We left our hotel and went to the fort built on the site of the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

Back on the coach we headed west following the Mediterranean coast to El Alamein where we stopped to visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery. The battle of El Alamein was a major allied victory in North Africa and a turning point for British fortunes in WW2

We visited the museum nearby featuring many military vehicles.

We continued along the coast road to a hotel that, although closed for the winter, had offered to provide us with lunch.

For many miles we drove past hundreds of resorts and hotels that were all empty – used only in the summer months. Turning off the coast road we drove through desert to Wadi El-Natrun a fertile valley and then to a Coptic Christian Monastery where we were shown around by one of the monks.

After a long day our driver, Raphaelo, took us back to Cairo but this time to the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

We had dinner in a restaurant in the nearby shopping centre.