"Adios Barcelona"....."oui oui Paris"......"y'all come on through here Atlanta"......"hello misty Seattle"......
What a day! A full 25 hours from the time we hopped on the bus in Barcelona till we got off the bus at our hotel room in Seattle with a lot of flights and a couple of 'close call' adventures in between.
Our first flight was just 2 hours long from Barcelona to Paris via Air France where they served a very 'interesting' snack. It was a smoked salmon 1/2 sandwich with the crusts cut off along with complimentary wine.
The 'adventure of the day' prize has to go to the airport in Paris where we had only 1 1/2 hours to deplane and get to our next gate. Thankfully wheelchairs had been ordered for mom and Kay and the downside to that is that they're the last ones off the plane but the upside is that there are attendants who know where they're going that the rest of us could follow.....but not everything goes according to plan!
Kay, her attendant, Liz, Ken, Pat, and Joyce had gone on ahead as mom's attendant got tied up at the plane for a few minutes longer. Mom, her attendant, Karen, Lynda, and I followed as soon as he was able. Our flight had landed in Teminal 2B and we needed to get to Terminal 2E but directional signs seemed to be non existent. Once our 1/2 of the group arrived outside to catch the little shuttle that had been ordered to take mom in her chair.....we spotted Ken, Pat, and Joyce standing a short distance away. They said that the attendant who had been with Kay had told them to wait there (as Kay's shuttle could only accomodate Kay, Liz, and Kay's attendant) but our attendant said that there would be no shuttle or bus that would take them to Terminal 2E from that location. Thank heavens our attendant was there and had excellent english so was able to tell them clearly what they needed to do to get to our next gate! The rest of us were able to squish into mom's shuttle and by the time we arrived at 2E; Ken, Pat, and Joyce had just gotten off their bus....what a relief! Had they done what Kay's attendant told them to do (stand there and wait) they'd still be standing there and we would all have missed our flight! As it was....we all made it just in time (thanks again to Mom's attendant who fast tracked all of us through the employees only security line). We were the last to board our Delta flight for that 10 hour leg of the day's journey. The really good news about this flight was that it was not very full so we were able to get a full row of 3 seats for Kay to sit in comfortably and with no fear of anyone bumping her broken arm and we were also able to get another full row of 3 seats for mom to lay down and sleep for most of the trip! That was even better than first class passengers got!!
By the time we arrived in Atlanta Georgia we were all showing signs of wear and not looking forward to the next flight....another Delta flight that was 5 hours long and completely full which meant there wouldn't be any extra room at all :-(
We all survived the ordeal though and were really glad to see all our cases arrive on the belt a short time later. 9 people..... 9 checked bags.....a number of flights and transfers over the past couple of weeks.....and not a bag missing....now that's a happy ending to a wonderful story :-)
Lynda and I left the rest of the group waiting for their shuttle to the Jet Motel as we climbed onto our Rodeway Inn shuttle that just happened to be coming by as we arrived....yes.....we're still suertudas!! The rest of them would be catching another shuttle in the morning to Bellingham where their ride home would be waiting. Lynda and I planned for a day of rest with her catching a 6 a.m. flight back to Mexico and me on a 10:30 plane to Kelowna on Sunday morning.
We've got all of the pictures off the camera (about 1500 of them!), have Flor packed away for the trip home, and plan to spend this free day reminiscing about the amazing time we've had this past 7 weeks and best of all that we're still great friends and open to doing it all again the next time opportunity knocks : -)
Till the next time there is another adventure to blog about.....
L & L
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
January 13, 2011
Last day of our cruise – arriving in Barcelona at 5 a.m. for an 8:30 departure from the ship and a 1 p.m. flight to Paris/Atlanta/Seattle that is sure to leave us all a little jet lagged with the long flights we’ll have to endure! I guess that’s what you get when your flight is included in your trip so we’re not going to complain as the trip has come in on budget – wahoo!! That means we’ll get to go on another one sooner rather than later.
Really the only thing that happened today is that Flor went on a trip without us. Gareth, the Casino Manager on board took her for a little excursion into areas of the ship that mere passengers aren’t able to visit! As a result….Flor has been inside some of the gaming machines, out on the bridge deck, on the main stage in the Stardust Theatre, down in the galley with the crew, and lined up with the captain for a portrait! She had an amazing adventure and we have all the photos to prove it.
My mom and sister, Karen, spent the day in bed and are much better for it. There are so many guests and crew who are sick on the ship now that the hallways are lined with room service trays and the ships hospital has run out of many of their supply of meds. As a result, they had to bring on emergency supplies in Malta and there is another larger emergency shipment coming on board in Barcelona. Lynda and I are glad we’re here to be able to help mom and Karen out a little. We’re also glad that we’re both staying healthy!
We spent as much of the day as possible out on the deck where the air is germ free and even left a couple of suggestions with our friend Gareth that he found interesting and as a result has already passed them through the ships channels (ie: captain and then through to department heads). One was the MBWA philosophy (Management By Walking Around) that intrigued him as it is his natural style and the other was Lynda’s suggestion that the on ship TV channel that teaches passengers about safe hand washing practices include a reference about sneezing and coughing into your sleeve vs hands or worse yet….into the air as many guests on the ship seem to do! Who knows….it may even be implemented by the next cruise that starts in 2 days!! We told Gareth that we were available as cruise consultants now that we’re no longer cruise virgins so if the ship’s budget can handle our rates….we might be available.
Packing up for the next and nearly final leg of our adventure…..next stop where we’ll be able to sleep….Seattle….might have something to blog about from there ….so until next time…..
L & L
Really the only thing that happened today is that Flor went on a trip without us. Gareth, the Casino Manager on board took her for a little excursion into areas of the ship that mere passengers aren’t able to visit! As a result….Flor has been inside some of the gaming machines, out on the bridge deck, on the main stage in the Stardust Theatre, down in the galley with the crew, and lined up with the captain for a portrait! She had an amazing adventure and we have all the photos to prove it.
My mom and sister, Karen, spent the day in bed and are much better for it. There are so many guests and crew who are sick on the ship now that the hallways are lined with room service trays and the ships hospital has run out of many of their supply of meds. As a result, they had to bring on emergency supplies in Malta and there is another larger emergency shipment coming on board in Barcelona. Lynda and I are glad we’re here to be able to help mom and Karen out a little. We’re also glad that we’re both staying healthy!
We spent as much of the day as possible out on the deck where the air is germ free and even left a couple of suggestions with our friend Gareth that he found interesting and as a result has already passed them through the ships channels (ie: captain and then through to department heads). One was the MBWA philosophy (Management By Walking Around) that intrigued him as it is his natural style and the other was Lynda’s suggestion that the on ship TV channel that teaches passengers about safe hand washing practices include a reference about sneezing and coughing into your sleeve vs hands or worse yet….into the air as many guests on the ship seem to do! Who knows….it may even be implemented by the next cruise that starts in 2 days!! We told Gareth that we were available as cruise consultants now that we’re no longer cruise virgins so if the ship’s budget can handle our rates….we might be available.
Packing up for the next and nearly final leg of our adventure…..next stop where we’ll be able to sleep….Seattle….might have something to blog about from there ….so until next time…..
L & L
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
January 12, 2011
It’s odd to think that as we’re returning to the ship from a full day on the beautiful isle of Malta you’re all just starting your day! Yesterday we spent a relaxing day aboard the ship enjoying a little sun and fresh air as we made our way from Alexandria to Malta – an island steeped in history and ripe with character. Right now we’re sitting in the Mixers Martini and Cocktail Bar chatting with Carlos from Peru. Linda is into the martini’s and I think she has found the perfect one for future parties. It is called a French Kiss and is made with vodka, Grand Marnier, Raspberry Liquer, and Pineapple juice. I had a taste and I might have to order that one next after I finish my White Russian (I’ve become quite addicted to them on this cruise!!)
Arriving into the port of Valetta on Malta had been announced as something to see and so we were up on the 14th deck at the front of the ship to see it from the best vantage point we could find. There was a little rain but…we were undaunted and we were glad we’d made the effort. The port really is lovely and with the ship coming into the small bay we had a great view. In fact…..once in the little harbour (well….it probably only looked little to us as our ship is so huge!) the Jade did an about face so it was turned around and pointed seaward ready to disembark later in the day. From our vantage point it looked like that about face took up the entire harbour! It was something to see how a ship so large was able to turn on a dime like that!
Malta was a wonderful final stop on this amazing whirlwind adventure we’re on. We had decided to forgo any organized tours and simply “do” Malta on our own. We began the day with a Hop on Hop off bus that left right from the port area. It was a little chilly (well actually it was downright cold but this gave us a good overview of the island and an opportunity to see much of the surrounding area. From the bus we hopped off at the Valetta City Centre stop and spent the rest of the day wandering amidst the locals getting a sense of the Maltese culture.
Malta has long had the attention of the world….from the days of crusading knights to WWII action, it’s strategic location has afforded it a powerful position. Malta’s geographic location also means that it enjoys a blend of several cultures that show up in it’s cuisine, it’s languages, and it’s history.
I guess the funny story for the day has to be that as we passed by the St John’s Co-Cathedral & Museum….we almost didn’t go in thinking “seen one seen them all” and “what more can there be here than there was in the Sistine Chapel?” But…..decided to err on the side of caution so spent the 6 Euros and bought a ticket. Lynda giggled the whole way through thinking that we had almost missed this amazing highlight. St John’s was magnificent! Not only does it rival the Sistine Chapel (and maybe even trump it) but it also houses the largest collection in the WORLD of 17th century Flemish tapestries that tell the story of Christ from birth to resurrection, the complete and original complement of choral texts that are massive books hand painted in gold and that hold all the original scores for the music and hymns used in the Catholic church today. It also is home to many original works of art, the most famous being “The Beheading of John the Baptist”. St John’s was also filled with Masonic history and memorabilia as well as the original vespers (clothes) worn by the ancient priests, bishops, and heads of the Catholic church. Neither of us had anticipated any of what we would find in St John’s so we were sure glad we didn’t miss the opportunity!
