Today (7-8-21) it's time, we can finally board the plane again! The preparation for this trip was a lot more intensive, checking the travel advice every few days and acting on it. Anyway, we are at Schiphol.
With two PCR tests in our pocket, a recovery certificate and fully vaccinated, we have a kind of pandemic bing card in our hands. Yes, you read that right, two PCR tests. After the many stories that the government's free test often arrives late, we don't just bet on this test. In addition, we had already responded to one long before it became known that free testing was coming.
When you arrive at Schiphol, you immediately notice what COVID-19 is doing to the travel industry. Schiphol is empty, people (almost) all wear masks and there is an unprecedented peace. Egyptair opens its check-in desk well in advance, something we already bet on. We can already check in with three hours before we leave. Customs follows and of course another child of ours has to be searched. Joëlla, who is four years old, probably has a crook's head.
When we hear the 'mind your step', a euphoric feeling arises. How I missed traveling, exploring and meeting people. To make memories that last for years. Egypt here we come!
And that we are going to Egypt was soon confirmed. Although we were asked to be at the gate at 15:45 for boarding, it soon became apparent that the aircraft was not even there yet. Half an hour later we see the plane landing, taxiing and we see the passengers leave the plane. The spectacle of the suitcases was fun again. We could keep the kids busy for at least 20 minutes to see if they saw our bags. And yes they saw it! Bag on the belt, bag up, bag almost in the device and bag falls down.🤦🏼♂️
With more than an hour delay we can board. Don't expect the luxury of a KLM flight at Egyptair, they sometimes say, but to be honest, I wouldn't immediately know what that means.
Ok, the flight was a bit delayed. The aircraft may not be as beautiful as a KLM version. But the friendliness of the staff (towards children in particular) immediately compensates for everything. Because we have a scheduled flight and go to an orange area, the aircraft is mainly filled with Egyptians and/or Dutch people with an Egyptian background. Arabic is the language on board.
The friendliness, which characterizes Arabs in general, is immediately noticeable. The man in front of me sees Jaira and immediately says (in English) 'she can have my chair, next to my daughter. Can they play together?
Even better is the conversation with the man next to me. He addresses me and asks for my T-shirt. I am wearing a shirt with the backpackingkids.nl logo with very large 'backpackingkids' on the back.
We get into a conversation, the man (Hoksha) thinks it's great that we take the children to the non-obvious places. He appreciates that we are going to show them Egypt. He himself also lives in Rotterdam, a stone's throw from our home. He has been living 'here' for work for a few years now.
We have a very nice conversation, about travel, Egypt and Cairo. He gives me his number and asks me to keep in touch. He wants to show us the real Cairo. And this, these contacts, this is what we do it for.
Around 21:00 the plane is on the ground, then we are exposed to chaotic Cairo. First in line for the corona check, then my contact person is waiting for us. He escorts us to the visa check. I give some money, he buys a visa and in no time we are back in line. And this is typical Egypt. At counter 1 you buy a visa. Counter 2 will stamp your visa. Counter 3 check the stamp of counter 2.
The advantage is that the bags are ready, quickly in line for the exit (suitcase check) and then we are done. Fortunately we have children with us, because the customs officer lets us walk around the scan, he sees that the kids want to go to bed. And so we walk (uncontrolled) at 22:30 into the 32 degrees warm air of Cairo. On to our first hotel!
