http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/4-Non-Blonds/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from 4 Non Blonds en-us Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:50:11 +0000 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:50:11 +0000 Day 18We were able to sleep in a little on day 18. We packed up our stuff and headed to the airport to fly from Cappadocia back to Istanbul. We arrived Istanbul in the afternoon and headed straight to a Turkish Bath House. We were a little nervous because of previous of our previous Egyptian massage experience. We walked in and were handed yes our own sponges This simple hygenic gesture http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/blog-413347.html Day 17Our day started with a 411 am call to prayer. All of our hotels are located near mosques sometimes we can hear the call sometimes not. This morning it was loud and clear. It didnrsquot really matter too much though as we had our alarm set for 415 am to get ready for a 440 departure to our sunrise hot air balloon ride. We arrived way too early at the launch site and just stood ar http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Central-Anatolia/Cappadocia/Goreme/blog-412875.html End of Day 16 We finally arrived in Kayseri around 4PM and had a 1 hour drive to Cappadocia and our hotel. We were a bit worried when we saw the outside of the hotel but upon entering the room we were pleasantly surprised. The hotel is built into the side of the hills in caves. The room has arched ceilings of stone and the bathroom is about the size of the bedroom with an open shower. Chester http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Central-Anatolia/Cappadocia/Goreme/blog-412871.html Day 15 Our day started with a ridiculous wake up time of 4 am. Our Transport picked us up at 440 am and we were off to the airport for a 630 flight to Izmir. We were hoping to catch a few zzz's while waiting for our flight but no so. There were probably about 12 children various ages all totally awake and totally running around and screaming. Thanksfully though they were not on our fligh http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Black-Sea/blog-412467.html Day 14After our arrival to Istanbul yesterday we took a walk around the area of our hotel. Taxim is in the main part of town right near tons of shops and restaurants. Istanbul is full of great areas all over the city and with 10 million residents every where is busy but it is beautiful to walk around the shopping districts and restaurants and clubs. The hotel recommended a great restaurant whe http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-411898.html Day 12This was our last full day in Hurghada so we thought we better get out and not spend the entire time by the pool. We went on a jeep safari. We were piled into land cruisers and off into the desert we drove. This time we were lucky enough to be with a large group from Poland. Again we were the only non Polish people besides the guides in the group.We arrived at a Bedouin village and after http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Red-Sea/Hurghada/blog-411478.html Video of Chester doing her Bday Dance. The Italians were so jealous. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Kom-Ombo/blog-411510.html Day 13Day 13 was a day of travel. Starting off with a 6 AM departure from Hurghada and of course of breakfast boxes weren't ready. I mean we made the request and we were on the list but execution seems to be a bit of a problem in Egypt. We were both ready to leave. 2 weeks in Egypt is plenty. It is a great place to visit but also great place to leave. We had to travel through Cairo to get t http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-411476.html Day 11The day started as our first day that we did not have to get up and had no plans. So we slept in ate a huge breakfast and then proceeded down to the pool and beach to start our day's activities of absolutely nothing. It was great. The weather was perfect hot but not too hot. We did spend a good part of the day answering questions to the workers of where we were from. Not one guessed w http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Red-Sea/Hurghada/blog-410822.html Day 7Today we woke early as it was a special day. It was Chesterrsquos Bday. And if any of you have spent a Bday with Chester you know she has to have her day. Thankfully it was a fun filled day thanks to our guide Ahmed. We started with a horse drawn carriage ride to the Edfu Temple. This sounds like a nice quiet romantic thing to do but when every person on every cruise in port that day http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-410820.html We had to skip a few daysrsquo journals that we will make up later for because we just could not pass up telling you about day 9 and 10. Day 9Day 9 started with our departure from Aswan and the Nile cruise. Betty and Judy had an early flight to Cairo and then back to the U.S. This is officially the end of their trip. Now Kirsten and Chester do not have to worry about some woman pounding on http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Red-Sea/Hurghada/blog-410545.html Day 6 Valley of the KingsAfter our first night on the cruise boat we got to experience another shower in the smallest showers ever. We are still in amazement that some of the larger Italians showered the entire time as there is not way they would fit in the showers. We got off the boat and headed to the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor and toured the Valley of the Kings. There were 62 tombs 1 http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Luxor/blog-410203.html Day 5 Luxor This was also an early morning for us. We had an 8 am flight and a 6 am departure from our hotel. Judy is still knocking on our door to make sure we are up and it is still excruciatingly annoying. Karma is a b though. The previous night we went back to the Thai restaurant that we ate at the first night in our hotel. Judy loves pad thai and was very excited to have it again. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Luxor/blog-410202.html End of Day 3 Pyramid Sound and Light ShowSo we last left off with a light and sound show at the Great Pyramids and dinner. It was really cool to see the pyramids at night and the light show was worth it however the sound part was about 30 minutes too long. It explained the pyramids and the Sphinx all over again but what are you going to do. The show started at 830 and went until 930. The http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Giza/blog-410198.html Day 3 It's another beautiful and hot ridiculoulsy hot morning in Cairo. Our day started again with Judy knocking on the hotel door at 8 a.m yesterday it was 730. For some reason she thinks that two almost 40 yearold women can't get themselves up and ready to go on their own. We have only been out of our parents' houses for 20 years oops Kirsten is still living at home but what are you g http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Giza/blog-408116.html Let the comedy of errors that become our vacations begin. This holiday is the 4NonBlondes Chester Kirsten Kirsten's mom Judy and Judy's sister Betty. Chester is the only one who has never colored her hair so the name is quite appropriate. After 18 hours of travel we all made it to the city of Cairo. Poor Judy had a target on her back or something. No one wanted to really deal with her a http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Cairo/blog-407839.html Egypt and Turkey ItineraryWell another summer and another big trip for Chester and Kirsten. This year we are taking 3 weeks and heading to Egypt and Turkey. This year we have 2 fellow travelers Kirsten's mom Judy and aunt Betty. It will be an adventure for us all but mostly for Chester to sit back and watch 3 family members all try to control the trip. Let's just say we are 3 type A perso http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-406606.html Sights to BeholdSo you have see the animals you have seen us having tons of fun now a few pictures of some of the gorgeous scenery we saw along the way.But a little side note to follow up the trip. As we have previously mentions one of our guides Titus had a bit of a crush on Lynn. Chester and I found the entire thing quite amusing and basically sat back and watched as he cornered her most http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/blog-301856.html Fun and GamesWe are doing our best to get the mountain of pictures out that we took. Definitely we will not get them all out but have a few more we thought you might enjoy. You have seen some of the animal we saw and the places we stayed now thought we'd show you some of the cool things we did in Africa.Starting in South on the Orange River dividing Namibia and South Africa we did a relaxing c http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Namibia/Swakopmund/blog-301444.html Victoria Falls Definately a Natural WonderOur last stop was Victoria Falls. The falls are on the Zambizi River dividing Zimbabwe and Zambia. Our original plan was to stay in Zimbabwe but as we arrived the day after the elections all of the tour companies had rerouted everyonoe to the Zambia side as it was a little unstable in Zimbabwe. So everythign was full in Zambia and we had to spend ou http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-298482.html