The decision to visit Egypt came close on the heels of our decision to close down the guest house. After around 7 years of making breakfast and working over the Christmas period, we would finally have a December to ourselves.
The tickets were purchased and the dates were set. We had booked 1 week in Hurgharda (a beach resort) which is an RCI time share over Christmas so that was all that was set in stone. About a month before we left, I did some research and came up with an 'hotel' on the 8th floor of a building in the centre of Cairo called Cairo Moon at around R300 per night for all of us. I was prepared to risk 4 nights there and we would plan forward when te got there.
The flights were then booked to and from Johannesburg with a day to spare to visit Hilary and other friends in Joburg.
I got a neighbour 3 doors up (and next year's head of school) to look after the house and also to welcome a group of self-catering guests that would be staying for a week while we were away.
Finally the big day arrived. Ted (my friend from Sea View Tours) picked us up at 7.15am and by 9 we were flying to Joburg and by 11.30 enjoying a cold beer at Hilary's by the pool. 
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| Lauren in the Milward-Thompson's Pool |
Day spent relaxing with the odd break to shop for essentials (more beer and some food) and Frank (Hilary's long suffering husband) joined us at around 6 and fired up the braai. Soon after old friends Ann and Ian and Ian an Cheryl arrived and a good time was had by all. The children were intrigued by Hilary's bat house which hangs up on the wall outside. Guy has taken on occasions like this to giving me some sort of comment that I am supposed to remember the next day and it was off to bed. |
| Sunset from Hilary and Frank's rooftop room |
15/12/2011
We were rudely awoken by loud birds - ha di das and others - at around 5am but finally crawled out of bed at 9.30 to be joined by Hilary .... later. The day was dedicated to admin - some clothes buying and problems with transferring money because of power cuts. at around 4pm, Hilary dropped us off at Montecasino after our first experience with the rather shoddy admin systems of the muli-million rand Gautrain. Their website bravely showed their 'ticket offices' around the city. This turned out to mean having to purchase a card from a machine which only sold R100 Gold card (card costs R20 so you only get R80 usage) in an obscure Spar in 4ways. One would expect at least an offer of a one way ticket to the airport (including bus).
We got the bus to Sandton Station (which is a long way from Sandon City!) where we met Liz Bird (nee Bacon), an old school friend for a drink before joining the HUGE queue to purchase additional money for the ticket. They had 3 machines and a ticket office for around 500 people. After 45 minutes, we finally took the 15 minute trip to the airport. The real trip was about to start!!
Fiona and I had a fall out over the control of the tickets which did put a damper on the first part of the trip, then having waited a few minutes in the check in queue, we realized that we HAD to have our bags wrapped so we joined that queue. Bags wrapped we re-joined the ticket queue. We finally got to the ticket counter and the woman there checked our passports: 'where are your visas?' Visas? I was sure that someone had told me that we didn't need visas. Not sure who or when but I was sure. The woman disappeared soon to return again. She had spoken to the main man. Yes, you need a visa and we can't let you on the plane without one as we will be fined. Her mind was made up. I asked to speak to the main man.
I was sent to a South African who seemed to be in charge. He confirmed what she had said. He referred me to the main main man who was a large Egyptian in a brown suit. I was sure that there must be a way around this as my experience in Chad had shown me one could usually make a plan. I pleaded that this was a holiday we had been planning for years and that the children would be devastated. He eventually said he would be prepared to let us board the plane, but we would first have to sign an onerous indemnity. Family huddle. Our options - spend at least 3 or 4 days in JHB and cut short Cairo or get on the plane and take our chances. There are great people in JHB and we would gt to go to Hilary's annual party, but the decision was clear.
I was sent to a South African who seemed to be in charge. He confirmed what she had said. He referred me to the main main man who was a large Egyptian in a brown suit. I was sure that there must be a way around this as my experience in Chad had shown me one could usually make a plan. I pleaded that this was a holiday we had been planning for years and that the children would be devastated. He eventually said he would be prepared to let us board the plane, but we would first have to sign an onerous indemnity. Family huddle. Our options - spend at least 3 or 4 days in JHB and cut short Cairo or get on the plane and take our chances. There are great people in JHB and we would gt to go to Hilary's annual party, but the decision was clear.
I told the man in the brown suit and he said the small man (who had since disappeared) would arrange the indemnity. He reckoned we had a better than 60% chance of getting in. Not great odds but better than they had been a few minutes before!. We sent our baggage through and after a while the small man returned and took me up to his office and made me sign a document basically letting anyone who cared to know, that Egypt Air had done their bit and I was now fully responsible for any costs getting back.
Into the boarding lounge - to the gate on the card - gate changed - to the new gate. Phoned the hotel to let them know that there may be problems. They would still collect at around 5.40 - not to worry about the visa, we could buy one at the airport. We were a little more optimistic, but why hadn't Egyptair told us that? Then had to break the news to Guy that the flight was not SAA on behalf of Egyptair, but Egyptair (ie no individual TV screens). These turned out to be mostly faulty and the sound system was a disaster. On the plus side, there as a good seat pitch and everyone slept fairly well.
16/12/11
We arrived at around 6am. I was in some trepidation about having to fact customs, but as we walked through the entrance to the customs area, there was a large sign - 'Don't have a visa? - Buy one at the bank for $15'. All that trauma for nothing! Ironically had we stayed the extra time in JHB, we would have arrived to this sign.
Customs cleared, we walked out expectantly. No people with signs for the 'Cairo Moon Hotel' or 'Paul Herrmann'. I disappeared to get a local sim card leaving Fiona and family to be hassled by various people offering transport. Returned to a less than amused family. Phoned the hotel - they thought that the collection was 5.40pm!. Within 5 minutes (literally), the hotel's owner, Mahommed, had arranged for a guy at the airport to take us through. Ginger Taxi Services and Achmet drove us at speed through the Cairo suburbs giving us some information about where we were on the way. Traffic was quiet as it was Friday. |
| Plants on the Balcony and view |
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| View from the Balcony |
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| First Breakfast in Cairo |
