tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40062135484788393432024-03-05T13:05:34.776-08:00HOLIDAY BLOGSDebbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-87495225745825654482007-12-22T09:48:00.000-08:002008-01-04T15:26:16.717-08:00Going HomeWe are travelling back to Birmingham today. We gave in our ski suits and boots and had a quick breakfast of biscuits and crisps and went to the coach. We got to the airport which was packed with people going home and I saw the next lot of poor souls arriving for their holiday. Do they know what they are in for? Probably not but i hope it is better than what we had.<br />Kiearn isn't feeling well and managed the journey from Kittila airport to Birmingham and back to Plymouth. He fell asleep part of the way aI took him to the emergency surgery as his temprature had risen to 38.5.<br />One thing about this holiday is that we will remember it!<br />It has been a very interesting few days. Washing Machine and tumble dryer broke down, let down holiday but what the heck, I have had 3 wonderful days with the most amazing people in my life, my children. They make every day worth living.Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-34540465337551685502007-12-21T09:06:00.000-08:002008-11-13T06:14:16.912-08:00Santa's post office<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUvrsghbOPe802WlNgHvBurUE70dPuBdHEb6ENweef4DsOIMtykIU6hsr15k5vde0u-Uku47EfjdcscHEKsuy4aE92nDOcRrUFsi2T_dAIf0yOQkWXCICsErpHTylHM2XRSrv0sajHVeI/s1600-h/Lapland+088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150560143474445282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUvrsghbOPe802WlNgHvBurUE70dPuBdHEb6ENweef4DsOIMtykIU6hsr15k5vde0u-Uku47EfjdcscHEKsuy4aE92nDOcRrUFsi2T_dAIf0yOQkWXCICsErpHTylHM2XRSrv0sajHVeI/s400/Lapland+088.JPG" border="0" /></a> Kieran had been very physically and emotionally abusive yesterday and I think he was tired so when the excursion to go to the Artic Circle celebration was arranged for early morning I left him sleeping. Siobhan and Rich were with him and were happy to sit with him when he woke up. <div></div><div>This was a total disappointment as I had got on the coach thinking we were going to celebrate and enjoy the culture of Finland and ended up at Santa's post office. I was cross about that as not one rep had mentioned that the intinary we were given by Cosmos had been changed. All anyone was ever told was look at the poster in the foyer of the hotel. I could not find a poster detailing any excursions and I made a point of looking for it. I could have cried as I knew Kieran especially was looking forward to this. It was a very busy place with coach loads of people all enjoying the sites and wanting to get into the buildings and see Santa's bedroom and the post office. When I got back and told Kieran he was really upset. The reps were not interested and didn't seem phased. They said there was nothing they could do.<br />I went to the artic circle celebration that was now in the afternoon and was taken to one of the highest points in Levi fell. The view was beautiful and well worth going up to the point.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150560478481894386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBNjZdvlbsITHTIksstiSCoN8W-LQA8qk2r_KJS9zeTNZqQh3EHmsYsyC147KoExoiU4TOJt3oBmYp4srANFfRYfMGFll0lKWZ7MzEaMqinQT9DFqNOITOuSyZZO2U4ectlCSpb5YsvuL/s400/Lapland+104.JPG" border="0" />When I got back, we got ready to go to the husky farm. We expected to see a real farm with all stages of dogs there and watch them training on how to pull the sledge and maybe see a few puppies. I have to say it was more like a doggie concentration camp. The dogs were chained to the ground and each had a box they could go in if they wanted shelter. It was so sad to see.<br /><br />We got onto our sledge and Rich had voluteered to drive it. It was really good. I have never seen a dog run and poo at the same time until now. Rich did really well but I have to say that this did not warrant another £325 that Cosmos ask for. We were on the sledge for around 10 minutes and the best part of it had to be the exhillaration of the ride and the scenery it is a shame it was marred by the memory of the dog camp which was similar to battery hen farming. <div></div><div>In the evening we went out to a local pizza bar to get something to eat as the food was not to our expectations. We got back to the hotel were we were seated at a table with another couple who were also disappointed with the intinary and the way this excursion is run. It is so mismanaged. We were called in to see santa and all recieved a gift. One thing I did find disappointing is that I didn't get the chance to add a gift from santa that the children would like. This was supposed to be one of the things the company offers. Siobhan and I had candles, Kieran had an MP3 player and Rich had a magnetic game compendiam. I must say I will be glad to be going home as we have not had the experience we thought we would have.