Travel in Egypt (3rd part)

This trip has been decided in a time of 24 hours: this year we expect to turn a new year in Spain and in January for a ride from Barcelona to Seville with some friends in Turin and in summer the UK, unfortunately after the festive season We had to return home quickly, having been informed by our neighbor, for a gas leak for which they had to step in the Fire Department, after settling back to our failure was impossible to resume the journey home and find friends who had continued their journey alone.
Tina by chance, my wife, Plein Air Act on an ad a couple of campers who was organizing a trip to Egypt, once the phone call, just send the program, immediate and affirmative answer instantly purchase of maps, guides and news searches on the trip, all in 24 hours.
We are ready ............ let's go!!

 

Salum - on the beach - 164/2788 - sun

continues from "Travel in egypt (2nd part)"

Siwa - Square parking - 604/3392 - Sun

We are facing a long trip, starting at 7 dual carriageway with two lanes, some vehicles use both lanes to the contrary, we are surprised but we must be a normal thing, after you go to Marsa Matruh on the inside 'only two-lane road but with the bottom good, a few holes every now and insignificant traffic, a police car with armed men following us and escort us discreetly, sometimes it just overtakes and fits into the group then returned to the queue. At 13 you stop for lunch in a cafeteria: a sunny yard where Tina buys pastries made with coconut paste ... .... Horrendous.
Before reaching the oasis of Siwa our guides stop at a small hill from the top of this you can make nice pictures, landscape, came to the oasis you park in the square, after a little rest, with the campers, you goes to the salt lake, slipping into alleyways and streets impassable to our means, but could not reach the goal and expects the sunset, the show deserves its own mileage, here the pictures are wasted.
Indented and placed in a square in threes you go to a nearby hotel to make water, unfortunately the water pressure is low and it takes a long time to fill the reservoirs.
Unfortunately for us, an accident happens, a cart pulled by un'asinello collides with the hub of the wheel against the rear bumper of the camper, not bad, came off the bow of plastic, tomorrow I will try to fix it.
It was very late, with two other copies we decide to go to a restaurant, good decisions, you eat well, mixed grilled meat with fries, cola and alcohol-free beer exaggerated figure of € 4 each.

Marsa Matruh - Rommel beach - 315/3607 - sun

This morning at 5.30 the muezzin, who with his scratchy singsong, has awakened with a start.
Alarm set at 7, going on excursions to 8, to visit:
- Fortress of Shali
- Tomb of-Isis Mesu
- Ruins of the Temple of Amon
- Temple of Umm Ubeydah
- Sources of Siwa
- Baths of Cleopatra
- Necropolis of Gebel alMawta
- Temple of the Oracle
The first walking tour and the rest with the characteristic carts pulled by donkeys, each hole in my back went to pieces, though all was very nice and interesting, our guide is very clear and eloquent in his explanations.
We are ahead of schedule, Luisa and our guides decided to share this afternoon and tomorrow morning.
At two sharing, not before having made diesel, a small column of cheating the distributor liters paid not respond to the actual fuel paid, an amount reflected exaggerated compared to kilometers covered, for what it costs the oil is not worth a complaint.
We're back, but then you stop, unfortunately, the shot taken last night is more serious than expected: the rear bumper came off, Luciano following me tells me that I'm losing, I drive with the tape, I'll fix it with rivets .
We return along the same path of the progress, unfortunately, by the Oasis of Siwa, Bahariya is that of a road under construction and just finished the first 70 km are the other 300 are only a starting feasible with off-road and not with the campers, must return to Alexandria and then into the desert again.
Towards evening at sunset, Alberto calls can stop and take pictures of the sun setting in that vast expanse of sand and stones, we are lucky, we find a camel against the sun with his black figure in the foreground to the background by more prominent .
In Marsa Matruh find another police car that drives us to overnight parking and we are amazed at the place: the famous beach of Rommel, we arrange lined the seashore and contented with the usual toast of Prosecco Refosco Tony and me, Tocai having finished, the police are close and we offer them a drink, for their refusal is expected to offer Coca-Cola, refused even this go away, then all of a happy meal, but only briefly: a policeman who comes to us moves from the beach along the beach, it's perfectly fine and you can see the city lit up, as I write a counter: we must move across the street, we are a nuisance to people walking on the sidewalk, NOT THERE 'NO strolling, we move and we cursed and this manager bureaucrat who was amused at our expense by relying on its degree stupidly.
TIP: Do not offer to drink alcohol, could be misunderstood and affect against you.

Alexandria - “Carrefour” park - 305/3912 - cloudy/sunny

Wake up at 7 to start at 8 am, not before having wandered along the beach and made some photos, the museum is closed Rommel and you can not visit, we realize that where we are parked along the fence, there are several syringes, bitterly that even here we find it's well-being and the degradation of youth.
Always escorted by police crossed the city, not before having made the supply of diesel, it takes up the highway to two lanes with two lanes, unfortunately not so smooth, no holes, bumps and troughs but it seems to be on a roller coaster at a roadblock out of the car by police, who escorted us down a distinct character in a suit and tie that remains in place, then we will know who was the governor of the area which had ensured that we left unharmed from its territory, by their are a problem, after the terrorist attacks to tourists, are all on alert and see us emerge unscathed from the territory makes them sigh of relief.
Before arriving in Alexandria do a dutiful visit to the shrine of El Alamein, Tony had a very good and worthy idea: a wreath for the fallen, who, during the visit was laid inside with a small ceremony, which of us had been in the military had taken the cap of belonging, Tony Alpini, Carlito artillery, I fex of the riflemen, unfortunately I have not the feathered hat, another group of other Italians were present and I noticed that you moved in see us salute the fallen.
On the way Tony has problems, can not download the gray water, the valve is jammed and does not open electric discharge, after several attempts finally succeeds.
Alexandria, always preceded by our off-road and the police will reach the car park of the Carrefour, having settled in, we met by the head of the Commercial Center, wants us to move to another area more attractive, and showed us around the shops, not before of delivery of gifts with the brochures of the area and a pitcher with an advertising message, thank you and we start with a van to visit the city.
Alexandria is a modern city with nice buildings and clean enough for the evening we saw the waterfront, and Farouk's palace, now a big hotel, then stroll downtown.
In return we have been shopping at Carrefour, we regret to have bought so many food before you leave, we have found everything to a ridiculous expense.
TIP: At the start you need to buy a few days, you will find everything in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, spending a tenth, with higher quality in terms of fruit and vegetables, meat will not find the pig, but the white meat and beef in sight I considered good.

