Egypt - Last Days

The last full day, we took a bus from Sharm El Sheikh back to Cairo. My advice: if you’re ever in Egypt, avoid the buses! It was interesting to see the desert on one side and the Red Sea on the other, but after about an hour of it, you’re done… and you’ve got 7 hours to go.
Our only excitement along the way, was at the Suez Canal Military Zone where they pulled over our bus, made us all get out and started to unload the luggage to do a search. A couple of guys on the bus got into a shouting match with the military guys and we started to wonder what it might escalate to. But they let us load back up after 15 minutes or so and we were on our way. Not knowing the language meant we really didn’t know what it had all been about.

Then on our last partial day, we toured a little more of Cairo before catching our plane back to Germany. We went to the old capital, Memphis, of coursing making jokes about how I was born there, and saw the second largest Sphinx, called the Alabaster Sphinx.


We visited the Hanging Church in Old Cairo that had these cool mosaics.



We also visited the Ezra Synagogue, but couldn’t take pictures, and we drove around the city some more. When we got to the airport, this cute little girl was flirting with Marty. She was adorable!


It was an interesting trip... a once in a lifetime thing, because I think once was enough and I don't think I'll go back. Still, I'm glad I went at least this once!

Sharm El Sheikh - The Red Sea

We flew from Luxor to Sharm El Sheikh, on the Red Sea, for a day of relaxation. We’d not even known of this place until we met a guy in the London Heathrow airport who told us about it. Marty attempted to pull a Moses and part the waters, but it didn't work. Anyway, the view from our hotel room was picturesque.


And here’s another shot of the beautiful surroundings.


They have a long floating pier that goes out to a floating platform that has two small swimming pools. I got a picture of it, but then realized there was a topless girl in the shot, so decided not to post it. Anyway, it was cool. It took you out just past the coral reef where you could easily get in to go snorkeling. We didn’t have an underwater camera, but soon discovered that we could take great pics of the fish from above the water off the pier. Coooooool stuff!



An awesome stingray! Never saw one with those colors before.



I think it’s a humuhumunukanukaapuaa! We saw those in Hawaii.




There was a whole family of these lion fish that came to the surface. It was like they were posing for the cameras because everyone was snapping away. None of my pics of all 3 of them came out so well, but I loved this close-up of the most colorful one.


This was the kind of snorkeling even my parents could do... from above the water!

Up, Up and Away

The next morning reminded me of a song by my mom’s beloved Engelbert Humperdink as we went “up, up and away”.


This was a first for both me and Marty, and the hot air balloon ride was one of the highlights of the week. We were supposed to float over the Valley of the Kings, but balloons are rather dependent upon the way the wind is blowing. And this morning, it was blowing us straight toward the River Nile.


We floated over buildings, and I found it fascinating how few have roofs.


We were able to get a bird’s eye view of this church


And here is a look at the full grounds of the Luxor Temple. Very cool!


Our balloon led the way, and we had an excellent captain who was in constant contact with the airport. The balloons are not supposed to float past the river, but he’d received special permission because it was so early and airport traffic had not started.


I wonder what these cows thought of us as we floated past. "What's that thing?" "Mama, why are those humans in a basket? Is it like when the farmer gathers eggs?" "That's udderly ridiculous." "Look at the pretty colors." "If I could fly, I'd jump over the moon or somethin'"


Our ground crew was amazing. They were ahead of us at all times in their vans, and as we started to land, they came running across the fields, grabbed the bottom of our basket and walked us over to a tilled field that had no plants coming up yet, and gently set us down. Then they proceeded to take the balloon down with incredible efficiency.





We watched some of the other balloons coming in for a landing.


The farmer who’s field we’d used as a landing pad, offered us a ride on his donkey. We love the donkeys. In Egypt, they call them Cadillacs, and the camels are their Ferraris.


Next we visited the Valley of the Kings, where 63 tombs have been discovered. Only 15 are open at any one time, and we visited 3 of them: Ramses I, Ramses III, and the last I don’t remember and could hardly spell anyway. They don’t allow cameras, so I have no pictures to present. You’ll just have to go check it out yourself someday. Next we visited a shop where Marty learned about the process of boring out alabaster to make vases.


Then we visited the Temple of Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh who dressed like a man; even wearing a fake beard.



Marty and I enjoyed a couple of opportunities to “walk like an Egyptian”.



Next we visited Karnak Temple, where I spotted this giant potted palm tree. Well, it at least looks like one, don’t you think?


And finally, here is our tour guide and picture taker from the last 3 days: Peter. He was a great "guy"de.

Egypt Day 4 - Edfu & Luxor Temples

The next day we visited the Temple at Edfu.


Marty strikes an Egyptian pose.


Cats! There were cats everywhere in Egypt, running around all of the monuments and temples. Marty was cuter than the kitty as he captured this shot.


We continued our float down the Nile, catching glimpses of more pastoral life.




Here’s another picture of those unfinished buildings we would see throughout Egypt.


We caught sight of a few ships that had run into trouble.



When we arrived in Luxor in the late afternoon we went to tour the Luxor Temple. Marty would have made a good Pharoah, don’t you think?


There were a few wispy clouds that made for a beautiful sunset. It rarely ever rains in Egypt. They said on the one or two days per year that it does rain, everyone goes outside and just stands looking up, enjoying the miracle.


Touring the temples in the evenings is the best. The weather is cooler and you get to see them in the light of the sun and then as they turn up the lights for the night.



They truly look like they are made of silver and gold.

Egypt Day 3 - Nile Cruise

Our second day in Aswan included an optional tour to Abu Simbel. When we heard that we had to get up at 2:30am for a 7 hour round trip bus ride to go see it, we decided NOT to. Our new Brazilian friends, Fabiano and Felismina, went and shared their pictures with us. We all called him “Brazilian Jones” because he wore an authentic Indiana Jones hat, and he was about as hot as Harrison Ford.


And before I go any further, I’ll go ahead and introduce the other two couples we hung out with on our Nile Cruise. It was quite an international party. This is Matthew and Rhianna from Perth, Australia. I’m sure I’ve not spelled her name correctly, but she told us she was named after the Fleetwood Mac song that was playing on the radio the day she was born. She said her mom didn’t spell it that way either because she just guessed based on how she thought it was pronounced in the song.


And speaking of spelling names correctly, I’m sure I’ll get this one wrong. This is Dragun and Ivana from Serbia. I don’t know how to spell either of their names, but I just know his sounds very much like Dragon and he was having to correct everyone’s pronunciation to give it just a bit more of a “u” sound. Ivana totally reminded us of Doris Proctor. They were very cool and invited us to visit them in Belgrade. I think we will!


We went on a city tour of Aswan. We saw the second biggest cathedral in Egypt, and this big mosque up on a hill overlooking the city.


It was the first time I personally got to see inside a mosque.


Here’s a shot of a typical building in Egypt. I’ve never seen so many incomplete buildings with rebar sticking out the top of pillars on the roof.


It was rather hot, so we stopped at a sidewalk café for some refreshment. It’s easy to read some Arabic. I subsequently passed out from the heat.


Next we started our cruise down the River Nile. The scenes along the way were visions of serenity and peace.


It was interesting to watch a sailboat adjust as it went under this very cool suspension bridge.




I just liked the colors in the water of this shot. It reminds me of a Monet.


This guy on a donkey made me laugh. I think he was wishing that he was on a cruise.


More images along the Nile. It was a beautiful day.


And then we spotted our sleeper train, so I took the customary pic for my dad who appreciates such things.


Next, Marty visited the Kom Ombo Temple while I napped, recovering from heat exhaustion.