After 7 days of sailing south on the Pacific Ocean along the coast of Chile, we were about to begin our journey north on the Atlantic.  Our next port of call, Puerto Madryn in Argentina, approximately 1500 kilometers from Cape Horn, would take us a full 2 days and nights of sailing.   Since we had spent more than an hour in the frigid winds and driving mist on our balcony as we circled Hornos Island, we were happy to come back into our stateroom to change and enjoy a hot breakfast at the buffet restaurant.  
​ 
We spent most of the rest of the morning just resting and relaxing then went to the Tuscan Grille which was having a special lunch event to commemorate “rounding the Horn”.  We had booked a window table a couple of days ahead of time so that we could take in the views of our sail through the Drake Passage.  Due to the overcast skies and heavy seas, there really was not a lot to see.  On the other hand, the surf and turf offered for lunch was spectacular, featuring mouthwatering filet mignon, lobster tail and jumbo shrimp.   ​

After 3 days at sea, we were excited to be finally getting into a port of call.  We woke up early and headed up to the top deck with our cameras at 4:30am.   We were sailing through the calm waters of the Beagle Channel on our way to Ushuaia and the pre-dawn twilight cast an eerie glow on the snow-capped mountains and glaciers on our starboard side.   We stayed out on the deck for about half an hour watching the landscape slide by and then decided to get a few more hours of sleep as our arrival in Ushuaia was not scheduled until 10:30am.   ​

After a hearty breakfast, we disembarked the Eclipse which had docked at the base of the town.   We found our driver at the entrance to the pier who introduced himself and then we drove into the town to pick up our guide.  
​  
Ushuaia is a quaint little town with a population of approximately 60,000 people that is located on the southern shores of Isle Grande de Tierra del Fuego and overlooking the Beagle Channel to the south.  It claims to be the southernmost city in the world and is situated just 1,100 kilometers from the Antarctic coast.  Being a principle stopover for tourists rounding Cape Horn or heading to Antarctica, it thrives from tourism but also generates much of its economy from fishing and natural gas.  Recently, it has generated a considerable income from manufacturing electronic products and has the largest electronics factory in Patagonia. ​

Driving back towards Ushuaia, we stopped briefly at the Tierra Del Fuego National Park Information Centre to use the facilities and have a light lunch.   ​

We boarded the catamaran and found an empty table by the window on the upper deck.  I purchased a glass of wine for each of us to enjoy as we sailed away from Ushuaia and into the Beagle Channel. 
​  
Our first stop was at a small island that was covered in hundreds of cormorants.  We paused long enough to get some pictures and then continued sailing to another small island where we docked and disembarked.  We had a chance to walk around this great rock that was remarkable for the extensive fauna that covered its surface.  After reboarding the catamaran, we continued sailing further into the channel and stopped beside a small, flat island to view the sea lions that rested on the cold rock at the edge of the water.   ​

A short distance from the sea lions was another small island that is totally barren except for the red and white brick lighthouse that protrudes skyward from its base.  This is Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse otherwise known as “The End of the World” Lighthouse, which was built in 1920 and is still functional today.  Although it is uninhabited, it is fully automated and remote controlled and generates electricity for its light via solar panels.  After visiting the lighthouse, our catamaran made the return journey to Ushuaia which took about 45 minutes.  We took one final, brief walk around the plaza by the pier then made our way back to the Eclipse.  ​

After leaving Puerto Montt, we were supposed to have 2 sea days sailing approximately 1300 kms south through the Chilean Fjords (Tierra del Fuego) and then through the Strait of Magellan on our way to Punta Arenas.  Due to high winds and heavy seas after leaving Puerto Montt, our captain opted to wait out the storm for approximately 12 hours to avoid the 30 foot waves that we would have encountered.  This resulted in an additional sea day and also meant that we would be forgoing our port of call at Punta Arenas.   Although we had planned to celebrate a significant birthday for Kim at a local restaurant in Punta Arenas, we appreciated the captain’s focus on the safety and comfort of the passengers and crew.   

While we were at sea, there was still lots to do on board the Celebrity Eclipse.  We actually slept in a bit on first sea day after leaving Punta Montt, not waking until just after 8:00am.  We arrived at the Oceanview Café for breakfast at 9:00am and had to circle the eating area a few times before we could find a table.  The restaurant was unusually busy this morning and we took turns going to the buffet for fear we would lose our table.  We kept this in mind as we would be having several more sea days before we finished our cruise. ​

We always enjoy a few sea days on a cruise as it gives us an opportunity to rest and relax and to enjoy the various amenities on the ship.  This particular cruise had contracted a guest lecturer who gave relevant talks about the geography of South America with a particular focus on the glaciers, fjords and climate of the South American Patagonia.  I attended all of the lectures and found them quite informative as they gave me a real appreciation for the areas that we were visiting.  They were organized such that a given lecture described the area that we would be sailing through the following day.  This included descriptions of the glacier formations sliding between the mountain peaks that we would see as we passed through the Chilean Fjords as well as the islands and inlets of the Strait of Magellan, which was widely used as the main sea passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans before the Panama Canal was built. ​

As well as attending the guest lectures on our sea days we spent time exploring different parts of the ship.  One day we took a behind-the-scenes tour of the ship’s galley located on the 3rd deck.  What was most amazing is how small the galley is given the 2850 passengers and 1270 crew that it feeds.  Equally amazing is how organized and pristine the area is.  The galley is divided into sections that are dedicated to specific dishes and/or menus (breakfast/lunch/dinner).  All of the counters and appliances are sparkling stainless steel; a must in order to maintain sanitary conditions as the galley is inspected on a regular basis. ​

