Where to start. We were 4 of only a handful of English people on a boat full of Germans. As such, we had our own little mini-bus with our own guide for all our trips. That was great, it was like our own personalised little tour. Haggag, our guide was brilliant, he made it a lot of fun.
We flew out on the Monday and arrived at the boat about 23:30pm. The boat was the Al-Jamila and it was fantastic. The sun deck had a pool and loads of sofas under canopy's on which we spent a lot of time lazing. The meals were all gorgeous, is there nothing the Egyptians can't do with potatoes. Loads and loads of deserts, even at breakfast time. I've never eaten so much sponge cake in my life.
Tuesday morning, we went to Hatchepsuts Temple. The first time I went, they were working on the top terrace so I never saw that. This time it was open. The tomb is carved into the cliff wall, quite amazing. Tuesday Afternoon, we went to the Valley of the Kings. Unfortunately, you can't take photos in there. Your ticket enables you to enter three tombs. Tutankhamun is extra, of course I paid. I never did it first time round, but now his body is back in there. You cannot imagine how they fit all his treasure into that tiny space. Also, the King has such tiny feet.
Wednesday morning, we went to Edfu Temple. This is one of the best surviving and most beautiful temple and the shape of it is what you would think of as a typical Egyptian temple. We got to this temple by a horse and carriage ride from the boat, that was fun, especially when they raced each other. Wednesday afternoon, we went to Kom Ombo Temple. Another fantastic temple, the cruise boat pulled up right next to it.
Thursday Morning, we went to Philae Temple. This is only accessible by boat as it is located on a small island. We travelled (just the four of us and our guide) on a small felluca boat
and I went and sat on the roof. After that we took a ride to visit the Aswan Damn and a papyrus factory where they showed you the process of making it from the plant. Wednesday afternoon, we took another felucca rife to the botanical gardens on Kitchener island. There were a big school outing with shouting and singing kids everywhere. They all want to try out their English and say hello and ask you your name. We had been told before that with it being a poor country, they are always grateful for pens so that the kids can do their homework. We had collected quite a large carrier bag full of them and when we spotted the teachers gathering up a large group of children, I went over and gave them the bag. The teacher was grateful and said thanks and we thought that was it but as we were walking away, all the children broke out into a song for us and they cheered and shouted thank you, it was quite a show and we were gobsmacked.
Friday was a special trip, up early to leave before 4am for Abu Simbel. You pay extra for this trip and my sis and her hubby treated me for my 40th birthday. These huge temples dedicated by Ramesses II to himself and to his wife were moved to make way for the Aswan Dam. The were originally cut straight into the cliff and that had to be reconstructed. It was a mammoth job, so amazing.
Saturday Morning, we went to Luxor Temple. Another beautiful temple. In the evening, me and mum went to a light and sound show at Karnak Temple which is in the same city.
Sunday morning, we went to Dendara Temple. When we arrived early in the morning, we were the first people there. As such, they opened up a trapdoor in the floor which led down to a crypt not many people get to see, where the jewels of the goddess were kept. It was a tight squeeze but worth it as there were some amazing carvings down there. They also let us climb some ladders up to a special little room where more jewels were kept. We also went onto the roof of the temple. It was great coming out of there kind of smug seeing all the large coaches of people rolling up knowing that they wouldn't see what we had just seen. Sunday afternoon, we went to Karnak Temple, the largest Temple in Egypt. You couldn't imagine how large this compound is, I think they said 62 acres. there is a huge lake inside it.
Monday morning, we flew to Cairo, a beautiful hotel with a fantastic pool. It was situated exactly across the street from the pyramids. you cannot believe how near the road the pyramids are. After dumping bags, we were on a trip to the pyramids. Once again, a little mini-bus with just us and our own guide. We paid extra to go inside the second biggest pyramid. It was £4 and it was worth it to crouch down and climb down inside and see the rooms, and you do have to crouch. You could pay £20 to go into the great pyramid but our guide told us it all looks the same inside and you are paying extra for the name, I agreed. Then we were informed that our trip included a camel ride. We had no prior info about this when we booked it so it was a total surprise. Mum stated that there was no chance and god knows how she was talked into it but she did it and we have pictures to prove it. I absolutely loved it. We each rode our own and it wasn't that which worried me but the dismount. I'd seen far too many face hitting floor clips due to people going tits over arse on you've been framed. In the end there was nothing to worry about, it all went smoothly. Next we drove round to the sphinx and had many pictures took there by some local girls, they know how to make you pose so it looks like you are kissing the sphinx or it is kissing your bum. You give them tips for doing so and it's good because they have took the trouble to learn about photography and by doing this, they don't have to do demeaning jobs or be forced to marry young.
Tuesday morning, we went to Saqqara. This is where the step pyramid of Djoser is located, the first real pyramid. We didn't go inside it as it is being worked on and there is a lot of scaffolding there, but we did go into another pyramid. We also went into the tomb of a noble. The wall carvings we so good and quite funny, pictures of crocodiles and hippos having a scrap and smiley faces on the owl hieroglyphs. On the way back, we stopped into a carpet school where they show you how students learn to weave carpets on the looms and you get to try it.
Wednesday, we went to Cairo museum. Unfortunately, you can't take pictures inside. We saw all the golden treasures of Tutankhamun, I was so glad that his mask was OK because it was on the news a little while ago about the damage done by cleaners when they'd stuck his beard on after they'd knocked it off. If you looked very, very closely the curve under his chin looked a little less smooth but that's only because I scrutinised it from all angles.
Thursday we flew home and I can honestly say that it didn't feel like a holiday, it felt like a total adventure. The best 40th birthday treat I could ever have imagined. No holiday ever could ever top this.