From there we popped into the armories just a little further down Republic Street where there were two red coated guards standing sentry just like you might see at Buckingham Palace. We knew they couldn’t talk to us…..but really wanted a photo with Flor….. so we just took a photo of him with Flor sans consent……hopefully he didn’t mind too much.
Speaking of Flor…..she’s getting a little tired looking but still holding up. Here we are approaching the end of the travels and we’re already talking about whether or not we should keep her somewhere safe for the next time….it just doesn’t seem right that she might not accompany us on our next adventure!
We checked out the silver and gold filigree that Malta is famous for…..tasted some of their local treats (ricotta cheese or pea pies and honey cake), enjoyed just being part of the local crowd on the busy streets, and dodged rain drops when the skies opened up at one point during our visit. We enjoyed seeing all the horse and buggies available for hire and we marveled at how old everything was. We went through tunnels, over bridges, through city gates, around round abouts, survived the maze of a bus station, along skinny little lanes through farmland and back into the city again.
We watched the fountain dance to the music in front of the government building, we saw people from our boat who were on organized tours but who were wishing they were just wandering like us, we browsed a few shops, and marveled at the fact that Malta played such an important role in WWII and that neither of us knew that. We walked up and down the 2 inch steps that are built into the sidewalks on the hills of the city and learned that the steps were built for a reason….to allow the knights to ascend and descend them in their full armour! Here we are walking the same steps and streets as the knights of old!! Malta was like one huge photo opp…..every time you turned a corner there was another gorgeous thing just waiting for you to take another picture.
And to end our day……we caught a local public bus back down to the port for .47 cents…..the deal of the day!
Arriving into the Port of Valetta on Malta was absolutely gorgeous and the leaving was just as lovely. The story goes that whenever a ship is leaving port, they put the lights on the fort to say good-bye, wish a safe voyage and to show the way back…..we waved good bye from the back of the Jade as we sailed out of the port and both Lynda and I agreed that we would come back to Malta to explore it further.
Tomorrow is our last day on the ship and it will be another restful day at Sea which is probably a very good thing for many people. I haven’t mentioned it in previous blogs but….there have been several very sick people on the ship with us. I told you that my aunt broke her shoulder and that is bad enough but she has also developed bronchitis, my mom has a mild case of pneumonia (they’re both on antibiotics now), my sister has a terrible cough and cold, one of my aunt’s friends is just getting over that same cough and cold, and…..yes….it gets even worse……the ship has been hyper vigilant ever since day 2 of our 12 day cruise as there were several cases of severe flu-like symptoms on board. I have to say that I have been extremely impressed with the way that the crew has handled the realities of dealing with so many sick people. Everything is constantly being sanitized….including everyone on the ship! Every room you enter or leave is staffed with required hand sanitizing stations. Crew are constantly cleaning and sterilizing everything from carpets to table tops and railings, bathroom doors have all been propped open so no one has to touch the handle to get out, there are hand washing instructions on the TV, and even the buffet has gone to silver service so no one but crew (who all wear gloves) touch the serving spoons.
Lynda and I have had a great time and it has been a wonderful trip and we’ve both loved the cruise as a floating hotel that moves you from place to place while you sleep but I’m pretty sure there are a few people on board who will be glad to get home.
We have a long trip home.....but will see you soon,
L & L
Arriving into the port of Valetta on Malta had been announced as something to see and so we were up on the 14th deck at the front of the ship to see it from the best vantage point we could find. There was a little rain but…we were undaunted and we were glad we’d made the effort. The port really is lovely and with the ship coming into the small bay we had a great view. In fact…..once in the little harbour (well….it probably only looked little to us as our ship is so huge!) the Jade did an about face so it was turned around and pointed seaward ready to disembark later in the day. From our vantage point it looked like that about face took up the entire harbour! It was something to see how a ship so large was able to turn on a dime like that!
Malta was a wonderful final stop on this amazing whirlwind adventure we’re on. We had decided to forgo any organized tours and simply “do” Malta on our own. We began the day with a Hop on Hop off bus that left right from the port area. It was a little chilly (well actually it was downright cold but this gave us a good overview of the island and an opportunity to see much of the surrounding area. From the bus we hopped off at the Valetta City Centre stop and spent the rest of the day wandering amidst the locals getting a sense of the Maltese culture.
Malta has long had the attention of the world….from the days of crusading knights to WWII action, it’s strategic location has afforded it a powerful position. Malta’s geographic location also means that it enjoys a blend of several cultures that show up in it’s cuisine, it’s languages, and it’s history.
I guess the funny story for the day has to be that as we passed by the St John’s Co-Cathedral & Museum….we almost didn’t go in thinking “seen one seen them all” and “what more can there be here than there was in the Sistine Chapel?” But…..decided to err on the side of caution so spent the 6 Euros and bought a ticket. Lynda giggled the whole way through thinking that we had almost missed this amazing highlight. St John’s was magnificent! Not only does it rival the Sistine Chapel (and maybe even trump it) but it also houses the largest collection in the WORLD of 17th century Flemish tapestries that tell the story of Christ from birth to resurrection, the complete and original complement of choral texts that are massive books hand painted in gold and that hold all the original scores for the music and hymns used in the Catholic church today. It also is home to many original works of art, the most famous being “The Beheading of John the Baptist”. St John’s was also filled with Masonic history and memorabilia as well as the original vespers (clothes) worn by the ancient priests, bishops, and heads of the Catholic church. Neither of us had anticipated any of what we would find in St John’s so we were sure glad we didn’t miss the opportunity!
From there we popped into the armories just a little further down Republic Street where there were two red coated guards standing sentry just like you might see at Buckingham Palace. We knew they couldn’t talk to us…..but really wanted a photo with Flor….. so we just took a photo of him with Flor sans consent……hopefully he didn’t mind too much.
Speaking of Flor…..she’s getting a little tired looking but still holding up. Here we are approaching the end of the travels and we’re already talking about whether or not we should keep her somewhere safe for the next time….it just doesn’t seem right that she might not accompany us on our next adventure!
We checked out the silver and gold filigree that Malta is famous for…..tasted some of their local treats (ricotta cheese or pea pies and honey cake), enjoyed just being part of the local crowd on the busy streets, and dodged rain drops when the skies opened up at one point during our visit. We enjoyed seeing all the horse and buggies available for hire and we marveled at how old everything was. We went through tunnels, over bridges, through city gates, around round abouts, survived the maze of a bus station, along skinny little lanes through farmland and back into the city again.
We watched the fountain dance to the music in front of the government building, we saw people from our boat who were on organized tours but who were wishing they were just wandering like us, we browsed a few shops, and marveled at the fact that Malta played such an important role in WWII and that neither of us knew that. We walked up and down the 2 inch steps that are built into the sidewalks on the hills of the city and learned that the steps were built for a reason….to allow the knights to ascend and descend them in their full armour! Here we are walking the same steps and streets as the knights of old!! Malta was like one huge photo opp…..every time you turned a corner there was another gorgeous thing just waiting for you to take another picture.
And to end our day……we caught a local public bus back down to the port for .47 cents…..the deal of the day!
Arriving into the Port of Valetta on Malta was absolutely gorgeous and the leaving was just as lovely. The story goes that whenever a ship is leaving port, they put the lights on the fort to say good-bye, wish a safe voyage and to show the way back…..we waved good bye from the back of the Jade as we sailed out of the port and both Lynda and I agreed that we would come back to Malta to explore it further.
Tomorrow is our last day on the ship and it will be another restful day at Sea which is probably a very good thing for many people. I haven’t mentioned it in previous blogs but….there have been several very sick people on the ship with us. I told you that my aunt broke her shoulder and that is bad enough but she has also developed bronchitis, my mom has a mild case of pneumonia (they’re both on antibiotics now), my sister has a terrible cough and cold, one of my aunt’s friends is just getting over that same cough and cold, and…..yes….it gets even worse……the ship has been hyper vigilant ever since day 2 of our 12 day cruise as there were several cases of severe flu-like symptoms on board. I have to say that I have been extremely impressed with the way that the crew has handled the realities of dealing with so many sick people. Everything is constantly being sanitized….including everyone on the ship! Every room you enter or leave is staffed with required hand sanitizing stations. Crew are constantly cleaning and sterilizing everything from carpets to table tops and railings, bathroom doors have all been propped open so no one has to touch the handle to get out, there are hand washing instructions on the TV, and even the buffet has gone to silver service so no one but crew (who all wear gloves) touch the serving spoons.
Lynda and I have had a great time and it has been a wonderful trip and we’ve both loved the cruise as a floating hotel that moves you from place to place while you sleep but I’m pretty sure there are a few people on board who will be glad to get home.
We have a long trip home.....but will see you soon,
L & L
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
January 10, 2011
Almost impossible to believe that just yesterday morning we were asleep in our stateroom on the ship!
Since then we’ve been everywhere, done everything, and all we have to say about it is, “WOW!”
As well, somehow all of our clothes continue to shrink!! We’ve gotten so much exercise since we first arrived on the Jade that we were sure we’d have to go shopping for a smaller size but no……fortunately the de-humidifier on the ship has taken care of the problem for us. Not only does it keep the humidity down on the ship but it sucks all the moisture out of the fabric in your clothes so they shrink quite a bit during the time that you’re on board. Buttons on blouses have begun to gape, bras barely hold it ‘all’ in, full briefs have turned into thongs, and jeans have become capris…..it’s like having a whole new wardrobe. It seems that even metal can be affected by the dehumidifier – Lynda even had to have an extra link put in her watch strap today!
We’re both tired tonight! So tired in fact that when Lynda stood up from the dinner table she almost fell back down again. It seems that her muscles went to sleep without her, which can be a real problem when you’re trying to stand on a ship that is underway!
The past week has been kind of like being in a time warp that spans more than 5000 years. We’ve travelled from the present where eatfests take place on ships that look like Hawaii to times long past where gladiators fought for the entertainment of others and where pharaohs oversaw the building of temples that are beyond description. We’ve experienced sights and sounds that seem to have come directly from the movie screen and we’ve made friends with people from around the globe.