We also visited 2 of the specialty dining rooms aboard the Eclipse - Q-Sine and Tuscan.  Q-Sine is a very eccentric animated dining experience, reminiscent of something you might see at a specialty restaurant on a Disney Cruise.  The dining room itself is cheery and brightly coloured, but the main feature is the table setting.   As the experience begins, the luminated table becomes an animated 3D seabed complete with coral, flora and sea critters.  Your dinner plate becomes a solitary island where a lobster and little chef perform a tug-of-war which the chef eventually wins.  While we didn’t get to eat at this restaurant, this seems like a great place to spend an evening that would be enjoyable for the whole family. ​

The second restaurant that we toured was the Tuscan Grille.  This is a totally different experience from Q-Sine, being much more traditional and with wooden arches, large wine cabinets and a wonderful sea view at one end of the restaurant.  The menu is distinctly Italian, with a focus on mouth watering steaks and a great wine list.  We did end up eating at this restaurant a couple of times.  We booked a table to celebrate Kim’s birthday (on the day we were supposed to be in Punta Arenas).  Kim selected the lamb in phyllo for her meal, while I enjoyed a deliciously marbled steak with side of potato.   The restaurant was featuring a Surf and Turf lunch on the day that we would be sailing through the Drake Passage, so we decided to book a window table for that as well. ​

By the end of our 3rd sea day, we had explored most parts of the ship, attended the nightly live entertainment in the theatre and were well rested and ready for our next port of call - Ushuaia, the most southern city in South America. ​

Continue to Day 8 - click here

After leaving Santiago on the evening of January 5th, we sailed for a day and a half (more than 1,000 kms) south along the Chilean coast, arriving at Puerto Montt just after 8:00am on January 7th.  After our usual buffet breakfast in the Oceanview Cafe, we went to pick up our tickets on Deck 4 at 9:00am for the tender that would take us to the port pier.  We thought we had given ourselves plenty of time as the ticket distribution was scheduled to start at 9:30. We were shocked to find an endless line of waiting passengers that extended the entire length of the ship!  It seemed like forever before the line in front of us finally started to move.   
We received our tickets for tender number 19 and waited for nearly an hour before we were finally able to disembark.  We had booked a tour of the area that was scheduled to depart at 10:00am.  We didn’t arrive at the pier until 11:00 and still had to wait for 2 other couples to join our group of 10 before our 12-passenger van was able to leave.  Our group was accompanied by a driver and a local guide who admitted to us that this was her first tour.  While she was very nervous at the beginning, she persevered through her initial jitters. ​

We continued another 20 minutes west to Petrohue Waterfalls situated between Llanquihue Lake and Todos Los Santos Lake.  Our driver parked the van and we walked the short distance to the falls, following a boardwalk and lava rock path.  Petrohue appears more like a rapids than a traditional waterfalls.  The fast moving Emerald green water flows through craggy lava rock formed by the volcanoes.  The brilliant emerald colour is caused by a weed which is reflected through the water.   ​

After spending some time walking along the falls and observing the birds and wildlife, we walked back to the parking lot where we boarded the van and drove another half hour to an observation deck overlooking Todos Los Santos Lake, also referred to as the Emerald Lake.  We were served a light lunch of empanadas and wine.  The area around the lake is surrounded by 3 volcanos, Cerro Tronador which is dormant, as well as Osorno and Calbuco, both of which are considered active.  Calbuco has the most recent eruptions, occurring in 2015. ​

We started our last day in Santiago with a buffet breakfast at the hotel just before 8:00am.  After breakfast we checked out of the hotel and got ready for our 8:30 departure.  Our bags were loaded into the luggage compartment of the coach since we would be dropped off at the cruise port at the end of our day. 

We would be spending most of today in the coastal part of Valparaiso Region, but before heading out of the city, we did a quick panoramic tour of downtown Santiago.  The downtown comprises of beautiful Colonial architecture, with magnificent detailed porticos on many of the older buildings.   Sadly, the political protests that had occurred over the past few months did not exclude these historic structures as many of them were covered in graffiti.  Because some of the traffic lights had also been destroyed, there were volunteers at several of the intersections who were directing traffic. ​

We arrived in the port city of Valparaiso at 11:00am under mostly overcast skies.  We drove through the town on the narrow winding road that follows the coast.  Valparaiso was once considered the “Jewel of the Pacific” because of its importance as a major sea port.  Prior to the building of the Panama Canal this port was the main stopover for ships crossing from the Pacific to the Atlantic via the Straights of Magellan.  Because of its historic quarter and colourful buildings stacked along the cliffsides, it has been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site.    There are no major job-producing industries in Valparaiso other than the port and the naval base, so tourism has come to play a major role in the city’s economy. ​

As the coach wound its way up the steep hillside towards the crest of the town we marveled at the narrow houses stacked all along the hillside, many protruding over the cliffs and supported on one side by stilts.  The coach stopped at the top of the hill and we disembarked to take in the brilliantly painted houses and myriad murals that decorate the streets.  We walked back down the hill towards the centre of town snaking back and forth through narrow streets and alleyways.  ​

Partway down the hill we stopped at a small cafe to have a light lunch and then took an ancient funicular the rest of the way to the main square at the port.  We spent some time  wandering through the market inside the square that was filled with vendors and artisans selling handmade crafts, fresh fruits and vegetables and a variety of other sundry goods. ​

Finally, we reboarded our coach and headed out of Valparaiso, passing by its prosperous sister town, Vina del Mar.  While Valparaiso is a historical city with no sustained industry other than the port, Vina del Mar boasts an oil refinery and casino and is resplendent with beautiful gardens, beaches and high-rise apartments.  Despite the close proximity between the twin cities, they do not share resources, so they are economically divided.   ​

