Siwa Oasis. I did not sleep because nasty mosquitoes. Why I did not take my mosquito net with me? So far I din not experience mosquitoes on Sahara…
Do not repeat my mistake! Siwa is different!
But it is also very interesting. People in traditional dress say: we are not Egyptians, we are Siweans.
In the morning I took a walk to the Cleopatra Bath – lovely place under the palm trees. The pool and two stylish mudbrick restaurants are there… Then it is 15 minutes walk to the temple of Amun, and another 10m minutes to the famous Temple of Oracle. Alexander the Great came here in 331 before Christ to confirm that he is the son of Zeus. Now I am here – paying 25 pounds for the entrance to contemplate the silence and the great view from the temple hill. The ocean of palms, the lakes om the horizon (yes, there are lakes at this season in Siwa Oasis) and rocky Jebels (hills)…
Only 50 kms to the border of Libia through the sand dunes on the western side!
In the afternoon I found the company to rent 4WD and we went to the sand dunes. Local young driver wanted to impress us going up and down steep, 50 m high dunes. A lot of adrenaline… But also great views of the ocean of sand. Finally we saw a freshwater lake in the middle of the complex of the high dunes – hard to believe! They call it Bir Wahid. Great chance to swim in the cold, fresh water enjoying the sandy hills around…
Tomorrow I have first critical segment of this trip: I found 2 people to share the cost of 4WD car to the Oasis of Bahariya (they charge 1400 EGP per car). We have more than 300 km to drive through the desert. Hope that everything will go well… Yalla!