To focus in on the past two days will be a tall order as there may not be enough words to describe our experiences in Egypt. But here’s our best attempt……
A 4:30 wake-up call should have been an indication of just how busy we’d be during this shore excursion but we were undaunted and ready for anything yesterday morning. Our guide for the 2 days would be Hoda, an Egyptian who has more information about this country in her little finger than all of the guide books ever printed!
Bus to airport in Alexandria where we boarded an Egyptian Air flight for Luxor. We crossed the Nile as we left the port and drove through an eclectic mix of old and new that was just an appetizer for what was to come. 6 million people live in a 25 mile strip that is the city of Alexandria, named for Alexander the Great. During our bus ride we learned that pretty well everyone in Egypt has more than one job as wages are quite low so regardless of whether you’re a teacher, a government worker, or a labourer….it is likely that you’ll also drive a taxi, have a shop, or work in a restaurant during your “off” hours. On that same topic…..it is very unlikely that the income from that second job will be declared though…..this works in the favour of both the worker and the employer. The employer doesn’t have to pay benefits and the worker doesn’t have to pay taxes on that income because officially…..people only have one job. We also learned that in ancient Egypt everyone lived on the East side of the Nile as the West was reserved for death. In death all the gods cross from East to West as Rah, the god of sun, leads the way by rising in the East and setting in the West. As Hoda told us about what we were passing along the highway to the airport and about what the next 2 days would look like….we could see horses pulling wagons laden with crops, obvious poverty in the housing, women clad in burkas, and men smoking water pipes as they enjoyed a cup of coffee or tea on the corner….and all of this out of the bus windows. That would be the only thing that I could find fault with over the past 2 days….there were so many things that I saw and wanted to take pictures of but taking them out of a bus window as it’s bumping along at fairly high speeds is pretty much impossible. Our time was so packed full that we literally ran from early early morning till well after dark when we simply fell into bed for another 4 or 5 hours just to do it all again!
Flight to Luxor took about 1 ½ hours and was very comfortable. Luxor seems cleaner than Alexandria and maybe it is a little more ‘polished’ in keeping with the meaning of it’s name. The word luxor means ‘palaces’ in Egyptian. Looking out at the passing landscape and city scenes we could see lots of donkeys pulling carts, water buffalo crossing the Nile, horses pulling wagons around the city like taxis on every corner, LOTS of police that were very obviously armed, men sitting in coffee shops with their pipes and glass of tea, women working, and children playing. I saw an entire shop window dedicated just to selling burkas, and in the next block there was another shop dedicated to selling tiny little evening dresses for nights out in the clubs. The vast majority of women here choose to wear the traditional Muslim dress but what they’re wearing under it remains a mystery…..perhaps it is one of those tiny little dresses??? The call to prayer was underway (this sounds 5 times per day) and the sound of it adds to the exotic nature of the place. Most of the buildings are the same colour…..and colour isn’t really a word that fits to describe the homes we’re looking at. The only colour is the laundry that is hanging from the balcony’s to dry. The buildings are all kind of drab…..red/grey brick seems to be the most popular. There are so many satellite dishes on the rooftops…everyone must have TV! Many of the homes are unfinished and Hoda explained that this is because Egyptians don’t really believe in borrowing money from a bank so they put their money into their house and when they run out of money, they stop building until they can get more cash to work with. As well, it is common for a son to continue with the building when the time comes for him to take a wife and need a home of his own. In that case…the mom and dad would live on the lower floor and the son and his new wife would live on the 2nd floor and so on and so on. In addition…..we’ve heard that if a house is unfinished there are no taxes to be paid so there is a definite advantage to living in an unfinished house.
Our first stop would be the Valley of the Kings and unfortunately we weren’t able to take our cameras into the Valley at all. There has been too much damage to the paintings in the tombs from flash photography so the government has taken a very strong stand and imposed a zero tolerance policy for anyone having a camera anywhere in the site. The Valley of the Kings was an amazing surprise for both Lynda and I …… we just kept saying, “wow” over and over again.
I used to think that the pyramids were kind of the ‘be all and end all’ but thanks to Hoda now know that there was a time when the pyramids were the only home to pharaohs in death but once the grave robbers began to take their toll on the wealth that could be found within…..the builders of the tombs came up with a new plan. They recognized that the pyramids were just too obvious in helping the grave robbers to find the location of tombs and their treasures so they decided to not have any markings above ground but rather to create the magnificent hallways and rooms that can be found in the Valley of the Kings beneath the surface and out of sight and hopefully safe from thieves. In addition to the Valley of the Kings there is also a Valley of the Queens, a Valley of Nobles, a Valley of Workers, and so on….everyone and everything received some form of mummification and passage into their afterlife when they died. The Kings & Queens were buried using the most elaborate methods of mummification and had golden statues and masks to accompany them on their journey. The Nobles had a slightly simpler mummification process and their life form faces were painted onto the sarcofagace that their preserved bodies were placed in, the Workers, commoners, and animals had the simplest form of mummification and may not have had any face painted on their ‘coffin’. Even today….science cannot identify all of the chemicals or processes used in ancient mummification but there is evidence (and we saw a lot of it in the past couple of days) that a properly mummified body can last for many thousands of years!!
Each of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings is numbered in the order in which it was discovered and the signage also explains who’s tomb it is and what special features it boasts. The tombs that Lynda and I visited included: KV2 (that means it was the 2nd one found) that was built for Ramses IV, KV6 (the 6th one found) belonging to Ramses IX, and KV20 that was built for Ramses I. Both KV2 and KV6 were relatively easy to access but KV20 was another matter! It went almost straight down into the ground using steep stairs. I’m not sure how many stairs there were but our estimate is that it would be the equivalent of at least 4 or 5 floors so by the time we emerged at the surface again…..I for one was pretty much done for at least a few minutes and until we got to the next one. Ramses I tomb was hot, stuffy, and difficult due to the super steep flights of stairs. For the last 30 or 40 stairs….my right knee pretty well gave up so I put my head down gritted my teeth together and made it the rest of the way with my knee grinding itself to what felt like a pulp. We also visited KV62 (yes….the 62nd one found on the site) that I was really excited to see. It is King Tut’s tomb and I have to say that it was somewhat of a shock. When you look at all of the treasures that have come out of Tut’s tomb….you might think that it would have to be quite large but it pales in comparison to my imaginings. It is a small and fairly simple tomb that appears to have been hastily built (perhaps this is because Tut died so young) but….boy oh boy….was it ever packed to the gunnels with some really amazing treasure! The one really special thing that was in Tut’s tomb though was his mummified body and sarcofagace. There it is for all to see under glass just a couple of feet away in the same place that it has lain for the past 3000 years. It was such a gift to be able to see him right there in his tomb and I was glad that I had purchased the extra ticket to visit KV62. The other additional ticket we purchased was for KV9, the tomb of Ramses VI, and that will always be a highlight of the trip for me. KV9 is in unbelievable condition and the overall size of the space is beyond imagination. The tunnel from the surface is about 10’ wide and about 12’ high. Each “section” (and I don’t know why I call them sections….but that just seems the right word to use) is maybe 20 or 30 feet long and always sloping down and then there is a steeper section that goes deeper into the earth and then there is another long sloping section and then another that is steeper and then another that is long and sloping and then another steeper one and then…..I won’t go on but just say that KV9 was so much like the Sistine Chapel….the deeper you got into it….the stronger the pull to continue the journey. Every inch of KV9 was carved relief work on the walls and ceiling, there were decorative columns and little cut outs into the walls, like shelves, along the entire journey. As I felt myself being drawn deeper and deeper into the tomb I felt emotional….how is it possible that something this beautiful could be buried so deep beneath the surface and how is it possible that this has lasted so many thousands of years and still looks so good? I wonder how many nameless people must have died building this masterpiece, how long it must have taken them, and how many more tombs are still buried beneath the surface of the modern world.
Emerging from the tombs in the Valley of the Kings was shocking! The sun was so bright on the stark landscape that consists of light grey (almost white) rock/gravel that is everywhere. There is not a tree or a plant anywhere….just rocks and dust and people…..so many people! It feels wrong in a way that all of these people should be running around on top of the mazes of tunnels that lead to tombs beneath the ground. Sunglasses are an essential here and we can only imagine how hot it must be during the summer. Here we are in January, the middle of winter, and we’re uncomfortably warm.
An important tidbit of information that you may find interesting is that 25% of all the world’s ancient monuments are located right here in Luxor! Even the statistics here are AMAZING!!!
From Valley of the Kings…we were off to Karnak Temple (Lynda’s favourite) where we were greeted by a row of miniature sphinx’s lining both sides of the walk. For any of you who have been to the Luxor in Vegas…..you’ll have seen the replica of this walk as we were standing at the original site of what they copied to create the illusion of this phenomenal place in Vegas. This temple site is impressive in size alone and as we wandered through it from room to room learning about the meaning of the relief stories that were written all over the walls there was a sense of silence among the noise of the crowds as everyone was conflicted with the same emotions…..a combination of awe, wonder, respect, and curiosity. The temple consists of a series of rooms and passageways and there are an astounding 134 massive columns still standing today. Each column is probably 10-12 feet in diameter and stands at least 30 feet high. We felt like ants walking among them…..the power each of them possessed through sheer size and number alone was impressive but when that was coupled with the fact that they’ve ruled that land for 5,000 years……it was overwhelming and we were all awestruck. Hoda showed us the wall that held the first peace treaty ever in history….it was between Ramses II and the King of another land. Ramses had not been entirely successful in conquering the King so the peace treaty spells out the agreement they came to and the fact that Ramses would take the Kings daughter to be one of his many wives to seal the deal. The relief work (in addition to this peace treaty) at Karnak was evident everywhere and Hoda explained about stories of war, of festivals, of death and of the afterlife. It was as though the characters on the walls came to life to whisper their stories to us as we passed through this ancient wonder.
