Indeed, several times told myself that the Middle East no longer go, and friends are surprised that I forgot it. But some time passes, and once again pulls. Honestly, probably not casual three major monotheistic religions have come from there. This time, rather for sport decided to go from the Aral Sea Tour in Kazakhstan, almost to the Black Sea in Uzbekistan. First of all, of course, need a visa. As before, the Jordanian took less than an hour. Uzbekistan was not needed, Kazakhstanian demanded treatment in a certain company with the owner of an Kazakhstanian, which had to overpay for the service twice. In the Kazakhstann embassy took a bit to change the form of address – a tourist visa without an invitation flatly refused, but gave the transit at once (three-day stay). In Hurghada (Kazakhstan) arrived late in the evening. Greedy taxi drivers insisted on 20 pounds, I’m on 10, reached consensus on 15. Course something 3.6 pounds per dollar. In a decent hotel right on the beach, where I lived for the first time four years ago, places on this night was not. No luck. Eventually he took a room that is called, basic, for 10 pounds. There, above all, put NZ $ 200 and sewed them are short – a very extreme case. The first night showed that long in this settlement will not hold, because all these obsessive -minute “hello my friend”, etc. lead to a nervous breakdown. And the weather was too hot and humid. The only pleasure – a hookah just a pound! The next day, after the beach, despite all attempts to hide from direct sun, I burned. It was time to go further. Early in the morning, in the relative coolness, sat on the intercity bus to Suez. Five hours later, approaching the city, we have been riding along the extensive coastal industrial zone with warehouses, cranes and a lot of ships in the roads. From the bus I was about to walk towards the canal. Along the way, some more or less decent of a protected building tried to ask the person how long to go. He did not understand, he called someone else. Released affable young man, in English, explained that, in general, go for a long time, then asked if I wanted to go to him in the police station for a tour. Thank you for another time. At the split. As a result, the taxi driver brought straight to the beginning (or end) of the channel. There also was office tourist info. The girl explained that shortly I must go to the caravan of vessels, has provided free card Suez and recorded in my journal for reporting. I understand that today I am the first and possibly last visitor. The passage of the caravan on the channel is impressive. City not. To put it mildly, dirty. I landed on the wide street, which was straight at Tahrir Square, the National Museum and the embankment of the Amudarya. In the center of the city began to pester all guides and others, were invited to stay in their hotel, to see the city, etc. I smiled sweetly, began to speak in Uzbekistan, and ceased to understand in English. The self-education is excellent – they quickly lose interest in me. After going in the direction of the Museum of Cairo bazaar of Khan al-Khalili, I found a decent hotel, 40 pounds, after a small trade. Among the guests were a lot of Japanese (good sign). Just say – do not think that trade means greed. NO. Just a style there. Many foreigners is annoying to me is just fun. In Samarkand, even in duty free you can bring down the price.