Time to move on, and this time we head off to Hurghada. This was not part of our original itinerary, and has been added in place of the White Desert and then Fayoum.

We headed out of Luxor and travelled through rural communities, hurtling along at 130kph amidst cars, trucks and donkey carts. As we got into the desert area we drove along a new highway - at 80 because it was monitored by radar. Yep - go figure. Nothing makes a lot of sense here in Egypt!!!

Trucks can't drive along this road at night - so there are quite a few trucks banked up until they are allowed to set out, and so the drivers are sitting beside their trucks making cups of tea on little stoves set into the side of the truck. At times you can only travel along this road in a police convoy, but today we are allowed to travel freely.

We had one comfort stop along the way, where we were able to get a cup of coffee and something to eat, and barter once more for scarves and toy camels and postcards. The seller told us we were beautiful women, and worth 2 million camels. Flattery didn't get him anywhere, LL and I didn't buy anything but Linda bought a camel for her grandkids.

Our hotel in Hurghada was another in the Movenpick chain - very luxurious and right on the waters edge. We spent the afternoon reading and relaxing in deck chairs on the beach. The weather was lovely and warm, but the water was not warm enough for me to venture past my knees, so I had to be content with just a paddle in the Red Sea.

I had hoped to go on a snorkeling trip, but it is a whole day out on a boat, and as LL and I are going on the safari trip tomorrow I'm not going to have time to fit a boat trip in. Shame.

After dinner we all sat for a while in the foyer catching up on emails and I went to have a look through the shops. I got invited in to the perfume shop, and a delightful young guy gave me a long talk on the benefits and uses of the Egyptian oils while we shared a pot of Hibiscus Tea. He tested some on me and decided that Lotus Flower was the perfume I should be wearing. I promised to go back tomorrow and buy a bottle when I get back from the safari trip.