From Karnak we were back across the Nile again (BTW…the Nile is 1500 miles long and if filled with boats of all sizes) to check into our hotel, the St George’s – a former palace. We had only 15 minutes to drop our bags in our rooms before we were off again. There was enough time though to be reminded that we were in a Muslim country as the call to prayer was on again and this time we could hear it coming from multiple mosques simultaneously……their voices blending together in their individual calls.
Within minutes we were back on the bus and headed to Luxor Temple, another ancient site, that was equally impressive but that we’d be able to see by night under the lights which added an even more magical dimension to the already phenomenal experience. Here the columns were narrower and curved ever so slightly to give the illusion of the shape of a papyrus and to give the impression of something that was both a work of art and a symbol of the belief that the papyrus was a holy plant. The lights also magnified the relief work that covered the walls here as well so there was another opportunity to hear the whispered stories of 5,000 years ago.
After a late night dinner…we fell into our beds in our palatial room overlooking the Nile with lights from the Valley of the Tombs glowing in the distance across the river.
Our 4:30 wake up call, a breakfast box to go, and a cup of Nescafe or tea (yes…they only have instant coffee here) got us to the airport in time to catch our early morning flight to Cairo for the continuation of our Egyptian adventures. It’s interesting to note that we only saw Egyptian Air planes at the international airport….whether this is because we only saw their hangar or because those are the only planes that fly here…..is a question we don’t know the answer to. The Cairo airport is under major construction though so perhaps other flights are there but just not visible to us from our small vantage point.
Cairo is a huge city with a population of 20 million people and plenty of smog! It is the largest city in Africa, known as “the city that never sleeps” and with that comes the insanity you might expect. Traffic is at a standstill much of the time and vehicles of all sizes communicate with one another through their horns and whistles so there is a constant background noise that is unfamiliar to visitors from a place like Summerland. It’s a good thing that they have this method of communication as the lanes that are marked on the road aren’t really used at all…..where there are 4 marked lanes….the vehicles find 6 to use! There is huge disparity in the homes we pass by along our journey….some are veritable palaces and others are barely shacks. There appears to be lots of poverty and garbage fills the ditches that line the roadways. The people are clean and busy with their daily lives as we pass by them on our way to experience the pyramids across the Nile to the West bank and Giza. Driving through Cairo left us with the feeling that we truly were in Egypt….everyone was obviously local and the only visitors to the country were on the bus with us. Before crossing the river, we stopped at the Egyptian Museum where we joined the throngs of visitors to explore this building that is filled to the rafters with archives and treasures from the ancients. A highlight for everyone was the rooms that house King Tut’s treasures…..to think that all of this could have been packed into that tiny burial chamber/tomb with him…..is almost beyond belief. Solid gold masks, locks of his grandmothers hair, shoes, boxes, jewellery, knives, hundreds of statues, seeds (that when planted in modern times actually grew!), buttons and beads, a floral arrangement (that until the tomb was opened had retained all of its leaves and petals but that now is beginning to deteriorate a little since our interference with it), and more artifacts that he might have been able to use in his afterlife. King Tut didn’t rule long (only 10 years) and he really didn’t impact the history in any significant way so it is interesting that his treasures were so rich and that as a result he is probably the best known of all the pharaohs the world over.
From the Museum we were back en route to Giza and the pyramids. It was a surprise to find them right in the city……I don’t know what we expected but maybe that we’d have to cross the desert (the Sahara borders the location of the pyramids) to get to them but no…..we could see them in the distance while we were still driving through the city. In fact the hotel where we would have lunch later in the day was very near the pyramids and boasted some of the best views right from their rooms.
There were 3 stops at the site of the pyramids….the first was the main stop where we not only had the opportunity to wander the (very uneven) grounds around the base of these massive and ancient wonders but also were able to climb atop a camel for a short ride down a small hill, a photo opportunity, and the ride back up. Both Lynda and I participated in this ‘extra’ and you can rest assured that getting on and off a camel is not an easy task. Well…..the getting on and off isn’t really all that difficult….it is more when the camel stands up or lays down for you to get on and off that is the tough bit!! It’s a matter of leaning in the right direction and holding on tight!!! No one fell off though so it was another great addition to our amazing Egyptian adventure. We decided to forgo the descent into the pyramids as there is nothing to see there and it would take time away from the short time we had to wonder at the majestic sight that was above the ground.
Still smelling a little like a camel and with some camel poo stuck to our shoes….we were off to the next location…..the Sphinx. Here there was another great photo opportunity with this recognizable beast in front of the pyramids in the background. This location, like all the others, was crawling with Tourism Police, and some rather aggressive vendors.
All in all……the Ultimate Egypt tour was worth every penny and will leave a lasting impression on both of us. The 3 hour bus ride back to Alexandria gave us time to reflect on all that we had seen and felt over the two day trip. The highway took us through farmland (crops include grapes, cotton, and rice) and some interesting looking rather large bullet shaped structures. Hoda explained that they were pigeon houses! Egyptians love pigeons….for pets, for carrying messages, and for food…..yes…..they manage to find enough meat on those little birds! In fact….we’re pretty sure now that pigeon might have been one of the dishes at our lunch buffet in Luxor. It was called duck but it was the smallest boniest duck ever. Lynda had some and said it was good but different.
We made it back to the bus a few minutes after our scheduled departure time! Several busses had been delayed with the traffic coming out of Cairo and ours was one of them. This is one of those occasions that you’re really glad you’re on a tour that has been booked though the cruise line as they’ll hold the ship’s departure for your return. The drive back through the traffic had been an adventure in itself…at one point we thought our driver was going to get into a fight with a big green tanker that was beside us and who wouldn’t let us into the flow of traffic and past him. Aggression is a critical element to success in driving here! I’m really glad I didn’t have to do it!!
Boat is now underway to Malta, our final stop, and we’re going to enjoy this day at sea where we’ll have an opportunity to rest up from all we did in Egypt. I’m really thankful to have this time to get some of my notes from Egypt into the blog as I don’t want to forget any of it.....till next time,
L & L
Since then we’ve been everywhere, done everything, and all we have to say about it is, “WOW!”
As well, somehow all of our clothes continue to shrink!! We’ve gotten so much exercise since we first arrived on the Jade that we were sure we’d have to go shopping for a smaller size but no……fortunately the de-humidifier on the ship has taken care of the problem for us. Not only does it keep the humidity down on the ship but it sucks all the moisture out of the fabric in your clothes so they shrink quite a bit during the time that you’re on board. Buttons on blouses have begun to gape, bras barely hold it ‘all’ in, full briefs have turned into thongs, and jeans have become capris…..it’s like having a whole new wardrobe. It seems that even metal can be affected by the dehumidifier – Lynda even had to have an extra link put in her watch strap today!
We’re both tired tonight! So tired in fact that when Lynda stood up from the dinner table she almost fell back down again. It seems that her muscles went to sleep without her, which can be a real problem when you’re trying to stand on a ship that is underway!
The past week has been kind of like being in a time warp that spans more than 5000 years. We’ve travelled from the present where eatfests take place on ships that look like Hawaii to times long past where gladiators fought for the entertainment of others and where pharaohs oversaw the building of temples that are beyond description. We’ve experienced sights and sounds that seem to have come directly from the movie screen and we’ve made friends with people from around the globe.
To focus in on the past two days will be a tall order as there may not be enough words to describe our experiences in Egypt. But here’s our best attempt……
A 4:30 wake-up call should have been an indication of just how busy we’d be during this shore excursion but we were undaunted and ready for anything yesterday morning. Our guide for the 2 days would be Hoda, an Egyptian who has more information about this country in her little finger than all of the guide books ever printed!
Bus to airport in Alexandria where we boarded an Egyptian Air flight for Luxor. We crossed the Nile as we left the port and drove through an eclectic mix of old and new that was just an appetizer for what was to come. 6 million people live in a 25 mile strip that is the city of Alexandria, named for Alexander the Great. During our bus ride we learned that pretty well everyone in Egypt has more than one job as wages are quite low so regardless of whether you’re a teacher, a government worker, or a labourer….it is likely that you’ll also drive a taxi, have a shop, or work in a restaurant during your “off” hours. On that same topic…..it is very unlikely that the income from that second job will be declared though…..this works in the favour of both the worker and the employer. The employer doesn’t have to pay benefits and the worker doesn’t have to pay taxes on that income because officially…..people only have one job. We also learned that in ancient Egypt everyone lived on the East side of the Nile as the West was reserved for death. In death all the gods cross from East to West as Rah, the god of sun, leads the way by rising in the East and setting in the West. As Hoda told us about what we were passing along the highway to the airport and about what the next 2 days would look like….we could see horses pulling wagons laden with crops, obvious poverty in the housing, women clad in burkas, and men smoking water pipes as they enjoyed a cup of coffee or tea on the corner….and all of this out of the bus windows. That would be the only thing that I could find fault with over the past 2 days….there were so many things that I saw and wanted to take pictures of but taking them out of a bus window as it’s bumping along at fairly high speeds is pretty much impossible. Our time was so packed full that we literally ran from early early morning till well after dark when we simply fell into bed for another 4 or 5 hours just to do it all again!
Flight to Luxor took about 1 ½ hours and was very comfortable. Luxor seems cleaner than Alexandria and maybe it is a little more ‘polished’ in keeping with the meaning of it’s name. The word luxor means ‘palaces’ in Egyptian. Looking out at the passing landscape and city scenes we could see lots of donkeys pulling carts, water buffalo crossing the Nile, horses pulling wagons around the city like taxis on every corner, LOTS of police that were very obviously armed, men sitting in coffee shops with their pipes and glass of tea, women working, and children playing. I saw an entire shop window dedicated just to selling burkas, and in the next block there was another shop dedicated to selling tiny little evening dresses for nights out in the clubs. The vast majority of women here choose to wear the traditional Muslim dress but what they’re wearing under it remains a mystery…..perhaps it is one of those tiny little dresses??? The call to prayer was underway (this sounds 5 times per day) and the sound of it adds to the exotic nature of the place. Most of the buildings are the same colour…..and colour isn’t really a word that fits to describe the homes we’re looking at. The only colour is the laundry that is hanging from the balcony’s to dry. The buildings are all kind of drab…..red/grey brick seems to be the most popular. There are so many satellite dishes on the rooftops…everyone must have TV! Many of the homes are unfinished and Hoda explained that this is because Egyptians don’t really believe in borrowing money from a bank so they put their money into their house and when they run out of money, they stop building until they can get more cash to work with. As well, it is common for a son to continue with the building when the time comes for him to take a wife and need a home of his own. In that case…the mom and dad would live on the lower floor and the son and his new wife would live on the 2nd floor and so on and so on. In addition…..we’ve heard that if a house is unfinished there are no taxes to be paid so there is a definite advantage to living in an unfinished house.
