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Egypt, May 2005. -3 days each in Cairo/Aswan/NileCruise/Luxor, |
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and 6 days in Sharm el Sheik. |
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We had good guides with their individual interpretations of what happened over the 10k. years. I didn't take notes, so if you want to know the real, full story get a good book.. there are many. |
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First outing was to see the Cairo Citadel, its Temple and fantastic views of the city (and the pyramids in smog, just to left of Macdonalds building- bottom right). In the afternoon we saw the Egyptian Museum, a mosque and a bazaar. When we went out on an arranged visit , a fit young man came with us, usually the best dressed on the bus... suit and machine pistol. |
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Lots of army and/or police presence, with automatic rifles. |
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On main streets every 10 to 20 metres. Not much chance of being mugged. Cars run without lights but nobody is going fast! |
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Indiana Johns. |
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Visit Step Pyramid of Zoser and temple at Sakkara, and ancient font of knowledge - Memphis. Then to the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. Again armed presence, using speed-boats... or racing camels. |
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Forty degrees centigrade somebody said...and it will be warmer in Aswan. Phew! |
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Visible weathered blocks, but also signs of pilfering by later builders. Town built within a couple hundred metres.. shame. Sound and Light show after dark is a must.. but hope there isn't a festival going on in the high street. |
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Fly to Aswan to visit the dam. Not able to see the generators. Hotel on island on the Nile. Philae temple which was moved to higher ground shows evidence of vandalism. |
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Unfinished obelisk- led a team (bottom left) of builders from Bognor and a council man from the Sth. East to estimate a rapid completion at resonable cost. |
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Ride in felucca sail boat to Kitchener Island- botanical gardens. Kids in boats made with wood nailed together, paddle out to sing or beg for small change, and have to get back to land before they take in too much water. Tuff call!.... Guide says if the kids didn't make any money, they went back to school. |
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Didn't take the long trip to Abu Simbel. |
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Floating hotel for Nile cruise. Some of these tubs have been around a while, you notice when a very new boat went by. Our boat was tidy enough (inside at least) and the food was fine. The ride was smooth, I guess a flat bottom, on very calm water. A fat lady with cycle shorts came to shake the boat one evening. Not what I expected for a BELLY Dancer. The swirling Dervish could add a few card tricks to his act. |
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Visit best preserved temple at Edfu, followed by Valley of Kings and Queens. Great for exercise- lots of climbing up and down steps. Most visits, we did an early start so we avoided the midday sun. Then have trouble getting the bus out of the park when everybody else turned up later. |
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Didn't do the balloon ride either. Some in the party did and had a bit of excitement. |
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They flew over a restricted area and were forced to land. The landing was untidy and some blood was spilt. |
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Not very serious. |
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Now for a rest after all that history. Sharm el Sheik is not yet quite like the Mediterranean, Naama Bay is close, withs shops and clubs etc. (bot left) |
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Man-made beach on the warm Red Sea, not so much sand, more like dirt with crushed rock. Lots of reefs with loads of fish.. see new ones every time you go back in. |
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This hotel had a fit Tummy Wiggler, ...wasted on the kids. |
