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Cape to Cairo 2010

A Motorcycle Diary
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21 August (Day 53)

21 Aug

Well its not like the frustration of today was not to be expected!! We went down to the port at 09h00 to collect our bikes only to sit around until 14h00 and not leave with bikes. The only thing we got done was to unload the bikes and get our carnets stamped…THATS IT!!! This took 5 hours and tomorrow we have to go back to do more paperwork and pray to G_d that we get to leave with our bikes. We have essentially been stuck without much progress for a week now and it is beginning to drive us insane!!!

It seems that Bureaucracy in this Northern part of Africa has been taken to a whole new level because what takes 30 minutes at most border posts through Africa can take 2 to 4 days in this part of the world and the problem is exacerbated if you arrive on a Friday and doubly so if you arrive during the month of Ramadan. The bureaucratic process seems to work only if there is a fixer involved and even so, if the fixer has not greased the palms of the proper customs people, then the process of clearing the bike through customs is one single long exercise in patience and frustration. The custom officials argue endlessly in Arabic with the fixer and nothing but shouting at each other takes place for hours on end.

If it wasn’t for the fact that you need these people and that they hold this very small amount of power that affects our lives detrimentally, I think that Agatha Christie would be able to follow up with a sequel, death on the Nile 2!!

Assuming that we successfully get our bikes out of customs tomorrow, then I will be heading for Hurghada and Dale will be heading for Luxor. I want to dive and Dale would like to see more of the archaeological stuff. We will either meet up in Cairo on Tuesday alternatively, Dale will come to Hurghada on Monday night and we will do the last leg of our journey into Cairo together.

No pics today as all we saw was the interior of a customs office!!!!

 
BackABuddy Many of us have the means and wherewithal to undertake the dreams we want but elect to choose otherwise, many however, do not and that is the purpose of this plea. Afrika Tikkun (http://afrikatikkun.org// ) is a South African non governmental, non profit charity organisation run by the Lubner family that in essence does just that; re-provide the possibility to dream and to create the possibility of turning those dreams into a reality.

Unlike many pleas of this nature, I am not looking for any kind of sponsorship for my trip, but I am looking for your donation, regardless of its size to Afrika Tikkun. Please pledge generously as this is a fantastic cause that will assist them to provide food, care, education, health and social services to those that are desperately in need.
3 Comments

Posted in Cape to Cairo 2010, Diary Archive

 

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  1. Adam and Jed

    August 22, 2010 at 9:36 am

    Hi guys,dear Rui. Adam BROKE HIS ARM and got stiched from a bike accident at his friends house.He is fine now. Good luck for the rest of your trip love Adam and Jed.

     

  2. Iain Banner

    August 24, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    Well boys you must just about be in Cairo. I am not sure what has happened to the last two days postings but I believe Rui you have been diving and Dale visiting the pyramids( I think). I hope you got a chance to see Soma Bay on your way to Hurgada Rui. It elicits fantastic memories. Just a few more sleeps and we will be seeing you both. Can’t wait! And most importantly, congratulations on your Epic journey.What an achievement.

    Best
    wishes
    Iain

     

  3. Paul

    August 25, 2010 at 6:57 am

    Hi Rui and Dale, hope you are ok and safely in Cairo.