View from our room at Tiab House.

Still with the Green Valley tour guide company. Met two other victims on the tour bus to Giza. One, a half-witted, boring Japanese student and the other, a seemingly well-travelled man from "Norte-España" who is at least tri-lingual. The Jap was going through with a $600 trip to Luxor and the Spaniard was cancelling his despite losing 25% from the price.

I cannot believe the way people drive in Cairo. Only very major roads have street markings and traffic lights are for decoration only. The horn is used to tell everybody to watch out ‘cos you’re coming through!

The Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Menkaure and Khafre.

Olly and I had a camel ride around the pyramids for E£1, but the camel-tender became quite an unpleasant person when we refused to reward him much farther. He asked for 24 sterling pounds so we gave him another E£4 (60p) between us!

Also saw how papyrus was made, but had to explain that the beautiful Egyptian art-work would not last a year in our rucksacks.

Massive hassles with buying Egyptian pounds in several hotels. In the end Olly got some on his Visa, but mine wouldn’t clear due to my going £73 over my credit limit.

Had a cold meal near the hotel (Tiab House), but it was more than enough and cost only E£7.37 for both of us!

The poverty in Cairo is absolutely unbelievable. The street around our hotel seem extremely tatty, but today we drove through places where houses were built from demolition rubble, and others where sheep and chickens roamed freely around people’s homes, which would not even be recognised as such in the First World. Despite this Cairo seems a peaceful place, and we do not feel threatened walking the streets.

Went for a beer (E£4) at the hotel down the road with the Jap. Walked into Tahrih Square in centre of Cairo and found useful things (Thomas Cook, Tourist Office).