Leaving Valparaiso and Vina del Mar behind, we headed back to the Casablanca Valley where we stopped in to visit Casona Veramonte, one of the many wineries in the area.  Being on the main highway between Santiago and Valparaiso, this was a more commercialized winery than the one we had been to in San Estoben.  There were quite a few tour buses that had stopped here when we arrived and the expansive wine store sold a plethora of non-wine items and souvenirs.  Nonetheless we sample some Sauvignon Blanc, Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon before we reboarded the coach and drove the 45 minutes on our final leg to the port of San Antonio and our awaiting cruise ship. ​

We boarded the Celebrity Eclipse around 4:00pm and enjoyed a welcome champagne in the Martini Bar before heading to our cabin on the 8th deck.   We just managed to drop off our carry-on bags before we were summoned to the Muster Station in the Murano Restaurant for the standard briefing on safety procedures.  We then went back to our stateroom to unpack our suitcases then proceeded to the dining room for our 6:30 seating.  Kim ordered prime beef and I had the Celebrity Spaghetti Bolognese.  After dinner and an exhausting day we made ourselves comfortable on the balcony of our stateroom and enjoyed a glass of wine under the Chilean skies. ​

​Continue to Day 4 - click here

The graffiti became less pronounced as we travelled out of the downtown area and we soon found our way on the main highway heading north, out of Santiago in Chile’s Metropolitan Region and towards the north eastern part of the Valparaiso Region.  Our drive took us along the foothills of the Andes which is one of the reasons that this area is typically very dry.  Apparently, the humidity from the Pacific, about 130 kilometers west of our route, is blocked by the coastal mountains.  The area has an abundance of acacia trees which thrive here because their long root system can absorb what little water there is in the ground.  As we approached San Estoben, Hector pointed out the peak of Anconcagua, the tallest mountain in the Andes (6900 meters) about 60 kilometers to the east in Argentina. ​

Our morning excursion was to a winery and archaeological site in the town of San Esteban.  As we turned off the main road and onto the local road leading up to the winery, we passed through an old neighbourhood consisting  of houses constructed from adobe - mud and straw covered in plaster and paint.  The dusty road led us up an incline bordered by vineyards on each side.  The vineyards were separated from the road by a row of rose bushes.  The roses attract bees and keep bugs away from the vines while allowing natural pollination to occur.  Owls nesting in burrows throughout the vineyards help to control rodents that might otherwise damage the plants. ​

After spending some time taking in the views and admiring the petroglyphs, we retraced our steps back through the vineyard to the winery.  In a secluded clearing beside the winery, a large table had been set up for our small group to enjoy a lunch of fresh made empanadas and taste some of the fine wines of the area.  Our wines consisted of 3 varietals - a Sauvignon Blanc, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Carmenere.  All of the wines were very good but my favourite was the Carmenare, a wine for which Chile has become renowned.  Carmenare is a dark-skinned grape that was imported from France in the 1850’s before the phylloxera epidemic wiped out most of the vineyards in France.  While nearly all of the other grapes recovered in France, Carmenere did not, and was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in Chile in 1991 and has become one of that countries premier wines. ​

The resort hotel seems to be the only structure in the area and sits at the southern end of the lagoon.  The lagoon itself is a serene lake, bright blue in colour and surrounded by a backdrop of magnificent mountains.  We walked down to the lagoon and sat on the bank admiring the peaceful calm that permeates the area.   After spending some time at the lagoon, we walked back up to the resort where we had a light lunch at a lakeview table in the hotel dining room.  The hotel is at 2875 meters above sea level and provides panaromic views of the lake and mountains that surround it. ​

We looked for a cab at the entrance to Metropolitan Park where we had been dropped off, but to no avail.  I ended up walking a couple of blocks away through the mostly residential area before I located one and then we drove back to the park to pick up Kim.  As we navigated the busy streets towards the restaurant, our driver indicated that there were major protests happening at the Plaza Italia.  The protests had been going on for a couple of months and were driven in response to increasing Santiago Metro fares.  Plaza Italia, which we had to pass through to get to our restaurant, is centrally located and is a demarcation point between the affluent neighbourhoods to its’ East and impoverished neighbourhoods to its’ West.  It is a gathering point for celebrations, festivities and, in this case, social protests.   
Our driver told us it would be too dangerous to cross through the plaza to get to our restaurant and he needed to bypass it, suggesting we find a restaurant closer to our hotel.  We agreed and as we passed by the Plaza, we could see hundreds of people shouting and carrying placards and banners in the Square.  The traffic was backed up significantly as we inched along passing the Plaza on our right.  At one intersection, a fist fight broke out between a couple of protesters who seemed to be part of the same group.  We finally made our way around the chaos and arrived safely at our hotel. ​

Our final days in Egypt were spent resting and relaxing by the Red Sea. After many busy days of touring the country our next 4 days were spent laying by the pool and enjoying the sun. The hotel that we stayed at was an all-inclusive property so all our meals and drinks were included which made it easy to make decisions each day and we could really just relax, sleep and read books.  

​The food at the hotel was a buffet setup.  After a few days it does tend to become a little bit repetitious. One evening we did have a made to order dinner at the Italian restaurant which gave us a bit of a change. The service was very good and the food tasty so we were generally happy.  One evening we also took an Uber to a small town about 30 minutes from Hurghada to have a change of pace.  We enjoyed a stroll on the shoreside boardwalk and dinner on the patio. Everything was super fresh and it was a wonderful evening.

