Friday October 8th, 1999

Eddie Irvine started his Marco Polo tour from Bologna on Thursday when he arrived at the airport fresh from a Ferrari test at nearby Fiorano. However, before he could take off for Egypt in his Falcon 10, the Ferrari star first had a photo shoot for the Italian scooter firm of Piaggio, although while he waited for the shoot to take place, he strummed quietly on his guitar, which, it seems, will also be making the trip to the Far East!

Irvine, his manager, a photographer and the two pilots of the plane eventually left at 14.45pm for the 3hr 20m flight to Cairo. "This is the way to do it," said Irvine as he relaxed in his plane with an air of anticipation of the forthcoming tour which meanders slowly from Italy, Egypt, Dubai, India, Thailand and Malaysia, to Macau, Hong Kong and Japan.

The formalities of entering Egypt were slightly frustrating as a tourist official helped with arrival procedures, but the party was soon on their way to the Marriott hotel in warm 20 degree weather. The hotel has a fabulous view of the Nile, much appreciate by Irvine who later went out to explore the city.

There was an early start for the tour party and Irvine this morning, when they awoke in Egypt to head off for the world renowned Pyramids just outside Cairo. It took just half an hour to get there in the early morning traffic. The area opened at 8 am and in the early morning light, Irvine was most impressed. "These things are enormous, aren't they?" exclaimed the Ferrari star as he surveyed them for the first time. "I'm really impressed by their size! And the desert just disappears into the distance. There's a lot of sand here!"

Eddie spent only half an hour at the Pyramids before heading off to Cairo airport to rejoin his plane. Next on the agenda is Dubai, a swinging city which Eddie and the party are looking forward to.