Day 11 - Siwa & Western Desert - Sun, Sand and Sand

Hello! Soon after my last post I got really ill for two days, then we went to Alexandria and Siwa where I didn't have internet access. Alexandria was quite cold and rainy, and we had one day to go to several locations so I didn't get much time for taking photos. We've just spent two days in the Sahara desert, specifically a small town called Siwa, built around an oasis. The desert was amazing to behold and quite moving, and it was a lot of fun going up and down huge sand dunes in a jeep.

We call this ritual "Crossing the Desert"

The Western Desert, yesterday.

The word "awesome" springs to mind

Look sir, cameramen!

He was too fast to film, but I did get this photo

"Fuji" means mountain in Japanese. Similarly, "Sahara" means desert in Arabic

Siwa is an extremely ancient town and it shows. The first modern road into town wasn't built until about 1994, and in the centre is Shali, an old fortress surrounded by crumbling houses and tombs.

Shali

The tombs, or "death holes" are quite weird. They've been there for centuries but they look like they're about to collapse at any moment.

Death holes

Watch your step

Siwa, with Shali on the right

So we've had a busy few days. We drove back to Cairo today, past unexploded World War 2 minefields, German and Italian war graves, and a compound owned by the Bin Laden family. It took eight hours to reach the city then about two and a half to make our way through the traffic to the hotel.

We're staying here tonight then getting a plane to Luxor, and from there to either Sharm El Sheikh or Aswan. Next time I update this I should have some photos of ancient Egyptian temples for you. We've delayed the Pyramids until after we meet with Dr Zawi Hawass, the (real-life) Egyptian Indiana Jones as he knows them inside out and should have some good tips.

"You look like an eighties hitman!" - My boss

Ramy, Sobei, Thomas, Tom