Days 544 & 545: Another Mad Scheme
28.06.10-29.06.10: I was a little iniquitous last time I left Africa, and for that I am truly sorry. Africa is many things, but it’s definitely not rubbish. Infuriating perhaps, but…
Day 542: Eritrea Uncovered
26.06.10: This morning I was invited around to a local girl’s place for some traditional Eritrean breakfast. Saba and I sat in the back yard of her single room shack…
Day 541: Africa’s Final Fortress
25.06.10: We arrived in Massawa Port, Eritrea just after noon. As I sauntered down the gangplank my head, usually filled with logistics and gibberish, felt surprisingly clear: all I could…
Days 539 & 540: Back In The Red
23.06.10-24.06.10: We had to be at Baaboud Shipping for 7.30am, and, once again, Turki took time away from the office to take me there. The level of hospitality and sheer…
Day 538: The Old Jeddah Mind Trick
22.06.10: Turki had tried in vain all yesterday to get in touch with Baaboud Shipping and arrange a meeting with Ahmed. But this morning we had better luck. By 9.01am…
Day 537: OK, Where’s The Catch?
21.06.10: Turki gets up at some horrendously early hour of the morning, but I was allowed to sleep in until 8am, and then we both headed over to the Eritrean…
Day 536: And All That Hejaz
20.06.10: Turki’s apartment in the north of Jeddah was as sweet as sweet can be. Not only did I get my own room (and bathroom), his fridge was stocked and…
Days 534 & 535: The Sands Of Time
18.06.10-19.06.10: So after a good night’s kip I had a the best part of a day to shake off my hangover. The bus for Riyadh, the Saudi capital, left at…
Day 532: The Cunning Plan
16.06.10: After again saying my farewells to Luke and Dave, our mate Alasdair gave me a lift to the bus depot. After AGAIN being told the bus to Dubai was…