​One day we planned a half day excursion with one of the companies that roams the resort offering activities. We chartered a private boat for a morning of snorkeling. The water in the Red Sea is crystal clear and has amazing shades of blue.  We were taken for a ride, approximately 30 minutes out, to a reef where we were given snorkel gear.  We popped into the water from the back of the boat with a guide. He slowly worked his way through the water showing us so many kinds of fish, coral, plant life and other sea creatures – it was amazing. Below is a video that shows our highlights from Hurghada but also includes footage from under the water while on the snorkeling trip.  It is some of the best snorkeling we have ever done.

​One day Denis also went golfing at a course in the area. In Egypt starting early is really necessary due to the heat. He enjoyed a morning of golf and had the course almost to himself. The scenery is pretty spectacular.

​At the end of four days, it was unfortunately time to return home. Our adventure in Egypt was everything we hoped it would be – an education in history and culture, awe inspiring due to the incredible structures and a truly magical experience that should be something everyone enjoys. We know we will definitely be back.

Our second day in Alexandria started with one of the most famous sights located in this city – the Library of Alexandria. Interestingly the current library is a very modern building. The first library was founded by one of Alexander the Great’s generals named Ptolemy I back in 283 BC.  Since Alexandria was the main port there were international ships coming from all different countries so the rulers took it upon themselves to “request” books from the ships that would come in and they would either keep them or sometimes copy them to put in their centralized knowledge centre. The museum was a place for studying and over 100 scholars lived there to write, lecture, research or translate and copy documents. It has been estimated that at one time there were over a half million documents within the premises. There are several stories that have been recounted about the fire that ultimately destroyed the library but one of the more popular, points the finger at Julius Caesar.  In 48 BC Caesar was cut off by an Egyptian fleet at Alexandria and in retaliation ordered the ships in the harbor to burned. Unfortunately as a result the fires also spread onto land and eventually burned the library to nothing taking with it  ancient history, literature and learning.
 
The existing building wasn’t completed until 2002 even though reviving the library was originally proposed in the early 1970’s. Now the beautiful and modern building is a library, a cultural centre and even houses a school for training professional staff to work in libraries in Egypt and the Middle East. The inside is absolutely stunning with multiple levels and slanted huge windows from floor to ceiling on one side.  You can find books by authors from all over the world – we even located the Canadian authors section.  

​The library houses both permanent and guest exhibits and collections on a variety of topics and interests. Some are included with your admission and others are at an additional cost. The facility houses many research centres and there is cutting edge technology at this site as well. One example is a table that show the human body and all it’s inner workings for medical students to use.  And during our tour we were informed that you can access millions of complimentary books from their online archive just by registering for a membership.  They believe in sharing all their resources and a large project is ongoing to place all their materials online. This is not your average library – it is an incredible site to see and really must be toured with their guides.  

​We spent a couple of hours exploring the library and then we were off to visit the Roman Amphitheatre located in the centre of Alexandria. This amphitheatre dates back to the 2nd century and was found by some workers sent to clean up the area during the 1960’s.  The amphitheatre has a diameter of 33 metres and consists of 13 rows made from European white marble however the columns were made from granite that was transported from Aswan. Unfortunately, during one of the major earthquakes in the area much of the amphitheatre was damaged. Based on the size of the structure it is suggested that it was built for meetings of important figures and officials and likely not for theatre or concerts.  For it’s age and the fact that it was covered by sand and gravel for so long, it is in really great shape and is the only one of it’s kind in Egypt.

​After wandering around the Roman structure, we drove around the city taking in the sites, sounds and smells of this vibrant city. The bustling markets, the stunning architecture, the mobile tea carts, the friendly people are all what contribute to this amazing city. We loved everything about it and will definitely be back.

​Our touring was topped off with a massive lunch at a BBQ restaurant and then it was time to head back to Cairo. The drive seemed shorter on the way back to the airport where we dropped off Karen and Geoff at their hotel for the night.  We had a later flight to take us on to Hurghada for a few days of rest and relaxation.

​We had a quick hour-long flight, we were picked up by our driver at the airport and whisked off to our seaside resort.  It had been a long but certainly enjoyable day.

​Continue to Day 11 - click here.

Our first day in Alexandria started with a wonderful breakfast on the outside roof patio at our hotel.  The beautiful breeze from the sea was very welcome after having spent the rest of our trip in the desert regions. Alexandria overall has a Mediterranean feel and was much cooler in temperature. We were very excited to explore this beautiful city.

​Our first stop was at the catacombs located in the middle of the city. Upon arrival at the site you have no idea what actually lies underground.  After a quick look at the artifacts spread around the entrance, we listened as our guide wove the tale of this fascinating site. This massive burial site was found accidentally in 1900 when a cart accidentally fell into a pit and magically led to the discovery under the ground. The underground tunnels date back to the Greco Roman period and at the time of the 2ndcentury was dug down 35 metres (115 feet) and consisted of three levels.  It was likely originally a private tomb but over the years was later converted to a public cemetery and could accommodate more than 300 corpses. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take any pictures underground.

​We entered via a spiral staircase that brings you down into a large area with benches and we were told by our guide that many people would come first to have a burial feast, then again 40 days later and then annually on the death anniversary.  There are several burial chambers each holding a sarcophagus. There are also many shelves built into the rock that house coffins. The carvings and symbols inside are in several different styles including Greco-Roman, ancient Egyptian and Pharaonic.  After exploring a few of the passageways and learning about the different symbols inside we surfaced to the top and started on our way to our next stop.