Our first stop would be the Valley of the Kings and unfortunately we weren’t able to take our cameras into the Valley at all. There has been too much damage to the paintings in the tombs from flash photography so the government has taken a very strong stand and imposed a zero tolerance policy for anyone having a camera anywhere in the site. The Valley of the Kings was an amazing surprise for both Lynda and I …… we just kept saying, “wow” over and over again.
I used to think that the pyramids were kind of the ‘be all and end all’ but thanks to Hoda now know that there was a time when the pyramids were the only home to pharaohs in death but once the grave robbers began to take their toll on the wealth that could be found within…..the builders of the tombs came up with a new plan. They recognized that the pyramids were just too obvious in helping the grave robbers to find the location of tombs and their treasures so they decided to not have any markings above ground but rather to create the magnificent hallways and rooms that can be found in the Valley of the Kings beneath the surface and out of sight and hopefully safe from thieves. In addition to the Valley of the Kings there is also a Valley of the Queens, a Valley of Nobles, a Valley of Workers, and so on….everyone and everything received some form of mummification and passage into their afterlife when they died. The Kings & Queens were buried using the most elaborate methods of mummification and had golden statues and masks to accompany them on their journey. The Nobles had a slightly simpler mummification process and their life form faces were painted onto the sarcofagace that their preserved bodies were placed in, the Workers, commoners, and animals had the simplest form of mummification and may not have had any face painted on their ‘coffin’. Even today….science cannot identify all of the chemicals or processes used in ancient mummification but there is evidence (and we saw a lot of it in the past couple of days) that a properly mummified body can last for many thousands of years!!
Each of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings is numbered in the order in which it was discovered and the signage also explains who’s tomb it is and what special features it boasts. The tombs that Lynda and I visited included: KV2 (that means it was the 2nd one found) that was built for Ramses IV, KV6 (the 6th one found) belonging to Ramses IX, and KV20 that was built for Ramses I. Both KV2 and KV6 were relatively easy to access but KV20 was another matter! It went almost straight down into the ground using steep stairs. I’m not sure how many stairs there were but our estimate is that it would be the equivalent of at least 4 or 5 floors so by the time we emerged at the surface again…..I for one was pretty much done for at least a few minutes and until we got to the next one. Ramses I tomb was hot, stuffy, and difficult due to the super steep flights of stairs. For the last 30 or 40 stairs….my right knee pretty well gave up so I put my head down gritted my teeth together and made it the rest of the way with my knee grinding itself to what felt like a pulp. We also visited KV62 (yes….the 62nd one found on the site) that I was really excited to see. It is King Tut’s tomb and I have to say that it was somewhat of a shock. When you look at all of the treasures that have come out of Tut’s tomb….you might think that it would have to be quite large but it pales in comparison to my imaginings. It is a small and fairly simple tomb that appears to have been hastily built (perhaps this is because Tut died so young) but….boy oh boy….was it ever packed to the gunnels with some really amazing treasure! The one really special thing that was in Tut’s tomb though was his mummified body and sarcofagace. There it is for all to see under glass just a couple of feet away in the same place that it has lain for the past 3000 years. It was such a gift to be able to see him right there in his tomb and I was glad that I had purchased the extra ticket to visit KV62. The other additional ticket we purchased was for KV9, the tomb of Ramses VI, and that will always be a highlight of the trip for me. KV9 is in unbelievable condition and the overall size of the space is beyond imagination. The tunnel from the surface is about 10’ wide and about 12’ high. Each “section” (and I don’t know why I call them sections….but that just seems the right word to use) is maybe 20 or 30 feet long and always sloping down and then there is a steeper section that goes deeper into the earth and then there is another long sloping section and then another that is steeper and then another that is long and sloping and then another steeper one and then…..I won’t go on but just say that KV9 was so much like the Sistine Chapel….the deeper you got into it….the stronger the pull to continue the journey. Every inch of KV9 was carved relief work on the walls and ceiling, there were decorative columns and little cut outs into the walls, like shelves, along the entire journey. As I felt myself being drawn deeper and deeper into the tomb I felt emotional….how is it possible that something this beautiful could be buried so deep beneath the surface and how is it possible that this has lasted so many thousands of years and still looks so good? I wonder how many nameless people must have died building this masterpiece, how long it must have taken them, and how many more tombs are still buried beneath the surface of the modern world.
Emerging from the tombs in the Valley of the Kings was shocking! The sun was so bright on the stark landscape that consists of light grey (almost white) rock/gravel that is everywhere. There is not a tree or a plant anywhere….just rocks and dust and people…..so many people! It feels wrong in a way that all of these people should be running around on top of the mazes of tunnels that lead to tombs beneath the ground. Sunglasses are an essential here and we can only imagine how hot it must be during the summer. Here we are in January, the middle of winter, and we’re uncomfortably warm.
An important tidbit of information that you may find interesting is that 25% of all the world’s ancient monuments are located right here in Luxor! Even the statistics here are AMAZING!!!
From Valley of the Kings…we were off to Karnak Temple (Lynda’s favourite) where we were greeted by a row of miniature sphinx’s lining both sides of the walk. For any of you who have been to the Luxor in Vegas…..you’ll have seen the replica of this walk as we were standing at the original site of what they copied to create the illusion of this phenomenal place in Vegas. This temple site is impressive in size alone and as we wandered through it from room to room learning about the meaning of the relief stories that were written all over the walls there was a sense of silence among the noise of the crowds as everyone was conflicted with the same emotions…..a combination of awe, wonder, respect, and curiosity. The temple consists of a series of rooms and passageways and there are an astounding 134 massive columns still standing today. Each column is probably 10-12 feet in diameter and stands at least 30 feet high. We felt like ants walking among them…..the power each of them possessed through sheer size and number alone was impressive but when that was coupled with the fact that they’ve ruled that land for 5,000 years……it was overwhelming and we were all awestruck. Hoda showed us the wall that held the first peace treaty ever in history….it was between Ramses II and the King of another land. Ramses had not been entirely successful in conquering the King so the peace treaty spells out the agreement they came to and the fact that Ramses would take the Kings daughter to be one of his many wives to seal the deal. The relief work (in addition to this peace treaty) at Karnak was evident everywhere and Hoda explained about stories of war, of festivals, of death and of the afterlife. It was as though the characters on the walls came to life to whisper their stories to us as we passed through this ancient wonder.
From Karnak we were back across the Nile again (BTW…the Nile is 1500 miles long and if filled with boats of all sizes) to check into our hotel, the St George’s – a former palace. We had only 15 minutes to drop our bags in our rooms before we were off again. There was enough time though to be reminded that we were in a Muslim country as the call to prayer was on again and this time we could hear it coming from multiple mosques simultaneously……their voices blending together in their individual calls.
Within minutes we were back on the bus and headed to Luxor Temple, another ancient site, that was equally impressive but that we’d be able to see by night under the lights which added an even more magical dimension to the already phenomenal experience. Here the columns were narrower and curved ever so slightly to give the illusion of the shape of a papyrus and to give the impression of something that was both a work of art and a symbol of the belief that the papyrus was a holy plant. The lights also magnified the relief work that covered the walls here as well so there was another opportunity to hear the whispered stories of 5,000 years ago.
After a late night dinner…we fell into our beds in our palatial room overlooking the Nile with lights from the Valley of the Tombs glowing in the distance across the river.
Our 4:30 wake up call, a breakfast box to go, and a cup of Nescafe or tea (yes…they only have instant coffee here) got us to the airport in time to catch our early morning flight to Cairo for the continuation of our Egyptian adventures. It’s interesting to note that we only saw Egyptian Air planes at the international airport….whether this is because we only saw their hangar or because those are the only planes that fly here…..is a question we don’t know the answer to. The Cairo airport is under major construction though so perhaps other flights are there but just not visible to us from our small vantage point.
Cairo is a huge city with a population of 20 million people and plenty of smog! It is the largest city in Africa, known as “the city that never sleeps” and with that comes the insanity you might expect. Traffic is at a standstill much of the time and vehicles of all sizes communicate with one another through their horns and whistles so there is a constant background noise that is unfamiliar to visitors from a place like Summerland. It’s a good thing that they have this method of communication as the lanes that are marked on the road aren’t really used at all…..where there are 4 marked lanes….the vehicles find 6 to use! There is huge disparity in the homes we pass by along our journey….some are veritable palaces and others are barely shacks. There appears to be lots of poverty and garbage fills the ditches that line the roadways. The people are clean and busy with their daily lives as we pass by them on our way to experience the pyramids across the Nile to the West bank and Giza. Driving through Cairo left us with the feeling that we truly were in Egypt….everyone was obviously local and the only visitors to the country were on the bus with us. Before crossing the river, we stopped at the Egyptian Museum where we joined the throngs of visitors to explore this building that is filled to the rafters with archives and treasures from the ancients. A highlight for everyone was the rooms that house King Tut’s treasures…..to think that all of this could have been packed into that tiny burial chamber/tomb with him…..is almost beyond belief. Solid gold masks, locks of his grandmothers hair, shoes, boxes, jewellery, knives, hundreds of statues, seeds (that when planted in modern times actually grew!), buttons and beads, a floral arrangement (that until the tomb was opened had retained all of its leaves and petals but that now is beginning to deteriorate a little since our interference with it), and more artifacts that he might have been able to use in his afterlife. King Tut didn’t rule long (only 10 years) and he really didn’t impact the history in any significant way so it is interesting that his treasures were so rich and that as a result he is probably the best known of all the pharaohs the world over.
