The Best of Egypt. 3rd - 11th December.

Wednesday 3rd December. We flew to Cairo at 3.40 pm and arrived at 5.30 pm. We were met at the airport by the companys representative and transported to our Hotel ın Cairo. We had a lovely bath - soaking our tired limbs! To bed by 8.30 pm as we are arising at 3.00am tomorrow! Once again its all go for us.


Thursday 4th December. Woke up at 3.00 am, luggage out at 3.30 am and we departed at 4.00 am. We were given brekky boxes to take with us. We flew to Luxor on Egyptian Airlines and on arrival went to visit Karnak Temple, which was just fabulous!

For over 1700 years Karnak was extended by every ruler. İt has gigantic pylons and obelisks and the Amum Temple with its phenomenal columned hall is amazing. The size and scale of Karnak is very impressive. We marvelled at the remains of the amazing avenue of the Sphinx.

We boarded our luxury cruise ship H.M. Norma for lunch and got our rooms and had a relax. At 3.30 pm we met up with our other travellers and went to visit the Grand Temple of Luxor which dominates the town. İts amazing to see ancient and modern side by side.

Next we visited a papyrus factory ( how paper was made ın ancient tımes ) and we made a couple of puchases as we felt they were good value. Back to our ship for dinner at 7.30 pm - buffet style - very nice indeed.


Friday 5th December. Awoke at 5.00 am and up and departed by 6.00 am. We headed to the West Bank of the Nile to visit the Valley of the Kings in the secluded Theban Hills. They are the Tombs of the Pharaohs.The valley is surrounded by high cliffs , dominated by a natural pyramid shaped peak. The tombs were dramatically built into the hillsides. We saw the Tombs of Ramses 4th, 9th & the 1st.

Next we visited breathtaking Deir-el-Bahri - Queen Hatshepsuts impressive temple and the Temple of Medinet Habou - both amazing! We returned to the ship and sailed for Edfu.

We spent the afternoon sunbathing & swimming in the ships pool. Our ship went through a lock at Esna and Egyptians row out in their boats to get us to buy things by throwing them up to you - and you put the money in the plastic bag & throw it back to them again. Kevin bought an egyptian outfit from them at a good steal. He ıs quıte good at negotıatıng. We had dinner at 7.30 pm & watched some T.V. till 11 pm.


Saturday 6th December. We were up & departed at 7.30 am to visit Edfu Temple. Egypts best preserved temple. İt was dedicated to the Falcon God Horus. We visited a bazaar on the way back to the ship. We continued our tranquil cruise along the Nile, sunbathing and relaxing on the top of the ship.

We arrived in Kom - Ombo at 4.00 pm.We visited the magnificent Temple at Kom-Ombo - its actually 2 temples in one. The temple was built for both the Falcon and Crocodile Gods. At 9.30 pm we had a special Egyptian Dress Up Party to attend. İt was a alot of fun dancing and listening to Egyptian music and later on some 60s music. Kevın and I both dressed up as best we could to resemble Egyptıans. To bed around 11.30 pm.


Sunday 7th December. We were up at 6.00 am and departed at 7.00 am to visit the Unfinished Obelisk, the High Dam of Aswan and the Temple Isis - on a wee İsland called Philae. All very historical and interesting! We went back to the ship for lunch & had a relax.

At 2.00 pm we met up again for a wonderful Felucca ride across the Nile to visit the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener's İsland. The Felucca is the traditional craft of the egyptians who have sailed in them down the centuries.

We had dinner altogether again at 7.30 pm. Then we had an Egyptian Music & Dance Show at 9.00 pm. İt was very interesting and very entertaining!


Monday 8th December. We were up at 6.00 am and departed at 7.00 am. We were taken to Aswan Airport to catch the plane to Abu Simbel which took 30 minutes. Next we got a bus to the Sun Temple of Abu Sımbel. İts a fabulous Temple that was reclaimed & reconstructed in its present location.

İt is possibly the most awe inspiring temple of all ancient Egypt with its gigantic rock. The facade was created to the mighty ruler Ramses 2nd. Our guide Hazem is such an expert on Egyptology - he makes it interesting and humorous as well.

At midday we caught the bus back to Abul Simbel Airport to catch the plane back to Aswan and then on to Cairo. We arrived at our Hotel - Ramses Hilton at 4.00 pm. Kevin went off to use the internet and İ watched some TV.


Tuesday 9th December. We were up at 7.00 am and departed at 8.30 am on a city tour with our guide Hazem. First we visited Citadel of Salah-al-din, a spectacular complex dominating Cairo's skyline. Next we visited Sultan Hassan Mosque. İt was very ornate inside and an amazing place.

İn Old Cairo we visited the Hanging Church of St Mary ( a coptic church). We also saw the Egyptian Museum for 3 hrs seeing all the treasures there, especially King Tutankhamun's priceless treasures. Howard Carter discovered King Tut's tomb ın the Valley of the Kings in 1922. We saw Tutankhaman's solid gold death mask too.

We returned to the Hotel just after 3 pm for the evening. Kevin went for a swim ın the Hotel pool. At 7 pm we went out for McDonalds for tea & then a walk round Cairo & we walked over a bridge over the Nile to enjoy some of the night life. Home to TV & bed!

Wednesday 10th December. Another full day in Cairo. We were up at 6.00 am & departed at 7.30 am to see amazing sights! First we visited the famous Pyramids & the Sphinx of Giza. (representing wisdom & power) We gazed in awe at Cheops Pyramid - the largest of the 3 great pyramids, constructed from over 2.5 mıillion limestone blocks & taking more than 20 years to complete. This is one of the Seven Wonders of the World & we are here!

Leah, Alice & İ also rode a camel each for 20 minutes in the desert of Giza, what an experience!!
Next we visited a cotton shop to view their wares. We continued on to Memphis where we saw the limestone statue of Ramses 2nd and a giant Alabaster Sphinx too.

We carried on to Sakkara where the Step Pyramid was the first pyramid built and heralded the start of the pyramid age. We explored some of the Tombs & Temples at this site. The Step Pyramid was constucted by İmhotep the Pharaoh's Chief Architect in 27 BC.

Then we called into a Carpet School and learnt how they were made. - no purchases here!
Back to the Hotel in Cairo and we said our goodbyes to each other & Kevin said a poem of thanx he had written. Some of us met up at 6.30 pm for dinner altogether at a little İtalian Restaurant. Home by 8.30pm and bed soon after!

Thursday 11th December. We got up at 6.00 am & were picked up from the Hotel at 7.00 am for the drive to Alexandria on the Mediterranean Coast (3 hrs). We visited the Catacombs - where important Romans & Egyptians were buried. We visited the seafront & port of Alexandria, the Citadel, Amud Sawari - relics & statues from a bye gone time. We had lunch at a restaurant over looking the Alexandria Beach. An Egyptian meal of fish - Different!

We also visited the Alexandria Library - which is an amazing building & a wonderful research tool for university students here.We left at 2.30 pm for the drive back to Cairo. Arriving at our Hotel at 6.00 pm, after our long day. We had breadrolls & a coke for tea in our room, showered & hit our bed as we have a 4.00 am get up time tomorrow.