Egypt - Cairo + Desert

Arriving in Cairo, we immediately started looking for a taxi driver. Since it was already past 1 o'clock, we negotiated, but still paid too much. When we arrived at the hotel, we sat down in the lobby and waited. After 1 1/2 hours, we were told that the hotel was full, but 'no problem', we'll find another one. Uh, and that took 1 1/2 hours?!
So, at half past three in the morning, we got a tour of Cairo. Past security guards armed with machine guns (whatever they were guarding), dozens of run-down, vacant houses, and burned-out cars, nice welcome. The second hotel was also full. In the third one, we got lucky at 4 o'clock. After drinking tea with the owner until 5 o'clock and planning our next few days, we went to bed.

Shortly before ten, we had breakfast served to us. Then we went to the Cairo Tower (~160 meters), nice view, but the four times higher price for tourists was only partially worth it. Then we let ourselves drift through the city, went to the train station to check how to get further. Night trains only for locals, except for a private train, but that costs 90€, no thanks!

Back at the hotel, we made plans again with our host and were invited to dinner at another hotel. They cleared the table, spread out newspapers, and then we ate everything that was possible with our hands. Plucking chicken, mashing rice together, and sometimes being fed, great!
After that, we had endless sweet tea and continued planning for the day. First, we booked Giza and other cities for tomorrow.
In the evening, we quickly went to get water and didn't return until 4 hours later because we let ourselves get into a conversation. A retired teacher who speaks perfect English and showed us around the city. He paid for the taxi ride, or rather told the driver that we had been robbed and he would help us. Then he bought and showed us various specialties and, as mentioned, brought us back after four hours. In between, he casually mentioned his sick wife, and we already suspected what was coming. Well, in the end, we gave him ten euros and didn't go to bed until 5 o'clock again.

At 10 o'clock, we set off with a private driver and guide. In front of the pyramids, everyone was searched and the occupants of the cars noted, past the military police. One should have seen the last of the remaining Seven Wonders of the World, interesting and impressive, but that's about it.
Good thing we had a driver, the distances between the pyramids and the other historical cities are quite far apart.

Since we had already seen enough of old stones, we decided the next day for a trip to the desert. 5 hours drive to the 'Oasis city' Bawiti. It was not a classic oasis as one would imagine. The city was more like a post-war place, with a few trees and garbage. The ATMs were guarded by the police or security guards with shotguns.

We found our destination with Talaat, who had a few new bungalows, a hot spring, and a pool to offer.

There, we booked a 3-day desert tour. We saw several different deserts, a large canyon, and a salt lake. A nice experience, but the pictures speak for themselves. After 5 really relaxing days in the desert, we are now heading back to Cairo and then 12 hours to Marsa Alam for diving.