Beirut to Cairo

9th September

Am. Met up with Stavro Jabra - Lebanons No 1 cartoonist. We were to discover that Stavro is like a cartoonist rock star in Beirut. He does over 45 cartoons a week and appears on Beirut TV three times a day with the news. When you are out walking with Stavro everyone calls his name and wants to shake his hand. He’s a lovely and funny character and welcomed us warmly.
He took us, first, to Downtown Beirut where we had a coke and ice-cream in a lovely café opposite the parliament buildings. We then walked around The Place Of Martyrs and the place where former Prime Minister Hariri is laid to rest with his bodyguards (he was assassinated 210 days ago - they still count the days), the place was covered in flowers, music was playing and many people where paying their respects.
Pm. Stavro had to go to work so Rachel and I sunbathed and swam in the hotel pool.

10th September

Stavro and his lovely wife collected us and we drove to the area where Prime Minister Hariri was blown up. There was an amazing amount of destruction on the road and buildings in the area. Stavro took us to his house and showed us his photographs as a top international war photographer (incredibly powerful images); then as a photographer of celebrities (all this before becoming a cartoonist! - showed us his huge collection of brilliant cartoons). We were treated to a family meal and then, in the evening, we went back into downtown Beirut to a nightclub. At the end of the evening we said our goodbyes - we were very sad to leave Beirut - and, wow! What a cool dude.

11th September

We had a smooth flight to Cairo; the problem was finding a hotel due to the large amount of conferences going on in Cairo this week. We ended up at an Egyptian holiday resort - like an upgraded Butlins! - has the biggest freestyle swimming pool in Egypt, plus a health club. Very Nice.

12th September

Visited the Pyramids and Sak Kara Tombs today. We had a lovely guide who came out with us to markets and CD shops to make sure we didn’t get ripped off.
In the evening we went on a small cruise up the Nile, with food and entertainment. The tour company manager said he was going to give us a surprise for the evening. The surprise was A MAN! We had his company, looking after us all evening - and the other surprise - was the $20 tip he wanted at the end of the evening!

13th September

To recover from the $20 tip Rachel and I spent the day sunbathing and swimming; then we went to a beauty parlour and had pedicure, manicure and our hair done along with our eyebrows and moustaches ripped off Egyptian style - done with a twist of cotton and a smile! (Total - £26 for both of us) I didn’t realise how hairy I was on my face - but I can assure you I’m not now!

14th September

I contacted Tame Youssef - with some problem! He didn’t turn up as planned so Rachel and I just sunbathed and swam. Temperature was 320C - we could get used to this!

Sue