CIVILIZATION'S LONG OASIS 
EXPLORING EGYPT & THE NILE
27 October - 7 November 2008

Our group:
Chuck, Laveta, Sharon, Russ, Karl, "Z" & Henry

                             For the complete story, see the Trip Journal in (PDF)  7 Pages

                 
Click on a thumbnail for a larger view or on  underlined text for linked sites.

 

           
At Seattle Tacoma International (Seatac)Heathrow (London) and  Cairo International.

           
At the Cairo Fairmont Heliopolis hotel   We ate in the hotel.  The Obelisk wine was good.

              
At Cairo International again- Sharon, Karl, Zelda, Laveta and Russ waiting for our flight to Luxor.

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Karnak temple.  The first and largest of the temples we visited.  (We returned later that night)
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             The Temple of  Luxor.
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In the Valley of the KingsWe visited the tombs of Ramses VII, IV and I  but couldn't take photo's
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Hatshepsut's Temple at Deir al-Bahri.
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      Local (thin walled) alabaster pottery.
               

        Temple of Medinet Habu

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    The Colossi of Memnon

                 
The M/S Norma passing through the Locks at Esna

           
 On the M/S Norma:     Cruising riverboats on the Nile  &  Russ and Sharon's stateroom

                  
"Towel Crocodile",    Feluccas...  and a very overloaded rowboat!

               
Life along the Nile

              
Life aboard the Norma

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              Zelda, Sharon, Laveta

          

The Temple of Horus at  Edfu

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Kom Umbo Temple on a beautiful night.

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Egyptian night (including fun & games) aboard the M/S Norma

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   Aswan High Dam        Propane delivery in Aswan
             
The Unfinished Obelisk in the Aswan pink granite quarry.  It cracked and was abandoned over 3000
years ago.  Laveta is holding a Diorite ball like those used for cutting out (pounding out) the granite
!  
 

        

        
Our journey by motorboat boat to Philae and the Temple of Isis

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Abu Simbel
(including Nefertari's monument) from the air on our flight from Aswan

                   
 Abu Simbel   

                   Nefertari's monument

   Group photo. Trafalgar Bus-A (the Pharaohs)

            Our Hotel, the Ramses Hilton

        Downtown Cairo (al-Qāhirah).  View from our deck

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Some Mosques and a Christian (Coptic) Church in Cairo

             

         
The Mosque of Mohammad Ali

                    

              
The Mosque Madrasa of Sultan Hassan

             
Saint Mary's Coptic Church  "The Hanging Church" (Hanging refers to its structural support)


                
Street scenes in downtown Cairo- taken through the coach window. 
 

          Unusual transportation!

      Russ ordering at McDonalds
 

   Cairo Museum.  Sadly- no photography was allowed inside.

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Lightshow at the Sphinx - including an ancient Egyptian bagpipe band!
 

              
At the Pyramid of Khufu.   Sharon, Russ, Carl and Zelda went inside but photography was not allowed.
 

              
At the Pyramid of Khafre.   Laveta and I went inside.  No photography was allowed inside.
 

              At Khafre,  the "Second Pyramid"

    Group photo.  Trafalgar Bus-A

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Camel riding on the Giza Plateau.  One of those things to do before you die.   Great fun!

           At the "Camel parking lot" on the Giza Plateau

              
Laveta "boarding" her camel.

                   Laveta and me.

               Sharon and Russ

          Karl, Zelda and Henry

    Caravan                   Camel rider wanabe. 
 

Extra:  Erin Burnett, a CNBC anchor, with a water bottle drinking camel!

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    At the entrance to the Sphinx

               
The Sphinx with Sharon, Russ, Laveta and I
 

           
Lunch break in Memphis


        Heather & Andrew (from Toronto)

    Laveta and Zoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, circa 3000 BC

   Goat traffic

      Ramses II at the Mit. Rahina Museum

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Dinner Cruse on the Nile in downtown Cairo

           
 

           Nighttime Cairo from the Nile

          
Entertainment:  Laveta and belly dancer,  Whirling Dervish

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More Cairo street scenes from my coach window.

     Breakfast in the Ramses Hilton

            Toll booth on the motorway to Alexandria


              
Alexandra Street scenes

      Laveta and Henry at Pompey's Pillar
           
At Qaitbay Citadel- where the famous ancient lighthouse stood.

  Students

  At the Roman Theater

        The (modern) Library of Alexandria
 

              The Alexandria Museum

               
 

              
Highway scenes on the return to Cairo
 

  Nighttime Cairo traffic.   Note:  running lights only - no headlights!

         Homeward bound.

 

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