7 November

Today was business, so it was awake by 0515, pack and prepare and leave the suitcase outside. Down for breakfast by 0600 to find no-one else there yet – but they were all there within a few minutes (okay, not Lin or Sue, but everyone else). It was to be an early departure, so no-one hung around long.
We were on the bus by 0700, but a few were later and we left at 0710. In town we picked up our police guard and escort and headed out through El Alamein, after which we turned south. We had to stop for a toilet/drink break about 1000, but it was unsettling to find that the escort and guard had to check the buildings and the toilets before we could leave the bus. And things got worse, as an errant rat was noticed to run through the café building while people were lined up buying food. Ah well, that’s the pleasure (and education) of travel – at least his name wasn’t Basil.
Back on the bus we headed off (at considerable speed, mainly because of our escorts) and arrived soon at the Wadi el Natron. Here we were shown over a Coptic monastery by a few monks, some camera-shy but others very out-going. Apart from many interesting things about the monastery and the religion, one monk explained that monks had to be celibate (to concentrate on their duties) but priests had to be married (so they could understand what life was about). Here I also got the chance to show how badly I could play the cymbals.
After an all-too-brief visit, we had to leave and so we boarded the bus and set off to Cairo.
We entered Cairo by a familiar route past the pyramids, paused while shopping ordered a few days before was delivered and then went to the bazaar. Here we had a short time for looking (not really enough for shopping, although some still managed to make it) and had to be back to catch the bus by 1610.
Now time was tight – we had to get to the hotel (different from the one we had stayed in before) and then return (yes, return) to the pyramids for the Sound and Light Show by 1830. We arrived at the hotel by 1450 and then, after a quick comfort break, we were off by 1715. We went by different and back roads and made it to the show by 1825 – just in time.
The show was very interesting and the hour it took went by very quickly. We were out and on the bus quickly and then returned to the hotel before 2015.
I couldn’t find my room and then had a porter rush to help me – and then wait for his E£2 tip (he wouldn’t leave until I paid up). Then, knowing I had to be up early the next morning (we were flying to Aswan and had to be up VERY early), I tried to get to sleep. The only problem – a party (actually a wedding) was nearly right outside my window! Sometime (between 2115 and 0100) I drifted off.