It’s hard to believe we’ve been home already for almost a week. Once I got back in the office, the time has really gotten away from me, but I would like to share a few fine bits about our tour.
Our last day in Dublin was a busy one. We started out with a locally guided panoramic tour that took us through the various parts of the city. We saw the typical Georgian style flats with their colorful doors. The doors were painted different colors because all the buildings looked the same so families painted their doors to identify their home. Apparently the need to do this was brought on by gentlemen returning to the wrong house after an evening out!
Other highlights included Nassau Street, Grafton Street and St. Stephen’s St. Patrick’s Green Park that is right off of Grafton Street. We had time to walk the grounds of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and took a coffee break at Phoenix Park, which is a popular recreational area for the locals. The President’s house is in the park so we saw that as well.
Our tour ended at Trinity College where we saw the well –known Book of Kells and got to walk through the library that houses over 200,000 books – pretty overwhelming.
The afternoon was at our leisure, but many of us chose to take a tour of Guinness to learn how the famous pints are brewed. In terms of brewery tours it was indeed quite the tour with several floors full of displays about the history of Guinness and the process by which it is brewed. Our tour included a pint of pint which most enjoyed in the Gravity Bar. A bar on the very top floor that has 360 or glass walls that gives an awesome panoramic view of Dublin. After our tour, we still had time for some last minute shopping, photo snapping and sightseeing.
In the evening, Joe took us to Taylors Three Rock for dinner and an Irish Cabaret that included singing, dancing, instrumental music and a hilarious comedian. It was a very enjoyable way to conclude our tour.
Sadly, upon our return to Dublin, we said good-by to Joe, our driver guide. We thoroughly enjoyed his knowledge and wit. He taught us a lot about Ireland but also shared some personal stories, funny jokes and limericks and even sang a few songs for us. He definitely made it a super tour and we will miss him.
I have posted pictures of the tour on CETA’s Facebook page. The link to that page is below:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150303373385894.338651.144170630893&type=1
You will be able to look at the pictures even if you are not a Facebook user. If you are on Facebook, please “like” CETA Tours to receive travel tips and information about upcoming tours.
Thanks for reading about our visit to the Enchanting Emerald Isle!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Kilkenny and on to Dublin
It was hard to find time to write, so today's entry will be short. There were quite a few businessmen and women at our hotel this morning. We found out that all the hubbub was because Enda Kenny, Ireland's Prime Minister, stayed at the hotel last night and was holding some meetings there. Joe was kind enough to bring me down to where he was and introduce me - he was very kind - double kiss on the cheeks and everything!
There was security and such with him, but nothing like what we have for our President or I am sure we wouldn't have even been able to get a room in the hotel!!
After all that excitement, we were off to Kilkenny where we toured the Kilkenny Castle, took a walk through the old past of town to see the church of St Canice and enjoyed free time for lunch and other shopping or sightseeing.
We then headed to Dublin taking the longer, more scenic route through the Wicklow Mountains. We also stopped at Glendalough a beautiful area nestled between two lakes. Here we got a tour of the monastic settlement that was founded by St Kevin. Our tour included the remains of the round tower, a church and cathedral - all from the 10th-12th centuries.
Late in the afternoon we arrived in Dublin-our final destination. Today we have our guided city tour including a visit to Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Some of us are also planning to tour the Guiness Brewery. For our final evening we enjoy dinner and traditional Irish dancing at Taylors Three Rock.
I most likely won't have time to post until our return and sometime next week will post pictures too.
There was security and such with him, but nothing like what we have for our President or I am sure we wouldn't have even been able to get a room in the hotel!!
After all that excitement, we were off to Kilkenny where we toured the Kilkenny Castle, took a walk through the old past of town to see the church of St Canice and enjoyed free time for lunch and other shopping or sightseeing.
We then headed to Dublin taking the longer, more scenic route through the Wicklow Mountains. We also stopped at Glendalough a beautiful area nestled between two lakes. Here we got a tour of the monastic settlement that was founded by St Kevin. Our tour included the remains of the round tower, a church and cathedral - all from the 10th-12th centuries.
Late in the afternoon we arrived in Dublin-our final destination. Today we have our guided city tour including a visit to Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Some of us are also planning to tour the Guiness Brewery. For our final evening we enjoy dinner and traditional Irish dancing at Taylors Three Rock.
I most likely won't have time to post until our return and sometime next week will post pictures too.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday - Waferford & the Rock of Cashel
Today we travelled to Waterford and got a tour of the famous crystal factory. Waterford started in 1873 and has changed hands over time. Most recently it closed down in 2008 but was taken over by an American company. The new showroom and manufacturing site is much smaller, but located in the heart of Waterford.
During our tour, we learned some of the history and saw the entire process of making the crystal pieces from blowing and cooling to drawing the design, then cutting, etching and polishing the pieces. Most of the process is done by hand with master craftsmen who study their craft for at least 5-8 years before they can work.
We saw some pieces for the 2012 Olympics in London and the cheese heads in the group were were excited to see the Lombardi Trophy.
After our tour we had plenty of free time to explore downtown with its winding narrow streets and have some lunch.
Our afternoon stop was at the Rock of Cashel, a sort of fortress that sits atop a prominent green hill known as the "rock," just outside the town of Cashel. Various tribes controlled it early on, but later a chapel was built followed by a cathedral and for while it was the archbishop's residence until he moved it into the town of Cashel. We understood the reason for this move: the weather was windy and rainy and pretty miserable, but probably not a tour we will forget.
St Patrick spent a little time here and his cross is in the little museum of artifacts which we saw on our way out. While our visit here was interesting, we were cold and wet and happy to board our Coach and have Joe take us back to our hotel in Clonmel. The skies cleared and we enjoyed a beautiful evening.
During our tour, we learned some of the history and saw the entire process of making the crystal pieces from blowing and cooling to drawing the design, then cutting, etching and polishing the pieces. Most of the process is done by hand with master craftsmen who study their craft for at least 5-8 years before they can work.
We saw some pieces for the 2012 Olympics in London and the cheese heads in the group were were excited to see the Lombardi Trophy.
After our tour we had plenty of free time to explore downtown with its winding narrow streets and have some lunch.
Our afternoon stop was at the Rock of Cashel, a sort of fortress that sits atop a prominent green hill known as the "rock," just outside the town of Cashel. Various tribes controlled it early on, but later a chapel was built followed by a cathedral and for while it was the archbishop's residence until he moved it into the town of Cashel. We understood the reason for this move: the weather was windy and rainy and pretty miserable, but probably not a tour we will forget.
St Patrick spent a little time here and his cross is in the little museum of artifacts which we saw on our way out. While our visit here was interesting, we were cold and wet and happy to board our Coach and have Joe take us back to our hotel in Clonmel. The skies cleared and we enjoyed a beautiful evening.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tuesday - Blarney Castle & The Queenstown Story
The skies cleared this morning as we left Tralee. We made a short pit stop in Macroom and it happened to be market day so many of us bought fresh fruit or baked goods.
Our highlight for the morning was Blarney Castle. There was plenty of time to walk the grounds, including the gardens and also to make the climb up to the top to kiss the Blarney stone and get the gift of eloquence. Kissing the stone is not an easy task. There are over 100 stairs to climb, most of which are part of a narrow winding staircase. The kissing itself involves laying on one's back, grabbing bars for support and arching down below floor level. Luckily, word has if that the gift of gab can also be acquired by kissing someone who has kissed the stone.
The Blarney Woolen Mills are just a few blocks away and those who wanted had time to shop. We also ate lunch here as there were several good restaurant or pub options.
Next, we took a short drive to Cobh (pronounced Cove and formerly known as Queenstown.) It was from here that many of the Irish started their long voyage to start a new life in America, Canada, Australia and other parts of fhe world. We visited the Cobh Heritage Center where we saw the Queenstown Story exhibit. Here we learned about what the voyages were like for the immigrants from Ireland. From the first waves that left during the famine when the travel conditions were crowded and unsafe, including the "Coffin Ship" to leisure voyages that took place later on. In terms of emigration, over 6 million Irish left Ireland between 1848 and 1950 with over one third departing from Cobh.
