Luxor...

I'm in Luxor.

When I started this trip I wasn't sure how much cycling I would be allowed to do in Egypt. It turns out that just past Mallawi was the limit.

As you enter each city in Egypt there is a road block. Tourists aren't supposed to go anywhere without a police escort to protect them. It's not dangerous but those are the rules. Sometimes the police let me ride my bicycle in front of the police pickup. But that's not the same. People don't smile and wave as I pass. I try to cycle as fast as possible to the next town where they can switch police. It seems rude to stop and take photos or buy street food. So mostly I stuffed my bike on the back of the pickup and rode along.

Anyway I got tired of that and took a bus to Luxor. I don't have an escort here. It would have been selfish too insist on riding in police cars for 3 days and also stupid. I'll cycle enough later to make up for it.

I once heard this story about a guy travelling to Kartoum for the first time. When he saw a dollar bill lying on the street he just left it there because he thought that in Kartoum there would be far far more.

Perhaps I'm the same way, in that I don't know what to expect and that I don't always appreciate what I have.

I'm in Asyut today. It's a big town with a big university. It has a high level of security.

I came in with a two car police escort. They say there is only one hotel where I can stay in Asyut. I argued that it was too expensive and I wanted to stay at a cheaper hotel. They said I could pay whatever price I chose but I had to stay there. I'm paying $11 instead of $35. It's the nicest hotel where I have stayed so far and the first where I've had my own bathroom. It's very strange...

I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. I'm going to Sohag but probably they won't allow me to cycle or even take a bus. My guess is that I'll get a free ride from the police. The whole thing is bizarre. We'll see.

The key is to enjoy everything.

I've had such a very good time in Egypt. Everyone has been so nice. Unfortunately I don't have my pictures with me right now to upload or I would post some more blog entries...

Pyramids

Pyramids... I took a camel tour with some friends I made at the hostel.

Airport

This is how the real professionals box a bicycle. Thanks for your help Charu, otherwise I probably would have missed my flight.

The unfortunate thing was that I left my debit card in a Safeway ATM machine by mistake so that didn't make it to Egypt.

Leaving...

Here is what my apartment looks like after I gave all my possesions to the poor.

A truly spiritual person would have sold the possesions first then given the money to the poor but I'm too lazy and after I had the cash I would have been too greedy.