22nd April. Nuweiba, Egypt

Not a good start for Egypt. Had to stay the night in the customs compound at this port because they needed a guarantee the extension on our vehicle carnet is valid. That meant waking up at 3am to ring the AAA in Australia and ask them to fax authentication to the customs office here. I have dealt with the lady concerned in the past, she knew the situation as it often happens on the Indian border, and, I hope, faxed the form. She was going to email it as well. We will see when the office finally opens.
Started off ok; dropped Emma off at the border with Israel outside Aqaba then made our way to the ferry terminal. Found there that the van was to do on the slow boat to Nuweiba while we caught the fast passenger. It would mean a wait for the slow one to arrive. The trip took 90 minutes, and then there was a 45 minute wait standing ready to disembark. Getting our Egyptian visas was fairly quick then there was a 4 hour wait for the other boat along with the other vehicle owners and truckies. When the boat did come in and the gang plank come down there was a further hour’s wait, again I’m not sure why.
Then the fun began. The other vehicles had to empty all their belongings out, we at least were spared that. Then it was off to myriad offices to get pieces of paper signed, inspections of serial numbers, further offices and then at the end of it all at about 9.30pm (this had started at 6) we were told we had to get this authorisation. At least it wasn’t too hot and not that noisy after all the other vehicles had left. We did have the help of a senior traffic customs officer which made an impossible task easier.
I don’t think I saw one computer in the port with much of the paperwork being taken down in long hand by a group of workers. When Emma visited some years ago they were still using typewriters, I think things have declined.
Later.
Well no fax. Peppina from AAA left a message to say she had difficulty sending it to the number I supplied. We may have to go up to print it off her email. Stay tuned