(1 / many, you'll see😳) Egypt was beautiful* (more to come on that). First, here are the jaw-dropping photos I took + travel advice: 
Can't recommend Pyramids View Inn in Giza enough. This is from the roofdeck where you get breakfast. It's cheaper vs the 2 luxury hotels further away. The staff is honest (so important here), and while they gently steer you into their tours, in most cases, it's a positive upsell.
Day + night view, and a "Stella" beer to go with it. There's a pyramid light show at 7pm in English (free for you from this vantage point), but it's skippable. Could be better if you're viewing it in front of the Sphinx with a paid ticket.🤷🏻♂️
(4/many) Do it for the photos: ride a 🐫 at the Giza pyramids and have your phone prepped for unreal great photos. Do it for the fun: ATVs are much more enjoyable to ride (totally worth it), but photos are further away. Wear something over your head to combat sandy hair.
(5/many) Obvious things to see: Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, and climbing INTO the pyramids (optional and bare, but do it for the cardio workout), but....
(6/many) But... don't miss the Pyramid of Djoser ('the step pyramid') in nearby Saqqara, and the Ancient Khufu Ship in the Solar Boat Museum in Giza.
(7/many) Khan el-Khalili bazaar is described as "a labyrinth of narrow alleys" via @EgyptianStreets. There's a lot of wares to buy, but the real treat is the Turkish Naguib Mahfouz Cafe and its Koshari, Egypt's national dish. My type of food!🥘
(8/many) By the way, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra screen brightness does a superb job of keeping up with bright sun shinning down on Egypt. Great phone to test out here (more to come on that, too).
(9/many) Some cabs in Cairo do not have seatbelts, or at least seatbelt fasteners. Best advice: check before you fully get in a taxi and close its door. Driving is dangerous here. This is NOT a good solution:
(10/many) Watania night train from Giza (or Cairo) is the way to go if you don't demand luxury. It's a basic sleeper train w/ bunk beds, budget-airplane-level food & a shared toilet fit for a non-glamping outhouse. ~$80 (saves on hotel/meal); 9hrs (to Luxor) / 12hrs (to Aswan)
(12/many) 1st stop in the Egyptian port city of Aswan is Philae, which is an island w/ the temple of Isis. Only accessible by boat. Dates back to 6th century BC.
(13/many) Since Aswan is a port city, the *seemingly* ideal way to get around is to rent a small sailboat to cruise up the Nile River right before sunset⛵️🌅
(14/many) In Aswan, the Nubian village and its shops provide a colorful contrast to the stone-colored monuments & yellow desert sand. Only accessible by boat, the people there have their own language that's only spoken, not written.🐫📸: GoProHero 8.
(15/many) I got a quick lesson in Arabic in the Nubian village (the best part of the trip there). My name apparently contains an emoji, which (anyone who knows me) seems oh-so-appropriate.😊
(16/many) Here's me trying to write my name in Arabic in Egypt and realizing it looks like a smiley face. Loved this part of the experience :)
(17/many) I made it! Abu Simbel Temples are 3 1/2hrs south of Aswan – each way – and 12mi (20km) from Sudan. The bus 🚌 left at 4am!😳 But so worth it. The massive rock temple statues were originally carved into the mountainside 13th cent BC. #Egypt
(18/many) The insides of the temples are filled with hieroglyphics and...
(19/many) So I’m going to skip ahead of some tweets, skip some photos and tell the world That while Egypt was breatkingly beautiful, I have been quarantined on that Nile Cruise. I feel fine.
(20/many) I was told I tested negative and then there was a mistake and I’m positive for #coronavirus. Being taken from Luxor with ~32 others to a hospital outside of Alexandria via an Egyptian military plane.
This may be my last update for the foreseeable future.
This may be my last update for the foreseeable future.
(21/many) I have internet again (for now)! This is the Egyptian military jet that took us from Luxor to a remote airport (I’m not detailing which). Followed by a convoy of at least 9 ambulances for a long, long drive ✈️ 🚑 🚑 🚑 🚑 🚑 🚑 🚑 🚑 🚑
(22/many) By the way, thank you to everyone who responded while I was in the air. I was surprised and grateful it reached so many people when I landed. I feel OK. I need sleep. It’s 5:30am and I’ve been on the move since dinner time. ❤️ ❤️
(23/many) This is what the Egyptian military plane looked like on the inside for those w/ #coronavirus. This... was a new experience.
(24/many) Arrived at the #coronavirus hospital in and saw this written down: “36.6 temp”. Turns out that’s very normal. 1st bit of good news.
(25/many) Well. This is my home in Egypt for the foreseeable future, until I am cleared of #coronavirus. The hospital staff has been extremely friendly so far. I’m exhausted and will finally get sleep...until more tests. 😴
(26/many) My Internet is limited today, but doctors in Egypt are taking care of my #coronavirus (I hid their faces). I got requests from CNN Reuters NBC & The Guardian, but I can't do TV video yet. I am being cared for & see most of your tweets. Thank you all for your support. 💓
(27) This is the last T-shirt I bought before testing for #CoronaVirus: "I ❤️ Egypt." Thank you to all of my new Egyptian friends & well-wishers, & everyone at home. I'm getting healthy food to strengthen my immune system against #COVID19. All of my vitals are good. No symptoms👍
(28) OK. Serious request, new friends. This is our last piece of toilet paper and I don't know the Arbabic words for "I need more toilet paper." Google Translate isn't working on 2G, but Twitter is. Please help! It is... urgent. 😬 #Egypt #CoronaVirus
(29) Got it! Thank you all for helping me translate toilet paper or "Manadel" to the excellent team here. We now have two rolls in our room! And I have more good news coming very soon😃..... #Egypt #coronavirus
(30) Surprise! The Egyptian #CoronaVirus medical team gave me French Fries with ketchup as one part of my dinner. I've already eaten them all before tweeting this! Getting better. Thank you, #Egypt! 🍟🤤 (very good news to come tomorrow).
(31) Good morning, #Egypt! I have been moved to a bed near the window & have 3G internet. I can talk with news media now about #CoronaVirus & the excellent Egyptian doctors. Also, I plan to wear my "I ❤️ Egypt" shirt until I leave! (Good news to come later today).
(32) Good news! I tested NEGATIVE for #CoronaVirus in #Egypt and have no symptoms. This pic is 2 days ago but I remain here. I ♥️ Egypt, the doctors & THE PEOPLE, but I miss my family & friends😥. Please, Minister of Health, send me home. RT to let me go home! #SendMattSwiderHome
