October 14th Monday ..
I relaxed today.. the internet was good at the hotel so spent the day getting washing done and doing a few blogs..
I also contacted 5 shipping agents for quotes to ship the car back to Durban... Got a response from a guy within a couple of hours who quoted by the end of the day but I didn't get a warm feeling about him.
Decided I need to find a bottle shop and get a beer or two.. Not common in Egypt.. Found a tiny place and bought some beer and a local wine both were good.
Yes 10% but so so strong couldn't drink it ..had to mix it with a normal beer.. Also available was 8% beer. and the normal 4.5%
October 15th Tuesday. Today I had made contact with Link Cargo. They sounded very professional and the lady I spoke to asked all the right questions. I decide to go into town and meet her.
I drove to down town Cairo.. It was an experience.. somehow I got there and found parking.
At the meeting I met a Ms. Radwa Ahmed and the General Manager Mr. Roland Naim who were both most helpful. I asked them to go ahead. I was confident I was in good hands. Within hours she had given me a quote, asked for relevant documents and given me an indication as to the procedure that was to take place.
I hadn't had such efficiency since I ran my own business!!.
When I had finished the meeting I found that my car had a wheel lock on it.. I had parked illegally. I was told the traffic cops would be around in about 30 minutes.. and they were.. Enough time to empty my wallet of all but 10 E pounds $1 and US$10 .The fine was 80 E pounds..I showed the cops my empty wallet.. ..and offered him US$10.. he was reluctant to take that ..After 10 minutes of sign language he threw his hands in the air and took the lock off and I drove away. It took me over an hour to get back to Giza not more than 15-20k away.
Dinner on the terrace. The green area you can see is a farm ..Yes that's right.
October 16th Wednesday. Radwa had me hopping early.. I needed to get 2 papers today.
a) an affidavit signed by a notary authorising officials of Link cargo to act for me for the port procedures ( in her efficient way she had prepared the form) and b) a clearance from the traffic department that I and the vehicle had no outstanding traffic violations . Radwa suggested that I take an hotel employee, who spoke English with me as it might be difficult. Well ,well, well, she was right! The day started at 0900. Luckily the Manager of the hotel, Mohammed, came with me - a really nice bloke. In Egypt only certain government officers can act as a notary.. So off to a government complex in town we went ..me driving.. eventually found the offices.. Pokey corridors with 20 plus offices.. none signed so even Mohamed had to ask where to go.. It was chaos, hundreds of people calling, pushing and demonstrating trying to get their business done...Mohammed wisely gave up here and suggested we head a bit out of town to a suburban office. About a 40 minute drive.. It was much quieter here and they had a list you put your name on.. we were number++++ so Mohamed decided we get the traffic department requirement done.. At the second traffic department this was done quickly. Discussions between Mohammed and Radwa indicated that we needed a translator present when the Notary signed and we would be lucky to get one today. We headed for Link office.. Met Radwa at 3.30pm (parked legally, not too old to learn) who had been working on getting a translator for the next morning. This is not easy in Cairo. Some said 5 days time, and they wanted 1000 E pounds an hour ..$100. This could take 6-8 hours. It became obvious that Cairo wasn't the place for an Interpreter.. remember we would still have to work our way through the Government office debacle.
It was decided that the document should be signed in Alexandria.. the port of shipment, only 210k away.. I was going there anyway. Radwa suggested ..insisted before I leave Cairo I go to the Egyptian Museum.. So
October 17th Thursday. I hire a driver and car.Parking near the Egyptian museum is impossible. I get there at opening time so its not too busy and have a look. This is not a big museum but the contents are mind boggling.. stuff goes back 1-4000 years BC. I wish I had studied Egyptology.. I start to really appreciate the unbelievable history, art and culture of this country.
Someone told me that there were cultures 50000 years old.. but they produced nothing like this.
I will have 8 hours of lectures before I venture here again. A few photos to whet your appetite.
I can't imagine the value here..Tutankhamun's gold mask, in gold value alone, is worth A$650,000,
The Egyptians are building a second museum ..not far from the Pyramids of Giza..
Five times this size but will not take any items from the existing museum. Apparently there is plenty more in storage.
Tutankhamon is on a tour somewhere. He is a big traveller.
Two hours and I'm overwhelmed.. get a call from Radwa needs photos of the vehicle for insurance purposes.. Head back to the hotel ..take a few pics and then to the Pyramids.
My driver does the tourist thing.. Papyrus paper factory and art.. only US$150 lovely!.
He understands I'm not into this and then tries the camel rides to the Sphinx.. no.
Get me to the Pyramids - where the buses park! He gets the message.
I pay my entrance and walk to the Pyramids.. Impressive - big, very big - the biggest I'm told has 3 million stone blocks..
The stone came from far away - Luxor, I think.. Down the Nile ..It is wow wow wow
I didn't go into the chambers in the centre.. Mohamed said he had done it as a school kid .. a couple of chambers .. a difficult crawl for a 70 year old.. Has Radwa been in there?
The view west is desert and east giza towards Cairo city.
I go and take a look..
A lot smaller than I expected.. but it is still impressive.
I again resist the camel, mule and donkey ride offers, walking back to the car.
It is a cool day today about 36 degrees ..but a dry heat easier to live with than 36 in Sydney.
Back to the hotel.. Final dinner on the terrace, a beer or two and quail .. lovely.
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