It’s now the eve of travel, settling bills, tips and packing.

Always a mixed time especially as I have gotten to quite like this relaxed atmosphere in the hotel.

FIN

Word has got round the hotel that I am long staying and occasionally I tip!! Now it seems that every employee of the hotel is being extremely polite.

The laundry man came back again to check that the laundry was to my satisfaction. The housekeeper for the first time came by and asked whether I was happy with all the work he had done.

It’s Boxing Day, cold ham, cold meats, pickles (that haven’t been out of the cupboard since last year) and major indigestion. Missed all that and had a club sandwich instead.

There is nothing to report today as I stayed all day by the pool, where thankfully it warmed up and that meant the bloody flies came out.

The problem with going to bed early on Xmas Eve is you wake up very early. This time though there are no stockings or packages.

After getting back to sleep for a few more hours I’m done and dusted and in reception for 9.00.

Let’s say that today is a day off. Well I have done little or nothing and just spent it by the pool, reading the last few chapters of the early days of Julius Caesar. I wonder how far into Egypt he ventured as Cleopatra was based in Alexandria.

At dinner this evening Santa appeared with a few gifts for the kids and some party hats.

Today I move from the Semiramis to the pyramids resort. I have booked a car as at least there is some sort of comfort and safety in using the hotel cars. What I didn’t expect is for the driver to start offering a cheap trip around the pyramids before I get to the hotel. That really has got my hacklers up and eventually I had to be quite rude and demand we went straight to the hotel.

I’m having coffee and a slice of cake whilst crossing the Nile at Luxor in a Feluka and its only 05.30a.m. So what more adventures are we set for: the mini buses on the east bank of the Nile take us off to an open field where desert almost meets arable land.

The basket will take 20 persons and we have an English pilot, somewhat re-assuring…

The flight from Cairo to Luxor was only an hour and as some disembarked the others stayed on waiting for the onward leg to Aswan.

I am still early as I arrive at the Winter Palace, Sofitel Hotel just after 08.00am. The early start at four thirty will take its toll later and it did.

I organised an eleven o’clock start with Ahmed to take me on another trip. However he phoned late the previous evening and now has a tour organised in the morning so we have agreed to meet at 3p.m. on the 2nd floor of the hotel so he and I need not pay the exorbitant commission.

Off with Ahmed the guide and Mohammed the driver after arranging a private tour with the concierge.

Now I am wondering where the hell I will end up as I wanted to see the Old City, Citadel and parts of Islamic Cairo and now I have Ahmed asking me where I would like to go.

The view of the Nile is impressive, looking north I can see the island and the edge of the modern city, looking south the garden area with affluent housing and east in the distance I can see the pyramids. It is about a week’s journey from here as I am not expected until next Friday.

Water is central to Cairo and even though its 125 miles south of the Mediterranean the people and influences give the impression that we are at the coast. El Nile Corniche runs along the west banks of the Nile as it slips gracefully with a purpose splitting Cairo.

It is only in the last 100 years that the east bank has become so populated now with 18 million in its city.