</div><div>My travel agent was very good and asked ( while I was in the office) about Kieran's Birthday, the meals and the gifts from Santa) this was added onto the booking form and not passed on to those concerned which amounted to disappointment and as for Cosmos, I will never travel with them again as I didn't like the way the dogs were treated and the way the reps help (or don't help) customers. I paid a lot of money for a once in a lifetime trip and it wasn't what I expected.</div><div>I have to say though that Finland is beautiful and I am so glad I made the journey. I don't know what we will be doing for 2008 but I will be contacting Cosmos and letting them know my feelings.</div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-25010594153359594662007-12-20T08:44:00.000-08:002008-11-13T06:14:17.263-08:00Excursions<div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Dhw9mECvrRye8oJ6OuqpHSxe8HAj68jhkrZrkBen6AgpnfCCIxFEWDaNJuo9yt5iVpExSbTKskXzQcnYsiSY6rtHKiZzQdNceR4NPm6PQvYfoqoTpi4ce_U9Us6TZDB9y0K6HmQb2Akl/s1600-h/Lapland+094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150553490570103730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Dhw9mECvrRye8oJ6OuqpHSxe8HAj68jhkrZrkBen6AgpnfCCIxFEWDaNJuo9yt5iVpExSbTKskXzQcnYsiSY6rtHKiZzQdNceR4NPm6PQvYfoqoTpi4ce_U9Us6TZDB9y0K6HmQb2Akl/s400/Lapland+094.JPG" border="0" /></a> We got up early and had breakfast, got into our ski suits, mine is enormous....!<br /><br /><div>We went to our coach and travelled to the area where the reinderr sligh ride toboganning,husky ride and snow mobile ride would take place. </div><br /><div>The reindeer sliegh ride was a little disappointing as it was a man in a penn pulling a reindeer with a small wooden sledge on the back. it lasted all of 3 minutes.</div><br /><div>The tobogan ride was the children taking a toboggan and sliding down a small, snowy hill. Kieran and Rich did it, Siobhan and I watched. We then went on to do the snow mobile ride, apparently as I am the driver it had been agreed by Siobhan and Rich that I would drive it. </div><br /><div>I was so nervous but willing to take on the challenge. It was ok bit very hard to control as the machine wanted to veer off of the track. We managed the short course and ade our way to the husky sliegh ride.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150554435462908882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0svRcgoZkpPVxODhU5RUtgPXxYshOROJDGtJCyg14vd7blEHY8QazqihSLfyTc8dYrhpCai8ax8ViEPMqTaNiIYuJv-fVMrZN4AnlC6cjzx6BTaFvnrHpvFKhlYyTMtlRUDOvwmjsH2Yg/s400/Lapland+025.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>I was at the back then Rich and Siobhan and Kieran at the front getting the best view.</div><br /><div>The dogs were ready to go and kept pulling at the sledge. when they were allowed to go they stopped barking. We decided to have an extra as one of the things we could do was visit a husky farm. This sounded good.</div><div>We got back to the hotel and toyed with the meals again. We went to the local supermarket and bought some things to eat. I have to say the Cosmos reps were most unhelpful.<br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-34028796940684899822007-12-19T08:04:00.000-08:002008-11-13T06:14:17.629-08:00Happy birthday Kieran, off we go<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV15ke1kqsLqvM7VCqoNxwiqMGh5Y7meTQuJqm0sU1VxthprecGPiwLUapnhiIFhmaWqW3v17yz4osNrNm3AuWxuMIK5wqDIhjFypmWTmUovkxpihnJcGmMeeCKW9yrOvdNv5PKospJN1/s1600-h/Lapland+005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150541408827100050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV15ke1kqsLqvM7VCqoNxwiqMGh5Y7meTQuJqm0sU1VxthprecGPiwLUapnhiIFhmaWqW3v17yz4osNrNm3AuWxuMIK5wqDIhjFypmWTmUovkxpihnJcGmMeeCKW9yrOvdNv5PKospJN1/s400/Lapland+005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Bleary eyed faces stirred and woke to the alarm call from the hotel and to greet Kieran who is 11 years old today. We had ordered breakfast to be delivered to the rooms. We got ourselves together and left the hotel and waited for the shuttle to take us to the airport. we arrived there and checked in and were greeted by Hal the husky and Rudi the reindeer. A very jolly lady with Christmas hats for the children was also there. </div><br /><br /><div>If this was what was going to happen with the whole holiday it will be wonderful but unfortunatley that was the end of the festivities.</div><br /><br /><div>We boarded the plane and there was no Christmas music, no happy stewards/stewardess's and just like any other flight. What a shame as the website for Cosmos promises the Lapland experience.</div><br /><br /><div>This didn't matter though as I was with my children and we were off to enjoy our break.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We landed at Kittila airport and the scenery was beutiful. We were met by Cosmos who directed us to a warehouse to get our ski suits and boots. I had already advised the company of this and didn't understand why we had to get measured up again. </div><br /><div>Well...Siobhan was given a green ski suit that fitted her, Kieran got a smaller one, Rich was measured up for a man sized outfit and me, I got....a man sized one as well. </div><br /><div>(Later when I put it on, it was HUGE! The crutch came down to my knees!)