Alexandria - Carrefour park - 0/3912 - sun

It might be a quiet night had it not been interrupted by the landing of aircraft at the nearby airport, in the square there was always a team of policemen who guarded us, this has comforted, but at the same time intimidated: if there guards are armed, there may also be a danger, our thoughts turn to the victims of terrorism and one can well understand the fear of local authorities that the fact we can repeat.
Visit to:
- Column of Pompey
- Library of Serapion
- National Museum
- Biblioteca Alexandrina
- The Citadel - Fort Qaitbey
- Catacombs of Kom-Shuqqafa (you can avoid)
- Mosque of Abu Abbas al-Mursi
- Catholic Cathedral
- The Souq
Lunch at the restaurant "Marco fish" good enough, we expected more, but you probably want to save too much, the fish was simply a mackerel, but cooked well and the various boundary dips were not bad, I think that when you eats in the company of friendly people and cheerful all becomes good.
Along the bus tour was seen near the port, fish stalls of various kinds and many shrimps and prawns which made watering at all, returning to Alexandria, we promised to buy them and farcene a feast.

Baharia oasis - 545/4457 - parking in the desert - sun

Starting at 7 am today, transfer stage, we expect a long day of driving to get out of Alexandria must retrace portion of the road we made entry, the road to 2 lanes to 4 lanes each is a mess, all the rules are not met, one applies the strong and arrogant, has repeatedly dodged the accident.
Traffic is reduced when you exit the highway and began crossing the desert black way for a roadway with two lanes of a fund's quite good.
At 13.30 a quick lunch with a terrible heat, luckily we have air conditioning.
At night, our guides us to park in the desert, we put ourselves in the center square and a long table, where everyone brings something, in the end and eat everything and more, always in joy, then all to bed a bit ' merry swallowed too much wine ...

White desert - parking in the desert - 158/4615 - Sun

This morning before leaving some campers are away to empty shells in the sand, unfortunately, two have been silted up, the Dukedom and front-wheel drive are a problem, I approached with the rope tow and I delivered them going in reverse, since the rear wheel drive was not very difficult.
To fall on the road was a small but very steep road gradient, I, to avoid touching the corner I took a diagonal going to end up in the sand does not fly result: I got bogged down, fortunately Tony with the camper a Vas on Iveco, rose on the way somewhere else and he picked up on the asphalt.
When you reach the oasis of Baharya started visits to:
- Temple of Alexander (only rubble was destroyed completely)
- Temple of Ain al-Muftella
After crossing the desert with its black rocks from the top set with black crystals, you enter the white one seems to be on the moon, leaving the road and take a track marked on the sides of large stones, before stopping in a clearing for an overnight stop, two jeeps are waiting to take us into the desert, Tina does not like and remains in camper.
This trip to the desert was beautiful, even if our backs have been affected by the shots taken in walking the track with holes and depressions, with the drivers that will not slow but had fun at every jolt, the view was fantastic, the evening sunset was exciting.
Upon returning to camp drivers of SUVs and our guides we have prepared a Bedouin dinner: barbecued chicken with all the trimmings, plus our wine and cakes brought from Italy.

Bir el Gabal - Kamp - 317/4932 - sun

8 am, we leave the white desert and come back on the asphalt, good road, an occasional dip off and some police control and every change of the province automatically replace the stock that follows us
Views:
- House Naglaa Mohamed Sonusy (a sculptor, painter, very good that he exhibited his works)
- Tombs of Qarat Qasr Salim
- Village Paraf - No longer inhabited, but well-maintained dirt course, you visit several places of residence, work: grinding mill, blacksmith's forge, a place for justice, prisons and the final sentence.
- Fortified village of El Qasr
Arrived at Bir el Gabal where he will spend the night, having a little 'light I repaired the bumper hit at Siwa, four rivets and everything was better placed than before ... ... .. hopefully resist.
Towards evening, after we made all the shower water supply we do, unfortunately it is spring water, has a yellowish color and are very hot, say it is good and is good for the eyes and bones, we think little ... ... ... . still okay to wash, to eat we always use mineral water in bottles of 5 liters. purchased in Libya.

Al Bagawat - Parking - 235/5167 - cloudy, sultry hot

Departure at 8
Visits
- Village Mut - very spoiled and empty, beautiful view from above
- Museum of antiquity to Kharga-interesting, mummies and other finds from the graves.
- Palace of Nadur, visited after lunch, on top of a hill, only ruins. We have not gone and while strolling near the camper, we found some women and children who worked in the fields, when I hesitated to approach, then the policemen to escort invited me and presented to the group that was being photographed, you watch them laughing on the small screen of the camera.
- Temple of Hibis, at first we could not enter because restoration, then we let pass, in good condition and well restored.
- Christian necropolis of El Bagawat - worth a visit, only two among the many graves are still visible in the paintings.
We are now parked in the square next to the necropolis, the police car there discreet surveillance.

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