Egypt again: The Nile

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Hi everyone
I'm actually now in Athens and about to set off for six days in the Greek Islands so thought I'd throw together a quick blog to complete Egypt before I leave in the morning. Finding time to do the blog is actually quite hard because my days are so full!
Anyway, the last blog ended with the overnight in the desert. This one continues from there and takes you on to the second half of my tour which included a Nile cruise. I then had another week on my own after that but I'll let the photos tell the story. What I put here is only a taste of what I've seen and done. There are many more photos saved on CD. I've loved every minute of Egypt and recommend you all to visit one day and experience it too.
Bye for now and see you next blog in Greece.
Love Dee

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Photos

Breakfast at the campsite next morning
The food is soooo good!

Nancy (Canada) and I after a snorkel
In the background the 4WD is being loaded up ready to leave. It was hilarious watching them try to tie down mattresses in the wind.

Blue blue water
From the lookout at the tip of the Ras Mohammed National park where Gulf of Aquaba, Red Sea and Suez meet. Lots of fancy boats for tourists diving, snorkelling etc.

Wind farm
Next day we drove down the side of the Suez and passed hundreds of these

Menu board at lunch stop
Didn't try the one she's pointing to, "Foul Mesdames"! No idea what it is. I always choose something local and this day had the shish tawouk. The food is very cheap, about NZ$5-8 for a 3 course meal, much more than I could eat

Bedouin children with their little goats
Baksheesh in return for photos makes these kids a little money. Love their bright colours.

Bus convoy from Hurghadah to Luxor
This is under police guard and their are checkpoints all along over in the Sinai and this area.

Typical building along the way
All are this shape and unfinished on top because as the sons marry a new level is added on top for him and his wife to live. There may be several generations living in the one building. Family is strong.

In Luxor a visit to the huge Temple of Amun at Karnak
This is on the bank of the Nile and is the second largest temple complex in the world

A huge column in Karnak Temple
There are 134 of these enormous columns in the hypostyle hall. You can judge the size by how small I look.

With Kath and Gary (UK) in front of the temple
This temple was begun about 2000BC and was still being added to in Cleopatra's time. It is stupendous.

Calesh ride from temple back to hotel
Another form of transport here. The roads are chaotic with taxis, donkeys, horses, buses, pedestrians all flying all over the place and horns honking non stop

View from my hotel
The mighty Nile in background and mountains behind where the tombs are

My cute little donkey
early next morning we rode these little tough donkeys up the Valley of the Kings (mt in previous photo). I loved my little donkey and have a new found respect for these honest little animals. We rode back through farms which was so interesting.

Looking down the valley
A new discovery was made this day in a recently found tomb and TV were there...so exciting. There are probably many more still to be discovered.

A little group of us then hiked over the top
We're looking down on the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, again just an incredible place

Boat back across the Nile
The larger boat in the background is MS Doma which I will do the Nile Cruise on soon.

After a lovely dinner in the open air overlooking the Nile
From left: Dennis, Marci, Mohamed (tour leader), me, Harvey, Nancy. These friends are from Canada, all teachers except Dennis (journalist). I had a great time with them and one day would love to join Nancy and Marci on one of their kayaking adventures.

The "band" at the restaurant
These guys were great, loved the music and the dancing...Dan and Em would have too. The food here was so good too!

Part of our group waiting for the train
Travelled Luxor to Aswan on the train, 2nd class, with my new group. Train trip good except for the toilet which was disgusting by NZ standards but all part of the experience!

Comments

[Nancy Rae]

Nile Trip
So glad you take time to share experiences.A brave Lady to be in Middle East on your own. Must have been magic around the desert and ruins.Look forward to Greek Blog.

[Asha]

Just lovely!
Has made me want to see Egypt and go on that same cruise on the Nile.

[Jenny Cox]

Thanks Dee - it was like being there again!!! All those places were so familiar. Keep it up and have a great time in Turkey!

[julie]

wow
Enjoying these snippets of your travels Dee. Egypt looks fascinating and challenging. Cant wait to see what you think of Turkey.Its getting cooler here in NZ. You'll have 2 Summers lucky you. Bye Julie

[Gillian Marie]

Luxor
Glad that you had a great time. the photos speak volumes. My understanding is that Karnak Teeemple in Luxor is the largest Temple complex in the world.. you say scond largest. If the latter, where is the largest? Love Gillian Julie Marie

[Charles]

Hi Dee Thank you very much indeed for all these fascinating photos - some bring up old memories- some give idease maybe for the future?? Glad that you are keeping well. I miss you - looking forward to when you come home. Charles

[Cath K]

Dee - lovely to see all your Egypt pictures and re-live the memories (and think about that warm sun!). Hope you have a great time now that you have arrived in St Petersburg.