</div><br /><div>We struggled to the coach with a white bin liner containing 4 pairs of ski boots and 4 ski suits. Rich and I just managed to carry it.</div><br /><div>We then made our way to the hotel and this place is stunning.</div><br /><div>As we entered Levi Fell we saw a large Christmas present and a Christmas tree which were monuments on a roundabout. This is a stunning looking place. It was covered in snow and children were out on toboggans enjoying the 3 foot of snow before they go back to the UK where 1/2 centimetre of snow causes disruption everywhere.</div><br /><div>We got to the hotel and I asked about arrangements for Kieran's birthday as my travel agent, Jim, had asked Cosmos about it. (We had the flight details with the birthday and meal options mentioned on it).</div><br /><div>Cosmos reps said they didn't know of anything and said maybe he could have happy birthday sang on the coach tomorrow. That was dissappointing but not to worry as I asked the hotel if they could make him a cake, which they did, The cake was wonderful although they had written "Brewer 11" on it instead of Kieran but that didn't matter as they were so helpful, more so that Cosmos reps.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150547159788309410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf2SdOw30NClKQkoijpMbrZ_u0GTr2lWLSJKpfl_UVGZfL1DINUej7VDYSLEh0FFqp1Gx2L2_DZBRFwGAvylyoKhjeGNTL3ZqU2O9A360vam4sslC2mM0jKGy_wY6-prOfkIl-fN7n4_Q/s400/Lapland+012.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>The hotel room was something else. The children were pleased to see that there was a ladder leading up to the top floor, like an attic, and there were 3 beds up there, that was good as there would be no arguments as to who would sleep up there. I was left on my own at the bottom. </div><div>The TV in Finland is terrible. Daylight is around 3-4 hours a day and Kieran found this difficult to deal with. His behaviour changed dramatically. He was hard to deal with at times because of his autism. We tried to not let it spoil this trip.</div><div>We went out to eat at the restaraunt in the hotel and the food was a hunters paradise, all reindeer steaks and fish. As 3 of us are vegetarian, we found potatoes and salad, Kieran doesn't like either and I paid the hotel to make him a pizza which he loved.</div><div>We will be starting our excursions tomorrow, Kieran had a camera for his birthday and enjoyed taking pictures of everyone.</div><div></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-15426673376378715312007-12-18T07:48:00.000-08:002008-01-01T09:05:26.309-08:00LAPLANDWe will be travelling to Birmingham today as our flight leaves at 7:30am on 19th and we will have to get up very early to travel from Plymouth to Birmingham. We will be staying at the holiday inn, Birmingham, over night ans will leave at 5:00am to get the plane.<br />Kieran asked if he could perform his nativity play at school as it would be his last Christmas there, he will be moving to another school in September 2008.<br />We left Plymouth at 12:oopm and had a really good trip up. We used VIP travel, who are very professional.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vip-cars.org.uk/">http://www.vip-cars.org.uk/</a><br /><br />We had something to eat at the hotel and and then settled down for the evening as we has to be up at 4:00am to get ready for the flight.Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-52556685517734268842007-08-09T08:31:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:18.027-08:00It's over!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2hBlWY5JSCsl2bNd4LSWdTBttiWkP3f5bBbJsV_gP6xOmxgP67iQwt2l1LkHTBpvvBolGccB24y-RK4bjeFeYTJL7Ik9M4mobo0zT0eUPY7zlr-TjTsQJ3N_3-wKRkYgttXmLhr6el3_/s1600-h/Egypt+691.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096724488850585842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2hBlWY5JSCsl2bNd4LSWdTBttiWkP3f5bBbJsV_gP6xOmxgP67iQwt2l1LkHTBpvvBolGccB24y-RK4bjeFeYTJL7Ik9M4mobo0zT0eUPY7zlr-TjTsQJ3N_3-wKRkYgttXmLhr6el3_/s200/Egypt+691.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well....that is it. As the sun sets on these holidays and I have to say they have both been fantastic. One has been to a country that is rich in everything and the other to a country not so well off. It was quite a contrast and I enjoyed every minute of it. I am glad I was able to enjoy them both to the full as who knows how long it will be before I am disabled by this disease. Theo behaved very well on both holidays. Thanx Theo!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9gP-Y_hTEF6gGesP60wNOjIaiJ95HsNesG5ZxFu8Rn9-QiKgr39MmXm5cdkUEYtk9Xt05jjWbvX4u-P7TcoDMGzTXcyDxJkMPEePliUsu8VlT9rqPVY_wu8JTdV3OliU0fOP7mFUNB69/s1600-h/Egypt+563.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096726683578874114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9gP-Y_hTEF6gGesP60wNOjIaiJ95HsNesG5ZxFu8Rn9-QiKgr39MmXm5cdkUEYtk9Xt05jjWbvX4u-P7TcoDMGzTXcyDxJkMPEePliUsu8VlT9rqPVY_wu8JTdV3OliU0fOP7mFUNB69/s200/Egypt+563.