Everything about Sudan is much lower-key than Egypt. It’s quieter, less crowded, slower paced, and overall just more relaxing to cycle in Sudan. We reveled in the tranquility of the desert, and the soft-spoken hospitality of the Sudanese people we met. The biggest factor out on the road was the fierce desert wind, which cut our cycling speeds in half, and covered everything we own with sand. 

Why tea? Because an invitation to tea is a great opportunity to reach across cultural gaps, and really start to get to know people. We’ve only been in Egypt a short time, but we’ve already had several wonderful, tea-based experiences. So, the advice holds. Always accept an invitation to tea.