The exhibit included information about convict ships that sailed mostly to Australia where criminals were used for hard labor in the land down under. We also learned about the luxury cruise ships including the fateful voyage of the Titanic and the tragic sinking of the Lusitania.
The exhibit also had some ties to Ellis Island. There is a statue of Annie Moore and her two brothers outside the center, overlooking harbor. Annie was teenager who traveled to meet up with her parents and other siblings in New York. She was the first emigrant processed when Ellis Island officially opened in 1892.
This was a very interesting stop and many of us with Irish ancestry are more curious about our relatives and how and when they came over. Sounds like a little research project!
Our final stop was at Coleman Cathedral, a beautiful Gothic style church that was started in the 1850's. It is named for the patron saint of Cork, the county in which Cobh lies.
This evening we had time to relax and enjoy the beautiful grounds and scenery surrounding our hotel in Clonmel. We had drinks and a social hour before dinner.
Our highlight for the morning was Blarney Castle. There was plenty of time to walk the grounds, including the gardens and also to make the climb up to the top to kiss the Blarney stone and get the gift of eloquence. Kissing the stone is not an easy task. There are over 100 stairs to climb, most of which are part of a narrow winding staircase. The kissing itself involves laying on one's back, grabbing bars for support and arching down below floor level. Luckily, word has if that the gift of gab can also be acquired by kissing someone who has kissed the stone.
The Blarney Woolen Mills are just a few blocks away and those who wanted had time to shop. We also ate lunch here as there were several good restaurant or pub options.
Next, we took a short drive to Cobh (pronounced Cove and formerly known as Queenstown.) It was from here that many of the Irish started their long voyage to start a new life in America, Canada, Australia and other parts of fhe world. We visited the Cobh Heritage Center where we saw the Queenstown Story exhibit. Here we learned about what the voyages were like for the immigrants from Ireland. From the first waves that left during the famine when the travel conditions were crowded and unsafe, including the "Coffin Ship" to leisure voyages that took place later on. In terms of emigration, over 6 million Irish left Ireland between 1848 and 1950 with over one third departing from Cobh.
The exhibit included information about convict ships that sailed mostly to Australia where criminals were used for hard labor in the land down under. We also learned about the luxury cruise ships including the fateful voyage of the Titanic and the tragic sinking of the Lusitania.
The exhibit also had some ties to Ellis Island. There is a statue of Annie Moore and her two brothers outside the center, overlooking harbor. Annie was teenager who traveled to meet up with her parents and other siblings in New York. She was the first emigrant processed when Ellis Island officially opened in 1892.
This was a very interesting stop and many of us with Irish ancestry are more curious about our relatives and how and when they came over. Sounds like a little research project!
Our final stop was at Coleman Cathedral, a beautiful Gothic style church that was started in the 1850's. It is named for the patron saint of Cork, the county in which Cobh lies.
This evening we had time to relax and enjoy the beautiful grounds and scenery surrounding our hotel in Clonmel. We had drinks and a social hour before dinner.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday - The Ring of Kerry
Due to our super early arrival on Friday we were able to rearrange our itinerary and free up Monday to drive the Ring of Kerry. It is another beautiful drive with winding roads and beautiful views of the Atlantic. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate quite as we would have liked. The rain stayed away a good part of the day, but the clouds were thicker. We could still see the scenery, but not as well as on the day before.
It was a much more leisurely drive and we were able to make stops in several little towns along the way including Killorglin, Sneem, Mol's Gap and Killarny.
During our time on the bus, Joe, our driver/guide, has been telling us lots of interesting and informative stories, singing some traditional songs and even throwing in a joke or two. We have learned a lot about Irish history and customs and I am sure we'll hear more before our trip is over.
Last night, most of us went to see a performance at Siamsa Tire-The National Folk Theater. Joe told us the story about Clann Lir, the show we would see so we could decide if we wanted to go. Clann Lir is a traditional Irish legend about the 4 children of King Lir who were turned into Swans by their wicked stepmother. The show is sung in Irish with dancing and accompanied by traditional music. So we were all ready to see the beautiful swans, but it turned out that it was a different show playing which we didn't realize until partway through the performance, making for a little confusion, but a lot of laughs!
The show we saw was wonderful, especially once we knew what we were watching. It was Oilean, a story about the people of Blasket Island. It was extra meaningful because we saw the island on our drive along the Dingle Peninsula. We got back pretty late and were ready for bed after a fun evening.
It is now Tuesday morning and we depart Tralee shortly and travel to Blarney to kiss the stone!
It was a much more leisurely drive and we were able to make stops in several little towns along the way including Killorglin, Sneem, Mol's Gap and Killarny.
During our time on the bus, Joe, our driver/guide, has been telling us lots of interesting and informative stories, singing some traditional songs and even throwing in a joke or two. We have learned a lot about Irish history and customs and I am sure we'll hear more before our trip is over.
Last night, most of us went to see a performance at Siamsa Tire-The National Folk Theater. Joe told us the story about Clann Lir, the show we would see so we could decide if we wanted to go. Clann Lir is a traditional Irish legend about the 4 children of King Lir who were turned into Swans by their wicked stepmother. The show is sung in Irish with dancing and accompanied by traditional music. So we were all ready to see the beautiful swans, but it turned out that it was a different show playing which we didn't realize until partway through the performance, making for a little confusion, but a lot of laughs!
The show we saw was wonderful, especially once we knew what we were watching. It was Oilean, a story about the people of Blasket Island. It was extra meaningful because we saw the island on our drive along the Dingle Peninsula. We got back pretty late and were ready for bed after a fun evening.
It is now Tuesday morning and we depart Tralee shortly and travel to Blarney to kiss the stone!
Saturday - Dan O'Hara & Kylemore Abbey
Am catching up a bit and reporting on Saturday. What a difference a good night's sleep makes! We all felt much better on Saturday morning. After our delicious buffet breakfast, we were on our way to Connemara.
Our first stop was at an Aran wool outlet where we found a variety of woolen goods and other Irish treasures. Next we traveled to the Dan O'Hara Homestead. Dan O'Hara was a tenant farmer during the potato famine and his story if how he and his family had to immigrate during the potato famine is an example of what happened to many families. Dan lost his wife and some of his children on the trip over to the U.S And Dan himself did not have a very good life in America. He tried not very successfully to make a living selling matchsticks and died only a few years after arriving. During out visit we saw what his farm and home would have looked like and learned about life in Ireland in the mid-1800's.
Our visit started off with tea and homemade scones that were delicious! Then we took a tractor pulled enclosed wagon up to see the farm and home. We first got a demo of how the peat is manually cut out of the bogs. It has to dry for 2-3 months before it can used and shrinks considerably since the bogs are 80% water. Peat fires were the way people in Dan O'Hara's time heated their homes. But even now it is still commonly used to supplement modern heat.
We saw the inside of his tiny home, the heart of which was the fire place with the peat fire. Martin, our guide told us stories about Dan O'Hara and families like his during the potato famine. The saddest part was that the landowners who were making money by exporting lots of other crops, did nothing to help their tenants. Martin told wonderful stories and sang is the song about Dan O'Hara. Then we headed back down to board our bus for Kylemore Abbey.
The Kylemore Abbey was originally a castle built by Mitchell Henry for his wife and family. It is nestled on the hillside on Lake Maladrolaun. Tragically Henry's wife died at the age of 45. Henry couldn't bear to have her body buried in the cold ground so he built a mausoleum for her. The home was turned into a Benedictine Nunnery as well as a boarding school for girls. The school was closed in 2010, but the nuns remain at Kylemore.
We had time to see the inside of the Abbey that was furnished with pieces typical of when the Henrys lived there. There was a nice walk along the lake and a few people were able to see the Victorian gardens.
