Back in Giza for our last night with our Tour...

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I'd like for this blog to be about the wonderful people we met while travelling around most of Egypt for 12 days.

How can you not be apprehensive about meeting 16 new people all at once? I guess we were all lucky that the introductions were over the first 2 days.

Holly and I first met Lisa and her son Justin while we were getting off the plane. Next we met Claire, Mike and their kids Brooke and Keileigh at the Kumuka sign before going through customs. On arrival at the hotel we discover that there is another family of 4 around somewhere and a family of 3 due to arrive the next day. On the night our tour started officially we met Sam & Ben and their kids, Vivian & Luke and a short time later Jenny and Jim with Liam.

(Side remarks, while I write this up) I've just had an argument with the waiter about the wording on a menu - Holly is giving me the "Mum, must you argue with every service person you've ever met?" look across our terrace (in this case roof-top) table. Well - yes, I think I must. And anyway I got my way : P

Well I've got to say that we could not have travelled with a nicer bunch of people... and I've got dirt on every one of them!! Just kidding : ) Well maybe I could share a few stories...

Jim and Jenny were AKA Gim and Genny due to an unfortunate cartouche incident. Jenny also had something of a reputation as a "donkey whisperer".

Ben (AKA as Aladdin) had a particularly annoying (for him) affinity with the locals - it seemed that where ever we went they were drawn to him. Sam & Ben & the kids also had a rough time with their horse and carriage ride - it made my time with the grazing goats look like a walk in the desert!

The trip to Abu Simbel was more than a visual wonderment for some... Claire nearly didn't make the bus convoy and on departing this amazing place came close to losing husband Mike! What are you trying to tell us Claire??

Justin and Lisa from our very own Sydney neighbourhood went from mother and son (Mrs and Mr) to Mr and Mrs in Hurghada due to an understandable misunderstanding!

Holly and I really enjoyed travelling with you all. We wish you good health and safe future travels.

Cheers : ) Jo and Holly.

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Photos

Our Kumuka Family
On our first full day...

Mike, Keileigh, Claire and Brooke
From Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island

Luke, Sam, Ben and Vivian
From Adelaide in South Australia

Jenny, Liam and Jim
Also from Adelaide South Australia

Our esteemed tour guide and Egyptologist...Michael
Was very knowledgeable about all things current and ancient. He really made our tour a lot of fun as well as educational. Thanks Michael : )

Me and Holly of course!!
I know some of you at home are hopeful on a photo of both of us - well here it is...

Incognito!
We had a galabia party on our Nile cruise...

Comments

[Leverinks]

Awesome Trip!!
Great Blog! Had a laugh at the comments, What a once in a life time trip it was! One thing that made it so great for us was our FANTASTIC KUMUKA FAMILY!! :)

[Paul K]

What about the food???
Hi Jo + Holly, Bet that Galabia do went off! I'm reading along your travels with great interest.. but I still really wanna know about the food. What's nice? and what ain't? Good to read you had good company. Hope you have a slide night for us when you return!

[Missyoublue]

Something about the food... (for Pauly)
One thing I've noticed is that Egyptian staples can be pretty much eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. For breakfast particularly the locals looove something called foule (pronounced - fool) and it's basically tomato, onion, black and white pepper, salt and fava beans, all mushed up like a porridge - I believe it has to be prepared over a long period and cooked in a copper pot (to get the flavour just right). It's actually very nice and not just consumed at breakfast. It often has spices added to suit the individual and of course it's lovely with squeezed lemon or lime juice sqeezed straight from the fruit. Otherwise the food you see most of is your standard middle eastern fare - although here they call it "oriental salad", which means it took me a while to work out where on the menu it was!! You know - babaganoui (spelt wrong), tahini, hommous and lots of diced tomato and cucumber. Don't forget about the flat bread - there is a lot of bread here. They also have something called "shewermas" which are basically sliced meat, spiced mayo and salad on a roll - pretty yummy for food in a hurry though. The favourite drinks are hibiscus tea (preferably cold) as well as lots of other black teas - very nice with a sheesha (water pipe) and don't forget the coffee Pauly : ) fantastic! I've going to bring you back a sample and something to make it in... Hope I've got you salivating - see you in a couple of weeks. Jo

[Claire]

Great trip
What an awesome trip and an awesome group. We had so much fun. As for trying to loose my husband, still trying!!!! Only joking!