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I saw one little creature that definatley needs to be included in this blog. A dragon fly, he was on some flowers outside the cruise ship and stayed there for quite a while, long enough for me to take some shots of him.<br /><br />Thankyou for taking the time to read my blogs and if there are any questions or just need to chat then, please contact me.<br />Debz<br /><a href="mailto:Phu_phita@hotmail.com">Phu_phita@hotmail.com</a>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-26572744224041019182007-08-05T07:44:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:18.383-08:00Back in the UK<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOKLw-u9eBJnlqynLIAJCjf4AfNnhQM6NKHB7Px2lprPx-WowKfWbDaIs4kywtbqrzJhyphenhyphenrlPBhXu9lpyJsaKS_Qm0voizkobKnaQZtgC_tDhChdGt_qQBR8MgsY4BeRnjVCrj5sX5rT5m/s1600-h/Egypt+312.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096722165273278674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOKLw-u9eBJnlqynLIAJCjf4AfNnhQM6NKHB7Px2lprPx-WowKfWbDaIs4kywtbqrzJhyphenhyphenrlPBhXu9lpyJsaKS_Qm0voizkobKnaQZtgC_tDhChdGt_qQBR8MgsY4BeRnjVCrj5sX5rT5m/s200/Egypt+312.JPG" border="0" /></a> We arrived in the UK at 1:30am and waited an hour to collect our bags. We got a taxi to our hotel and when we arrived, we had a little hiccup with the hotel (we stayed in a lovely hotel called "waterhall") but that was soon sorted out and we slept until 8:30am, went for breakfast and then spent the day in Crawley. I have put in some pictures of the art work in the town centre as it is so lovely and a lot of cities could learn from this. We have a prawn on a stick on the Barbican and I would rather see the little bird mobile <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIGmayby880aidVJeTun3VNK4ROeRrSi5oyo_MdzZ1_9F3_iYJfjte-4jFyTu0IHDgPL2r2os124CiX10MCA057D5bnyE-N9BHsRxTsSUgYqp41HC7VuyQ5bG_7hXZuWD71sLBw9h2qcF/s1600-h/Egypt+306.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096722959842228450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIGmayby880aidVJeTun3VNK4ROeRrSi5oyo_MdzZ1_9F3_iYJfjte-4jFyTu0IHDgPL2r2os124CiX10MCA057D5bnyE-N9BHsRxTsSUgYqp41HC7VuyQ5bG_7hXZuWD71sLBw9h2qcF/s200/Egypt+306.JPG" border="0" /></a>as it is beautiful when it catches the light.<br /><div>We went to see Shrek 3rd which was brilliant and had a meal in a local pub. We went back to the "little foxes" hotel and chilled out as we were all tired and we had another journey tomorrow back to Plymouth. </div><br /><div>Foot note : I do have to say a big thank you to Andy and his son, David for sorting out the hotel room for us when we came into the UK. They were so kind and helped us out when we needed it and also to Geraldine at little foxes. <strong>Thank you. </strong></div><br /><div><strong>Link to waterhall</strong></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.waterhallcountryhouse.co.uk/">http://www.waterhallcountryhouse.co.uk/</a></strong></div><br /><div><strong>Link to little foxes</strong></div><div><a href="http://www.littlefoxeshotel.co.uk/">http://www.littlefoxeshotel.co.uk/</a></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-69569318585133289722007-08-04T07:27:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:18.725-08:00Under the sea and home!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp9M-AEVL9fPMq-M68LAL62y3NMchGSb-LYuasd8XgUfTBT8Mlv0Njedex31d2P6ViiR2boQFQylxFxxhg-mDGePof_6G4kH_LDU5hlhNvurVhNBgoVVVIkD3mbeJbNwMn_lNbtCJXnfM/s1600-h/Egypt+188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096709834422171842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp9M-AEVL9fPMq-M68LAL62y3NMchGSb-LYuasd8XgUfTBT8Mlv0Njedex31d2P6ViiR2boQFQylxFxxhg-mDGePof_6G4kH_LDU5hlhNvurVhNBgoVVVIkD3mbeJbNwMn_lNbtCJXnfM/s200/Egypt+188.JPG" border="0" /></a> We are ready to go home. First we have something we need to do. We are going on a yellow submarine and take a look at life beneath the sea. We were in the submarine for an hour. The water was so clear. We didn't see any turtles but we saw a lot of fish. <div>We went back to the hotel.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>We made sure everything was packed and we were ready to go. We left for our flight at 6:30 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-VcQvbPBgW9bVg8qXmwrA4fnbmi8EC-6mSgryhHpajHf13lO6wFcf_DgEV-LJgyN1fnbiCcZ6LvcJLh3vyvS1YJ8kRnomuJCTUScbopXT-lBxZkOZIOrxy2BNn3J-awD519n04HVWZh-/s1600-h/Egypt+204.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096709452170082482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-VcQvbPBgW9bVg8qXmwrA4fnbmi8EC-6mSgryhHpajHf13lO6wFcf_DgEV-LJgyN1fnbiCcZ6LvcJLh3vyvS1YJ8kRnomuJCTUScbopXT-lBxZkOZIOrxy2BNn3J-awD519n04HVWZh-/s200/Egypt+204.JPG" border="0" /></a>as our plane was leaving at 10:00pm.</div><div>I can,t wait to get back and see Kieran and show him our pictures. I have really missed him.</div><div></div><div><strong>Link to Waterworld</strong></div><div><a href="http://www.redseawaterworld.com/">http://www.redseawaterworld.com/</a></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-22757688015955434222007-08-03T07:13:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:19.082-08:00Chill out day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5-sqmTRln3Nozc_In4UD5BXW_7LRQz7NT2H53g7QcASt20-wF5Ne7DPhZenXBZh1gog0-8WjsUiIifrnymZBQhbQjVPtGgEwoQC5uLcJ3Yg45Z7ebWHvOFJtgd3ENqRZ39NEZzFSHXxF/s1600-h/Egypt+292.