Where to start. We were 4 of only a handful of English people on a boat full of Germans. As such, we had our own little mini-bus with our own guide for all our trips. That was great, it was like our own personalised little tour. Haggag, our guide was brilliant, he made it a lot of fun.
We flew out on the Monday and arrived at the boat about 23:30pm. The boat was the Al-Jamila and it was fantastic. The sun deck had a pool and loads of sofas under canopy's on which we spent a lot of time lazing. The meals were all gorgeous, is there nothing the Egyptians can't do with potatoes. Loads and loads of deserts, even at breakfast time. I've never eaten so much sponge cake in my life.
Tuesday morning, we went to Hatchepsuts Temple. The first time I went, they were working on the top terrace so I never saw that. This time it was open. The tomb is carved into the cliff wall, quite amazing. Tuesday Afternoon, we went to the Valley of the Kings. Unfortunately, you can't take photos in there. Your ticket enables you to enter three tombs. Tutankhamun is extra, of course I paid. I never did it first time round, but now his body is back in there. You cannot imagine how they fit all his treasure into that tiny space. Also, the King has such tiny feet.
Wednesday morning, we went to Edfu Temple. This is one of the best surviving and most beautiful temple and the shape of it is what you would think of as a typical Egyptian temple. We got to this temple by a horse and carriage ride from the boat, that was fun, especially when they raced each other. Wednesday afternoon, we went to Kom Ombo Temple. Another fantastic temple, the cruise boat pulled up right next to it.
Thursday Morning, we went to Philae Temple. This is only accessible by boat as it is located on a small island. We travelled (just the four of us and our guide) on a small felluca boat
and I went and sat on the roof. After that we took a ride to visit the Aswan Damn and a papyrus factory where they showed you the process of making it from the plant. Wednesday afternoon, we took another felucca rife to the botanical gardens on Kitchener island. There were a big school outing with shouting and singing kids everywhere. They all want to try out their English and say hello and ask you your name. We had been told before that with it being a poor country, they are always grateful for pens so that the kids can do their homework. We had collected quite a large carrier bag full of them and when we spotted the teachers gathering up a large group of children, I went over and gave them the bag. The teacher was grateful and said thanks and we thought that was it but as we were walking away, all the children broke out into a song for us and they cheered and shouted thank you, it was quite a show and we were gobsmacked.
Friday was a special trip, up early to leave before 4am for Abu Simbel. You pay extra for this trip and my sis and her hubby treated me for my 40th birthday. These huge temples dedicated by Ramesses II to himself and to his wife were moved to make way for the Aswan Dam. The were originally cut straight into the cliff and that had to be reconstructed. It was a mammoth job, so amazing.
Saturday Morning, we went to Luxor Temple. Another beautiful temple. In the evening, me and mum went to a light and sound show at Karnak Temple which is in the same city.
Sunday morning, we went to Dendara Temple. When we arrived early in the morning, we were the first people there. As such, they opened up a trapdoor in the floor which led down to a crypt not many people get to see, where the jewels of the goddess were kept. It was a tight squeeze but worth it as there were some amazing carvings down there. They also let us climb some ladders up to a special little room where more jewels were kept. We also went onto the roof of the temple. It was great coming out of there kind of smug seeing all the large coaches of people rolling up knowing that they wouldn't see what we had just seen. Sunday afternoon, we went to Karnak Temple, the largest Temple in Egypt. You couldn't imagine how large this compound is, I think they said 62 acres. there is a huge lake inside it.
Monday morning, we flew to Cairo, a beautiful hotel with a fantastic pool. It was situated exactly across the street from the pyramids. you cannot believe how near the road the pyramids are. After dumping bags, we were on a trip to the pyramids. Once again, a little mini-bus with just us and our own guide. We paid extra to go inside the second biggest pyramid. It was £4 and it was worth it to crouch down and climb down inside and see the rooms, and you do have to crouch. You could pay £20 to go into the great pyramid but our guide told us it all looks the same inside and you are paying extra for the name, I agreed. Then we were informed that our trip included a camel ride. We had no prior info about this when we booked it so it was a total surprise. Mum stated that there was no chance and god knows how she was talked into it but she did it and we have pictures to prove it. I absolutely loved it. We each rode our own and it wasn't that which worried me but the dismount. I'd seen far too many face hitting floor clips due to people going tits over arse on you've been framed. In the end there was nothing to worry about, it all went smoothly. Next we drove round to the sphinx and had many pictures took there by some local girls, they know how to make you pose so it looks like you are kissing the sphinx or it is kissing your bum. You give them tips for doing so and it's good because they have took the trouble to learn about photography and by doing this, they don't have to do demeaning jobs or be forced to marry young.
Tuesday morning, we went to Saqqara. This is where the step pyramid of Djoser is located, the first real pyramid. We didn't go inside it as it is being worked on and there is a lot of scaffolding there, but we did go into another pyramid. We also went into the tomb of a noble. The wall carvings we so good and quite funny, pictures of crocodiles and hippos having a scrap and smiley faces on the owl hieroglyphs. On the way back, we stopped into a carpet school where they show you how students learn to weave carpets on the looms and you get to try it.
Wednesday, we went to Cairo museum. Unfortunately, you can't take pictures inside. We saw all the golden treasures of Tutankhamun, I was so glad that his mask was OK because it was on the news a little while ago about the damage done by cleaners when they'd stuck his beard on after they'd knocked it off. If you looked very, very closely the curve under his chin looked a little less smooth but that's only because I scrutinised it from all angles.
Thursday we flew home and I can honestly say that it didn't feel like a holiday, it felt like a total adventure. The best 40th birthday treat I could ever have imagined. No holiday ever could ever top this.
