"What was Africa like?"

Yesterday we bought our 2nd class train ticket to Cairo for tomorrow at 10am.

But in fact we won't be able to use our tickets. After a day of sorting things out at the harbour and with customs, Matt has go tomorrow morning to prove to the police officials that he did not incur any driving offenses during his time in Egypt.

Only then are we free to go and only then will Foxy be allowed to leave Egypt on the ship.

More delays, more bureaucracy. But we expected this and we just have to do what we have to do. Our flight leaves from Cairo in four days and we will do everything necessary to ensure we are on that plane.

~~

Many Egyptians loathe to be called "African" and make it a point to differentiate themselves from their southern, more "black", brothers and sisters. We found Ethiopians to be very proud as well, and whenever they could, always made it a point to state that while they may be from the African continent, they were lighter-skinned and much more beautiful than other so-called Africans.

This afternoon, an Egyptian woman at the cyber café remarked in genuine horror, upon hearing we had just completed an overland drive up through Africa, "Oh my! You went to AFRICA?! How brave, I could never do that! What was Africa like?"

I thought to myself, "Well, aren't we IN Africa?!" but decided not to say anything and instead nodded at her.

~~

Tonight, our last night in Alexandria, we are staying at the Crillon Hotel which is closer to the city centre. Without transport (we bid Foxy farewell at the harbour), it was better to be closer to the train station and restaurants/shops.

With dodgy elevators, a reception room full of stuffed birds, cockroach-infested showers, lumpy foam beds, a mal-functioning fan and mouldy walls, the set price of 120 EGP ($22 USD) for a double room seemed about right.



Start: Maamura Palace Hotel, Alexandria, EGYPT.
End: Crillon Hotel, Alexandria, EGYPT.
Distance Traveled: 0 km
Road Conditions: -
Temperature: mid-30's or so