After our visit, we returned to Galway where we had some time to shop or visit a pub before returning to our hotel for dinner.
Will try to post a short report about today(Monday) later today or tomorrow.
Our first stop was at an Aran wool outlet where we found a variety of woolen goods and other Irish treasures. Next we traveled to the Dan O'Hara Homestead. Dan O'Hara was a tenant farmer during the potato famine and his story if how he and his family had to immigrate during the potato famine is an example of what happened to many families. Dan lost his wife and some of his children on the trip over to the U.S And Dan himself did not have a very good life in America. He tried not very successfully to make a living selling matchsticks and died only a few years after arriving. During out visit we saw what his farm and home would have looked like and learned about life in Ireland in the mid-1800's.
Our visit started off with tea and homemade scones that were delicious! Then we took a tractor pulled enclosed wagon up to see the farm and home. We first got a demo of how the peat is manually cut out of the bogs. It has to dry for 2-3 months before it can used and shrinks considerably since the bogs are 80% water. Peat fires were the way people in Dan O'Hara's time heated their homes. But even now it is still commonly used to supplement modern heat.
We saw the inside of his tiny home, the heart of which was the fire place with the peat fire. Martin, our guide told us stories about Dan O'Hara and families like his during the potato famine. The saddest part was that the landowners who were making money by exporting lots of other crops, did nothing to help their tenants. Martin told wonderful stories and sang is the song about Dan O'Hara. Then we headed back down to board our bus for Kylemore Abbey.
The Kylemore Abbey was originally a castle built by Mitchell Henry for his wife and family. It is nestled on the hillside on Lake Maladrolaun. Tragically Henry's wife died at the age of 45. Henry couldn't bear to have her body buried in the cold ground so he built a mausoleum for her. The home was turned into a Benedictine Nunnery as well as a boarding school for girls. The school was closed in 2010, but the nuns remain at Kylemore.
We had time to see the inside of the Abbey that was furnished with pieces typical of when the Henrys lived there. There was a nice walk along the lake and a few people were able to see the Victorian gardens.
After our visit, we returned to Galway where we had some time to shop or visit a pub before returning to our hotel for dinner.
Will try to post a short report about today(Monday) later today or tomorrow.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday- Galway to Tralee & the Dingle Peninsula
It's been pretty busy and I haven't has as much time to write as I has hopes. So, here's an update for today (Sunday). I'll catch up and add Saturday later.
We departed Galway and travelled to County Clare. Our first stop today was at the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. We were able to tour the inside of the castle and walk through the park that was made up of different buildings typical of the late 1800's representing different aspects of life during that time such as the homes, schools and farms.
We continued on to County Kerry and had lunch in Dingle. Here things were abuzz as everyone was anxiously awaiting the start of the all Ireland Gaelic football championship between Dublin and Kerry. Gaelic football is an amateur sport, but has a huge following. There were Kerry flags and colors (green & gold - go figure) everywhere. It was fun to be a part of the excitement for a bit. In case you're wondering, the game came down to the wire with Dublin winning in the last few seconds.
After lunch, we drove around the Dingle Peninsula. We saw the rugged Atlantic coast, the rolling green hills of grass dotted with sheep and cows and divided by lines of trees or shrubs making the landscape look like a patchwork quilt. We were very lucky with the weather on our drive. There was no sleeping on this drive with a narrow road that hugged the sometimes quite elevated coastline and also threw us a couple of hairpin turns.
We were very lucky with the weather on our drive. We had misty clouds for part of the time that made the landscape even more dramatic. But later the clouds broke and we had some sun and blue sky enabling us to see the nearby Blasket Islands and to snap some spectacular pictures of Duncuin, an area on peninsula with a rugged, rocky coastline and a sandy beach.
After our beautiful drive, we headed to Tralee and our hotel. We had a lovely dinner and some of us also enjoyed an Irish coffee after dinner.
We are excited because our changes in the itinerary are allowing
us to spend Monday on the Ring of Kerry.
We departed Galway and travelled to County Clare. Our first stop today was at the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. We were able to tour the inside of the castle and walk through the park that was made up of different buildings typical of the late 1800's representing different aspects of life during that time such as the homes, schools and farms.
We continued on to County Kerry and had lunch in Dingle. Here things were abuzz as everyone was anxiously awaiting the start of the all Ireland Gaelic football championship between Dublin and Kerry. Gaelic football is an amateur sport, but has a huge following. There were Kerry flags and colors (green & gold - go figure) everywhere. It was fun to be a part of the excitement for a bit. In case you're wondering, the game came down to the wire with Dublin winning in the last few seconds.
After lunch, we drove around the Dingle Peninsula. We saw the rugged Atlantic coast, the rolling green hills of grass dotted with sheep and cows and divided by lines of trees or shrubs making the landscape look like a patchwork quilt. We were very lucky with the weather on our drive. There was no sleeping on this drive with a narrow road that hugged the sometimes quite elevated coastline and also threw us a couple of hairpin turns.
We were very lucky with the weather on our drive. We had misty clouds for part of the time that made the landscape even more dramatic. But later the clouds broke and we had some sun and blue sky enabling us to see the nearby Blasket Islands and to snap some spectacular pictures of Duncuin, an area on peninsula with a rugged, rocky coastline and a sandy beach.
After our beautiful drive, we headed to Tralee and our hotel. We had a lovely dinner and some of us also enjoyed an Irish coffee after dinner.
We are excited because our changes in the itinerary are allowing
us to spend Monday on the Ring of Kerry.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Our arrival in Shannon & on to Galway
Finally had some time to get on the Internet to post an update. We had the shortest flight to Europe I've ever experienced. It was supposed to be 6 hours but we had a strong tailwind and made it in just over 5. That put us on the ground at 6:30 am. The Shannon airport is very small so customs was a breeze and we were on the road before 7:15. Since we got on our way so early and had some extra time, Joe, our driver/guide, suggested we rearrange our itinerary a bit and visit the Cliffs of Moher. We drove along the coast and stopped in Lahinch where we had a great view of the rocky coastline with big waves rolling in from the Atlantic. It was beautiful and even though I was pretty chilly, we saw several suffers in wetsuits making their way out into the ocean-pretty crazy!
We had plenty of time to enjoy the Cliffs of Moher. They are 750 feet high and we had a great view of them and the ocean. There was also time to have some coffee and look at the exhibits in the visitors center.
We intended to have a leisurely drive along the coast to Galway, but had a few wrenches thrown our way. The first was that we had a to stop because there was a film crew shooting for a French movie. The actors were dressed like Vikings so some of us joked that they were filming a Capital One commercial. Shortly after we finally got going, there was a detour that had us back tracking quite a bit so we lost some time in getting to Galway. We were all pretty tired so not the the best time to be delayed but all in the group were troopers.
On a positive note, our rooms were ready when we arrived so we were able to check in, freshen up and have a bite to eat.
After lunch, we headed into Galway City for our tour. Though Galway is not a super big city, it only has a few main roads leading into the city center and our not so good driving luck followed us and led us right into a traffic jam. It took us 20 min just to drive a couple of miles. Luckily we were able to "ring" our guide and he walked to our bus and we started our tour while we waited for the traffic to clear.
Once we got to Eyre Square, we learned more about the 14 "tribes" that founded Galway. We had s very interesting walking tour that included the St Nicholas church, the Lynch Castle, the King's Head Bar and learned about the history and meaning of the Claddagh ring that so named for the village (where it was originated) that was nearby.
After a very long day, we were ready to have some dinner which was topped off by celebrating some birthdays in our group. After so many hours without good sleep, a full night's sleep in a bed felt great!
We were all feeling much better Saturday morning. As it is getting late, I will post the update for Saturday sometime on Sunday, but will say we had a great day today.
We had plenty of time to enjoy the Cliffs of Moher. They are 750 feet high and we had a great view of them and the ocean. There was also time to have some coffee and look at the exhibits in the visitors center.
