2011 - H & A WORLD CRUISE - VALLEY OF THE KINGS

THE CAPTAIN HAS ANNOUNCED A BONUS. WE ARE GOING TO STOP AT SAFAGA IN EGYPT AFTER ALL.

THE REASON GIVEN IS THAT WE HAVE MADE UP TIME SPEEDING THROUGH THE RED SEA, EVADING PIRATES & THE REVOLUTION HAS CALMED DOWN ENOUGH FOR THIS PART OF EGYPT TO BE CONSIDERED SAFE.

FIRST WE MISSED THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHRISTCHURCH, THEN THE TSUNAMI IN JAPAN & NOW THE REVOLUTION IN EGYPT.

SAFAGA

LOKING DOWN FROM THE SHIP TO THE QUAYSIDE ACTIVITY...

THIS GUY MUST BE TAKING BARBARA’S EXCESS BAGAGE OFF THE SHIP. PROBABLY UPSETTING THE BALANCE.

OUR FIRST VIEW OF THE PYRAMIDS.....

OUR DESTINATION TODAY IS LUXOR AND THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS.

A LONG RIDE TO GET THERE & IT FEELS TO ME LIKE I AM TRAVELING THROUGH A FILM OF BIBLICAL TIMES.

WE TRAVEL THROUGH SEMI-DESERT

MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY HIGH TIDE OR PERHAPS A FLOOD!!!

UNTIL WE REACH A CANAL LEADING TO THE NILE.

EVERY FEW MILES WE SLOW DOWN AND PASS CHECKPOINTS. THERE IS MILITARY PRESENCE WITH THESE LITTLE BOXES WITH GUNS POKING OUT.

I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO GET OUT AND WANDER THROUGH SOME OF THE LITTLE TOWNS WE PASSED. BUT NO SUCH LUCK.

WE CROSS THE NILE...

BACK TO DESERT LIKE CONDITIONS & OUR FIRST ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MONUMENTS.

BARBARA AGAIN, LOOKING COOL AND COMFORTABLE.

MORE PEOPLE HERE TRYING TO SELL STUFF THAN THERE WERE PEOPLE BUYING.

WE ARE THE FIRST AMERICAN SHIP INTO THIS PART OF EGYPY SINCE THE TROUBLES ENDED & OF COURSE, NO TOURISTS, NO INCOME.

WHILE UNDERSTANDABLE, THEIR PERSISTENCE TO SELL BECAME OVERWHELMING AFTER A WHILE.

STILL TRAVELING TOWARDS LUXOR.

FINALLY WE MAKE IT & GET A QUICK GLIMPSE OF THE WINTER PALACE & SOME OTHER ANCIENT MONUMENT,,,

AND THEN IT’S INTO THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS, & INSIDE A COUPLE OF TOMBS WHERE WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE PHOTOS. SO I DID NOT TAKE MINE OFF THE BUS.

BARABARA HANDED HERS IN AT A KIOSK & WHEN SHE HAD FINISHED THE TOMB TOUR, GOT IT BACK & THE GUY WAS NICE ENOUGH TO LET HER TAKE A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF THE AREA.

INSIDE THE TOMBS IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. GENTLE SLOPES LEADING DOWN TUNNELS. COLOURED WALL PICTURES STILL QUITE VIBRANT.

NO SIGN OF KING TUT WHO WAS HERE BUT IS NOW IN CAIRO OR ON TOUR. I SAW HIM IN LONDON IN THE 70’S

WE THEN CAME TO THIS AREA WHERE PHOTOS ARE ALLOWED BUT NO PHOTOS I TOOK DO IT JUSTICE..

BUT, HERE’S ANOTHER OBELISK TO ADD TO MY COLLECTION.

AND MARTHA! WHERE HAS SHE BEEN HIDING THIS LAST MONTH..

THIS PIECE IS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF A VERY HIGH COLUMN AND MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN HOW THE COLOURS HAVE REMAINED SO VIBRANT, OR MAYBE A TOUCH UP HAS BEEN DONE.

THEN IT’S BACK TO THE NILE & THE LONG DRIVE BACK THE WAY WE CAME. HOPEFULLY WITHOUT THE CONSTANT DRONE OF THE GUIDE PUTTING ME TO SLEEP. HE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE BUT A MONOTONOUS VOICE.

DOVES OF PEACE - SEEM TO BE WORKING...

THIS LITTLE ONE LOOKS A LITTLE OVERDRESSED FOR FIELD WORK - A WEDDING MAYBE!

AFTER THE PLAGUE OF LOTUS & THE BOILS CAME THE PLAGUE OF UGLY SIGNS....AS BAD AS GRAFITTI OR McDONALDS

THIS LITTLE CUTIE, HANGING OUT A WINDOW LOOKS HAPPY TO SEE US...& GENERALLY PEOPLE WE PASSED DID SEEM THAT WAY.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A WONDERFUL EXCURSION, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A LONG TIME IN THE BUS.

I HAVE FOUR OR FIVE TIMES AS MANY PHOTOS AS THERE ARE HERE.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET TO SEE PEOPLE CUTTING FIELDS WITH SCYTHES OR USING DONKEY POWER TO TOTE PRODUCE.

EGYPT - ANOTHER PLACE TO COME BACK TO.