EGYPT 147

Originally uploaded by mark.long

Going to explore the pyramids in Egypt has been a travel goal of Sonia and I for more than 20 years. After researching on the internet we determined that it was relatively safe for tourist travel. We decided to go on a preplanned group tour because of the differences in culture and language. We are glad we did it that way. We had a police escort every where we went outside of Cairo.

We left Utah on Friday at 10 AM and arrived in Cairo at 3:30 PM Saturday afternoon. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out at the swimming pool. All of the hotels we stayed at were 4 star and were spacious and had great restaurants.

The next day we went straight off to the Pyramids of Giza to see the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids. Riding the camels was possibly the highlight of the trip. Having our tourist photos taken on them in front of the pyramid like other tourists for more than a hundred years gave us the memory of a life time. Latter we went to a papyrus museum an in the night we went on a dinner cruise down the Nile River.

On Monday we toured the old walled city of Cairo and the beautiful Mosque there and did some shopping before heading out to Alexandria. We spent two nights in Alexandria and visited many historical sites including the library.

The following two days we headed west along the Mediterranean coast and visited many historical WWII sites and museums. Visiting Rommel’s underground headquarters was very interesting. After spending a couple of days on the beach it was time to head back to Cairo stopping at the world’s oldest monastery where Mary and Jesus were too have appeared to monk’s in ancient times. Although in the vast minority there is still many Christians in Egpyt.

Our last day we spent in one of the largest modern malls in the world the “City Star” which has 13 floors and every luxury brand you can think of having there own store.At night we went to a laser light show at the pyramids which are just outside of Cairo. Viewing the pyramids at sunset was spectacular. Venus appeared right above the the central pyramid as the laser lights draw-ed the interior tunnels on the outside. It was another night to remember.