We intended to have a leisurely drive along the coast to Galway, but had a few wrenches thrown our way. The first was that we had a to stop because there was a film crew shooting for a French movie. The actors were dressed like Vikings so some of us joked that they were filming a Capital One commercial. Shortly after we finally got going, there was a detour that had us back tracking quite a bit so we lost some time in getting to Galway. We were all pretty tired so not the the best time to be delayed but all in the group were troopers.
On a positive note, our rooms were ready when we arrived so we were able to check in, freshen up and have a bite to eat.
After lunch, we headed into Galway City for our tour. Though Galway is not a super big city, it only has a few main roads leading into the city center and our not so good driving luck followed us and led us right into a traffic jam. It took us 20 min just to drive a couple of miles. Luckily we were able to "ring" our guide and he walked to our bus and we started our tour while we waited for the traffic to clear.
Once we got to Eyre Square, we learned more about the 14 "tribes" that founded Galway. We had s very interesting walking tour that included the St Nicholas church, the Lynch Castle, the King's Head Bar and learned about the history and meaning of the Claddagh ring that so named for the village (where it was originated) that was nearby.
After a very long day, we were ready to have some dinner which was topped off by celebrating some birthdays in our group. After so many hours without good sleep, a full night's sleep in a bed felt great!
We were all feeling much better Saturday morning. As it is getting late, I will post the update for Saturday sometime on Sunday, but will say we had a great day today.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Shannon here we come!
So far so good on our travel day. Continental did a very slick and quick group check in for us which was nice. After a short delay out of MSP (air traffic control) we made it to Newark.
The flight was uneventful, but hot. We welcomed the cool drizzle in Newark as as waited for the shuttle to take us to our terminal.
It looks like all is on time for out flight to Shannon.
The flight was uneventful, but hot. We welcomed the cool drizzle in Newark as as waited for the shuttle to take us to our terminal.
It looks like all is on time for out flight to Shannon.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Our Driver/Guide
Our driver/guide, Joe, called our office this morning to introduce himself. He is very professional yet sweet and I think he is going to be a great match for our group. He is looking forward to meeting us all at the Shannon airport early Friday morning. It told him we would be pretty weary but he said once we get a bit of the fresh Irish air, we will be ready to go.
Hard to believe we'll be off and running bright and early tomorrow!
Hard to believe we'll be off and running bright and early tomorrow!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Enchanting Emerald Isle
A group of 26 of us depart on September 15th for a 10 day tour of Ireland. My colleague Carrie is also accompanying the group. This is Carrie's first time to Ireland and it's been quite awhile since I've been to the "Emerald Isle" so we are both very excited about the tour. Look for more posts in mid-September as we embark on this next adventure!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
We made it home!
After over 24 hours of being in-flight or waiting for a flight, 6 security checks and lots of cups of coffee, we safely arrived home Monday evening! Amazingly and thankfully, all of our flights were on time.
Security was really tight everywhere. Not only did we have go through the screeners multiple times, but we also had to answer questions about our carry-on luggage about 45 minutes prior to boarding in Frankfurt and when we actually boarded the plane their. So we waited in lots of security lines.
On the flip side, customs in Chicago was completely empty when we arrived so we didn’t have to wait at all. And the shortest line for security was in Chicago so that was a pleasant surprise especially because we were all really tired at that point.
It looks like our timing of the trip was good and we flew home just as things were getting started with the protests going on there right now. I sure hope that this is resolved in a positive manner. Tourism is a huge industry for Egypt and the current activities are likely going to be detrimental if they continue.
Some of you asked me to include information about the Golden Valley of Mummies that Mohamed talked about during our tour. I found several links with information on it below:
http://www.guardians.net/hawass/mummy-main.htm
http://www.drhawass.com/events/valley-golden-mummies
Finally, I have posted pictures of the tour on CETA’s Facebook page. The link to it is below:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=269729&id=144170630893
You do not need to have a Facebook account to view the pictures, but if you do, please friend CETA Tours to get travel tips and tidbits and learn about upcoming tours we have available.
Thanks for reading this blog about all of our adventures in Egypt!
Security was really tight everywhere. Not only did we have go through the screeners multiple times, but we also had to answer questions about our carry-on luggage about 45 minutes prior to boarding in Frankfurt and when we actually boarded the plane their. So we waited in lots of security lines.
On the flip side, customs in Chicago was completely empty when we arrived so we didn’t have to wait at all. And the shortest line for security was in Chicago so that was a pleasant surprise especially because we were all really tired at that point.
It looks like our timing of the trip was good and we flew home just as things were getting started with the protests going on there right now. I sure hope that this is resolved in a positive manner. Tourism is a huge industry for Egypt and the current activities are likely going to be detrimental if they continue.
Some of you asked me to include information about the Golden Valley of Mummies that Mohamed talked about during our tour. I found several links with information on it below:
http://www.guardians.net/hawass/mummy-main.htm
http://www.drhawass.com/events/valley-golden-mummies
Finally, I have posted pictures of the tour on CETA’s Facebook page. The link to it is below:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=269729&id=144170630893
You do not need to have a Facebook account to view the pictures, but if you do, please friend CETA Tours to get travel tips and tidbits and learn about upcoming tours we have available.
Thanks for reading this blog about all of our adventures in Egypt!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Back to Cairo
Last night after dinner a few of us took advantage of the karaoke singer in the hotel lounge area and did some dancing. We were joined by some Japanese tourists who video taped it all.
Today was another warm and sunny day. We left Alexandria pretty early and enjoyed one last look at the Mediterranean on our way out of town. We took the same highway back to Cairo.
We had a couple of stops in Cairo - first at a cotton store selling all kinds of items made of fine Egyptian cotton. Afterwards we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant along the Nile.
Finally we went to the Khalili Khan bazaar, a huge market that sold just about any kind of trinket one might want to buy. It has been around for about 300 years, starting out as place for traders from Egypt and surrounding countries and eventually evolving into a market. It was our final opportunity to bargain and spend the last of our Egyptian pounds.
It was sad to say good-bye to Mohamed, our guide. He took very good care of us, taught us a lot about Egypt and really made our tour enjoyable with his kindness and good sense of humor. He didn't let the tour end though without quizzing us to see if we remembered what he taught us. There was A LOT to take in, but we did pretty well.
Our hotel in Cairo is close to the pyramids and we arrived just as the sun was starting to set, so our last look at them was very picturesque.
We won't get much sleep tonight as we need to be at the airport in the middle of the night to catch our 5:00 am flight. We are hoping all goes smoothly with all of our flights.
I won't post again until later this week when I should be able to add some pictures. I have been unable to download them here. I will also include some information the group asked me to post.
Today was another warm and sunny day. We left Alexandria pretty early and enjoyed one last look at the Mediterranean on our way out of town. We took the same highway back to Cairo.
We had a couple of stops in Cairo - first at a cotton store selling all kinds of items made of fine Egyptian cotton. Afterwards we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant along the Nile.
Finally we went to the Khalili Khan bazaar, a huge market that sold just about any kind of trinket one might want to buy. It has been around for about 300 years, starting out as place for traders from Egypt and surrounding countries and eventually evolving into a market. It was our final opportunity to bargain and spend the last of our Egyptian pounds.
It was sad to say good-bye to Mohamed, our guide. He took very good care of us, taught us a lot about Egypt and really made our tour enjoyable with his kindness and good sense of humor. He didn't let the tour end though without quizzing us to see if we remembered what he taught us. There was A LOT to take in, but we did pretty well.
Our hotel in Cairo is close to the pyramids and we arrived just as the sun was starting to set, so our last look at them was very picturesque.
We won't get much sleep tonight as we need to be at the airport in the middle of the night to catch our 5:00 am flight. We are hoping all goes smoothly with all of our flights.
I won't post again until later this week when I should be able to add some pictures. I have been unable to download them here. I will also include some information the group asked me to post.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Alexandria
We awoke to the sun shining on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. It was great to have a leisurely breakfast overlooking the gardens and the sea.
