Egypt > The Egyptian Museum

The last day of the holiday has arrived. Fortunately, we can still make the most of it. At half past midnight the alarm goes off. Sleepily, I walk to the bus. It’s chilly outside. We handed over our luggage to the bus last night, and it’s already tied to the roof (hopefully securely this time).

Egypt - The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

At the reception we receive a breakfast package, and then we board the bus. The battle for the best seats has already been fought — apparently, the others got up even earlier. At one o’clock we leave Sharm El-Naga and head toward Hurghada. A few hours later, in Hurghada, we join the convoy bound for Cairo. More than fifty buses are heading out together. For most tourists, this will be a day trip to Cairo. The convoy therefore mainly consists of large touring coaches. I realize that those buses probably have better seats for sleeping at night. Folded awkwardly into my seat, I try to get some rest. Occasionally I manage a few short naps. It’s difficult to find a comfortable position. The bus also smells terrible — it seems like there’s a hole in the exhaust. The stench of fumes fills the bus. Ugh! At the provincial border between Hurghada and Cairo, we stop for a short break. Here, the police escort is exchanged. It’s now six o’clock, and it’s a welcome chance to stretch our legs. Just before ten we enter Cairo. The city is as busy as it was at the start of our trip. At the hotel, we’re given the chance to take a shower in the rooms. As soon as the bus leaves, it turns out that Geert has left his wallet on board. Mohammed quickly takes a taxi to chase down Camel, the bus driver. By half past eleven everyone — including Mohammed with Geert’s wallet — is back in the hotel lobby. It already feels as though we’ve had a full day.

Egypt - The group photo of the Egypt Total trip

We walk to downtown Cairo and cross the Nile, continuing on to the Egyptian Museum. At the entrance, we have to hand over all photo and video cameras; filming and photography are not allowed inside. We gather all the cameras in one backpack and hand it in. The Egyptian Museum offers an overview of Egypt’s ancient history, with countless artifacts on display. Inside, Mohammed gives explanations about several exhibits, including the Rosetta Stone — though the one here is a replica; the original is in the British Museum in London. He shows us statues of Hatshepsut and Tutankhamun. The tomb and death mask of Tutankhamun are especially impressive — definitely the highlight of the museum. The museum holds so many treasures that it’s impossible to see everything. By now, fatigue is starting to catch up with me. Around three o’clock we walk back toward the hotel, while some head to McDonald’s. After a short rest in the room, we gather in the evening for a dinner cruise on the Nile, complete with a show. A bus takes us there. We’re the first group to arrive, soon followed by large groups of Japanese and Taiwanese tourists. As soon as the buffet opens, they rush forward to pile their plates high, making sure they miss out on nothing. Appetizers, main courses, and desserts are all taken at once. Once the rush subsides, we take our turn — fortunately, there’s still plenty left. After dinner, a show begins, featuring a belly dancer and an acrobat. It’s very touristy but still fun. Since it’s our last evening with Mohammed, Frits thanks him on behalf of the group and presents him with an envelope. Mohammed says he really enjoyed guiding our group — something that’s not always the case. Around ten o’clock we return to the hotel. We still have a little time in our rooms before leaving. Around half past midnight we drive to the airport. We check in for our flight to Amsterdam, pass through customs, and board the plane. Unfortunately, everyone is seated in different parts of the aircraft. During the flight, I read a newspaper, watched a video, had a meal, and slept.