From the Museum we were back en route to Giza and the pyramids. It was a surprise to find them right in the city……I don’t know what we expected but maybe that we’d have to cross the desert (the Sahara borders the location of the pyramids) to get to them but no…..we could see them in the distance while we were still driving through the city. In fact the hotel where we would have lunch later in the day was very near the pyramids and boasted some of the best views right from their rooms.
There were 3 stops at the site of the pyramids….the first was the main stop where we not only had the opportunity to wander the (very uneven) grounds around the base of these massive and ancient wonders but also were able to climb atop a camel for a short ride down a small hill, a photo opportunity, and the ride back up. Both Lynda and I participated in this ‘extra’ and you can rest assured that getting on and off a camel is not an easy task. Well…..the getting on and off isn’t really all that difficult….it is more when the camel stands up or lays down for you to get on and off that is the tough bit!! It’s a matter of leaning in the right direction and holding on tight!!! No one fell off though so it was another great addition to our amazing Egyptian adventure. We decided to forgo the descent into the pyramids as there is nothing to see there and it would take time away from the short time we had to wonder at the majestic sight that was above the ground.
Still smelling a little like a camel and with some camel poo stuck to our shoes….we were off to the next location…..the Sphinx. Here there was another great photo opportunity with this recognizable beast in front of the pyramids in the background. This location, like all the others, was crawling with Tourism Police, and some rather aggressive vendors.
All in all……the Ultimate Egypt tour was worth every penny and will leave a lasting impression on both of us. The 3 hour bus ride back to Alexandria gave us time to reflect on all that we had seen and felt over the two day trip. The highway took us through farmland (crops include grapes, cotton, and rice) and some interesting looking rather large bullet shaped structures. Hoda explained that they were pigeon houses! Egyptians love pigeons….for pets, for carrying messages, and for food…..yes…..they manage to find enough meat on those little birds! In fact….we’re pretty sure now that pigeon might have been one of the dishes at our lunch buffet in Luxor. It was called duck but it was the smallest boniest duck ever. Lynda had some and said it was good but different.
We made it back to the bus a few minutes after our scheduled departure time! Several busses had been delayed with the traffic coming out of Cairo and ours was one of them. This is one of those occasions that you’re really glad you’re on a tour that has been booked though the cruise line as they’ll hold the ship’s departure for your return. The drive back through the traffic had been an adventure in itself…at one point we thought our driver was going to get into a fight with a big green tanker that was beside us and who wouldn’t let us into the flow of traffic and past him. Aggression is a critical element to success in driving here! I’m really glad I didn’t have to do it!!
Boat is now underway to Malta, our final stop, and we’re going to enjoy this day at sea where we’ll have an opportunity to rest up from all we did in Egypt. I’m really thankful to have this time to get some of my notes from Egypt into the blog as I don’t want to forget any of it.....till next time,
L & L
Saturday, January 8, 2011
January 8, 2011
A great day at sea today! Sunny skies and smooth sailing thanks to the fact that the wind was with us. Spent much of the day basking in the Mediterranean sun snoozing and reading snoozing and reading and then snoozing and reading. Oh yes….there were a few meals in there somewhere too! We’re pretty certain that we’ve gained at least 5 lbs already and we’ve still got a few days of this eatfest to go!!!
Meeting time is for 6:30 a.m. so it’ll be an early night tonight as tomorrow and the next day will leave us “knackered” if we’re to believe the manager of the casino onboard. He and his wife took the same tour last month and he said it is one of the highlights of his travel life so we’re excited to experience it for ourselves.
Will be off the ship for two days so won’t have any access to internet….so until we’re Malta bound….you won’t hear from us.
Excited to be ‘almost in Egypt’!!
L & L
Meeting time is for 6:30 a.m. so it’ll be an early night tonight as tomorrow and the next day will leave us “knackered” if we’re to believe the manager of the casino onboard. He and his wife took the same tour last month and he said it is one of the highlights of his travel life so we’re excited to experience it for ourselves.
Will be off the ship for two days so won’t have any access to internet….so until we’re Malta bound….you won’t hear from us.
Excited to be ‘almost in Egypt’!!
L & L
January 7, 2011
Well…..if this is January 7th then we must be in Izmir, Turkey! Izmir is a really beautiful port and the bay is filled with yachts and ferries shuffling people from one side of the water to the other. Sitting on the outdoor deck for breakfast watching the birds soar through the blue blue skies and the boats skimming across the dark blue water left us both feeling very very lucky!
Izmir is built on terraces that ascend the hills around the port. It is the third largest city in Turkey and there are about 4 million people living here. Main exports are: carpets, leather, and ceramics. In addition they also have lots of agriculture but that is not a major export or industry.
As I mentioned in the last blog…..Kay had to go to the hospital in Turkey today to get additional x-rays and the plan was for Lynda and I to go with her but…..plans can change and the cruise line had made arrangements for someone who speaks Turkish to go with her so once they had Kay en route to the hospital (about 11:00 a.m.) Lynda and I took off to explore, and explore we did.
We knew we were in for a great day when, walking down the hallway outside of Kay’s room, we overheard a woman say to her husband “that’s the flower I was telling you about….the one that is travelling all around the world”. It was a not so subtle reminder that Flor has taken on her own identity and Lynda and I have faded into the background….Flor doesn’t really even need us anymore. The fact that we’re doing all the work and Flor is getting all the recognition gives us both quite a chuckle.
Turkish words we learned today are: Hello = Maraba, Thank You = Teshekoot, No = Hire, and Yes = Evitt. All of this came from Oeur, the taxi driver we secured just outside the customs office once we left the boat. We settled on a price of $75 USD for 3 hours of touring (including entrance fees) and were off on our adventure.
Touring the winding streets where there seem to be no rules at all was an adventure in itself but Oeur is an amazing driver and managed to wind his way through the maze with ease. One of our first stops was Agora and what a great stop it was! At first glance it looked like nothing more than a few columns standing in a field of broken pieces of marble but thanks to Oeur’s encouragement we set out into the field to look for whatever it was that he was directing us to explore. Oh yes…..I guess I haven’t mentioned that Oeur didn’t have any English and our Turkish doesn’t consist of much more than gobble gobble!
Agora was amazing! The name means “meeting place” and this meeting place was built in the 4th century BC. Although the sections that we could see at first glance didn’t look all that impressive; once we descended the stairs to the walkways that ran beneath the surface we were both awestruck. We wandered the paths under the perfectly intact arches and oohed and aahhed at the beauty of it all until we could hear the sound of many children arriving overhead. Within minutes they had spotted us from their posts up top and we immediately learned what it would be like to be a huge celebrity in the midst of a mob! Initially, they just called to us but before long we were above ground and in the middle of the pack with little people all around wanting to shake our hands and ask our names and tell us theirs and….well….you get the picture. As much as this may not sound like much in the telling…..please believe me when I say that it was a memory I will never forget and Turkey couldn’t hope for any better ambassadors than those kids were today.
Out of breath from our time with the kids we fell into our taksi (yes…that’s how they spell it here) and were off to Kadifekele, another ancient site that was built by Alexander the Great in 400 BC. The story goes that while on a hunting trip, Alexander fell asleep in the shade of a tree and when he awoke he liked the place so much he decided it should become the site of his fort and so it did. This stop took us to one of the highest points of land where the view of the bay was super impressive and we felt like we were on top of the world. We could see our ship far below in the harbor and it was obvious just how big the Jade is when you see her from that vantage point. The stairs up to the top of the walls of the fort were a challenge to climb but very much worth the effort. Some of them were short and narrow and others of them were soooo high that it was a stretch to pull yourself up. The site was also home to a few venders who were displaying their colourful weavings from lines strung between the trees. It was easy to see why Alexander the Great might have decided to build on this site……it really is very beautiful.
From here we were off to the bazaar in search of Darbuka drums (a Turkish drum). We found them on the second floor of a store that seemed to have a little of everything. The stairway up to the second floor was “interesting”….I’m not sure if we should call them stairs or a ladder but either way…..”interesting” is the safest word I can use in this public domain. In true Turkish culture we had to build relationship prior to beginning our barter and so after some apple tea, a few puffs on a water pipe (properly called a Nargilay) filled with apple tobacco, and a lot of chit chat with our host….we were ready to deal. As is often the case…..the process of getting to the sale was the best part of the story and in time….we came to agreement and our purchases were packaged up for us. In parting, our host pinned a ceramic Turkish eye and a little plastic bunch of grapes to our lapels. This is a traditional Turkish custom that means good luck and long life and both of us were moved by the sincerity with which they were given.
Our next stop in the bazaar was at a little local restaurant where the specialty was kebabs. In no time at all….we’d been served up a plate of delicious food that consisted of cut up Turkish bread, thinly sliced meat that had been roasted on a spit, tabouli, fresh tomatoes and some sour cream….and….there was something that looked a lot like a grilled green bean on there too. Foolishly…..I assumed that it was a green bean, cut it up into three pieces and put two of the pieces in my mouth. It didn’t take long for me to realize that it was NOT a green bean but rather a very hot Turkish pepper and there is not much you can do to still the burn once you’ve chewed and swallowed the little beast! The owner of the restaurant was hovering nearby and suggested that the tomato would help so I downed that and then put some sour cream on top and a few minutes later was back to as normal as I ever am so the story had a happy ending both in my survival of the Turkish pepper attack and in the deliciousness of our meal.
All through our meal, Oeur was sitting at a table near ours with several of his friends (he seems to know absolutely everyone here!). They were all visiting, drinking tea, and smoking….it seems that is a pretty common thing for men to do in Turkish bazaars.