We didn't have to leave until 9:30 - our first stop was Pompey's Pillar. The pillar has kept its original, but incorrect name. It was first named after General Pompey who was murdered by Cleopatra's brother and whose remains it was believed were left here. Later after more rubble was dug up, an inscription was found at the base indicating the pillar was erected in 291 AD for emperor Diocletian. A little confusing to say the least. The pillar sits atop the ruined Temple of Serapis - a god that was created as a mix of a Greek and Egyptian god. Alexandria's second, overflow library was also originally here and we went down and saw where the scrolls and other treasures were kept. We also saw another, different type of "Nileometer" that measured the height of the Nile each year.
The nearby catacombs were our next stop. They were accidentally discovered in 1900 and are believed to be the largest Roman burial site in Egypt. There are 3 levels, but the bottom one is now submerged in water. We climbed down the spiral staircase that wraps around the circular shaft through which the mummies were lowered. On the first level there was a sort of dining room. Sounds a little morbid, but most families traveled pretty far to bury or visit their deceased relatives here so they had a place to eat which they were there. The Arabic name for the catacombs is "Pile of Pottery" because there was a pile of broken plates and other dishes found here. It was Roman tradition at that time to break one's plate after eating as it was considered bad luck to eat on a used plate. The meshing of Greek, Roman and Egyptian funerary beliefs was very evident in the carvings in the main tomb. Aspects of all 3 were represented.
After lunch we visited Fort Qaitbey. It was built on a small peninsula by sultan Qaitbey in 1480 AD. One of the 7 wonders of the ancient world - the Pharos lighthouse - was on the site of the fortress. It was destroyed in an earthquake in 1303 and some of the ruins were used to build the fortress. There is a nice promenade along the sea here and since it is a weekend, many families were here with their children. And of course what would a major tourist attraction be with out some peddlers - another opportunity to bargain. Some in our group are getting really good at it!
Finally, we went back to our hotel and got closer view of King Farouk's palace. Since it is still used by President Moubarak when dignitaries visit, it is not open to the public. We were able to explore the Montazah gardens. They are beautiful and the seaside location makes them even more impressive. We also saw a lot of families and young couples here. There was a group of kids playing soccer and a mother helping her daughter learn how to rollerblade.
We had the remainder of the day at our leisure. After our busy schedule the last few days, some time to rest and relax was welcomed.
Tomorrow we return to Cairo for some final sight - seeing and shopping and our last evening. :-(
We didn't have to leave until 9:30 - our first stop was Pompey's Pillar. The pillar has kept its original, but incorrect name. It was first named after General Pompey who was murdered by Cleopatra's brother and whose remains it was believed were left here. Later after more rubble was dug up, an inscription was found at the base indicating the pillar was erected in 291 AD for emperor Diocletian. A little confusing to say the least. The pillar sits atop the ruined Temple of Serapis - a god that was created as a mix of a Greek and Egyptian god. Alexandria's second, overflow library was also originally here and we went down and saw where the scrolls and other treasures were kept. We also saw another, different type of "Nileometer" that measured the height of the Nile each year.
The nearby catacombs were our next stop. They were accidentally discovered in 1900 and are believed to be the largest Roman burial site in Egypt. There are 3 levels, but the bottom one is now submerged in water. We climbed down the spiral staircase that wraps around the circular shaft through which the mummies were lowered. On the first level there was a sort of dining room. Sounds a little morbid, but most families traveled pretty far to bury or visit their deceased relatives here so they had a place to eat which they were there. The Arabic name for the catacombs is "Pile of Pottery" because there was a pile of broken plates and other dishes found here. It was Roman tradition at that time to break one's plate after eating as it was considered bad luck to eat on a used plate. The meshing of Greek, Roman and Egyptian funerary beliefs was very evident in the carvings in the main tomb. Aspects of all 3 were represented.
After lunch we visited Fort Qaitbey. It was built on a small peninsula by sultan Qaitbey in 1480 AD. One of the 7 wonders of the ancient world - the Pharos lighthouse - was on the site of the fortress. It was destroyed in an earthquake in 1303 and some of the ruins were used to build the fortress. There is a nice promenade along the sea here and since it is a weekend, many families were here with their children. And of course what would a major tourist attraction be with out some peddlers - another opportunity to bargain. Some in our group are getting really good at it!
Finally, we went back to our hotel and got closer view of King Farouk's palace. Since it is still used by President Moubarak when dignitaries visit, it is not open to the public. We were able to explore the Montazah gardens. They are beautiful and the seaside location makes them even more impressive. We also saw a lot of families and young couples here. There was a group of kids playing soccer and a mother helping her daughter learn how to rollerblade.
We had the remainder of the day at our leisure. After our busy schedule the last few days, some time to rest and relax was welcomed.
Tomorrow we return to Cairo for some final sight - seeing and shopping and our last evening. :-(
Friday, January 21, 2011
Aswan to Alexandria
We were up at 4:00 this morning and left at 5:00 to catch our flight back to Cairo. It was a short flight and we were on our way in Cairo by mid-morning. The weather in Cairo has turned warm and sunny since we left so that was nice. The first part of our drive took us on road where President Mubarak resides. He was due to arrive back in Egypt so the street was lined with a police officers on just about every block. He must've arrived later because we saw no sign of Jim.
Our first stop this morning was at what is known as the Hanging church because was built atop fortress. Friday the is the Sabbath day for Muslims and Coptic Christians so there was a service going on when we first arrived and weren't allowed to go in. While were waiting, we visited an area that had originally been a Christian neighborhood started in the 600's that was kept private behind a very thick steel barred door. There were many churches in this area and we were able to go in one during a Coptic service. We also saw a synagogue that had been turned into church and the later back into a synagogue. We went back to the Hanging church when the service was over. We are pretty sure that there was a baptism because there was a beautiful baby girl dressed in a white lace dress with a veil that was lifted after the service as her family came up to congratulate her/her parents.
After our very tasty lunch, we went to Memphis to see the capital of the Old Kingdom (3100 bc). There we saw a 20 meter high statue of Ramses II that the fallen in an earthquake. The legs were broken off so instead of standing, it was lying face-up and we got a whole new perspective on the immenseness of it and how difficult if must have been to sculpt it.
The rest of our afternoon was spent on the road to Alexandria which was a much more interesting drive than the one we took yesterday. Just outside of Cairo there were some very lavish housing developments going up. There were some shopping malls and upscale shopping areas that are like their own little town - think The Shops at Woodbury Lakes.
As we got closer to Alexandria, we saw a lot of large farms. About 20 years ago to encourage people to move outside of Cairo and to develop some of the desert areas, the Egyptian government started selling plots of land for very cheap. Some wealthier Egyptians bought many of these plots and now have large farms and palatial houses to go with them. We saw many varieties of crops: olives, potatoes, wheat, mangos, lemons, oranges, figs and grapes.
For the most part the road we were on is very flat, but it did have some places where it curved. When it did, there were speed bumps ahead of the curves to make sure people don't go too fast around them. So every often we would slow down almost to a stop.
We arrived in Alexandria in the evening and even in the dark it was easy to see that it is different than the other Egyptian cities we have seen. With its Greco-Roman architecture, it looks more European. Our hotel is right on the Mediterranean on the grounds of the Montazoh Gardens and King Farouk Palace. We can see both the palace and the sea from our rooms!
After two very busy days we are all looking forward to being able to sleep in tomorrow and having a relaxed day here in Alexandria.
Our first stop this morning was at what is known as the Hanging church because was built atop fortress. Friday the is the Sabbath day for Muslims and Coptic Christians so there was a service going on when we first arrived and weren't allowed to go in. While were waiting, we visited an area that had originally been a Christian neighborhood started in the 600's that was kept private behind a very thick steel barred door. There were many churches in this area and we were able to go in one during a Coptic service. We also saw a synagogue that had been turned into church and the later back into a synagogue. We went back to the Hanging church when the service was over. We are pretty sure that there was a baptism because there was a beautiful baby girl dressed in a white lace dress with a veil that was lifted after the service as her family came up to congratulate her/her parents.
