Well, I guess is the final entry now we are back home.

Our final day in Cairo was another great one. We started with a return trip to the Giza Plateau to see a bit more, and of course have another close-up look at the pyramids. Many people say they are disappointed when they visit the pyramids, but I just can't understand that. They are awe-inspiring, it is as simple as that. Even going back for a second time, and having seen them from our hotel for several days, standing alongside the Great Pyramid is a pretty special experience. On this return visit, Hassan takes us to some of the less-visited tombs and temple complexes, amazingly quiet yet just a few steps away from the main sights. We also visit the solar boat museum, to see the huge dismantled cedar boat discovered buried next to the pyramid and rebuilt by archaeologists. It is yet another source of amazement at the achievements of the people who lived here thousands of years ago!

From Giza, we continue the theme of return visits by making our way down to Saqqara for a second time. Here, we see the festival temple next to the Step Pyramid, one of the later pyramids along with its temple complex and causeway, and then (the highlight) several of the best-decorated and preserved tombs we have seen during the entire trip. A perfect way to round off our touring of the ancient sites.

After a delicious lunch at one of Hassan's local restaurants (he can't make the meal tonight because of a family problem), we have just enough time for a chillout at the hotel before we meet Ahmed to go out for the evening. First, he says he is going to take us to an Italian restaurant he likes but as we get chatting about eating out, we mention that we eat Indian a lot at home so he says we'll do that instead. After an interesting taxi journey through the Cairo evening traffic - we are becoming accustomed to the style of driving here but, as everywhere, taxi drivers seem to take it to a whole new level - we reach the restaurant, which turns out to be very good. Because we are so spoilt by the brilliant Indian restaurants in Birmingham, we often avoid them while travelling now after being disappointed on various occasions, but on this occasion it is excellent. Ahmed is fun company as well, his wife sent flowers for Sally-Jayne and called to speak to both of us during the evening, very unexpected.

Friday morning, we were torn between heading out somewhere for the morning and relaxing before our departure. Eventually, the latter option wins out and we take our time packing and enjoying the last few hours at the Meridien, before leaving in the early afternoon. Once again, very impressed with BMI on the flight home, especially the leg room and the food. An uneventful car journey gets us home, tired but very satisfied.

Still too soon to look back and reflect properly on the trip, apart from to say that we had an amazing time and will definitely be heading to Egypt again. The country itself and the places we visited (especially the antiquities) were everything we had hoped, but the real icing on the cake was the people we met. All extremely friendly, helpful and welcoming, we found genuine warmth wherever we went. We truly feel as though we have made new friends that we will stay in touch with.

Thanks to everyone who has been checking this journal to keep up with our travels. I hope you enjoyed reading it and that it gave you a taste of Egypt itself.