Monday 28 March.
Coach ride back from Luxor to the ship at Safaga. We had not realise until this time that we
had a tourist police escort all day to assist
us through the traffic. We had a
tourist policeman on each bus ( two buses) fully equipped with some various
serious side arms. After boarding the ship we set sail for the port of El
Sokhna. This night the captains dinner.
Tuesday 29 March.
Ship docked at the port of El Sokhna and once again when through a
pointless security check that would not catch a cold let alone any illegal
matters. On to the coach and drove, with our trusty tourist
police who may have sufficient fire power but little understanding of how to
drive, to Cairo to visit firstly the
Cairo museum. This was something, so
many treasures from 5000 years ago of items from the many tombs of Egypt. It
was overwhelming but unfortunately we needed at least another several hours in the museum. After lunch it was off to Ginza to see the Pyramids
and the great Sphinx, the last surviving monuments of the original seven
wonders of the wold.. We were offered a chance to enter one of the
tombs in the Pyramid and of course there was no way Ger would miss this even if
it was a difficult climb and in the dark.
A bit of fun and we can say we did it.
An hour and half later we were back on the boat and off up the Suez
Canal. This visit was far too quick and we needed far more time to enjoy these
sites
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| TOMB RAIDERS |
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| Ger kissing, why you might ask? |
Wednesday 30 March:
Full day sailing the Suez and on to Alexandria. No photos allowed in the Suez as it is
military area, so of course I complied with their wishes. A fairly uninteresting sail as there is nothing to see in the Suez
Canal but as least a sleep in for a change and a day to relax have everyday
being full on.
Thursday 31 March:
Finally docked in Alexandria. Off
on our tour with extra armed escorts with bullet proof vests and
balaclavas. Fills one with confidence
that there is nothing to worry about!!!
First stop is the Catacombs of Kom el Shouqafa, no idea who
he was but great 2nd Century BC ruins. Seriously old stuff in this part of the
world. Then on to Pompey’s Pillar build in 297 AD very recent but still don’t
remember Pompey. Next the Roman
Amphitheatre of Alexandria, discovered by accident in 1960. Pretty impressive stadium used by the Romans
and in the Byzantine era for Chariot
races and gladiator fights but eventually when the way of VFL park at Waverly.
On then to the site of where once stood the Lighthouse of
Alexandria once one of the seven wonders of the world but no more used for
souvenir vendors who only sell genuine copies of everything.
I think the armed escorts and the tourist police were of
little value to our biggest danger in this city which was the bus drive and the
traffic.
Not sorry to leave Egypt as it is very ordinary but worth it
for Luxor and other sites
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| Street of Alexandria |
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| Ger loves the red, white and black of Egypt's flag |
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| Check out the side arm on our friendly police escort |
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| Did not need bail money once they knew I was a Collingwood supporter |
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| Ger just can't get enough of these guys with their big guns |
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Ger suggesting that they could detain me for a while
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| Leaving Egypt |
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