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096707059873298594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5-sqmTRln3Nozc_In4UD5BXW_7LRQz7NT2H53g7QcASt20-wF5Ne7DPhZenXBZh1gog0-8WjsUiIifrnymZBQhbQjVPtGgEwoQC5uLcJ3Yg45Z7ebWHvOFJtgd3ENqRZ39NEZzFSHXxF/s200/Egypt+292.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG4vmpy4nRZACTNk1nNh-CnYYeWv9e9P1mYdUTUOIryZGmFpORS6aB_N1NigTSCwLOLeSd15Kx8FHC2w7WAByaFFOUJN9rJEGAndV0uhgvhnpzkUFe2RNAhltVGR16zg69f4DMso9Gf_p/s1600-h/Egypt+293.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096706733455784082" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG4vmpy4nRZACTNk1nNh-CnYYeWv9e9P1mYdUTUOIryZGmFpORS6aB_N1NigTSCwLOLeSd15Kx8FHC2w7WAByaFFOUJN9rJEGAndV0uhgvhnpzkUFe2RNAhltVGR16zg69f4DMso9Gf_p/s200/Egypt+293.JPG" border="0" /></a>We didn't do much today. Rich stayed in the hotel room as he has been quite ill. We went to the beach for a little as it is so hot. We booked to go on a yellow submarine and have a look at the fish and the coral under the red sea. we were going to go today but we were too late with the booking so we will be going tomorrow. </div><div>We will concentrate on packing our bags and making sure we have everything.</div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-8774944136277929112007-08-02T06:55:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:19.942-08:00Back to Taba<div>We spent the wh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx2wxwHScC1LXEUe41CWzCAvsQ4gK8KtUY9i8IHfXjN2CuJVSdnpXw-_FdGSqSEt7gyAYqKYPwaTXyhKp8ie0Kb_fPTceneDL0GPJ_yq2l9h1mhyMtu1XuuuUoHnOYMYRJWedVWGZXG3p/s1600-h/Egypt+062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096701755588687954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx2wxwHScC1LXEUe41CWzCAvsQ4gK8KtUY9i8IHfXjN2CuJVSdnpXw-_FdGSqSEt7gyAYqKYPwaTXyhKp8ie0Kb_fPTceneDL0GPJ_yq2l9h1mhyMtu1XuuuUoHnOYMYRJWedVWGZXG3p/s200/Egypt+062.JPG" border="0" /></a>ole day travelling today. We joined some other people on a coach who <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL1aybLvv3ASv-H1XkYP0KvqWwzlYL133zL9FeU1yZJYBxnyhMcyEi7qB-Fw13C8uL1lAJVz60vuf0O3uaHzYln6KL9527onBH1qQwIGDnD-h4N0gI0_AyeeitxwmtgmuRspgdErirTwd/s1600-h/Egypt+095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096702657531820146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL1aybLvv3ASv-H1XkYP0KvqWwzlYL133zL9FeU1yZJYBxnyhMcyEi7qB-Fw13C8uL1lAJVz60vuf0O3uaHzYln6KL9527onBH1qQwIGDnD-h4N0gI0_AyeeitxwmtgmuRspgdErirTwd/s200/Egypt+095.JPG" border="0" /></a>were also returning to Taba. We had to wait an hour for them to finish their tour before we could leave and then had a gruelling 5-6 hour journey. To entertain myself, I took pictures of the different turrain. It went from sand to rock to sand. We had many stops at the check points and had our passports checked. It is quite a shock to see so man<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8SOQEgE8wSX6PjLYv9Ggm9V_C-M4_J1QN3_RdiHVAQx6djct7JNLh3TCKBvYtRhZW5cAfQRhE3wfW8f8n3WtPeHEnf_EQ4cYuqp768HjJNEVTKEt05lhrTE7b9UA83_Qb-a7VSuBJRMx/s1600-h/Egypt+030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096702232330057826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8SOQEgE8wSX6PjLYv9Ggm9V_C-M4_J1QN3_RdiHVAQx6djct7JNLh3TCKBvYtRhZW5cAfQRhE3wfW8f8n3WtPeHEnf_EQ4cYuqp768HjJNEVTKEt05lhrTE7b9UA83_Qb-a7VSuBJRMx/s200/Egypt+030.JPG" border="0" /></a>y guns around as it isn't something we see in the UK. Underneath the coach was also checked with a mirror, this was done on nearly every vehicle. We got to Taba around 6:00pm and checked into our rooms. We have 2 days of doing what we want to do and then we return to England. We didn't have much for lunch so we are looking forward to having an evening meal. Rich isn't feeling well and probably won't be eating. </div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-35283156459365234242007-08-01T05:56:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:20.527-08:00Jacqui's birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAXHMeZ3gD_szFq1GhdX-tHt8TrYeHR4WqA7b16nDslrXd0EJBbcydJ409qOl6Z4_uClOSfkShAvhtlkHuqIgwwIsx6HcQ6f7Ig6pexYv6ru5c3tkIZS78CUcLQ-yGZSZ7TnIiR0M0CQs/s1600-h/Egypt+767.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096314379603359698" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAXHMeZ3gD_szFq1GhdX-tHt8TrYeHR4WqA7b16nDslrXd0EJBbcydJ409qOl6Z4_uClOSfkShAvhtlkHuqIgwwIsx6HcQ6f7Ig6pexYv6ru5c3tkIZS78CUcLQ-yGZSZ7TnIiR0M0CQs/s200/Egypt+767.JPG" border="0" /></a> It is Jacqui's birthday today and we are going to the Cairo museum of antiquities. This museum has King Tutankhamen's treasures. It also has a throne which depicts his wife, Ankhesenpaaten, annointing him with perfumes. This throne was replicated on the Sonesta st George cruise liner and I was encouraged to sit in it by one of the waiters. Who am I to argue!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZRwYzWMGohbpcibcd_iz1jTMFIWBhZXhmCQ8Bl36mqcXJrnrrGmDNCOg8ENrJBtiaIJb4t-Cq3g0Bo3uDmq-5i-5uMsCsBQjwyb4KE90jqFtNW3QJ_E-YPfRqEgY2MzKmMB-4EztAlEL/s1600-h/Egypt+396.