Egypt was the final country of our Madventure Arabian overland tour. We took the Aqaba to Nuweiba ferry and it was obvious that the 2 year hiatus in international travel due to covid had taken its toll here because the immigration and customs officials appeared to be bewildered with what to do with us. It ended up taking us 16 hours to clear the Egyptian border process with what seemed to be a hodgepodge of made up rules. Our first stop in Egypt was the sleepy Bedouin town of Dahab, a hippie’s paradise and SCUBA divers’ delight with its laid back vibe and friendly locals. Dahab was exactly what the doctor ordered after that traumatic border crossing and we got our fill of good food, relaxing massages, and happy hour drinks. Madventure was continuing on to St Catherine’s Monastery and Cairo, but we opted to extend our time in Dahab to do some SCUBA diving so we grabbed all our stuff from the truck and bid farewell to those finishing up in Cairo. Our week long stay in Dahab was with Inmo Divers, a German-Egyptian run dive shop and we enjoyed the shore based diving. Sharm el-Sheikh was our next destination and we hopped on a cheap bus from Dahab to Sharm. Sharm el-Sheikh has a lot of charm although next time we would forego the all inclusive resort experience and stay at a simple dive hotel instead. The all inclusive resorts appear to cater to Russian clientele and we were not big fans of the food or beverage selection. Our short liveaboard on the Snefro Spirit was quite good and we managed to squeeze in a total of 11 dives over the 4 day trip, with the highlight undoubtedly being the SS Thislegorm wreck. Considered to be one of the top wreck dives in the world, the SS Thislegorm was fascinating to explore and we enjoyed our multiples dives through the cargo holds. Our last night in Sharm el-Sheikh was at Naama Bay and we vowed to return here for some more diving in the future. Lesson learned not to dive in January because winter diving in the Red Sea is a bit too cold for us! From Sharm el-Sheikh, we caught a cheap flight to Cairo and stayed at a hotel overlooking the pyramids. Alexandria is a short 3 hour drive from Cairo so we hired a taxi driver for a full day tour and really enjoyed what ancient Alexandria had to offer. Back in Cairo, we explored the Coptic quarter of Old Cairo as well as the excellent Cairo Citadel. And just like that, our 83 day Arabia Overland trip came to an end as we organized covid tests to fly back to the US. Both of us really enjoyed our time in the Middle East and could not have asked for a better Madventure experience. Truly the adventure of a lifetime!
Robby putting on our Egyptian license plate; Nuweiba
Saying goodbye to the Aqaba to Nuweiba ferry after the longest border crossing ever
Welcome to Dahab sign
Dahab is a quaint Egyptian village on the Sinai Peninsula with an eclectic fusion of Bedouin and Rasta culture. We loved the artsy vibe there
Artwork at Fayrouz Dahab Restaurant
A treasure trove of trinkets, lamps and jewelry for sale at Why Not
One of the many cute restaurants located on the Dahab waterfront
Kids clothes for sale; Dahab
Street art; Dahab
Mural painted on a wall in Dahab
Wall mural; Dahab
The relaxed waterfront vibe in laid back Dahab
We loved the artwork that filled every restaurant with bold and bright colors in Dahab
Mural of Princess Diana; Dahab
Artwork at a youth hostel in Dahab
Camels on a beach just south of Dahab
A pair of diagonal butterflyfish
Clownfish
Clearfin lionfish
Starry pufferfish
Goats belonging to the local Bedouin families search the streets of Dahab looking for free food
Tourists riding camels near Dahab
Dirt path leading to the Blue Hole, a submarine sinkhole located north of Dahab
Divemaster Ali giving us a dive briefing of the Blue Hole
A yellow eyed black cat; Blue Hole
Lionfish
Porcupine pufferfish surrounded by sea goldies
Marine betta (comet) fish
Bluespotted ray
Octopus
Starry pufferfish
Bedouin boy gets a kiss from his camel
Green sea turtle
Yellow boxfish
Spotted snake eel
School of barracuda
Spotted sharpnose puffer
Porcupine pufferfish
Robby at the Canyon dive site; Dahab
School of striped catfish
Glasseye snapper fish
Black tang
Lizardfish
Broomtail wrasse
Having dinner at Leanne and Ryan's place; Red C Villas
Dolphin mural; Dahab
Our home in Dahab for the week; Inmo Divers
Robby on a balcony at Inmo Divers hotel
Group dinner with Leanne, Ryan, Renee and Hugo; Shark Restaurant
Wall mural; Dahab
A town of only 15,000 inhabitants, Dahab is a relaxed change of pace from the rest of Egypt
Butcher shop; Dahab
Goats wandering the streets of Dahab
Dahab street scene
Hippie vibes in Dahab
Red C Villas
The rocky coastline of Dahab where SCUBA diving is shore based
Ryan and Robby hiking the hills behind Dahab
View of pretty Dahab from a lookout point
Sunset over Dahab bay
Goodbye Dahab, hello Sharm El-Sheikh!
