It is to be sincerely hoped that Egypt will soon again be a favourite resort for Brits.
The first week was taken up with a trip on the river Nile from Luxor to Aswan and back, on board the Lady Mary.
We went ashore at a number of sites of archaeological interest, such as Edfu, Kom Ombo and Luxor itself, where we visited the great temple of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings on the opposite bank of the Nile.
The journey along the Nile was pleasant and relaxing, giving us the opportunity to see the local people on the banks going about their agricultural pursuits in the same way as they have been doing over the centuries.
The visits to the temples were interesting, but could be tiring at times, especially when standing around in the heat listening to the guide explaining all the carvings, hieroglyphics, etc.
For the second week we undertook a four hour coach journey, in convoy for security purposes, across the desert to Hurghada on the Red Sea, where we chilled out in a first-class hotel.
Hurghada has been developed as a holiday resort, consisting of a number of imposing hotels set in magnificent grounds and surrounded by souvenir shops, but we did not find it as interesting as Sharm-el-Sheikh, which we had visited a couple of years previously.
Some tips: The Luxor McDonalds does a mean milk shake, and there is a spectacular view of the temple through its huge picture window.
At Hurghada, if they try to give you an inferior room, make a fuss!
It took a while to get used to the local custom of putting used toilet paper in the receptacle provided instead of down the loo, but I expect that will be the norm here too one day.