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096315354560935906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZRwYzWMGohbpcibcd_iz1jTMFIWBhZXhmCQ8Bl36mqcXJrnrrGmDNCOg8ENrJBtiaIJb4t-Cq3g0Bo3uDmq-5i-5uMsCsBQjwyb4KE90jqFtNW3QJ_E-YPfRqEgY2MzKmMB-4EztAlEL/s200/Egypt+396.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have added a link below that will direct you to the museums website.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.egyptianmuseum.gov.eg/">http://www.egyptianmuseum.gov.eg/</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Mohammed Ali Mosque</strong><br />We went to the citadel which was surronded by walls and housed the alibaster mosque of Mohammed Ali. It is very beautifullydecorated inside. Alink is below if you would like more information about the Mosque. <a href="http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/muhammadalimosque.htm">http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/muhammadalimosque.htm</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4kNqMPVaZi0_CWr_jN55XKUxXUjG8eCe55Tm10pt5XUPsG4RUn_ouxlvKFvTUvELjQnunsLtzROuodyk-vjQ151pypvS1YU16f0Vml6WY1K_A_YdisuoKwvTqqfjPO9bqJwXcz6IRExp/s1600-h/Egypt+401.JPG"></a><br /><br />We then went to look at old Cairo which housed a beautiful little Synagog called Ben Ezra we only went into the door as a service was being performed. The smell of incense<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096322909408409602" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyzIynwQHi6RNFDQh56D1EzQBYrfsaVD25Jc4c_Ffmp2ap_ZSVq-z7tSYtyOhz8nbZqW7bisbR3wfYTHFUZ6oxpb8-b8-9PBLGb8S7A-QtF8pFKq3LcCOWkplowhxcBPnLKUUpUb2HIbA/s200/Egypt+389.JPG" border="0" />was strong. We stayed long enough to see the children go into the service.<br /><br /><strong>St Sergius Christian church</strong><br />The best one I saw was the Church of St Sergious. This little church is said to have housed the holy family. It is so beautiful. It has an atmosphbere of peace and was a place I would liked to have stayed for longer as there was so much to see. Like most of the synagogs and churches, we couldn't take pictures inside.<br /><br />We then went to th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfAeBaQ_vpAM50MYObBZuEYo3rvR_W3fqZ_3awqHi6FAAdMYuAaAVcKW_FvgRY3F0uT37kOQ49d7WFhuJHdqI6iy5BPnkz1HfOUQPoi2nyaO3Wn-MRdjBntxDu0b-WZWyyVr1cMh8HUk4/s1600-h/Egypt+419.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096698886550534194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfAeBaQ_vpAM50MYObBZuEYo3rvR_W3fqZ_3awqHi6FAAdMYuAaAVcKW_FvgRY3F0uT37kOQ49d7WFhuJHdqI6iy5BPnkz1HfOUQPoi2nyaO3Wn-MRdjBntxDu0b-WZWyyVr1cMh8HUk4/s200/Egypt+419.JPG" border="0" /></a>e market place where Heba was proud of myhaggling skills and I must admit, I suprised myself. Cairo is not a place I would visit again as it is polluted and too busy. I never thought I would see any thing worse than London for driving but this place beats it. No one cares at all! They just go for it and have their hands on their horns the whole time.<br />We said goodbye to Heba as she had finished her tours with us and we headed back to our hotel to get ready for travelling back to the Marriot Red sea resort tomorrow.Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-12070426894104428612007-07-31T05:17:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:21.925-08:00Memphis, EgyptToday we met o<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnsegEn-VXsJVpezKqspmEV0xHUkw3RZzB5QfA11YTnBjXCbivpV94O7KlDut4-yFKDSJaAtsiWDsA4CcGZJeY_f48joBj35ZovvwU69wQjVe10GQUUemCfKzdUVYgkBQxv5ViFPdBCME/s1600-h/Egypt+412.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096305205553215362" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnsegEn-VXsJVpezKqspmEV0xHUkw3RZzB5QfA11YTnBjXCbivpV94O7KlDut4-yFKDSJaAtsiWDsA4CcGZJeY_f48joBj35ZovvwU69wQjVe10GQUUemCfKzdUVYgkBQxv5ViFPdBCME/s200/Egypt+412.JPG" border="0" /></a>ur new guide, she is called Heba (she is pictured with Siobhan and mys<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7GX-sH-cu6YWXLuGuERo8VzvBJUAvm_tshLZN17NbTO0LBjF4AV1qZ8gz_xDm99PtNRL-qt7FHaRetbwOrZDAJSfqfd86NAbBpukOTIYMZ-o4tT6poI1VIYZD9So9v_kaORQOvas4gQ9/s1600-h/Egypt+333.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096305544855631762" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7GX-sH-cu6YWXLuGuERo8VzvBJUAvm_tshLZN17NbTO0LBjF4AV1qZ8gz_xDm99PtNRL-qt7FHaRetbwOrZDAJSfqfd86NAbBpukOTIYMZ-o4tT6poI1VIYZD9So9v_kaORQOvas4gQ9/s200/Egypt+333.JPG" border="0" /></a>elf)<br />She showed us what is left of the City of Memphis. Memphis was Cairos first capital and it has many remarkable treasures. We saw the <strong>Colossus of Ramses II</strong> which is so enormous it was left where it was found and the building was erected around it. We also saw the <strong>Sphinx </strong><strong>of Queen Hatshepsut</strong> and many <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTz7B5xfuH7oVj-BKkfNy1UBrqQXyYP590neTKoI01SWnOsbfiN9w39KFGpw0dzRr0fNEru6_jAD6WJzqWrwgVXTSDYdBG19wsGtDORXxgjfMJ8dCDaroUfYU0_WeUwwKMNnAwglI-uMH/s1600-h/Egypt+343.