Notes from a Sandy Spot

Our last early morning call for a flight from Luxor back to London - and a last surprise as Luxor airport turns out to be an extraordinary modern vision of an airport that would put most in Europe to shame. Actually no, ALL of them. A real contrast to the poverty and dirt in the rest of the city.

And that sums up my experience of Egypt pretty well, it is a land of incredible contrasts - from the arrid desert to the fertile Nile floodplains, the majesty and architectural triumph of the ancient egyptian temples compared to the modern day haphazard mud huts and rickety colonial buildings, the friendliness of the people and yet a sense of desparation to sell something. The epitome of culture shock and a trip that will leave a lasting impression.

If you ever have the chance to go ... do it, all the documentaries in the world can't prepare you for the real experience.