Egypt

SITEMAP   Currently the travelogues are the final pages on this site

Index Page

Morocco     Sailing 1 : Sardinia to Corsica     Collioure, France   Sailing 2 : Turkey ; The Lycian Coast   Marrakech (new)
 Acapulco     Derbyshire Dales   South Africa    S.A.Townships  Latvia   Mediterranean Cruise
Our ancient Trailer Tent  Sri Lanka    Next Page South Africa (CapeTown to Eastern Cape)

Here is a report from Silverhairs aficionado, Jim
It is to be sincerely hoped that Egypt will soon again be a favourite resort for Brits.

The first week was taken up with a trip on the river Nile from Luxor to Aswan and back, on board the ‘Lady Mary’.

M.S Lady Mary

We went ashore at a number of sites of archaeological interest, such as Edfu, Kom Ombo and Luxor itself, where we visited the great temple of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings on the opposite bank of the Nile.

Note : The pyramids (e.g. Giza) were built as tombs for  Kings and pharoas of early Egyptian dynasties, as early as 2500 BC. They wer often plundered and later kings (1570 - 1070 BC) were buried in tombs carved from rock on the west Bank of the Nile opposite Luxor (also known as Thebes).  On the Eastern Bank, in Luxor and nearby Karnak they built great temples, each dynasty improving on the last. So, the eastern bank was for the living and the western bank was largely a burial place.  Even so, most of the tombs were robbed over the ages, which is what makes the untouched tomb of Tutankhamun so remarkable

Egyptian towns and cities

Sphinx Avenue at Karnak

The ram sphinx avenue at Karnak

Statue of Ramases II at Luxor

Statue at Luxor

Statues at Luxor

The journey along the Nile was pleasant and relaxing, giving us the opportunity to see the local people on the banks going about their agricultural pursuits in the same way as they have been doing over the centuries.

Traditional felucca sail craft

The visits to the temples were interesting, but could be tiring at times, especially when standing around in the heat listening to the guide explaining all the carvings, hieroglyphics, etc.

For the second week we undertook a four hour coach journey, in convoy for security purposes, across the desert to Hurghada on the Red Sea, where we chilled out in a first-class hotel.

Hurghada has been developed as a holiday resort, consisting of a number of imposing hotels set in magnificent grounds and surrounded by souvenir shops, but we did not find it as interesting as Sharm-el-Sheikh, which we had visited a couple of years previously.

Hurghada has a good beach and the snokelling is some of the best in the world

The Dana Beach Hotel, where we stayed in Hurghada

Some tips: The Luxor McDonald’s does a mean milk shake, and there is a spectacular view of  the temple through its huge picture window.

At Hurghada, if they try to give you an inferior room, make a fuss!

It took a while to get used to the local custom of putting used toilet paper in the receptacle provided instead of down the loo, but I expect that will be the norm here too one day.

Thanks go to to Jim and Liz

Index Page

SITEMAP

Currently the travelogues are the final pages on this site www.silverhairs.co.uk