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098469993624451378" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTz7B5xfuH7oVj-BKkfNy1UBrqQXyYP590neTKoI01SWnOsbfiN9w39KFGpw0dzRr0fNEru6_jAD6WJzqWrwgVXTSDYdBG19wsGtDORXxgjfMJ8dCDaroUfYU0_WeUwwKMNnAwglI-uMH/s200/Egypt+343.JPG" border="0" /></a>more amazing artifacts.<br />We were <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTz7B5xfuH7oVj-BKkfNy1UBrqQXyYP590neTKoI01SWnOsbfiN9w39KFGpw0dzRr0fNEru6_jAD6WJzqWrwgVXTSDYdBG19wsGtDORXxgjfMJ8dCDaroUfYU0_WeUwwKMNnAwglI-uMH/s1600-h/Egypt+343.JPG"><strong></strong></a>beckoned by the security guards and asked if they coul<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcZk26VBXrXGm6LXLTOb7uSSoU8A0zH1QqAoCx5ETXMLRchwToE_o6F3btTB_QAN7lLvnwT2yGpy-c2pWJsI-Iy7Y4Wt67BAL0t7W7rS-BHco8U9-crhKLjHFzrJspJlX6zz0agJ9xgnQ/s1600-h/Egypt+332.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096306124676216738" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcZk26VBXrXGm6LXLTOb7uSSoU8A0zH1QqAoCx5ETXMLRchwToE_o6F3btTB_QAN7lLvnwT2yGpy-c2pWJsI-Iy7Y4Wt67BAL0t7W7rS-BHco8U9-crhKLjHFzrJspJlX6zz0agJ9xgnQ/s200/Egypt+332.JPG" border="0" /></a>d take our pictures. Th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTz7B5xfuH7oVj-BKkfNy1UBrqQXyYP590neTKoI01SWnOsbfiN9w39KFGpw0dzRr0fNEru6_jAD6WJzqWrwgVXTSDYdBG19wsGtDORXxgjfMJ8dCDaroUfYU0_WeUwwKMNnAwglI-uMH/s1600-h/Egypt+343.JPG"><strong></strong></a><strong></strong>ey are very <strong></strong>corrupt and want money for doing it. I think we had about 4-5 around us and it was strange as they were more interested in us than any security problem that may arise. We took a couple of pics with them and ga<strong></strong>ve them a tip. <a href="http://touregypt.net/memphis.htm">http://toureg<strong></strong></a><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAgmVPGjEvv5eznDMTdsWrE6VVZDF8_ToxEzqyy8sPcl2XAVDDBqWfPvqIRcHD0iANXTTplDb_7hJUzq7mja-vnu9fkabYf1A1A8_PeswaUBmp_1sUww8o3-pqxrvliursKg1kgLU236d/s1600-h/Egypt+345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096306592827652018" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAgmVPGjEvv5eznDMTdsWrE6VVZDF8_ToxEzqyy8sPcl2XAVDDBqWfPvqIRcHD0iANXTTplDb_7hJUzq7mja-vnu9fkabYf1A1A8_PeswaUBmp_1sUww8o3-pqxrvliursKg1kgLU236d/s200/Egypt+345.JPG" border="0" /></a></strong>ypt.net/memphis.htm<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6msN-etjrG_hqL8SrRFvbEDexkcYT3FTOrbfSveOxi_dhp-YO3cf-tGbwuQb39Xae3lWuUlfgZbYuNFB1nxpQcZYfhKzKsYyTAObisGRSsSx7UZs_Q_sUgoDWsNEMSIyxaANeh8h4jFK/s1600-h/Pyramids.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096307829778233282" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6msN-etjrG_hqL8SrRFvbEDexkcYT3FTOrbfSveOxi_dhp-YO3cf-tGbwuQb39Xae3lWuUlfgZbYuNFB1nxpQcZYfhKzKsYyTAObisGRSsSx7UZs_Q_sUgoDWsNEMSIyxaANeh8h4jFK/s200/Pyramids.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a></strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6msN-etjrG_hqL8SrRFvbEDexkcYT3FTOrbfSveOxi_dhp-YO3cf-tGbwuQb39Xae3lWuUlfgZbYuNFB1nxpQcZYfhKzKsYyTAObisGRSsSx7UZs_Q_sUgoDWsNEMSIyxaANeh8h4jFK/s1600-h/Pyramids.jpg"><strong></strong></a></strong><br /><strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />King Zosars step pyramid<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6msN-etjrG_hqL8SrRFvbEDexkcYT3FTOrbfSveOxi_dhp-YO3cf-tGbwuQb39Xae3lWuUlfgZbYuNFB1nxpQcZYfhKzKsYyTAObisGRSsSx7UZs_Q_sUgoDWsNEMSIyxaANeh8h4jFK/s1600-h/Pyramids.jpg"><strong></strong></a><br /></strong>We then went to Saqqara where King Zosers step pyramid was built to "last until the end of time". This was the first of the pyramids we would see.<br /><br /><a href="http://interoz.com/egypt/stepyram.htm">http://interoz.com/egypt/stepyram.htm</a><br /><br />Heba then took us to a carpet school. This is a school for children to make carpets and also learning to read and write. They attend the scholls during their school holidays. They will take the craft in to adult hood and some young women will weave carpets at home to make money for their families. This is something the western world would never do but it is the Egyptian culture and the children seemed happy enough doing it. The carpets are beautiful. I bought a bag and a small carpet to hang on my wall. One of the little girls invited me to try to weave and showed me how to do it. I was useless without her help! It would take me around a month to do 1 line and she was whizzing along knowing exactly what colour to add to from the maze of wool in front of her. There are no machines, it is all done manually. Egyptian carpets are expensive but, after seeing how much work goes into it, it is worth every penny. This was so humbling and made me realise how lucky my family and I.<br /><a href="http://www.galenfrysinger.com/cairo_carpets.htm">http://www.galenfrysinger.com/cairo_carpets.htm</a><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong>Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx</strong><br /><br /><br />We then went on<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwQ5TIJ0HcWA5dMYWtO12ikCVvs7sdMvGsd_FLyaxJCgcUrnJFgShi0G6zMLt9CCWvVfljAJykjP15ca-LpXTNpKxuO45lMKZ32rPSYIUtwE0texqy1p9QXLnz2UgjlpuQb-GvxPXtcnN/s1600-h/Egypt+377.