On convoy in Egypt:
Assembly of convoy: every morning at about eight o'clock on the ourskirts of Aswan, or Luxor respectively. One police car in front, another at the end. The whole thing is a farce, since after about 30 minutes the convoy is strung out over 5km. But it's the law. South of Luxor, when there are no longer enough vehicles to make up a convoy, you will get a police escort at the first police checkpoint that stops you. They will take you from their jurisdiction to the next, where you wait for the next escort. A pain in the butt, but that's the law. Apparently, if you take the "Oasis Route" west of Luxor, there is no need for a police escort. Minya seems to be the centre of low-life terrorists. After a while you begin to hate the black Toyota pick-up trucks of the police. But there is nothing you can do about it. It costs nothing, and tourists in Egypt are an endangered species at present. And they need their cash!!!
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