat down in a little kebab restaurant.

After some food vi continued our mission. Shortly after, we met an egyptian (or rather: He met Us). He thought we should go to The Queen Hotel. 25 pounds he said for double-room. "Cheap" we thought and decided to at least check it up so we went there together with this egyptian. The room looked pretty good. But! When we should pre-pay for the room [not recommended] he wanted 75 pounds - he thought we must have heard wrong. We paid 5 pounds for the taxi and said good bye! He tried to trick us.

We then walked to the closest big road, about 100 metres away. By the road we recognized some of the hotels from our map. Yes! We booked a twin room at "4 Seasons Hotel" for the night. 65 pounds (for two). Pretty good. The standard was pretty good: balcony, shower, warm water and it was located very central. We got to sleep at about 7.30 pm.Wed planned to sleep one hour and then find some internet cafe to write in our travel diaries. But.. we were tired so we slept until the next day...
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Thursday February 17th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Hurghada

Walking in Ad-Dahar

Category: Egypt, 2005
Walking in Ad-Dahar - Picture from our walk in Ad-Dahar which was a much bigger "village"[...]
Picture from our walk in Ad-Dahar which was a much bigger "village" than we had thought.

As you can see there are lots of unfinished buildings. A common sight here in Ad-Dahar.
Tags » roads, sunsets, Tobias
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Thursday February 17th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Hurghada

Four Seasons Hotel

Category: Egypt, 2005
Four Seasons Hotel - This is how our first hotel looked like. We only slept here for one night[...]
This is how our first hotel looked like. We only slept here for one night before we left for Luxor.

Of all cheap hotels we stayed at in Egypt, we got the best breakfast here. Besides the normalm bread, butter and marmalade we also got omelette!
Tags » accomodation
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Friday February 18th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Hurghada

(travel diary) From Ad-Dahar to Luxor

Category: Egypt, 2005
Started the day by just walking around the area, checked some shops, shopped some water, met an egyptian named Jimmy. Then we took a microbus to the bus station for the Northern Egypt Travel Company.. Now, we are sitting about 500 metres from the station in an internet cafe waiting for the bus to go. 45 minutes left. Hopefully it will not be too full.
Hope to write soon.

Update: The following text is written later the same day

Hello again,
When we came to the bus station they said we had missed the bus by 10 minutes. Even though we as at the train station in time. I guess the bus quickly got full. A bit frustrating. We asked around a bit and another bus should leave a couple of hours later. So.. we walked to a nearby cafe. In the cafe we found a pool table. Jackpot! I played 3 games 8-ball against the egyptian owner of the cafe. The egyptian won 2 of 3 games, but it was really fun.

At 2.30pm we where back at the bus station but then they told us that there where no buses any more this day to Luxor. This was bad news. We talked to a couple from Belgium and we where thinking about (together with them) to take an offer we had got from an egyptian: to go in his "special" taxi in a convoy at 5pm.
We didn't take that offer. Instead we took a minibuss to Quena (followed by taxi from Quena to Luxor). Tobias and I had to sit in the middle of the minibuss. Lots of egyptians around us. We had to hide from the police because egyptian people is not allowed to drive tourists between Quena/Luxor - Hurghada. It was a real experience sitting in that minibus and taxi. There are road signs but they are not followed at all. Cars honks all the time.. Almost constantly.

When we arrived to Luxor we finally checked in at Many Palace Hotel. 100 pounds (double room). We took their last(?) corner room with a very nice view of the Nile.
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Friday February 18th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > On the mini bus (Hurghada till Qena)

Desert paus

Category: Egypt, 2005
Desert paus - Photo from our roadtrip in a microbus between Hurghada and Quena (and then[...]
Photo from our roadtrip in a microbus between Hurghada and Quena (and then to Luxor). When this picture is taken we are in the middle of the 4 to 5 hours long "desert rally".

This was the only place where you could buy something to eat. In the middle of the desert.
Tags » desert, panorama, Tobias
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Friday February 18th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Hurghada

Billiards in Hurghada

Category: Egypt, 2005
Billiards in Hurghada - Hurghada, Egypt. While waiting for a bus to Luxor Tobias and I visits a[...]
Hurghada, Egypt.
While waiting for a bus to Luxor Tobias and I visits a cafe which luckily got a billiards table inside. The match was even, but he won with two to one in games.

Photo by TobiasNew window
Tags » Fredrik, pool
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Saturday February 19th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Luxor

(travel diary) Luxor: Hatshepsut Temple, Valley of the Kings and more!

Category: Egypt, 2005
Short summary of the day:

In the morning we visited the Luxor temple. Then we took the boat to the west side of Luxor. There, we arranged a taxi that drove us to different places. Vi visited the Valley of The Kings, the Hatshepsut temple and Ramses III's temple.

It's hard to choose, but I have to say that the Hatshepsut was my favourite. A big staircase leeds up to the temple, a temple that is partly built into the mountain. And the view is magnificent!

Tomorrow we will take the train to Aswan.
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Saturday February 19th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Luxor

Silent Luxor night

Category: Egypt, 2005
Silent Luxor night - From the first night in Luxor. We are taking a late walk. Many cars are[...]
From the first night in Luxor.
We are taking a late walk.
Many cars are dressed in '"pyjamas"' to protect them from dirt and desert-dust.
Tags » night
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Saturday February 19th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Luxor

Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor

Category: Egypt, 2005
Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor - Me and Tobbe at Luxor Temple. Photographed by an "egyptian hustler"[...]
Me and Tobbe at Luxor Temple. Photographed by an "egyptian hustler" at the Avenue of Sphinxes.
Tags » Fredrik, sphinx, Tobias
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Saturday February 19th, 2005

Africa > Egypt > Luxor

Tomb Entrance

Category: Egypt, 2005
Tomb Entrance - Valley of the Kings. Entrance to one of the tombs.
Valley of the Kings. Entrance to one of the tombs.
Tags » tomb, Valley of the Kings
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