On the Long Road to Siwa Oasis Our prearranged transport arrived at our hotel while we were at Starbucks picking up our venti lattes, muffins and croissants for our long journey. Our bags were already loaded in the back of the van, which permitted us room to stretch and move around during our 9 hour journey with four stops along the way! First stop: Commonwealth Cemetery at El Alamein. It was a serene, somber place to acknowledge the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers at the famous battle that marked a shift in the fortunes of the Allied Forces in World War [View Full Entry]

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Last Day in Alexandria Friday, December 19th Still battling jetlag, we took a taxi to Montazah Palace, the former summer residence of the deposed Egyptian royal family, which was restored by President Sadat to a presidential residence. Royal palaces and assets, as well as property held in private hands were expropriated for the people during the Egyptian Revolution in 1952. We have spoken to many Egyptians who quietly express their disappointment with the promise that the Revolutionaries have not realized. Although the palace is not accessible to the public [View Full Entry]

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Alexandria, A Melding of Cultures Over Time Despite planning to tour Alexandria independently, we broke down yesterday and booked a private guide and driver for a half day tour of Graeco Roman Alexandria through the “wise” hotel concierge. We had a very early start to the day after only getting about three hours sleep! So when Mama Canuck can’t sleep, she blogs! Because we had napped earlier in the evening and missed dinner, we were starving as we watched the hours tick away until the breakfast restaurant opened at 6:30am. With no hesitation despite the b [View Full Entry]

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Alexandria Here We Are! We arrived at Alexandria's Borg El Arab Airport at 2:00am on December 17th faced with an unbelievable scene of confused tourists and confusing airport staff who acted like it was their first day on the job. It was street theatre at its best with bumbling officials providing the comic relief. After waiting at least an hour and half in 3 lines, one for buying our visas, one for passport stamps and one for clearing customs with baggage in hand, we were hoping the prearranged driver had not deserted us in the desert. Before exciting the terminal with [View Full Entry]

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Forgettable Frankfurt Flying direct from Vancouver to Frankfurt on Lufthansa was a long, but enjoyable flight despite none of the Travelling Canucks being able to sleep; although, Mama Canuck did doze off a couple of times. With a 10 hour stopover, we planned on sleeping a few hours while staying at the Frankfurt Airport Sheraton before our 3.5 hour Lufthansa flight to Alexandria. With constant knocks on the door by hotel staff, a phone call from housekeeping at 3:30pm asking when we were checking out, it ended up being a very expensive place to shower. Despite not being able [View Full Entry]

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YVR at Last! Today is the day the Travelling Canucks escape snowy and cold Vancouver for sunny and warm Egypt! We had an early snowfall on Saturday evening and cold temperatures are expected to continue with more snow in the forecast. The local mountains are looking good for skiers who have been waiting for the white stuff, but for us city dwellers, who are not experienced at driving in the snow and sliding on the ice, it’s a hassle. So we booked a taxi to pick us up because of the high demand for taxis. Fortunately, the taxi arrived on [View Full Entry]

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Today was our last day of school and work for a whole month. Only three more days before the Travelling Canucks escape rainy Vancouver for sunny Egypt! Our plans are set and our bags are packed. While you never know what surprises await us in Egypt, that's what makes travelling so exhilarating! Life happens and it's those unexpected moments that are sometimes the most memorable. For those surprises that are not so memorable, here are some of the precautions we have taken: Planned our itinerary and budget Booked hotels, transportation and Nile cruise in advance [View Full Entry]

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As the junior member of the Travelling Canucks, it's high time that I provided a teenager's perspective on the Egyptian adventure we will be embarking on over Christmas break! Spending Christmas in Cairo just won't be the same as spending Christmas with our friends and family here in Vancouver. I will miss trimming the tree, setting up the Dickens village and all our family Christmas traditions! Don't get me wrong. I am very excited about touring around Egypt, visiting ancient ruins, and experiencing Egyptian culture. Hanging out with the Senior Canucks 24/7? That's another matter! Fr [View Full Entry]

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What are we planning on packing for our 24 night stay in Egypt over Christmas Break? Packing light is key given airline baggage restrictions on domestic flights, the fact that we will be on the move throughout Egypt and, needless to say, our ageing backs. To pack light, you have to pack smart. Our challenge: Have enough room for souvenirs when we only plan on taking one 22x16 suitcase and day pack for each Travelling Canuck! Guidelines for Packing Here are some guidelines that the Travelling Canucks are using to pack smart: Consider weather, destinati [View Full Entry]

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Find out what precautions we plan on taking and how we are handling booking private tour guides and tipping. For our itinerary, travel and accommodation plans, check out our previous blogs! Travel Safety With food and fuel prices rising over the past year and the ever deteriorating state of the economy, there have been protests and increasing security concerns. Being aware of the political, cultural, and economic environment and what's happening when in Egypt and always being vigilant is important in keeping safe. In addition to avoiding demonstrations and staying away [View Full Entry]

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