Egypt 1 - edited with photos
Feb 26, 2009 12:28:45 GMT
Post by bazfaz on Feb 26, 2009 12:28:45 GMT
(Egypt Trip Report 1 – Jan 23)
Falafel stall at Hurghada
Red Sea at Hurghada
Spice stall at hurghada, where Spindrift's hibiscus flowere were bough after much hard bargaining ("Your husband is a hard man")
Everybody says that Hurghada is the pits and everybody is right. However that is where our cheap flight flew into and we spent a couple of nights, getting used to Egyptian ways once more. Our confirmed reservation at our hotel was not; however we were upgraded to the hotel next door, much better and at no extra cost.
We wanted to go to Assyut and onlyMark will be interested to know that Upper Egypt bus Company does have a daily bus to Assyut. However it leaves at midnight and takes 7 hours. There are two schools of thought: that an overnight bus saves you the cost of a hotel room; or that an overnight bus loses you a night's sleep. I believe in the latter. So we then began the lengthy journey during the day. First a bus to Qena; then the train to Assyut. The train was three and a half hours late in arriving (this is on the route to Cairo) and it was 3rd class. However being foreigners we were shown to the police and ticket inspectors' area of the train so we got seats. At every stop it got more and more jammed. However sellers of chick peas and tea, pitta bread with salad and eggs struggled through the crowds and we ate. It was a tremendously interesting experience - but we feel we have done it now. At Assyut we were pounced on by the tourist police who took us to the hotel I had chosen; this was full. So our policeman took us to the next hotel which was too expensive. He then put us in a taxi to a third hotel where we were shown rooms so disgusting we refused to stay there. A new tourist policeman found us a taxi ad ferociously bargained the price down for us and we were taken to Assiutel, a swank place by the river. We were quoted some ridiculous dollar sum for a room. I picked up my backpack to leave (Mrs Faz wisely leaves bargaining to me) whereupon the manager said he would give us the Egyptian price. Just as well as it was now 1 am and we were whacked.
Yesterday's travel was relatively civilised as we stayed on a bus from Assyut to Dakhla, a 6 hour ride. Shame the seats are not built for someone my size. Dakhla is one of the western oases, a great place. Everyone is friendly. Our hotel is fine though we have found a better one we'll move to after a bit of exploring the neighbouring villages. Since we left the bus at Qena we have only seen two Westerners, a Canadian couple here. It is good to be away from the hordes.
All for now, folks.
Falafel stall at Hurghada
Red Sea at Hurghada
Spice stall at hurghada, where Spindrift's hibiscus flowere were bough after much hard bargaining ("Your husband is a hard man")
Everybody says that Hurghada is the pits and everybody is right. However that is where our cheap flight flew into and we spent a couple of nights, getting used to Egyptian ways once more. Our confirmed reservation at our hotel was not; however we were upgraded to the hotel next door, much better and at no extra cost.
We wanted to go to Assyut and onlyMark will be interested to know that Upper Egypt bus Company does have a daily bus to Assyut. However it leaves at midnight and takes 7 hours. There are two schools of thought: that an overnight bus saves you the cost of a hotel room; or that an overnight bus loses you a night's sleep. I believe in the latter. So we then began the lengthy journey during the day. First a bus to Qena; then the train to Assyut. The train was three and a half hours late in arriving (this is on the route to Cairo) and it was 3rd class. However being foreigners we were shown to the police and ticket inspectors' area of the train so we got seats. At every stop it got more and more jammed. However sellers of chick peas and tea, pitta bread with salad and eggs struggled through the crowds and we ate. It was a tremendously interesting experience - but we feel we have done it now. At Assyut we were pounced on by the tourist police who took us to the hotel I had chosen; this was full. So our policeman took us to the next hotel which was too expensive. He then put us in a taxi to a third hotel where we were shown rooms so disgusting we refused to stay there. A new tourist policeman found us a taxi ad ferociously bargained the price down for us and we were taken to Assiutel, a swank place by the river. We were quoted some ridiculous dollar sum for a room. I picked up my backpack to leave (Mrs Faz wisely leaves bargaining to me) whereupon the manager said he would give us the Egyptian price. Just as well as it was now 1 am and we were whacked.
Yesterday's travel was relatively civilised as we stayed on a bus from Assyut to Dakhla, a 6 hour ride. Shame the seats are not built for someone my size. Dakhla is one of the western oases, a great place. Everyone is friendly. Our hotel is fine though we have found a better one we'll move to after a bit of exploring the neighbouring villages. Since we left the bus at Qena we have only seen two Westerners, a Canadian couple here. It is good to be away from the hordes.
All for now, folks.