​The Citadel of Qaitbay is a stunning fortress built on the sea dating back to the 15th century.  It is built upon the site of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately, the lighthouse was destroyed over the years due to several earthquakes. The original building constructed on this spot in the 14th century was destroyed in the 1800’s and the existing building was rebuilt around the turn of the 20th century. Many of the stones and columns came from the original tower that was there originally. Inside is a mosque and naval museum. There are some lovely mosaics on the floor but inside there is not a lot to see.  The outside views however are spectacular. We walked around the entire structure including climbing up to the top to see the sea.  It was incredible and we could have hung out there all day!

​We then stopped for lunch at a wonderful restaurant on the water and had a fantastic fish lunch. It was so fresh and super tasty. A fantastic way to spend an hour enjoying the breeze and a stunning view. And we also then stopped at the Starbucks on the main street – and you wouldn’t know that you were in Egypt.  It is one of the most consistent brands I have seen everywhere across the world.

​Our last stop for the day was the El-Montazza.  Located here is a beautiful palace that was built in the late 1800’s but is not open to the public.  You can wander the well-maintained gardens in the park that surround the palace.  We also walked out to the end of a breakwater where we could enjoy the waves crashing in front of us.  The views in Alexandria are really very beautiful and it was so very nice to be by the water.

​After returning to the hotel we had a rest and then headed up to the roof patio to have drinks and dinner.  It was a wonderful evening – our last with Karen and Geoff.  It was an evening of singing, dancing and wonderful company. Such a fantastic end to the day.

Continue to Day 10 - click here.

After a busy day in Aswan, it was time to check out from our Nile cruise and move on to the next city.  But first our day started with a very early morning so we could drive to Abu Simbel.  The drive took approximately 3 ½ hours and was through nothing but flat, dry desert. The village is located on the western side of Lake Nasser near the border with Sudan. Suffice to say there was absolutely nothing to be seen during the 300 kms except one very small road side stop called the Oasis - aptly named. For this drive we had two drivers in case something was to happen to the first since there is nowhere to stop for assistance.  Now that I have experienced this drive I definitely recommend to clients that they take the quick flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel. Our guide spoke to us as we approached the temples and let us know about why this site is one of the most fascinating in Egypt.

​The Abu Simbel temples are an UNESCO World Heritage Site and are part of the collection of temples known as the Nubian Monuments. They date back to the 13th century and were commissioned by Ramses II.  The massive temples were built to commemorate Ramses’ victory at the Battle of Kadesh and are basically a tribute to himself and his Queen – Nefertari.

​There are two temples on the site – the Grand Temple and the Small Temple.  Both are incredible to see. As the names imply the Grand Temple is larger and took almost 20 years to build. All four of the large statues on the outside are huge depictions of Ramses himself – reaching 20m (66 feet) in height. Around his legs are smaller statues of his wife, mother and daughters. The interior is amazing with a triangular layout and each room decreasing in size until you get to the sanctuary. The hall has massive columns and carvings on the walls that show battle scenes.  Once inside the sanctuary you can see four statues cut into the wall – Ramses and three gods. An interesting fact is regarding the position of the axis of the temple that allows twice a year - in October and February the rays of the sun to come through the sanctuary and illuminate all but one of the statues – the god of darkness.  Check out my video below that is filmed from outside the temple and also from within the sanctuary.

​The columns and carvings are in impeccable shape and this is even more amazing once you understand that the temples were actually abandoned and over time became covered by sand.  They were eventually discovered by a Swiss orientalist who after many attempts was able to have the temples dug out and successfully entered inside.  In the late 1950’s the Aswan High Dam was being constructed and it was apparent that many of the Nubian monuments were in danger due to the rising waters of the Nile.  It was publicized that relics from this ancient human civilization were under threat and international donations were collected to fund a solution.  It became clear that the temples would need to be moved. During 1964 to 1968 the entire site was dismantled, lifted and moved to a new location 65m higher and 200m back from the river.  The blocks weighed an average of 20 tons and were painstakingly moved and reassembled in the new location. It is really hard to believe that such a challenge was even able to be completed. 

​The Small Temple is not really small – since the statues out front are still 10m (33 feet) tall.  These are of Ramses and his wife Queen Nefertari. And interestingly they are the same height which was unusual since Ramses typically made statues depicting himself larger than any other.  The inside has pillars and drawings depicting the queen, Ramses and many different gods. 

​After wandering both the temples for a couple of hours, we had an interesting exchange with a security guard who asked if we would like to hold his machine gun for pictures!  We politely declined but to make sure we didn’t insult him we did take a photo with him and also gave him a gratuity so he remained content. Our guide then took us to a lovely spot for lunch where we enjoyed the coolness of the inside seating.  

​Our lunch was delightful and just what we needed before the long ride back to Aswan where we would catch a flight to Cairo.  This was going to make for a very long day with tons of driving since upon arrival in Cairo we were picked up and our driver took us onward to Alexandria. I must say that it was a very quiet ride since we were all very tired and mostly slept along the way. We arrived into Alexandria at 1:00am which was still very much awake due to Ramadan festivities.  We fell into bed at the Alexandria Windsor Palace Hotel looking forward to exploring Alexandria the next day.

Continue to Day 9 - click here.

Our 8th day in Egypt was spent in ancient Aswan, the southern-most city in Egypt with a population of approximately 300,000.  This city is considered to be one of the driest, sunniest and hottest places in the world and as such, our early morning excursion began at 7:00am to try and avoid the mid-day heat. 
 
