April 7, 2007, Suez Canal and Cairo Egypt.We arrived at Suez on the Red sea, during a windy sand storm. We boarded buses after disembarking from the ship in tenders. Several buses driving in a convoy with a police escort took us directly to Giza and the three major pyramids which is the burial site of Pharaoh Cheopsis of 2620 B.C. We explored the boundaries of the largest pyramid; and talked to camels and Arabs on the way to the Sphinx. This giant figure of a lion’s body and a Pharaohs head is said to represent the Sun God Ra, as it faces east and the rising sun (2550 B.C.). Then we lunched at the Mena House built in 1869 by King Mohamed Ali as a hunting retreat, commemorating the opening of the Suez Canal, which he initiated. The 400 of us of who left the ship in the convoy, were placed in three different hotels. Our hotel, the Marriot, over looked the Nile tributary and central Cairo. That evening 250 World cruisers were taken to the Egyptian Museum, the repository of antiquities, covering the old kingdom, middle kingdom, new kingdom and the Greek period of Ptolemy, taken from lower Egypt and it’s capitol Memphis. Luxor, the valley of the Kings and Abu Simbal are in upper Egypt. This special event was the first time that the museum was closed for the evening for a private party. Guides took us in small groups to tour through two floors of these magnificent creations. We then went to beautifully decorated candle lit tables for a gala bash in the garden under the stars and palms, amidst ancient dynastic sculptures. The food was an outrageous array of Egyptian and continental items and wines. We also were immersed in the sounds of a classical string quartet.
The photo won't stay in the order I put them in! Barb
No comments:
Post a Comment