After our very tasty lunch, we went to Memphis to see the capital of the Old Kingdom (3100 bc). There we saw a 20 meter high statue of Ramses II that the fallen in an earthquake. The legs were broken off so instead of standing, it was lying face-up and we got a whole new perspective on the immenseness of it and how difficult if must have been to sculpt it.
The rest of our afternoon was spent on the road to Alexandria which was a much more interesting drive than the one we took yesterday. Just outside of Cairo there were some very lavish housing developments going up. There were some shopping malls and upscale shopping areas that are like their own little town - think The Shops at Woodbury Lakes.
As we got closer to Alexandria, we saw a lot of large farms. About 20 years ago to encourage people to move outside of Cairo and to develop some of the desert areas, the Egyptian government started selling plots of land for very cheap. Some wealthier Egyptians bought many of these plots and now have large farms and palatial houses to go with them. We saw many varieties of crops: olives, potatoes, wheat, mangos, lemons, oranges, figs and grapes.
For the most part the road we were on is very flat, but it did have some places where it curved. When it did, there were speed bumps ahead of the curves to make sure people don't go too fast around them. So every often we would slow down almost to a stop.
We arrived in Alexandria in the evening and even in the dark it was easy to see that it is different than the other Egyptian cities we have seen. With its Greco-Roman architecture, it looks more European. Our hotel is right on the Mediterranean on the grounds of the Montazoh Gardens and King Farouk Palace. We can see both the palace and the sea from our rooms!
After two very busy days we are all looking forward to being able to sleep in tomorrow and having a relaxed day here in Alexandria.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Aswan & Abu Simbel
Last night was our Egyptian party! Most of us donned our Egyptian galabaias/caftans for dinner. It was fun seeing all the colorful outfits - most of them purchased after some bargaining. After dinner there was a party in the lounge with dancing and games. The games were a dance floor version of musical chairs and spoons. We didn't party too long because we all had to get up vey early the next morning (today).
Today was busy and exciting. We had docked the night before in Aswan and our morning sightseeing took place here. After a very early breakfast, we traveled to see Aswan's High dam. Built from 1961-1971 it created Lake Nasser and controlled the annual flood so that the Egyptians could raise crops 3 times a year instead of just once.
Our next stop was the Temple of Philae, built to honor the goddess Isis. It is named for the island which it stands and was moved from it's original spot where it was cover by Lake Nasser after the high dan was built. The setting here was gorgeous with the lake, flowers and greenery and the rock surrounding formations.
Our final stop in the morning was to see the unfinished obelisk. It sits in a giant granite quarry with a crack running down the top portion. It was to have been the tallest obelisk at 41 meters high. Archeologists believe it was being built for Ramses II. It is important because it has helped them to figure out how the Egyptians carved them.
At 11:00 we started on our 3 hour drive to Abu Simbul. We were part of multi-bus and van convoy. We saw miles and miles of the Sahara desert. Sprinkled in were some pyramid-like rock formations, an area where engineers have run a channel from the Nile so there are some plants and flowers and a mirage.
The long drive was worth it to see the Great Temple of Ramses II majestically facing Lake Nasser. Like Philae Temple, if was doomed to be submerged under the lake until under thr leadership of UNESCO money was raised to dismantle and move it before the high dam was finished. The original was built into a cliff which was also replicated. We also saw the Temple of Queen Nefetari that Ramses built to honor his queen, though 4 of the statues at the entrance are of Ramses II and only 2 are of the Queen. Hmmm....
We had a good amount of time to see each temple before going back to Aswan with our convoy. It was a long, but very interesting day.
Tonight is our last night aboard our ship. We have another early morning departure as we catch our 6:40 am flight from Aswan to Cairo tomorrow. We will do some sightseeing in Cairo in the morning and then drive north to Alexandria for the final part of our tour.
Today was busy and exciting. We had docked the night before in Aswan and our morning sightseeing took place here. After a very early breakfast, we traveled to see Aswan's High dam. Built from 1961-1971 it created Lake Nasser and controlled the annual flood so that the Egyptians could raise crops 3 times a year instead of just once.
Our next stop was the Temple of Philae, built to honor the goddess Isis. It is named for the island which it stands and was moved from it's original spot where it was cover by Lake Nasser after the high dan was built. The setting here was gorgeous with the lake, flowers and greenery and the rock surrounding formations.
Our final stop in the morning was to see the unfinished obelisk. It sits in a giant granite quarry with a crack running down the top portion. It was to have been the tallest obelisk at 41 meters high. Archeologists believe it was being built for Ramses II. It is important because it has helped them to figure out how the Egyptians carved them.
At 11:00 we started on our 3 hour drive to Abu Simbul. We were part of multi-bus and van convoy. We saw miles and miles of the Sahara desert. Sprinkled in were some pyramid-like rock formations, an area where engineers have run a channel from the Nile so there are some plants and flowers and a mirage.
The long drive was worth it to see the Great Temple of Ramses II majestically facing Lake Nasser. Like Philae Temple, if was doomed to be submerged under the lake until under thr leadership of UNESCO money was raised to dismantle and move it before the high dam was finished. The original was built into a cliff which was also replicated. We also saw the Temple of Queen Nefetari that Ramses built to honor his queen, though 4 of the statues at the entrance are of Ramses II and only 2 are of the Queen. Hmmm....
We had a good amount of time to see each temple before going back to Aswan with our convoy. It was a long, but very interesting day.
Tonight is our last night aboard our ship. We have another early morning departure as we catch our 6:40 am flight from Aswan to Cairo tomorrow. We will do some sightseeing in Cairo in the morning and then drive north to Alexandria for the final part of our tour.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Stops Along the Nile
There is another birthday in our group today - Candace who said this has been her best birthday. :-) We will hope to make it special for her.
This morning we had an early breakfast aboard our ship that was docked on Edfu. After breakfast we disembarked and went to visit Horus Temple Built for the Falcon God Horus, it is one of Egypt's best preserved temples.
At most of the monuments we've visited, we have had to walk through the market stalls to exit. The peddlers at Horus Temple were the most assertive we've seen. They were like vultures so we had to really stick to our guns as we walked out. Most of us made it unscathed and a few struck some more bargains. Either way, we were glad to make our escape.
We got back to our boat at 9:15 and departed Edfu shortly thereafter. The weather was fabulous today- hot and sunny. Most is us enjoyed the scenery and the sun as we lounged on the top deck of the ship. There were some pretty competitive card games going on too!
Our boat docked at Kom Ombo in the mid- afternoon and at 3:00 we left to tour the temple here built for Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god. This spot along the Nile has ideal conditions for crocodiles and because there were so many of then they thought if would be a good idea to build a temple for a crocodile god. In order for it to be more accepted they included the god Horus. There are 2 sanctuaries - one for each god. There was a wall that had carvings is medical instruments and a place where they measured the height of the Nile every year - this determined not only how well the crops would grow but also how high the taxes would be.
We have had a few hours to relax before dinner. After dinner we will dress up in our newly bargained for galabias ( traditional Egyptian dress) for our Egyptian galabia party!
Tomorrow we have a very busy day. We depart at 6:30 am to see the Aswan High Dam, the unfinished obelisk and take a boat ride to Philae Island to see the Temple of Isis. Then at 11:00 we join the convoy of busses traveling to Abu Simbel to see the unbelievable Great Temple of Ramses II.
Friday morning we fly back to Cairo and the continue on to Alexandria. In all likelihood I won't update again until we get to Alexandria.
This morning we had an early breakfast aboard our ship that was docked on Edfu. After breakfast we disembarked and went to visit Horus Temple Built for the Falcon God Horus, it is one of Egypt's best preserved temples.
At most of the monuments we've visited, we have had to walk through the market stalls to exit. The peddlers at Horus Temple were the most assertive we've seen. They were like vultures so we had to really stick to our guns as we walked out. Most of us made it unscathed and a few struck some more bargains. Either way, we were glad to make our escape.