Our morning destination was the famous Aswan Quarry, the preferred source for granite throughout Egypt in ancient times.  The quarry, which is now an open-air museum and archaeological site in the city of Aswan, was a short 5 minute drive from where our Nile Cruise ship, the MS Farah, was docked.   The entrance to the museum is at one end of the quarry and opens into a large square at the bottom of a sloping, rocky hillside.  A worn path and stone steps carved into the rock that wind around the slopes of the quarry form the trail that guides you through this ancient site.  

​Partially carved stone blocks are scattered all along the trail, but the highlight of the museum is the massive ‘Unfinished Obelisk’ which lies on an angle along the slope of the quarry and can be seen from virtually every vantage point on the trail.  It was never finished because as it was being carved from the quarry bedrock, it developed cracks and was therefore abandoned.  This obelisk, had it been completed, would have stood 138 feet tall, weighed nearly 1,200 tons and been one third taller than any other obelisk in ancient Egypt.  What I find mindboggling is that the obelisks that we had seen a few days earlier in Luxor, each weighing up to 500 tons, had been carved here in Aswan some 3000 years ago and transported nearly 250 kilometers to their final destination.  

It was 9:30am when we shuffled down the last portion of the quarry trail towards the exit of this ancient site, yet the temperature had already reached 38 Celsius.  The reflection of the sun against the quarry rock intensified the sweltering heat and I couldn’t imagine what it would be like visiting the quarry in the afternoon.  We left the quarry and boarded our air-conditioned van for the half hour drive south to our next destination - the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser.
​
The Aswan High Dam was constructed during the latter part of the 1950’s to control the seasonal flooding of the Egyptian Nile River Basin.  Previously, irrigation of the farmlands along the banks of the Nile River, which flows from Sudan in the south and then northward through Upper and Lower Egypt before it empties into the Mediterranean, depended solely on natural flooding.  The problem with natural flooding is that some years there was too much water which would destroy crops, while other years, there wasn’t enough water which resulted in droughts.  The building of the Aswan High Dam resulted in the creation of Lake Nasser, stretching 479 kilometers to the south with a width of 16 kilometers at its widest point, making it one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.  The dam, and the associated reservoir formed by Lake Nasser, allows controlled flooding to take place throughout Egypt’s Nile basin while also generating hydroelectricity contributing to Egypt’s agriculture and developing economy.

​Following our brief visit to the dam, we boarded a boat that transported us on the lake to the small island of Agika to visit the Philae Temple.  Originally built during the reign of Ptolemy II, the Philae Temple is dedicated to the goddess Isis and its walls contain scenes from the Egyptian mythical story of Isis, including bringing her husband Osiris back to life, giving birth to Horus, and mummifying Osiris after his death.  While the temple is currently situated on Agika, it was originally on a different island, but when the Aswan dam was being built, there was fear that it would be submerged.  The Egyptian government, in conjunction with UNESCO, drained the water around the original location and moved the Temple, stone by stone, to Agika.

​After exploring the Temple, accompanied by running commentary from our guide and Egyptologist George, we boarded the boat to take us back to the entrance to the dam.  On our way back to Aswan we made a brief stop at a store specializing in Egyptian Cotton where I purchased a high-quality tee-shirt embossed with an ancient Egyptian astrology chart.  We ventured next door to an Essence shop where we enjoyed tea and received complimentary massages comprising a variety of essential oils.  Blissfully relaxed and pleasantly fragranced, we left the shop and drove a few more minutes back to Aswan and our Nile cruise ship for lunch and a refreshing swim.

​By 2:00pm we were ready to do some more exploring in the area around Aswan.  George had arranged for us to sail down the Nile towards Lake Nasser on a covered, open-air boat that picked us up at our ship.  We cruised lazily up river in the mid-afternoon sunshine, enjoying a variety of light snacks and beverages that had been provided by the tour boat.  Every once in a while, we would pass an iconic felucca gliding gracefully across the water, its single sail filled by the light breeze.  At one point, we spotted a caravan of about a dozen camels and their riders slowly making their way along the rocky bank between the river and the mounds of sand dune to the west.

​We sailed for about an hour, passing in and out of small tributaries noting the oasis-like islands covered in lush grasses, palm trees and colourful plants.  We eventually stopped at a small, sandy cove where the captain beached the boat, so we could get out and spend some time swimming in the Nile.  The water was refreshingly cool and surprising deep just a few meters from shore.  A few of the brave amongst us (I not being one) climbed atop the boat’s roof and jumped off the stern into the welcoming water below.  We spent about half an hour frolicking or floating in the river as the late afternoon light shimmered against the water’s surface.

​Back on the boat, we air-dried in the warm breeze and continued sailing for another 15 minutes before docking for our second-last stop of the day.  We exited the boat and spent a leisurely 20 minutes walking through the Aswan Botanical Gardens which featured native plants and wildlife from the area.  

​We continued walking through the village and passed several small markets.  George had arranged for us to have tea and snacks in one of the homes that overlooked the river.  The home was the residence to an extended family which consisted of 3 generations.   Along with a variety of birds that were perched around the house, the family had also made pets of several crocodiles that were kept in shallow pools.  

It was finally time to head back to Aswan, so we descended the steep slope of the Nubian hillside back to our awaiting boat.  The ride back took about one hour but allowed us to have an unobstructed view of the sun as it slowly sank beneath the sand dunes to the west, casting brilliant hues across the water.  We arrived back at the Farah shortly after 8:00pm and headed directly to the dining room for a late dinner of rice, mixed vegetables and beef kofta. 

Continue to Day 8 - click here.

