We have just spent three days in Dahab and the contrast to cairo could not be greater! After nine hours on the night (mare) bus - think back seats which dont recline, rocky desert paths, mike nearly getting attacked by a toilet attendant and passport checks all through the night- we arrived at Dahab, a backpacker paradise on the red sea. We were delighted to discover that our hostel was actually a corridor of dorms in a smart dive resort, and that we were using a...

Wow, what a couple of days! Day 2) Alexandria We got up ridiculously early to catch the 8:00 train to Alexandria, only to find out that the train was fully booked! We had to settle for the 9:00 in first class, which we couldn't really complain about as it put National Rail to shame! Alexandria is much quieter and calmer than Cairo with a relaxed marine outlook. We headed to the catacombs, a terrifying set of underground tombs only discovered when a donkey fell ...

We have arrived into Cairo! The crazy, hectic, hellishly hot city that as one philosopher expressed is consumed by its very fertility. We arrived very late last night after a long journey from Manchester via Sharm el Sheikh, minus Mike's prescription sunglasses and medication. We cheered ourselves with the image of a baggage handler trying to wear them whilst tripping out on his anti-diarrohea tablets! Our hostel, Arabian Nights, is ridiculously suave for the lo...