We got back to our boat at 9:15 and departed Edfu shortly thereafter. The weather was fabulous today- hot and sunny. Most is us enjoyed the scenery and the sun as we lounged on the top deck of the ship. There were some pretty competitive card games going on too!
Our boat docked at Kom Ombo in the mid- afternoon and at 3:00 we left to tour the temple here built for Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god. This spot along the Nile has ideal conditions for crocodiles and because there were so many of then they thought if would be a good idea to build a temple for a crocodile god. In order for it to be more accepted they included the god Horus. There are 2 sanctuaries - one for each god. There was a wall that had carvings is medical instruments and a place where they measured the height of the Nile every year - this determined not only how well the crops would grow but also how high the taxes would be.
We have had a few hours to relax before dinner. After dinner we will dress up in our newly bargained for galabias ( traditional Egyptian dress) for our Egyptian galabia party!
Tomorrow we have a very busy day. We depart at 6:30 am to see the Aswan High Dam, the unfinished obelisk and take a boat ride to Philae Island to see the Temple of Isis. Then at 11:00 we join the convoy of busses traveling to Abu Simbel to see the unbelievable Great Temple of Ramses II.
Friday morning we fly back to Cairo and the continue on to Alexandria. In all likelihood I won't update again until we get to Alexandria.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Last day in Luxor
I will catch up and report on yesterday's (Monday) as well as today.
Monday we took off pretty early to the west bank of the Nile to see the Valley of the Kings. We learned how the tombs were built. They were started as soon as the reign of the Pharoh began so that they would hopefully be completed before he died. They had workers doing the digging, drawing, correcting, carving, painting simultaneously. Interesting factoid - when they were sketching the scenes, they used red and then made corrections in black.
Our visit includes 3 tombs; they were all different with scenes of the gods and the afterlife as well as hieroglyphics. It was incredible to see the vividness of the colors and how much intact everything is. We saw the entrance to King Tut's tomb and the house where Howard Carter stayed when he made the discovery. Eventually it is supposed to be made into a museum.
Our next stop was an alabaster factory. The gentlemen here gave quite an entertaining presentation about how the rock is turned into various souvenirs.
We also visited the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut or as the alabaster entertainers called her - Queen Chicken Soup (much easier to remember). She was one of only a few queens who ruled in Egypt and the only one to have a temple. She took over when her son/brother-in-law Thutmosis III was, at age 6, to young to rule. She ruled until her death after which King Thutmosis III finally took over and proceeded to wipe all evidence of her reign from monuments. So while some of it has been restored, a lot is still missing.
Finally, we made a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon, the world's largest monolithic sculptures. They are all that remain from the Temple of Amenhotep III - once Egypt's largest temple.
Finally, we boarded our cruise ship and had lunch. After a busy few days we welcomed having the remainder of the day to rest and relax. The weather is not super warm and sometimes overcast, but are taking in some sun too. It is definitely much nicer here than in the Midwest.
Today (Tuesday) is Arby's birthday so we sang (or should I say attempted to sing) to her this morning and hope to make her feel special today!
We spent our morning off the ship, but still on the water, taking a motorboat to banana island where we saw banana plants in various stages of growth. A young boy (14) gave us the scoop about how bananas are grown. There were also orange, lemon, mandarin and papaya trees - plus wheat, alfalfa and onions. All on little plots of land next to each other. We saw how both the modern and ancient way they irrigated their fields. When we were all done we got to have some bananas before boarding our felucca for a short ride back to our cruise ship.
As we were having lunch, our ship departed from Luxor so we had another day to rest and relax on board. As we approached the lock at Esna in the evening, a flock of small boats with men selling their goods swarmed our ship. They threw up their wares and we shouted back and forth bartering for the right price. It was quite a scene, but several of us walked away with some pretty good deals - with a good story behind them to boot.
Tonight we have a welcome party before dinner with dancing in the evening for the night owls. Tomorrow we arrive in Edfu where we will disembark and tour Horus Temple.
Monday we took off pretty early to the west bank of the Nile to see the Valley of the Kings. We learned how the tombs were built. They were started as soon as the reign of the Pharoh began so that they would hopefully be completed before he died. They had workers doing the digging, drawing, correcting, carving, painting simultaneously. Interesting factoid - when they were sketching the scenes, they used red and then made corrections in black.
Our visit includes 3 tombs; they were all different with scenes of the gods and the afterlife as well as hieroglyphics. It was incredible to see the vividness of the colors and how much intact everything is. We saw the entrance to King Tut's tomb and the house where Howard Carter stayed when he made the discovery. Eventually it is supposed to be made into a museum.
Our next stop was an alabaster factory. The gentlemen here gave quite an entertaining presentation about how the rock is turned into various souvenirs.
We also visited the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut or as the alabaster entertainers called her - Queen Chicken Soup (much easier to remember). She was one of only a few queens who ruled in Egypt and the only one to have a temple. She took over when her son/brother-in-law Thutmosis III was, at age 6, to young to rule. She ruled until her death after which King Thutmosis III finally took over and proceeded to wipe all evidence of her reign from monuments. So while some of it has been restored, a lot is still missing.
Finally, we made a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon, the world's largest monolithic sculptures. They are all that remain from the Temple of Amenhotep III - once Egypt's largest temple.
Finally, we boarded our cruise ship and had lunch. After a busy few days we welcomed having the remainder of the day to rest and relax. The weather is not super warm and sometimes overcast, but are taking in some sun too. It is definitely much nicer here than in the Midwest.
Today (Tuesday) is Arby's birthday so we sang (or should I say attempted to sing) to her this morning and hope to make her feel special today!
We spent our morning off the ship, but still on the water, taking a motorboat to banana island where we saw banana plants in various stages of growth. A young boy (14) gave us the scoop about how bananas are grown. There were also orange, lemon, mandarin and papaya trees - plus wheat, alfalfa and onions. All on little plots of land next to each other. We saw how both the modern and ancient way they irrigated their fields. When we were all done we got to have some bananas before boarding our felucca for a short ride back to our cruise ship.
As we were having lunch, our ship departed from Luxor so we had another day to rest and relax on board. As we approached the lock at Esna in the evening, a flock of small boats with men selling their goods swarmed our ship. They threw up their wares and we shouted back and forth bartering for the right price. It was quite a scene, but several of us walked away with some pretty good deals - with a good story behind them to boot.
Tonight we have a welcome party before dinner with dancing in the evening for the night owls. Tomorrow we arrive in Edfu where we will disembark and tour Horus Temple.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
First Day in Luxor
Have been relaxing an the deck of our cruise ship this afternoon. Now that the sun has set, I am ready to come inside and give an update on Sunday.
Our train arrived in Luxor on Sunday at 5:30. We transferred right away to our hotel wehre got some much needed coffee with our wonderful breakfast buffet. We didn't have to leave until 7:30 so we again had time to relax. There were some hot air ballon tours of the Valley of the Kings going on which were fun to see with the morning sunrise.
After breakfast we headed to Karnak Temple and spent about 2 hour seeing the biggest temple in the world. It took over 2000 years to build. Everything about it is large from the pylons to the columns and obelisks. There is even a statue if a giant scarab beetle - the Egyptian symbol of good luck and fertility. Some of us walked around it 5 times as we made a wish as doing that us said to make wishes come true. :-)
We also went to a perfumery and sampled different perfumes and essences that can cure just about any ailment. We had lunch and then toured Luxor Temple. Originally there was a 3 km road between the 2 temple that is now being excavated an restored. It is taking quite a while partly because there are homes and other buildings on top of the road and those have to be bought by the gov't and removed. I am hoping I can get back here whenever that road is done.
