I’m checking out a day early, I just can’t face staying here one day more. I’ve not really done or seen anything but I just can’t cope with the noise, the pollution and I just want a good night’s sleep. I’ve booked into an airport hotel which is costing a small fortune but if rather do that too escape the misery that is Alexandria.

Maybe if I had come here at the beginning of the trip I might have been a bit more sympathetic, but Egypt wears you down if you travel the way I have. I guess if you are on a private tour and you only get to meet and see the things you are supposed to your view might be somewhat different but I’ve never really enjoyed sanitised travel. At least the way I do it I can see warts and all however at times it becomes all too much as it has on this trip.I’ll no doubt look back on this fondly when the wounds have healed.

The two other countries that I’ve felt the same way about are Burma and India, both have some amazing places but because of what feels like exploitation by locals, the journey for me was spoiled.

My suggestion for Egypt if you are only interested in the ancient history of the Pharaoh’s then I suggest two days in Cairo to see the museum and Pyramids, go to Luxor and Aswan to see the wonders that they have left behind. These are all doable by yourself, no need for a tour guide unless you want one and you’ll save a fortune. Many times said tour guides were using Google to get much of the information that they would then dramatise, save your self the money and buy a sim card at the airport.

The other thing to note about the tour guide is that you only have them for a short time and so they tend to rush you through some of these wonders which is something I could not abide.