The best thing about Abu Simbel is it is situated 40 km from the Sudan border. I love places which seem faraway and Abu Simbel fits that criteria. A supposed police convoy is necessary to travel there from Aswan. We tourists collect together at a certain point and the police meticulously check all the cars, mini buses and coaches. Recording all the details. Finally we line up all ready to go, I’m expecting something out of a war movie. Hummers, soldiers and guns, but alas no I forgot for a moment I was in Egypt. These people couldn’t run a chook raffle. The first bus is waved off and then shemozzle. The vehicles jostle for positions as we squeeze out the gate. The fast vehicles passing the slow as we drive up the main street. Luckily ... read more

They jut above the rooftops of Cairo (Giza) totally dominating there surrounds as they should. They are The Ancient Pyramids of Egypt. To get to them is (of course) not so easy, it never is. We have hired a car and driver for the day thinking naturally he will take us by car but to our dismay. Ha! Ha! He wants us to go by camel insisting this is the only way to see the pyramids. We stand our ground pointing out our hate for camels. He moves on to horses or maybe horse drawn carriages. Cost of course would be an additional 200 Egyptian Pounds each (6 to 1 conversion). We win this small battle and are driven right up to the first pyramid. Entry fee is 60 pound each plus 130 to go inside ... read more

Today we are saying our farewells to Morocco and flying to Egypt, landing in Cairo. From El Jadida the road is a dual lane freeway to Casablanca. A toll even needs to be paid a nice change to all the other roads driven on in Morocco. We find a petrol station, find the airport and find where to drop off our car. All without too much drama for a change. The people and the officials are so friendly at the airport, although I am a little bit sick of hearing the word Kangaroo. When we go through all the checks, and there is quite a few, they just give us a smile and wave us through. I guess there is not a lot of Australian terrorists. We are flying Air Maroc not probably one of the ... read more

Not hot or spicy, not bland or boring. Diverse, wholesome and scrumptious. Simple but beautifully presented. Mainly of French influence. Delicately flavoured with cinnamon, cumin, saffron or mild curry. Memories of Moroccan food:- OLIVES - served with every meal. Adored and platefuls consumed by Jamie and Natarsha; however just “salty little things” to me. MINT TEA - at first wary, but then loved by myself if it wasn’t made too sweet. Always refreshing and always available. The hallmark of Moroccan hospitality, it was always served from a fancy teapot and poured as high above the glass as was possible. ALCOHOL – or lack thereof. The drinking of alcohol is mostly frowned upon in Morocco, especially within the Medina’s. Beer and wine, rarely spirits, can sometimes be found in some restaurants frequented by westerners, if you asked ... read more

The square is a sea of humanity. Everything you ever imagined that you didn’t want. Every trick, every con, every salesman, every beg, every compliment you didn’t want. We have snake charmers, henna painters, alladin dancers, monkey vendors, fortune tellers, pigeon feeders, bottle fishing, horse drawn carriages, massages, belly dancers, hammans and thats just on one corner. Mini food stalls, which appear to only hitch their tents at night time, sell an array of street food. From snails to kebabs; waffles to couscous; pastilla to tajine. And fresh juice, any flavour you could possibly request: orange, grapefruit, apple, pineapple, watermelon. And of course olives and nuts, always olives and nuts. Decadent restaurants border the entire square offering every nationality of food that exists, although it appears Italian is the fl... read more