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Like all of life there is good news and bad gnus.&nbsp; I received notice
that my van had arrived from the UK to Alexandria, Egypt on the 23rd of
September just as scheduled by the shipping co.&nbsp; It took several days
to unload the ship and then I was notified that my container was ready
to go.&nbsp; The university here has a great office to facilitate matters
so I took full advantage of their services.&nbsp; After a few days I was
told that the cost to clear the van out of customs would be EL3,000 (Egyptian
pounds) just as a first installment.&nbsp; Well folks, that is CND$1,200
or US$800.&nbsp; Just to get started!!!&nbsp; But I figured that I am paid
enough here to spread the wealth around a bit, not to mention that I had
no choice.&nbsp; So I paid the money to the university and off they went.
<p>I had asked to go with them as I wanted to make sure that all went well,
they figured that it would take about 3 or 4 days to clear the van out
of customs, and I had classes to teach so I could not go.&nbsp; Sure enough
4 days later I get a phone call last night about 8 p.m. and the university
"expediter" says he is out in front of my apartment building with the van.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Well, that is the good news.
<p>He said that the van ran well on the 200 km trip from Alexandria to
Cairo.&nbsp; I got in the drivers side to park the van in 'my place' and
thanked him for his efforts.&nbsp; It was after he left that I did the
"parking lot walk around" to check for puddles and dents.&nbsp; Here comes
the bad news.&nbsp; Along the sliding door there is a nice&nbsp; 3 foot
high, 3 foot long scrape.&nbsp; Bummer.&nbsp; But I am taking the attitude
that "shit&nbsp; happens" and I will not let it ruin my having the van
with me now and the fact that now our trips around Egypt will begin!!!!
<p>Driving here is absolutely chaotic and even though I have driven in
many&nbsp; countries and major cities ( on the left and right side of the
road), I am VERY apprehensive about going out on the road here.&nbsp; One
problem is that my Arabic is limited to the phrase book, so if I get lost,
I'm in real trouble.&nbsp; Getting lost is not too likely thought, as on
our first few outings we will be staying within the nile valley (between
the Nile river and the desert), a distance of not more than 5 kms at any
one time, so knowing that, and knowing north and south, we should be able
to find our way home.
<p>Oh yes,&nbsp; I promise I will get a picture of my van in front of the
pyramids!!!!&nbsp; Maybe a Syncro shot of my van climbing the pyramids&nbsp;
:-)
<p>Anyone who wants filling in on my saga from Halifax NS, to UK to Cairo,
can hunt up my posts on the list.&nbsp; I hope that your having a good
day, as my day just got better.&nbsp; More reports will be forthcoming&nbsp;
when warranted.
<p>Your foreign vanagon correspondent,&nbsp; Malcolm Stebbins
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