After a quiet and restful night docked near the city of Edfu, we woke early and met for a buffet breakfast in the MS Farah’s main dining room at 6:00 am.   Today we would be spending a couple of hours at the historic Temple of Edfu before sailing on to Kom Ombo, about halfway between Edfu and Aswan. 
​ 
We disembarked from the Farah and prepared to board our transport to the Ptolemic Temple of Edfu, on the west bank of the Nile, in the ancient city.  Normally we would be transported to our destination by air-conditioned van. Today we deviated a bit and instead of boarding a van, we were loaded onto horse-drawn carriages for the 20-minute ride through the narrow streets of Edfu.  

​The Ptolemic Temple of Edfu was built between 237 and 57 BC during the Hellenistic period and is dedicated to the Egyptian God Horus.  It is one of the best preserved temples in the world and provides a perfect example of how Egyptian temples were structured.   It consists of a courtyard, a garden with columns, an anti-chamber and an inner chamber that is considered the most holy part of the temple complex and which represents an extension of Egyptian heaven.  The entire temple is covered in carvings and elaborate hieroglyphics that depict ancient scenes and inscriptions from the sacred drama - the age-old conflict between Horus and the trickster, Seth.

After about an hour and half, we met our “drivers” at the temple entrance and mounted our carriages for the ride back to the Farah.  We set sail from Edfu at 9:30 am and as such, spent most of the morning and early afternoon on the pool deck swimming and lounging under the hot Egyptian sun.  At about 3:00 PM we docked at Kom Ombo, about 65 kilometres south of Edfu on the Nile, and prepared for a late afternoon visit to Kom Ombo Temple.

Kom Ombo is an agricultural town famous for the Temple of Kom Ombo, a Graeco-Roman temple built during the 3rdCentury AD. The temple is actually a double temple, dedicated to both Horus, the falcon-headed God and Sobek the crocodile God. Sobek is associated with Seth, the enemy of Horus, and this temple was his sanctuary.  At one time the Egyptian Nile was infested with crocodiles and many were kept captive in Kom Ombo Temple.  Mummified remains have been found throughout the cemeteries in and near the temple and at the Crocodile Museum.   While many areas of the original temple were destroyed, it is possible to discern how the massive blocks were attached.  The inscriptions on the walls depict the first Egyptian calendar, a variety of medical and surgical tools as well as a birthing chair.  

​Even though we began our visit of the Kom Ombo Temple at 4:00 pm (in order to avoid the mid-afternoon heat) the temperature was still sitting at 44 degrees Celcius by 5:00 pm.   We returned to the ship and had a refreshing swim in the pool before preparing for our special al Fresco Egyptian dinner on the top deck of the Farrah.  The crew were dressed in traditional Egyptian attire, and as guests, we were encouraged to do the same.  We were able to purchase some inexpensive garb from the ship’s store specifically for the occasion.  Tables were set up on the top deck and a variety of Egyptian food was laid out on kiosks at the back of the ship.   Following the feast, we gathered downstairs in the lounge for an Egyptian style party with music and dancing.  It was a great way to end another day of exploring the mysteries of the Nile.

​Planning a trip to Egypt? Reach out for expert advice and assistance with your holiday planning.​

​Continue to Day 7 - click here.

Our 5th day in Egypt was one I had been looking forward to for months!  I mentioned in an earlier blog our trip to visit the Pyramids of Giza was one of the BIG days on our journey.  Today was another one of those BIG days - a hot-air balloon ride over the famed Valley of the Kings at sunrise!

In order to be “in the sky” at sunrise, we had to leave the MS Farah at 3:30am and drive over to the west bank of the Nile river across from the Ancient city of Thebes (now Luxor).  As was the case in Giza, ancient Egyptians typically buried their dead on the west bank of the Nile and lived on the east bank. 
 
We first boarded a small bus to take us to the boat launch where we would cross the river. Once on the other side it took about 20 minutes to drive to our meeting spot near the Valley of the Kings.  It was still quite dark when we arrived, and while most of the 30 or so balloons were being unfolded on the ground, a few were already attached to their baskets.  The flames from the propane tanks heating the air for the balloons were filling the desert sky with an eerie orange glow.

​After about 30 more minutes, our balloon was filled and ready to load up with passengers.  Our basket held 12 people on each side plus the pilot and crew.  While it was a bit of a squeeze, the visibility was good on all sides.  The thick braided ropes anchoring us to the ground were released and we floated gently upward into the murky, pre-dawn sky.  Looking out at the horizon, it was amazing seeing another dozen or so brilliantly coloured balloons, all at different altitudes, seeming to hang motionless in mid air.  

​Upon landing, a van picked us up and drove us to a small cafe in a nearby village, where George (our tour guide and Egyptologist), met us and took us to the entrance of the Valley of the Kings.  Here we boarded a small tram that drove us about 3 minutes and dropped us off near the entrance to the tombs at the base of Al-Qurn, the tallest peak in the Theban Hills.  While there are 63 tombs in the Valley of the Kings, not all are open to the public. Even the tombs that are open to the public rotate as to when they can be accessed.  Currently there are 11 tombs that can be visited at the site (8 are available on the regular entrance fee and 3 require an additional fee).  We visited 3 of the tombs - Ramesses IV (2nd discovery), Ramesses IX (6th discovery) and Ramses III (11th discovery).

The tombs were constructed over a period of 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, and despite being vandalized by grave robbers over the centuries, they have stood the test of time and remain in remarkable condition.  Each of the tombs that we visited was elaborately decorated with colourful hieroglyphics.  The tomb of Ramesses IV has a large passageway and detailed hieroglyphics that depict the Book of the Dead.  The tomb of Ramesses III is one of the largest and best preserved tombs in the Valley of the Kings.  The tomb of Ramesses the IX is one of the simpler tombs, but also has one of the largest entrances of any tomb in the Valley.  