Of course….no Turkish meal would be complete without a Turkish coffee afterward so….Oeur took us to another of his friend’s where we were once again greeted as guests and served coffee by the coffee runner who brought it in on a tray from another store about 20 meters away. Once our relationship building was behind us…..of course there was another opportunity for negotiation and again, Lynda managed to find something that will look perfect in her place so by the time we left…there were smiles all around.
Our three hours was long past and we were fast approaching 4 hours so decided it was time to go back to the ship. Of course, Oeur didn’t charge us any more than the originally agreed price and we were more than happy to give him a little extra for this amazing day in Izmir.
Back on the ship, we found that Kay had just returned from the hospital and her x-rays confirmed that she in fact does have a fractured shoulder so she’ll be in a sling for the next 6 weeks and then into physio after that. She had good care in the hospital and will have a Turkish story that none of the rest of us will have as a memory.
Tomorrow is a day at sea so it will likely be pretty quiet between now and the time we hit Egypt so until then……
L & L
Izmir is built on terraces that ascend the hills around the port. It is the third largest city in Turkey and there are about 4 million people living here. Main exports are: carpets, leather, and ceramics. In addition they also have lots of agriculture but that is not a major export or industry.
As I mentioned in the last blog…..Kay had to go to the hospital in Turkey today to get additional x-rays and the plan was for Lynda and I to go with her but…..plans can change and the cruise line had made arrangements for someone who speaks Turkish to go with her so once they had Kay en route to the hospital (about 11:00 a.m.) Lynda and I took off to explore, and explore we did.
We knew we were in for a great day when, walking down the hallway outside of Kay’s room, we overheard a woman say to her husband “that’s the flower I was telling you about….the one that is travelling all around the world”. It was a not so subtle reminder that Flor has taken on her own identity and Lynda and I have faded into the background….Flor doesn’t really even need us anymore. The fact that we’re doing all the work and Flor is getting all the recognition gives us both quite a chuckle.
Turkish words we learned today are: Hello = Maraba, Thank You = Teshekoot, No = Hire, and Yes = Evitt. All of this came from Oeur, the taxi driver we secured just outside the customs office once we left the boat. We settled on a price of $75 USD for 3 hours of touring (including entrance fees) and were off on our adventure.
Touring the winding streets where there seem to be no rules at all was an adventure in itself but Oeur is an amazing driver and managed to wind his way through the maze with ease. One of our first stops was Agora and what a great stop it was! At first glance it looked like nothing more than a few columns standing in a field of broken pieces of marble but thanks to Oeur’s encouragement we set out into the field to look for whatever it was that he was directing us to explore. Oh yes…..I guess I haven’t mentioned that Oeur didn’t have any English and our Turkish doesn’t consist of much more than gobble gobble!
Agora was amazing! The name means “meeting place” and this meeting place was built in the 4th century BC. Although the sections that we could see at first glance didn’t look all that impressive; once we descended the stairs to the walkways that ran beneath the surface we were both awestruck. We wandered the paths under the perfectly intact arches and oohed and aahhed at the beauty of it all until we could hear the sound of many children arriving overhead. Within minutes they had spotted us from their posts up top and we immediately learned what it would be like to be a huge celebrity in the midst of a mob! Initially, they just called to us but before long we were above ground and in the middle of the pack with little people all around wanting to shake our hands and ask our names and tell us theirs and….well….you get the picture. As much as this may not sound like much in the telling…..please believe me when I say that it was a memory I will never forget and Turkey couldn’t hope for any better ambassadors than those kids were today.
Out of breath from our time with the kids we fell into our taksi (yes…that’s how they spell it here) and were off to Kadifekele, another ancient site that was built by Alexander the Great in 400 BC. The story goes that while on a hunting trip, Alexander fell asleep in the shade of a tree and when he awoke he liked the place so much he decided it should become the site of his fort and so it did. This stop took us to one of the highest points of land where the view of the bay was super impressive and we felt like we were on top of the world. We could see our ship far below in the harbor and it was obvious just how big the Jade is when you see her from that vantage point. The stairs up to the top of the walls of the fort were a challenge to climb but very much worth the effort. Some of them were short and narrow and others of them were soooo high that it was a stretch to pull yourself up. The site was also home to a few venders who were displaying their colourful weavings from lines strung between the trees. It was easy to see why Alexander the Great might have decided to build on this site……it really is very beautiful.
From here we were off to the bazaar in search of Darbuka drums (a Turkish drum). We found them on the second floor of a store that seemed to have a little of everything. The stairway up to the second floor was “interesting”….I’m not sure if we should call them stairs or a ladder but either way…..”interesting” is the safest word I can use in this public domain. In true Turkish culture we had to build relationship prior to beginning our barter and so after some apple tea, a few puffs on a water pipe (properly called a Nargilay) filled with apple tobacco, and a lot of chit chat with our host….we were ready to deal. As is often the case…..the process of getting to the sale was the best part of the story and in time….we came to agreement and our purchases were packaged up for us. In parting, our host pinned a ceramic Turkish eye and a little plastic bunch of grapes to our lapels. This is a traditional Turkish custom that means good luck and long life and both of us were moved by the sincerity with which they were given.
Our next stop in the bazaar was at a little local restaurant where the specialty was kebabs. In no time at all….we’d been served up a plate of delicious food that consisted of cut up Turkish bread, thinly sliced meat that had been roasted on a spit, tabouli, fresh tomatoes and some sour cream….and….there was something that looked a lot like a grilled green bean on there too. Foolishly…..I assumed that it was a green bean, cut it up into three pieces and put two of the pieces in my mouth. It didn’t take long for me to realize that it was NOT a green bean but rather a very hot Turkish pepper and there is not much you can do to still the burn once you’ve chewed and swallowed the little beast! The owner of the restaurant was hovering nearby and suggested that the tomato would help so I downed that and then put some sour cream on top and a few minutes later was back to as normal as I ever am so the story had a happy ending both in my survival of the Turkish pepper attack and in the deliciousness of our meal.
All through our meal, Oeur was sitting at a table near ours with several of his friends (he seems to know absolutely everyone here!). They were all visiting, drinking tea, and smoking….it seems that is a pretty common thing for men to do in Turkish bazaars.
Of course….no Turkish meal would be complete without a Turkish coffee afterward so….Oeur took us to another of his friend’s where we were once again greeted as guests and served coffee by the coffee runner who brought it in on a tray from another store about 20 meters away. Once our relationship building was behind us…..of course there was another opportunity for negotiation and again, Lynda managed to find something that will look perfect in her place so by the time we left…there were smiles all around.
Our three hours was long past and we were fast approaching 4 hours so decided it was time to go back to the ship. Of course, Oeur didn’t charge us any more than the originally agreed price and we were more than happy to give him a little extra for this amazing day in Izmir.
Back on the ship, we found that Kay had just returned from the hospital and her x-rays confirmed that she in fact does have a fractured shoulder so she’ll be in a sling for the next 6 weeks and then into physio after that. She had good care in the hospital and will have a Turkish story that none of the rest of us will have as a memory.
Tomorrow is a day at sea so it will likely be pretty quiet between now and the time we hit Egypt so until then……
L & L
Thursday, January 6, 2011
January 6, 2011
8 countries in 8 days and we’re still standing – wahoo!
Docked this morning in Pireus, Greece – the ancient and original port area of Athens. Pireus was built in 500 BC but most of it has been rebuilt within the last century due to destruction that happened during WWII.
We stood on the top deck to experience our arrival through the islands that lead the way to the port and were greeted by the ringing of church bells in celebration of another special day….January 6th….the day that Christ was baptized according to the Orthodox faith. It is interesting to note that in Mexico, Jan 6th is Kings Day and the day that the 3 Kings (wise men) bring presents to all the kids. In Italy it is Befana, when the old woman rides on her broom to bring gifts to all the children and now in Greece…it is the day that Jesus was baptized and from what we were able to glean….it is a special holiday and there are gifts for the kids here too.
We learned that in Greece you say Yashu for Hello and Efharisto for Thank you so we were set to go!
We were on a tour today….Scenic Athens and the Acropolis and at the start of our tour the people in the back of the bus were saying, “turn up your mic….we can’t hear you” and at the end of the tour people were saying “we can hear you….turn down your mic”. Yes…..it was a disappointment to say the least BUT….never fear…..there is a story somewhere in there I’m sure…..
We did learn a few things on the tour though and were able to enjoy some of the sights of Athens from our bus. A tour bus is no Jesus (Mexico), Sylvano (Italy), or Rafael (Spain) though so some of our photos are blurry from being taken through the bus window.
On the upside….decorative orange/tangerine trees lined the city streets, there were taxis everywhere (it looked a lot like New York city on that front), there are buildings upon buildings-the density is so high, and there are statues or ancient ruins on every other corner.
As we left the port of Pireus where our ship was docked and rounded the corner to another port that was named for Zeus. This one was in the Agean Sea though so here we are within minutes of floating in the Mediterranean Sea and now we’re looking out at the Agean….we are very lucky! As it was January 6th there were many young boys lining the beach near this port waiting for church to get out and for the priest to throw a cross into the Sea. The boys would then all dive into the water and search for the cross hoping to be the first to find it as they would then enjoy a day of great luck and good fortune.
We spent a little time at the Pantheon – the stadium that was built for the original Olympic Games in 400 BC and that was rebuilt in 1896 when the Games were restored. This is the home location for the flame that travels the world over each time there is another year of the Games. In addition to the fact that this location is truly something very special and completely constructed of marble and very impressive in it’s size if nothing else…..I found the bathrooms here to be very interesting too. They were marked so simply with a W.C. and then a childlike drawing of a man or a woman beside each of the doorways. Inside the washrooms…..the walls and the floors were solid marble and amazingly impressive for their simple and understated entrance.
We saw the government house and the tomb for the unknown soldier where there are guards dressed in traditional costume and who change posts every hour.