Becky taking advantage of free drinks at our all inclusive resort, Sharm Inn Amarein
Traditional outdoor eating area; Sharm Inn Amarein
View of our hotel at night
Frescoes of all the children of the world welcome at the Heavenly Cathedral; Sharm el-Sheikh
Elaborate mural painted in the dome of the Heavenly Cathedral
Mustafa Mosque; Sharm El-Sheikh
Spice market in Sharm el-Sheikh old town
Sahaba Mosque in the old market; Sharm el-Sheikh
Herb and spice display; Sharm el-Sheikh old town
Colored dried seaweed shaped into decorative balls; Sharm el-Sheikh
Arabic lamps inlaid with colored glass; Sharm el-Sheikh old town market
Colorful spice bazaar in the old town; Sharm el-Sheikh
Fruit store in the old town; Sharm el-Sheikh
Horse sculpture in the old town of Sharm el-Sheikh
The friendly owner of this papyrus store displays the ancient Egyptian winged goddess Isis
The beautiful Sahaba Mosque at night
Robby in our cabin on the Snefro Spirit liveaboard
Juvenile humphead wrasse at the Temple dive site; Sharm el Sheikh
Goldenstriped soapfish
Bluespotted ray with a checkerboard wrasse hovering above
Clownfish
Lionfish
Yellowbar angelfish
Checkerboard wrasse
School of dusky sweepers
Truck loaded with motorcycles located in one of the cargo holds of the SS Thislegorm wreck
Norton 16H motorcycles at the wreck of the SS Thislegorm
A resident eel on the SS Thislegorm wreck
Truck on the SS Thislegorm wreck
Orbicular spadefish on the SS Thislegorm
Bow of the Thislegorm
Bluecheek butterflyfish
Clownfish on the SS Thislegorm wreck
Tassled scorpionfish; SS Thislegorm
A massive school of fusilier fish; SS Thislegorm
Crocodilefish
Steam locomotive on the SS Thistlegorm
Crates of ammunition can still be seen around the SS Thislegorm
Latrine section of the SS Thislegorm
Heavy machine gun; SS Thislegorm
Becky at the anti-aircraft gun on the stern of the SS Thislegorm
A diver swimming through the wreck of the SS Thislegorm
Shades of blue; Red Sea
Basket stars seen on a night dive
Smiling despite the thought of cold water diving. January is not the time to dive the Red Sea!
Herring scad at the Dunraven wreck
Diving through the Dunraven Wreck
Becky reaching out for anthias reef fish; Shark Reef
Green sea turtle; Shark Reef
Red sea coral grouper; Shark Reef
A pair of Red Sea bannerfish; Yolanda Reef
Lettuce coral; Yolanda Reef
Yellow-edged Lyretail Grouper; Yolanda Reef
Titan triggerfish wedging itself into a crevice to sleep; Yolanda Reef
SCUBA boats at the Ras Mohammad National Park
Blue triggerfish blowing sand to expose invertebrates for food
Giant moray eel; Ras Ghozlani
Crocodilefish; Ras Ghozlani
Clownfish; Ras Ghozlani
A giant moray eel being cleaned by a bluestripe cleaner wrasse; Ras Ghozlani
Divemasters Samuel and Alaa getting off the Snefro Spirit after our 4 day liveaboard
Sunset over Naama Bay; Sharm el-Sheikh
Boarding our Air Cairo flight from Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo
Welcome drinks at the rooftop bar of our hotel where we could watch the sound and light show for free; Panorama Pyramids Inn
The view from our room in Cairo!
Breakfast with a view; Cairo
Montaza Palace; Alexandria
Stanley bridge is the first bridge in Egypt to be built over the sea; Alexandria
Exterior of the modern library of Alexandria, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th century fortress built on the coastline of Alexandria
The flag of Egypt flies proudly at the Citadel of Qaitbay
View of Alexandria from the Citadel of Qaitbay
Selfie at the Citadel of Qaitbay
Sidi Morsi Abo Al Abass Mosque; Alexandria
Handsome architecture in the coastal city of Alexandria
The historic hotel of Windsor Palace is located right on the waterfront of Alexandria
Stunning architecture in the city of Alexandria
Kom el-Dikka was a rich neighborhood in ancient Alexandria during the Graeco-Roman times with villas, bathhouses and a theater
The auditoria (lecture halls) of Kom el-Dikka
The ancient Roman Villa of the bird mosaics; Kom el-Dikka
Roman amphitheater at Kom el-Dikka
Cabbage for sale at a street market in Alexandria
Caged pigeons for sale on the streets of Alexandria
Chicken for sale; Alexandria street market
Painted tomb at Kom El Shoqafa; Alexandria
Ancient Roman catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
Funerary scene of Anubis mummifying a body; Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
Decorated sarcophagus inside the principal tomb chamber at the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa; Alexandria
Carved lion head at the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
Carved stone detail on a sarcophagus at the Catacombs of Kom El Shuqafa
Crypts in the Greek Orthodox cemetery of St George Monastery; Coptic quarter of Old Cairo
Roman Fortress of Babylon
Entrance to the Coptic Christian Hanging Church of old Cairo
The Hanging Church is named for its location above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress; Old Cairo
Ornate facade of the Hanging Church; old Cairo
Handstitched detail inside the Hanging Church
Hanging Church interior detail
Courtyard of Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque; Salah Al Din Citadel
Minbar of the Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque
Mihrab detail of the Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque
Busts outside the Egyptian National Military Museum
Painting inside the Harim Palace Military Museum; Cairo Citadel
Display from the Pharonic era at the National Military Museum of Egypt
Boat rowing scene at the Pharonic section of the National Military Museum in Cairo
Painted relief of light infantry soldiers carrying standards, battle axes and palm fronds; National Military Museum
The National Military Museum is located inside the Haram Palace at the Cairo Citadel
The gorgeous interior of the Haram Palace; Cairo Citadel
Tanks on display outside the Egyptian National Military Museum
View of Cairo from the magnificent Salah Al Din Citadel
Courtyard of the Mosque of Muhammad Ali; Citadel of Salah al‑Din
Interior view of the domes of the Mosque of Muhammad Ali
