Mr. B and Me (Adventures in Saudi Arabia and beyond!)

Touring in Egypt
Page 1
(March 2005)

The trip to EGYPT was great! I was booked on a 2 week small group tour through a company called Imaginative Traveller . The tour included much of the habitable and touristic areas of the country.
CAIRO: My tour began and ended in Cairo; also I was able to spend a few days prior to the tour and afterwards with friends who live there. While in Cairo I visited the Pyramids and Sphinx (where I was "propositioned" by an Egyptian man who said he didn't like Egyptian girls because they had no "vision for the future") and the Egyptian Museum. With my friends I was also able experience traveling on the Metro (quite an experience - fortunately not at peak hours) and visit other parts of Cairo, including the Coptic Quarter. I was also blessed to be able to participate in a sunrise service on Easter Sunday.
COPTIC CAIRO The Judeo-Christian tradition has a long history in Egypt. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and the Israelites spent time in Egypt. And Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus fled here while Herod raged. The Coptic church has many traditions and sites connected with the traditions of the time the Holy Family spent in this country.	St. George Church	Streets of Coptic Cairo
The Hanging Church-dedicated to the the Virgin Mary	Where the Holy Family is said to have taken refuge	Monument in Coptic Cairo
Around CAIRO: The Pyramids at Giza are right at the edge of the city. I was able to go inside the Pyramid of Khafre - interesting although there is nothing inside now.	Mr. B and Me at the Pyramids (you can see the city in the background)	The Solar Barque (or SunBoat) found in pieces in a pit near the Great Pyramid of Khufu.
The Sphinx - still a mystery	Mounted Police - Egyptian style	Sunset on the Nile
At the Papyrus Institute	Cairo - a crowded city	Pigeon houses along the road to Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA: This is a beautiful city on the Mediterranean Sea. Here it's the Greco-Roman period of Egypt's history that is featured. We visited the Greco-Roman Museum and Pompei's Pillar and also had the chance to walk along the corniche (waterfront). Then we boarded an overnight sleeper train for the 12 hour trip to Luxor.
Our guide at the Greco-Roman Museum	Monuments in the garden of the Greco-Roman Museum	Alexandria traffic
Pompei's Pillar and other Greco-Roman monuments	A view of the corniche (from my hotel)	Mr. B and me at the Mediterranean Sea
The Alexandria Library - letters from all the alphabets in the world are on the fascade.	Getting ready to board our overnight sleeper train to Luxor	Mr. B in our sleeper compartment before the beds are put down for the night.
ON BOARD THE M.S. MELODIE: On our arrival in Luxor, we boarded this Nile cruise ship (aka floating hotel). This was our home for the next week while we cruised from Luxor to Aswan and back, visiting various sites along the way.
Here's our "boat" . . .	the M.S. Melodie	And here's our cabin - home for a whole week!
The various areas had "musical" names - Clarinet dining room . . .	the Piano Bar . . .	the Symphony Terrace (on the upper deck)
The staff were creative and fun-loving. Here they set up the towels to make a crocodile. . .	And here we found a monkey swinging from the rafters.	One night we had a Galibeya Party where we all dressed up in local garb.
Mr. B relaxing at poolside	Sunset from the deck	Boats docked as many as 6 deep!
Passing through the lock at Esna . . . 1 . . .	. . . 2 . . .	. . . 3 . . .
	Views along the NILE RIVER
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