First glimpse of Cairo

Today was a travel day, and it all started bright and early at 5:30am to be exact. After a quick wake up and some final packing checks, we were ready to go by 6:00am. We loaded up our gear into the minivan, said goodbye to the sleepy charm of Dahab, and hit the road toward Sharm El Sheikh Airport.

The drive took about an hour and a half, winding along quiet desert roads as the sun slowly rose behind us. It was a peaceful start to what would turn into quite a contrasting day.

Once we arrived at the airport, we checked in and made our way to the departure gate. With almost three hours to spare, we found ourselves in that classic pre flight limbo. I passed the time with a few rounds of Monopoly Deal, while Jayde opted for a more relaxing activity…. counting sheep.

Eventually, it was time to board. The flight to Cairo was a short and sweet one hour hop, giving us just enough time to enjoy the views before descending into the chaos of the capital.

Cairo immediately struck us with how vastly different it feels from anywhere else we've been. The poverty here is confronting, and the sheer scale of the city, its noise, traffic, and energy is overwhelming at first. It’s a lot to take in, and definitely makes you pause and reflect.

Our driver met us at the airport and took us to our new hotel, which turned out to be a little oasis in the middle of the madness. Clean, calm, and comfortable just what we needed.

After settling in, we made our way to the Grand Egyptian Museum which is about to be the world’s biggest museum! It has its official opening on the 1st of November however they are currently allowing people to visit. We wandered around for a couple of hours admiring all of the ancient Egyptian artefacts. It was so beautiful and a wonderful introduction to what we are about to learn about over these next couple of days.

We spent some time in the evening finalising plans for tomorrow’s adventures, making sure everything is lined up for our time here.

To wrap up the day, we headed out for one last group dinner a final chance to sit around the table with the people who have become so much more than just fellow travellers. Over the past days and weeks, we’ve shared early mornings, long bus rides, belly laughs and unforgettable sights.

Saying goodbye wasn’t easy. There were hugs and promises to keep in touch, as we realised this chapter was coming to a close. But as bittersweet as it was we also felt so grateful for the memories made, the stories shared, and the unique bond that came from experiencing something truly special together. We really did feel like a family away from home.

Tomorrow, we see our third Wonder of the World- The Pyramids!Read more