June 23-The Pyramids

With the anticipation of seeing the pyramids for the first time, Theresa had a very hard time getting to sleep, it was like going to disney for the first time.  We met our Cairo guide Mohamed and began our day long tour, first to Memphis the first capital of ancient Egypt where the most impressive artifact was the giant statue of Ramses II.  As it is now there is not much to see as all the temples have been dismantled and were used all long time ago as building materials in the new kingdoms.  After Memphis we went to Saqqara to visit the museum and step pyramid of king Zoser.  It was an impressive site as they house the oldest mummy in Egypt dating 4500 years old.  They are still digging in 11 sites at this time and uncovering many wonderful artifacts.

On to Giza to see the pyramids.  As we arrived it was hard to believe how majestic these structures truly are.  We were able to climb up the long corridor of the great pyramid and enter the burial chamber.  Brad and I were in there by ourselves for several minutes as we let out the sound of OM and experienced the haunting echoing of our voices, it was truly amazing.  Then we descended back down the long passageway to the outside.  Mohamed had many interesting things to share with us as we continued our tour to the back side of the pyramid where the solar boat museum is, what a find that was.  Then up the hill to ride the camels and down to the bottom to see the Sphinx.  To many details to share at this time, but a wonderful day and it still seems a bit like a dream!!! Tomorrow we fly to Aswan and to Abu Simbel, then on the Nile River.  Keep you posted!!!

June 20th-23rd- Alexandria

As we left the hustle and bustle of Cairo the traffic was crazy, you almost have to not look forward as the driver's choose which lane or lanes they want to be in the lines on the roads are more suggestions then anything around here.  It was an interesting trip on the desert highway from Cairo to Alexandria, the former capital under Alexander the Great's rule, as we were able to see the farmland that has been created in the desert.  They grow many things here but still have to import food into the country because of the immense population.  When we arrived in Alexandria we visited the Roman Catacombs, burial chambers for a royal family, and also the Amphitheater that was recently discovered when they started a building project.  Alexandria was another hustle and bustle city but very cosmopolitan in nature. We had a room overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.  After a day of rest we continued with our lovely guide Miral Amin to tour the National Museum and the new Alexandria Library.  Both sites were very impressive and the artifacts were amazing.  After a wonderful lunch on the harbor at the Fish Market we made the 3 hour trip back to Cairo for an evening of rest.....the next day THE PYRAMIDS!!!

June 19th-Cairo by day and night

On our first day in Cairo we decided to talk a walk and get a feel for the city.  Later that day we enjoyed massages and then a wonderful Father's Day dinner on the top of the Hyatt Hotel in the revolving restaurant, the view was amazing.