After time to relax, we took a horse - drawn carriage ride through Luxor. This was very interesting and eye opennig as we drove through many different parts of town, including some poorer neighborhoods where we saw local markets and small shops that specialized in one area such as produce, meat, bread, dresses, cloth, hardware...etc, There were barbershops, tailors ans laundromats - every store was just tiny. The shopkeepers were visible and there were lots of children playing in the streets. We also saw coffeeshopa with men hanging out smoking their sheesha pipes, watching soccer or playing dominoes.
We made a stop where has a coffee, tea or soda and got to try the sheesha pipe ourselves. Lots of laughs and fun, but it is just very mild tobacco smoked through a water pipe. All in all it was an interesting and eye opening experience.
Today we went to Valley of the Kings and Hatshetsup Temple before boarding our ship. Will give more details on the next post. Tomorrow we take a felucca ride in the morning and have the rest of the day to relax. I should have plenty of time to post.
Our train arrived in Luxor on Sunday at 5:30. We transferred right away to our hotel wehre got some much needed coffee with our wonderful breakfast buffet. We didn't have to leave until 7:30 so we again had time to relax. There were some hot air ballon tours of the Valley of the Kings going on which were fun to see with the morning sunrise.
After breakfast we headed to Karnak Temple and spent about 2 hour seeing the biggest temple in the world. It took over 2000 years to build. Everything about it is large from the pylons to the columns and obelisks. There is even a statue if a giant scarab beetle - the Egyptian symbol of good luck and fertility. Some of us walked around it 5 times as we made a wish as doing that us said to make wishes come true. :-)
We also went to a perfumery and sampled different perfumes and essences that can cure just about any ailment. We had lunch and then toured Luxor Temple. Originally there was a 3 km road between the 2 temple that is now being excavated an restored. It is taking quite a while partly because there are homes and other buildings on top of the road and those have to be bought by the gov't and removed. I am hoping I can get back here whenever that road is done.
After time to relax, we took a horse - drawn carriage ride through Luxor. This was very interesting and eye opennig as we drove through many different parts of town, including some poorer neighborhoods where we saw local markets and small shops that specialized in one area such as produce, meat, bread, dresses, cloth, hardware...etc, There were barbershops, tailors ans laundromats - every store was just tiny. The shopkeepers were visible and there were lots of children playing in the streets. We also saw coffeeshopa with men hanging out smoking their sheesha pipes, watching soccer or playing dominoes.
We made a stop where has a coffee, tea or soda and got to try the sheesha pipe ourselves. Lots of laughs and fun, but it is just very mild tobacco smoked through a water pipe. All in all it was an interesting and eye opening experience.
Today we went to Valley of the Kings and Hatshetsup Temple before boarding our ship. Will give more details on the next post. Tomorrow we take a felucca ride in the morning and have the rest of the day to relax. I should have plenty of time to post.
Relaxing in Luxor
We've had a couple of busy days and are now relaxing a bit here in Luxor on Sunday afternoon. I am sitting out on my balcony overlooking the Nile and the Valley of the Kings.
Saturday morning we had a leisurely breakfast as we didn't have to leave until 10:00 am. We toured the citadel and the Mohammad Ali Mosque. Mohammad, our guide, gave us a good introduction to the 5 pillars of Islam while we were in the mosque.
After lunch we spent most of the rest of the afternoon at the Egyptian Museum. We are learning so much about ancient Egypt and Mohammad referenced a lot of places on our itinerary throughout our time at the museum. The highlight was, of course, the King Tut treasures including his golf mask and coffin. We did a little math and figured out that the 111kg gold coffin is probably worth over $5 million!
After a short stop to learn about how papyrus paper is made, we drove to the train station for our overnight train to Luxor. On board we had room service for dinner in our train compartments (sounds glamourous, but is pretty much like getting served plane food in a private berth). Most said the train ride was interesting and were glad to have experienced it, but didn't get much sleep. A few in our group slept "like a baby." Good thing we have time to rest before our carriage ride this evening.
I am going to enjoy the great view and the warm sun and will update about our time here in Luxor tonight or tomorrow.
Before I sign off I was asked by one tour member to deliver this special message for him:
" Hi Kandie ,
I am missing you! I love you...xoxoxo"
Saturday morning we had a leisurely breakfast as we didn't have to leave until 10:00 am. We toured the citadel and the Mohammad Ali Mosque. Mohammad, our guide, gave us a good introduction to the 5 pillars of Islam while we were in the mosque.
After lunch we spent most of the rest of the afternoon at the Egyptian Museum. We are learning so much about ancient Egypt and Mohammad referenced a lot of places on our itinerary throughout our time at the museum. The highlight was, of course, the King Tut treasures including his golf mask and coffin. We did a little math and figured out that the 111kg gold coffin is probably worth over $5 million!
After a short stop to learn about how papyrus paper is made, we drove to the train station for our overnight train to Luxor. On board we had room service for dinner in our train compartments (sounds glamourous, but is pretty much like getting served plane food in a private berth). Most said the train ride was interesting and were glad to have experienced it, but didn't get much sleep. A few in our group slept "like a baby." Good thing we have time to rest before our carriage ride this evening.
I am going to enjoy the great view and the warm sun and will update about our time here in Luxor tonight or tomorrow.
Before I sign off I was asked by one tour member to deliver this special message for him:
" Hi Kandie ,
I am missing you! I love you...xoxoxo"
Friday, January 14, 2011
The first day was awesome!
Our first day was awesome! We started off visiting the Pyramids of Giza. Our schedule allowed plenty of time walk around, hear the history from our guide and take pictures. We have some talented bargainers in our group who entertained us with their skills.
Everyone took a camel ride at Giza. What a thrilling experience to see the pyramids while atop a camel. And to it all off, after that we saw the Sphinx - wow!
It was a good thing our Egyptian BBQ was inside because it rained during lunch. Luckily it stopped in time for our visit the step pyramid at Sakkara.
Our day ended at a carpet school - we saw some true artists at work and did some more bargaining.
Tomorrow the Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque and the Egyptian museum are on our agenda. We depart Cairo tomorrow evening on the overnight train to Luxor. No Internet on the train so it will be a couple of days before I am able to post again.
Everyone took a camel ride at Giza. What a thrilling experience to see the pyramids while atop a camel. And to it all off, after that we saw the Sphinx - wow!
It was a good thing our Egyptian BBQ was inside because it rained during lunch. Luckily it stopped in time for our visit the step pyramid at Sakkara.
Our day ended at a carpet school - we saw some true artists at work and did some more bargaining.
Tomorrow the Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque and the Egyptian museum are on our agenda. We depart Cairo tomorrow evening on the overnight train to Luxor. No Internet on the train so it will be a couple of days before I am able to post again.
We made it to Cairo!
We arrived as scheduled, but I had a few difficulties posting yesterday - Blogger kept loading in Arabic - that was interesting! So I think I have that figured out and can report on our journey. Our 6 hour layover in Frankfurt gave us time to explore the airport - probably more than wanted. A few people found some cots and were happy to have a place to lay down even if we didn't sleep much. Cots in an airport is a first for me. We thought maybe they were left from the shut down FRA experienced a few weeks ago because of snow storms.
Our guide met us at the airport and we checked in to our lovely hotel. We had some surprise entertainment during dinner - a wedding party with dancing and music in our hotel lobby! How neat!
Our guide met us at the airport and we checked in to our lovely hotel. We had some surprise entertainment during dinner - a wedding party with dancing and music in our hotel lobby! How neat!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
1st leg down...
We made it to Chicago and our flights to Frankfurt and Cairo are, at the moment, scheduled to depart on time. VERY thankful the weather in the Midwest is cooperating today.
We are really excited to get over there to start the fun.
We are really excited to get over there to start the fun.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Egypt - Our First 2011 Tour
We are starting our 2011 tour season off with a tour to Egypt! I am so excited to accompany the 17 travelers on this tour. I had an unbelievable time last year and look forward to experiencing it again with this group. I am sure they will be just as enthralled as I was. Internet access in Egypt is sporadic, but will try to post when I can. Our adventures starts Wednesday morning as we rendezvous at the MSP airport!
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