We noticed that there is sooo much graffiti everywhere on all the building fronts and along the little city streets. We learned that the population of Athens is 4 ½ million which is about 45% of the total population of the entire country! We also learned that Acropolys means the top of the city and that the Acropolys in Athens was built in 3000 BC when it was dedicated to Athena, the daughter of Zeus. We also saw the ruins of a temple that was built for Zeus in 200 AD and that originally consisted of 166 columns but only 6 are left standing today. We learned that olives and their oil are the main export and industry in Greece and that there are 60 billion olive trees in the country. Other exports include: bananas, grapes, wine, tobacco, cotton, and bauxite (for aluminum production).
So….yes…..we did learn a few things along the way and we did see a few sights as well but…..here is the story that I alluded to……Our guide, Mina, was terrible (and I am being generous!). She was rude, didn’t listen, was disorganized, and you had to wade through her ramblings to glean the information we did get. People were so frustrated and continually getting left behind or totally lost and since Lynda is an organizer extraordinaire…..she simply took over the tour! Yes…..she now speaks fluent Greek and carries a sign along the streets of Athens with a trail of tourists following behind her! Well….maybe she can’t say any more than Hello and Thank You but….those are important words in any language and she really did take over carrying the sign and everyone really did follow her! We were all wearing little headsets so could hear what Mina was saying and that meant that we could hear Lynda too (since she was right beside Mina). Mina is very short (at most 5’) and I don’t think her arm can lift higher than her waist as that is as high as she was willing to hold the sign so Lynda would take the sign from her and hold it high overhead so the folks at the back would know what direction to head for. Mina would say, “give me my sign back” and Lynda would say “no….people can’t see – you’re not holding it high enough” and they’d go a few more steps and Mina would say “give me my sign back” and when Lynda said that “not everyone was there yet”, Mina simply replied that “enough of them are here so we’re going in”. Needless to say that about finished me and many others, so rather than following along for the rest of her tour most of the group fanned out and did their own thing.
That is when Lynda and I experienced our first taste of Greek coffee. We discovered that it is never served with cream…only sugar…..and that is VERY IMPORTANT based on the look we got from our server when we tried to order cream with it. We had to choose if we wanted to have it a little bit sweet, a medium amount of sugar, or very sweet. We both chose medium and that was plenty sweet! We bought sesame pretzels from a man on the side of the road that were delicious and we enjoyed the strains of an accordion being played extremely well by a little boy trying to earn some money. I bought a bracelet and earrings and when the jeweler put them on me….he said “may you wear these and have long life” and then things went downhill quickly from there…..
My life may be long but……my aunt Kay is one of the people in our party and one of the people who had been “left behind” by our guide Mina. When Kay was left behind…she stopped in a shop along the way and when she came out of a room missed the fact that there was a step down. It’s not good news but….. she fell and hurt her shoulder quite badly. As soon as we got her back to the ship she saw the doctor who did an x-ray with the onboard equipment and who made arrangements for her to see someone at the hospital in Turkey where we’ll be tomorrow morning for another x-ray on better equipment. Regardless of what they find…it is likely that the best they’ll be able to do for her is give her some pain killers and put her arm in a sling or maybe tape it right down but…..it hurts her a lot and will mean that her Turkish adventure will look quite different from what she thought it would. Lynda and I didn’t have any tour booked in Turkey so will accompany her to the hospital in the morning. It will be another story I’m sure!
On to another country in the morning….this jet-setting, country hopping lifestyle is certainly something different from what we’re used to in Canada where it takes days to just go from province to province! According to our cruise director, Gary (who is very fond of himself and we know that because he's told us so in 18 different languages!), there are 47 different countries represented on this ship so even if we weren't getting off in all these ports we're kind of like a floating United Nations. You never know if the person you say hello to in the elevator will understand English or look at you in confusion and it is super cool to see all the cultures represented in both the staff and the guests.
Till next time,
L & L
Docked this morning in Pireus, Greece – the ancient and original port area of Athens. Pireus was built in 500 BC but most of it has been rebuilt within the last century due to destruction that happened during WWII.
We stood on the top deck to experience our arrival through the islands that lead the way to the port and were greeted by the ringing of church bells in celebration of another special day….January 6th….the day that Christ was baptized according to the Orthodox faith. It is interesting to note that in Mexico, Jan 6th is Kings Day and the day that the 3 Kings (wise men) bring presents to all the kids. In Italy it is Befana, when the old woman rides on her broom to bring gifts to all the children and now in Greece…it is the day that Jesus was baptized and from what we were able to glean….it is a special holiday and there are gifts for the kids here too.
We learned that in Greece you say Yashu for Hello and Efharisto for Thank you so we were set to go!
We were on a tour today….Scenic Athens and the Acropolis and at the start of our tour the people in the back of the bus were saying, “turn up your mic….we can’t hear you” and at the end of the tour people were saying “we can hear you….turn down your mic”. Yes…..it was a disappointment to say the least BUT….never fear…..there is a story somewhere in there I’m sure…..
We did learn a few things on the tour though and were able to enjoy some of the sights of Athens from our bus. A tour bus is no Jesus (Mexico), Sylvano (Italy), or Rafael (Spain) though so some of our photos are blurry from being taken through the bus window.
On the upside….decorative orange/tangerine trees lined the city streets, there were taxis everywhere (it looked a lot like New York city on that front), there are buildings upon buildings-the density is so high, and there are statues or ancient ruins on every other corner.
As we left the port of Pireus where our ship was docked and rounded the corner to another port that was named for Zeus. This one was in the Agean Sea though so here we are within minutes of floating in the Mediterranean Sea and now we’re looking out at the Agean….we are very lucky! As it was January 6th there were many young boys lining the beach near this port waiting for church to get out and for the priest to throw a cross into the Sea. The boys would then all dive into the water and search for the cross hoping to be the first to find it as they would then enjoy a day of great luck and good fortune.
We spent a little time at the Pantheon – the stadium that was built for the original Olympic Games in 400 BC and that was rebuilt in 1896 when the Games were restored. This is the home location for the flame that travels the world over each time there is another year of the Games. In addition to the fact that this location is truly something very special and completely constructed of marble and very impressive in it’s size if nothing else…..I found the bathrooms here to be very interesting too. They were marked so simply with a W.C. and then a childlike drawing of a man or a woman beside each of the doorways. Inside the washrooms…..the walls and the floors were solid marble and amazingly impressive for their simple and understated entrance.
We saw the government house and the tomb for the unknown soldier where there are guards dressed in traditional costume and who change posts every hour.
We noticed that there is sooo much graffiti everywhere on all the building fronts and along the little city streets. We learned that the population of Athens is 4 ½ million which is about 45% of the total population of the entire country! We also learned that Acropolys means the top of the city and that the Acropolys in Athens was built in 3000 BC when it was dedicated to Athena, the daughter of Zeus. We also saw the ruins of a temple that was built for Zeus in 200 AD and that originally consisted of 166 columns but only 6 are left standing today. We learned that olives and their oil are the main export and industry in Greece and that there are 60 billion olive trees in the country. Other exports include: bananas, grapes, wine, tobacco, cotton, and bauxite (for aluminum production).
So….yes…..we did learn a few things along the way and we did see a few sights as well but…..here is the story that I alluded to……Our guide, Mina, was terrible (and I am being generous!). She was rude, didn’t listen, was disorganized, and you had to wade through her ramblings to glean the information we did get. People were so frustrated and continually getting left behind or totally lost and since Lynda is an organizer extraordinaire…..she simply took over the tour! Yes…..she now speaks fluent Greek and carries a sign along the streets of Athens with a trail of tourists following behind her! Well….maybe she can’t say any more than Hello and Thank You but….those are important words in any language and she really did take over carrying the sign and everyone really did follow her! We were all wearing little headsets so could hear what Mina was saying and that meant that we could hear Lynda too (since she was right beside Mina). Mina is very short (at most 5’) and I don’t think her arm can lift higher than her waist as that is as high as she was willing to hold the sign so Lynda would take the sign from her and hold it high overhead so the folks at the back would know what direction to head for. Mina would say, “give me my sign back” and Lynda would say “no….people can’t see – you’re not holding it high enough” and they’d go a few more steps and Mina would say “give me my sign back” and when Lynda said that “not everyone was there yet”, Mina simply replied that “enough of them are here so we’re going in”. Needless to say that about finished me and many others, so rather than following along for the rest of her tour most of the group fanned out and did their own thing.
That is when Lynda and I experienced our first taste of Greek coffee. We discovered that it is never served with cream…only sugar…..and that is VERY IMPORTANT based on the look we got from our server when we tried to order cream with it. We had to choose if we wanted to have it a little bit sweet, a medium amount of sugar, or very sweet. We both chose medium and that was plenty sweet! We bought sesame pretzels from a man on the side of the road that were delicious and we enjoyed the strains of an accordion being played extremely well by a little boy trying to earn some money. I bought a bracelet and earrings and when the jeweler put them on me….he said “may you wear these and have long life” and then things went downhill quickly from there…..
My life may be long but……my aunt Kay is one of the people in our party and one of the people who had been “left behind” by our guide Mina. When Kay was left behind…she stopped in a shop along the way and when she came out of a room missed the fact that there was a step down. It’s not good news but….. she fell and hurt her shoulder quite badly. As soon as we got her back to the ship she saw the doctor who did an x-ray with the onboard equipment and who made arrangements for her to see someone at the hospital in Turkey where we’ll be tomorrow morning for another x-ray on better equipment. Regardless of what they find…it is likely that the best they’ll be able to do for her is give her some pain killers and put her arm in a sling or maybe tape it right down but…..it hurts her a lot and will mean that her Turkish adventure will look quite different from what she thought it would. Lynda and I didn’t have any tour booked in Turkey so will accompany her to the hospital in the morning. It will be another story I’m sure!
On to another country in the morning….this jet-setting, country hopping lifestyle is certainly something different from what we’re used to in Canada where it takes days to just go from province to province! According to our cruise director, Gary (who is very fond of himself and we know that because he's told us so in 18 different languages!), there are 47 different countries represented on this ship so even if we weren't getting off in all these ports we're kind of like a floating United Nations. You never know if the person you say hello to in the elevator will understand English or look at you in confusion and it is super cool to see all the cultures represented in both the staff and the guests.
Till next time,
L & L
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