Decided to return to Adam’s Home near Aswan for some rest and relaxation. There had been some 28 camper vans at Rezieky camp and while they had not been noisy the British contingent of the German led convoy were not very happy, it was all far too regimented! They seemed desperate for some other Brits to talk to!
I spent several days in the fields helping with the crops and the irrigation. The rhythm of life by the Nile is so relaxed and can barely have changed since Pharonic times. They generously shared their lunch with me, generally salad. felafel, fuul (beans). Aamer became a good friend during the days we spent here and I was once again sad to move on. We stayed in Luxor at Rezeiky camp again and met up with Blanca & Mark for some excellent egyptian food, wine and Sheesha.
We stayed at some sulphurous hot springs near Farafra and went in for a swim under the stars, wonderfully warm with a great massage from the voluminous hot water coming up through the pipe from the ground.
We journeyed on into the White Desert with its strange-shaped limestone outcrops weathered by thousands of years of winds. It is so quiet out in the desert (until the tourists staying overnight arrive!). We saw a desert fox from the tent and the colours of the rocks at different times of day are so changeable. The police gave us an escort part of the way but then wanted us to go on our own. The Tourist convoys are inconsistent in Egypt even depending on which direction you go on the same road! On the way to Aswan they wanted to turn us back to Luxor to get the convoy but we just went a different way along the Nile to avoid the first checkpoint (or Chick points as all the signs here say!).
We are wondering about our Libyan Visa that we applied for 2 months ago. We phoned to chase the embassy but it hasn’t yet been granted. We asked them to chase Tripoli again. It looks like it could be the Sudanese Visa fiasco again. We can employ an agency to get it for us but it is all more expense. We may have to make a fuss when we get to Cairo! Others have even managed to get the Visa by claiming ill-health or pregnancy!