​Our final stop before heading back to Luxor and the MS Farah was at the Medinet Habu Temple.  We had seen this temple from the hot air balloon in the morning and now we were going to get an inside view.  The Habu Temple is the mortuary temple of Ramesses III was the administrative centre of ancient Thebes and is surrounded by massive wall.  The temple itself is the second largest ancient temple discovered in Egypt and while it was used for mortuary rituals it was also used as a place of worship to the sun god Amun.  The temple is nearly 500 feet long and sits in a precinct which is approximately 700 feet wide by 1000 feet long.  The walls of the precinct are extremely well preserved and covered in intricate hieroglyphics and carvings.  The temple also boasts huge columns though many at the back of the temple have been cut down over the centuries.

​As the afternoon sun climbed higher into the sky, the temperatures rose proportionately and it was approaching 40 degrees celcius.  We finished up our visit of the area around the Valley of the Kings and headed back to Luxor where we boarded the Farah, had lunch and headed up to the pool deck.  The Farah set sail around 2:00 pm and we spent the afternoon swimming and lounging on the deck.  As we sailed south towards Edfu, several small boats would approach the Farah, sail alongside and throw products they were selling up to the pool deck.  If you decided you wanted to buy their wares, you would toss money down to the boats.  If you didn’t want what they were selling you would throw the products back down to them.  

​We continued sailing south and passed through a set of locks at Esna which we were able to observe from the pool deck.  After passing through lock we continued sailing towards Edfu. Shortly after sundown we headed to the main lobby where the Farah was hosting a complimentary cocktail reception before dinner.  After dinner we relaxed and lounged until the Farah reached Edfu at around 10:30 pm, then headed for bed to rest for our next day in Ancient Egypt.

Planning a trip to Egypt? Reach out for expert advice and assistance with your holiday planning.​

​Continue to Day 6 - click here.

Our 5th day in Egypt began extra early as we had to check out of the hotel by 6:00 am in order to take a flight from Cairo to Luxor, a city in Upper Egypt approximately 800 kilometers south of the Mediterranean Sea.  This was another special part of our Egyptian vacation as today would be the start of our 5 day river trip down the Nile from Luxor to Aswan.  
​
We arrived at the airport in Luxor shortly after 10:00 am and after gathering our bags we boarded the van that our guide and Egyptologist, George, had arranged for us. Our drive took us from the airport and through the town, stopping along the Nile near the Luxor Tower where we found our boat, the MS Farah, docked amongst a dozen or so other Nile Cruise ships. We boarded the boat and after a brief check-in where we received our cabin key and instructions, we made our way up a flight of wide stairs in the centre of the lobby to the next deck where we located our room.  

​We walked into a large rectangular room basking in bright sunshine that was streaming in from glass sliding doors leading to the balcony.  A queen size bed, mounded with luxurious pillows and soft linens was the centre piece of the cabin.  Facing the bed was a long desk/dresser with a flat screen tv.  The private bathroom was large, modern and featured a full-size tub.  This would be our home for the next 4 nights.

​After settling into the room we met the rest our party - Karen, Geoff, Ian and Erica - in the dining room for a buffet lunch, then went onto the upper deck of the Farah where we found the pool, sitting area and deck lounge.

​At 2:30pm we were ready for our first excursion into Luxor.  While Luxor is a smallish city (approximately 500,000), it boasts a long and celebrated history.  The ruins of the ancient city of Thebes, the capital of Egypt from about 2000 BC to 1100 BC, lies within Luxor.  Luxor is reputed to be the “world’s largest open-air museum” as it boasts two significant temples, Luxor and Karnak, while just across the Nile is the west bank Necropolis which includes many temples and monuments which make up the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens.  This is also where the tombs of the Great Pharaohs were found, including that of King Tutankhamun.  We would be visiting most of these incredible sites over the next day and a half starting with the Karnak temple.

​Karnak is considered to be the 2nd most visited historical site in all of Egypt, behind only the Pyramids of Giza.  Karnak is actually a complex of 4 main parts, with only one being open to the public.  It is significant because its development and use spanned the lives of 30 different pharaohs over a period of 1500 years.  Highlights of the Karnak temple include 2 massive obelisks and 134 intricately carved columns that were truly spectacular in size.  The larger obelisk was erected by Queen Hatshepsut (1473 -1458 BC) and stands 97 feet tall.  It is estimated to weigh approximately 320 tons and was carved from a single piece of granite.  The second obelisk is smaller and was erected by Tuthmosis I (1504 - 1492 BC). It is 75 feet high and weighs between 143 and 160 tons.   There were several other obelisks at Karnak but they were either destroyed or carted away.  One of the obelisks is now situated in a park in Paris.  What is truly amazing about the obelisks is that they were carved from single pieces of pink granite from the distant quarries at Aswan, 215 kilometers to the south and transported to Luxor where they were erected.

​Luxor Temple was built around 1400 BC by a grandfather of King Tutankhamun.  Further development of the temple was later done by King Tutankhamun as well as Ramesses II.  The temple was used as a legionary fortress during the Roman era and a Roman chapel was built which eventually was transformed into a church.

​Following our afternoon tour of the temples, we returned to the Farah where we enjoyed a late afternoon swim on the sundeck followed by cocktails and our first a la carte dinner in the ship’s dining room.  We opted for an early night as we had a very early and special day planned for tomorrow - a 3:30 am pick-up so we could catch the sunrise over the Valley of the Kings aboard a hot air balloon!

Planning a trip to Egypt? Reach out for expert advice and assistance with your holiday planning.​

​Continue to Day 5 - click here.