Africa 2023
Day 1 – the layover
Leaving YYZ at 1245 in the afternoon we arrived in Cairo – CAI – at 0505 in the early morning. Notes about the flight, not knowing anything about EgyptAir we were prepared to be surprised – we were. The meal was a full meal for lunch and a three course at that. We both ordered fish; magnificent salmon. The plane was blacked out and everybody settled down to an afternoon nap. Of course the little pack of goodies helped – earphones and an eye mask.
Arriving at Cairo International at 0610 local time (10pm our time) we had to kill about twelve hours at the hotel. The first thing we had do was to to straighten with a visit to Immigration was whether our entry visa was valid for our second visit to Egypt. The Egyptian government had change the rules for evisas. All evisas have been ruled invalid on or after October 1. We leave on October 1 and we have to know if we would be allowed to enter Egypt for the second visit.
Arriving at the airport halfway to the Immigration desk we saw a man with a sign bearing our name – the Hotel Shuttle that had been arranged through Expedia. Hassan was now our guide through the maze of bureaucracy that was attached to the visa problem. taking our documentation we filled out the normal entry forms and went to the “Diplomatic Passports” booth. A dour-faced female was the Officer. Explaining our problem to her he was told that our visas were only “single- entry” although they were clearly marked “multiple”. Not getting anywhere with this Officer Hassan then hailed down a very impressive looking Manager. Outfitted in his white uniform and decorated with gleaming rank badges he took the visas into the office to check the numbers. “Your visas are good and the rules of entry take effect on October 1, so you are good to come back.”
Off to the hotel (Concorde – el – Salam Casino and Resort. ). Speeding in the van through empty streets, it was 6.30 in the morning we arrived at the hotel for the layover. Here until the 8pm shuttle for a 1040pm flight to Nairobi – the second leg of our flight.
Back to the Airport
After a nap and a tour of the hotel as well as a meal in one of the dining rooms we assembled to return to the airport via the free shuttle. This trip, at 8pm was the opposite of the trip in – dark, chaotic traffic and more interesting. But the fun began when navigating the processes.
Firstly we lined up to scan the baggage. Then after that the immigration desk. This was OK until the agent said. “Immigration Forms?.” “What forms?.” “The ones you have to fill out!” she produced a couple and we filled them out. Note to travellers always fill out immigration forms going in and when leaving Egypt.
Getting to the gate, which was closed, we sat on benches outside the gate. Feeling thirsty I went to a stall selling water and had an “Egyptian Shopping experience. “Do you take Dollars?” I asked not having any Egyptian currency. “Yes and that water is Four Dollars.” the attendant answered. “Four Dollars?” I responded in amazement. “One hundred and twenty Pounds?” “Yes”. I decided to pay needing the bottle of water. I asked for a receipt and looked to see that the receipt only had 49 Pounds on it. We then argued about the conversion rate and I walked away muttering about the deal. He called me back and asked “You want to cancel?” “Yes” and pocketed my original four dollars. The saga continued as when I got back to my seat I noticed a vending machine across the way. Standing in front a man approached “You want water?” as I looked at water marked 25 Pounds. “Yes” and handed over 2 dollars. He promptly pulled a wad of bills out selected a 50 Pound note, put it in the machine and I finally had my water bottle at the going rate.
The gate finally opened and guess what? We lined up to have our luggage and persons scanned again. Finally making it on the plane and landed five hours later at Nairobi airport. This International airport has not been upgraded for years and it showed. Lining up again to get in we produced Passports and Visas, had our picture taken and fingerprinted we were into the baggage claim. Leaving baggage claim another scan of the baggage, this time for the hand baggage, the checked bag had been scanned before the drop/pickup.
Kennedy, our Tour Operator was waiting outside with a name card. WE HAD MADE IT.