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Goodbye photo of the River Nile. First of all, I know it's sad that I haven't posted in 9 months, but whatever. Also, this is from my Nokia, so hopefully it doesn't come out crappy... :-) Now that I am sitting in the airport and I am getting ready to get back on the plane to go home to Cyprus (home? that sounds weird) I thought I should voice my thoughts on this old old country of Egypt.Pollution: this is the first country I've been in where I actually wish I thought to bring a SARS mask. My allergies were constantly on red alert. 18 million people in Cairo alone... So many emissions... Atchoo...Driving: as our driver pointed out, "you need steel heart to drive in Egypt". Lane markings are a suggestion only, and if a car can fit in a space, it will! The pedestrians are brave souls, and cross the street as if they have no regard for their own lives. One taxi driver told me, "if today is the day you die, that is Allah's will!". Yeah, okay.Tourism: things are not as clearly labelled as I would have liked, and the locals don't really speak english all that well... That being said, forking out the cash for a good guide is definitely worth it. Test his english! The guide I had was an old man, 55, so he was very knowledgable about all things Cairo and Giza. Only one tomb is worth seeing, but it is incredible. The ruins are beautiful, but it's easy to overdo it... I'm sick of ruins...Cost: cheap country. 1 USD = 5.5 Egyptian Pounds, so money goes far. However EVERYBODY will try to get money off of you. Beggars, doormen, train station workers, everyone. Don't walk into a shop without intent to buy. They know we have a lot of money compared to them and will wear you down with "discounts" till you finally believe you really need a statue of a scarab that glows in the dark! There goes $25...Pyramids: simply amazing. Photos aren't enough. You see them, you touch them, you climb them (if security isn't watching) and you breathe the same air that was breathed by the workers that built them 5,000 years ago... I was lucky and could even see the pyramids from my hotel balcony! Simply beautiful...People: I never felt scared in Egypt. The people are friendly and will do their best to help you even if they can't speak English. Just be prepared to be asked for compensation! I also didn't find any Cleopatras... The woman not that beautiful to be honest... Best looking was the tourists! :-)In all this is a country that should be visited by all, but make sure you have a plan! I didn't know about the boat trip from Aswan to Luxor... I really wish I had the time to do it. Also note that there are certain trains that are Egyptian only. Why, I don't know, so make sure you verify availability well in advance for the tourist trains (otherwise known as "First Class"). Another warning. The starting price offered by ANY seller is a blatant lie. That's why your starting price must also be a complete lie. If you think it costs $10, start at $2. Seriously. And if you don't need it, walk away. They have a way of making white elephants look completely necessary to your daily survival! I hope to go back someday to do the previously mentioned trip along the Nile... And the pyramids are worth seeing again. :-) goodbye Egypt!

This is a photograph that I took of the sphinx that guards the entrance to the Luxor Hotel in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. The hotel sits at the Southern end of "the strip" and is an interesting landmark.

The concept and the name of the hotel is based on the ancient Egyptian city of Luxor. Construction on the hotel began in 1991 at a cost of over 300 million dollars. The pyramid took over 2 years to build. The grounds of the hotel have a replica of the Nile River and numerous Egyptian statues.