Egypt

Driving for about three hours from Alexandria to Cairo, we saw scenery from the bus. These white blocks are massive apartment buildings. The trend is to move from inner city to outskirts, which are much more modern.  A varied terrain, but mostly sand. 

Today we visited the catacombs, which were first built for a wealthy family but then became used by the common people.We walked down several levels to reach the tombs. The tombs show a combination of Egyptian, Hellenic and Roman influences, showing Anubis and Horus in an embalming scene. Combinations of Roman and Egyptian imagery.

We are staying at the Windsor Palace Hotel in Alexandria. It dates from the early 20th century and has many historic features. Including a very unique old time elevator.

In the morning, Aswan looked like a different place from the Las Vegas of the previous night. Notice the big ssteamship that brings in hundred of tourists.

Last night was our final stay on the dahabiya, the boat that had taken us from Luxor to Aswan. We said goodbye to the crew who had helped us walk the gangplanks to get on and off the boat. We left the boat in the early morning and took a van into Aswan. The sun …

Day 11 Abu Simbel Read More »

Today was a very lazy day. We spent hours going up the Nile looking at the scenery.

This morning we visited the village of Al-Kab, where we had docked for the night. The people in the village are very friendly.   

This morning on our way to Aswan we see a ferry. Pumps take water from the Nile inland.

We spent the night parked on the river. The electricity was turned off in the night. It was claustrophobic in the cabin so I slept upstairs in the open air. In the morning fishermen slapped the water to get the fish in their nets. Other men carried grasses across the river. We could not determine what …

Day 7 Nile Esna to Nekhabk Read More »

  It was a hard night on the train from Cairo to Luxor. The bench was not really designed for sleeping, and the train stopped with a jolt every so often. After one particular hard jolt, I woke up thinking I was home in a California earthquake. At 6am, I enjoyed the view from the dirty …

Day 5 Karnak and Luxor Read More »