The traffic was a nightmare, with cars ignoring the lanes and creeping along en mass. The diversity of vehicles and passengers was especially interesting. We saw one truck carrying young women who waved and giggled at our coach. Non-air conditioned buses moved so slowly that those seeking a ride would just chase the bus, the driver would open the door, and the panting passenger would pack himself inside. The bus never needed to stop. Pickup trucks filled with watermelons and cauliflower baking in the mid-day sun poked their way to market. And then there was the occasional donkey cart or motor scooter, just to keep things interesting.
We drove through Cairo and across the lower Egyptian desert for over three hours and were very happy to see the beautiful Silver Shadow. A welcome glass of champagne in hand, we unpacked, had a wonderful dinner, and began the Suez Canal transit.
The next morning, the white sand of the Sinai and Asia was on our port side and Africa was starboard as we slowly sailed through the Suez Canal. Due to the heavy ship traffic, the Silver Whisper and the other 15 southbound ships anchored for several hours in the Great Bitter Lake while we waited for the 37 northbound ships to pass.
Although the Suez does not have locks, it is not wide enough for ships to pass except in the lake. About 18,000 ships pass through the Suez Canal each year, and the canal generates over $3 billion in revenues for Egypt. It is a major income source for Egypt, and an important link between Europe and Asia.
After an overnight cruise, we awoke in Sharm el-Sheikh.
