2008 - Egypt

Here are some of the 1600+ pictures we took. The trip started out the best way... with a limo ride to JFK Airport.

Our first six nights were spent at the Cairo Marriott.

Here we are having diner as the guests of an Egyptian family in Cairo.

The major pyramid on the Giza plateau. This always looks like it is in the midde of the desert but it is just on the outskirts of Cairo.

Eileen upon a noble "ship of the desert".
" Mohammed Rick" ... only an American would wear shorts on a camel !
It's hard to imagine the spectacule of this location.

The pyramids at night... even more spectacular !

One of the first temples we visited. It had a large ampetheater.

Roughing it with no indoor plumbing....
A day trip to Alexandria.
Eileen and Julie.
The Alexandria Library today.
A hotel pool where we had lunch in Alexandria. Note that Muslim women swim fully clothed. Saw many women like this on the beaches.

An Alexandria beach on the Mediterranean Sea.
The three tour guides on our entire trip... Baseem, Nabil and Amin enjoying a hooka.
One of the largest mosques in Cairo.
This was the "day of feasting" after Ramadan and everyone wore their finest and brightest clothing.
Our group inside the mosque being instructed on the Muslim religion.

This is Nabil Habib, our guide, showing the proper way of prayer. There is a call to prayer 5 times a day.
Some of the local women coming to the mosque.
This is a Coptic Church. 20% of the Egyptian population is Christian.
This is the top of the "Big Dam" on the Nile constructed by the Egyptian Government. The Aswan Dam is smaller and was the first dam on the Nile. It was constructed by the British.
Eileen at the top of the dam.

Eileen, Carol and Nabil. One of the many falukas (sailboats) on the Nile. We did an afternoon sail on one like it.
One of the "mates" on our faluka.
Flying into Abu Simbel you can see the great tombs on the left.
This is the 1st of two temples constructed by Ramesses II in 1300 BC to commemorate himself and his wife Nefertari. Each statue is appox. 70 feet tall.

The 2nd of the temples.
After a week in Cairo we boarded a ship in Aswan for 7 days on the Nile. Between day trips we spent a leisurely time around the pool.

Cruising the Nile was a fantastic sight ! It's hard to capture the beauty in a photo.

In the small villages the women used the river for cleaning everything. Here they are with the pots and pans.
Life on the Nile seemed to revolve around farming and fishing.

One of the hundreds of birds living on the Nile.
The young boys loved to row out next to the ship.
At night the "entertainment" usually involved some of the passengers.
A bazaar at night. The only problem was when you just glanced at something the guy was in your face trying to make a deal. He'd start at 250 and I'd say 20 and if I held at 20 as he came down (200, 150, 100, etc) it would never cost me more than 30. You could never really shop for anything.

The Valley of the Kings... only about 115 that day !

The lines to see most of the tombs were long and hot.
Here I found an open tomb way up on a hill where no one wanted to climb except me. This is the stairway down.

This was a painting on the wall. You were not allowed to take pictures but I was the only one in the tomb at that time.
This is the Valley of the Queens...just as hot !
Each evening our cabin steward would create something out of the towels. Quite creative !
Some of the local entertainment in a small town.
Back on the ship we were entertained by a "whirling dirvish".

We got to visit 2 Egyptian schools... this first one is for younger children.
And this is a high school.
We were entertained with local singing and dancing.
The temple of Karnack... although there was no mention of Johnny Carson.

Before dawn we were treated to a sunrise hot air balloon ride. This is one of the balloons being inflated before dawn.
Sunrise from a balloon over the desert.

This is the balloon we rode as it touches down.
The temple of Luxor.

This is the original colors used by the ancient Egyptians.
Original wall carvings... over 3000 years old.
Egyptian Night aboard the ship. Do we look like Yul Brenner and Anne Baxter ?

The four couples that dined and traveled together. Me, Eileen, Keith & Julie Horder, Chase & Paula Pugliese, Carol and Jeff.
Hot stuff !!!

Security was everywhere. Here are 2 soldiers with a 50 ca. machine gun on the front of our ship.

BUT, we never felt in danger. We went out and walked the steets of Cairo at night wih absolutely no problems. And the streets were crowded.