Cairo, Egypt

Thursday 29th December 2005
Day 376

1st full day in Egypt and Cairo is as hectic as I remember. Car horns honking incessantly, the vehicles weaving through non-existent gaps, and completely impossible without feeling suicidal to cross the road. But there are the Pyramids. For those who haven't seen them, they are literally right on the edge of the Cairo suburb of Giza. One moment driving through the city streets, the next on the Pyramid plateau. And they are immense. Walking round them is, to me, jaw droppingly impressive.

I have been here before, three years ago. That visit was just before the Iraq war, and tourism in Egypt was all but dead. It has definitely recovered. Tourists from many Nations, including China and Russia.... and also an impressive number of Egyptian tour groups as well.

One piece of bad – well, unfortunate – news in the afternoon is that the Egyptian museum no longer allows cameras inside. Nevertheless, it is an impressive place to visit, with thousands of artefacts jumbled up somewhat confusingly. 1900 from Tutankhamen's alone – I suppose that includes those currently on loan to Los Angeles though...