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096328144973543442" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwQ5TIJ0HcWA5dMYWtO12ikCVvs7sdMvGsd_FLyaxJCgcUrnJFgShi0G6zMLt9CCWvVfljAJykjP15ca-LpXTNpKxuO45lMKZ32rPSYIUtwE0texqy1p9QXLnz2UgjlpuQb-GvxPXtcnN/s200/Egypt+377.JPG" border="0" /></a>to the pyramids. It was hard to see them from Cairo inner city as the smog from the pollution is so thick. They should be on the sky line. We arrived at the base of to Pyramids and were in awe of them. 3 in a row and all so perfectly built. Siobhan, Richard, Seddon and I took the opportunity to enter one of them and we were taken back by how perfect the geometrics were. I found it a bit of a struggle to walk down ythen up a narrow ramp to the inner room but I did it and was glad I did. It was beautiful and we had on<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6Wk-tSvRzM-49wNdVzFacwbqTqcS14a4KnpgaI9CDF7IprkCXMM9RDcr5dbBuc7dR-n7LN_blefNZcGCMNY7q_04fqfsmjeVd-mQP6Xh7Lg2xUf0PDf6OdclJLFzvl5DDRlu8B7zlxMN/s1600-h/sphinx.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096329721226541090" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6Wk-tSvRzM-49wNdVzFacwbqTqcS14a4KnpgaI9CDF7IprkCXMM9RDcr5dbBuc7dR-n7LN_blefNZcGCMNY7q_04fqfsmjeVd-mQP6Xh7Lg2xUf0PDf6OdclJLFzvl5DDRlu8B7zlxMN/s200/sphinx.jpg" border="0" /></a>ly seen a small part of it. No cameras were allowed so I do not have any photos of the inside but I do have one of me on a camel with the pyramids in the background.<br /><br />We then made our way to the Sphinx and was suprised to see that it was not as big as I expected it to be. We were harrassed by some sellers but most of them were very nice. The little girls I met gave me gifts of book marks which was very sweet as we had bought a little camel for Kieran. Just a quick note to put something to bed, THERE IS NO MACDONALDS BESIDE THE PYRAMIDS!!! It maybe close but it is not beside it, I did not see a McDonalds anywhere.Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-83853549305075186602007-07-30T10:31:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:23.813-08:00Valley of the Kings and Queens<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYT9AkoyfiRJLKcdqYmdnwexH_Zw-1xD9eE-829QQree6dVKxwiaSjRSI1WturPFpBY3-HlaR9MJottCAHTZ5E7ilonDizacc40qr_pwerKdJpCC7geP3v8k6ysNUwGSOD9uSfA2vOwVR/s1600-h/Egypt+631.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096017425564513922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYT9AkoyfiRJLKcdqYmdnwexH_Zw-1xD9eE-829QQree6dVKxwiaSjRSI1WturPFpBY3-HlaR9MJottCAHTZ5E7ilonDizacc40qr_pwerKdJpCC7geP3v8k6ysNUwGSOD9uSfA2vOwVR/s200/Egypt+631.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is the ultimate part of an Egyptian tour. The valley of the Kings and Queens. It is the valley that is filled with tombs of Pharoes and Kings of the past. It is something to behold. We went into 3 tombs, Ramses ix, Ramses iv and Merenpta<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINtQt1EelRZzHCZadaWdZsQrQl4s02ZW6xlVM-N28pym1JmQDDxkT88UC3rfLrWmW-UIGz97y1vDT2V7afbnHWeZz9bNi3f91mXw1A6c6tjLIjSma8111zwxNa8yCnw0CK6D3DC4yjnoc/s1600-h/Egypt+627.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096016141369292402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINtQt1EelRZzHCZadaWdZsQrQl4s02ZW6xlVM-N28pym1JmQDDxkT88UC3rfLrWmW-UIGz97y1vDT2V7afbnHWeZz9bNi3f91mXw1A6c6tjLIjSma8111zwxNa8yCnw0CK6D3DC4yjnoc/s200/Egypt+627.JPG" border="0" /></a>h. We were not allowed to take any pictures inside the tombs but if the price was right, the people there would probably let you do what you want to do. I had one old guy take my hand and press it to the wall of King Ramsis tomb for luck and told me not to tell anyone. For an extra price we visited one chamber of King Tutankhamen. It was a beautifully painted room.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://www.jimloy.com/egypt/kv.htm">http://www.jimloy.com/egypt/kv.htm</a><br /><br />We also visited 3 Queens tombs and saw the house that Howard Carter lived in when he discovered King Tutankhamen's tomb. </div><div>Unfortunatley my picture is not a good one as I had to take it while we were driving past it.<br />There is a link below with a short peice about Howard Carter.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZAaEk6ixIfJyJYHxAgI1aLUV9LAzEWP88VpRY0uOkZ65BUJTxz7zWjEc3t-oqPBqPdc8E4gm9t-bwrs4b3Ywag7jHe0g4ym_wF_FmuzRJuVrOODkDlRGSIDWwsQHqZsCihVRk_1SWQw9/s1600-h/Egypt+632.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096023404158990018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZAaEk6ixIfJyJYHxAgI1aLUV9LAzEWP88VpRY0uOkZ65BUJTxz7zWjEc3t-oqPBqPdc8E4gm9t-bwrs4b3Ywag7jHe0g4ym_wF_FmuzRJuVrOODkDlRGSIDWwsQHqZsCihVRk_1SWQw9/s200/Egypt+632.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://griffith.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/gri/4hcart.html">http://griffith.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/gri/4hcart.html</a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDLYAfTeSV760sX3I9ZdzqkPJCZyAvyktV0Ty3Tx8cxquAMTV4dmcLF5RE63Dv-R5xA91QG72ZOuklVJYPVK1Z9jSGgtmFxjLGcV8eQwKdbTVTCTP0Cv6vSD2z8KTHuAK3Q1yLG7IXb12/s1600-h/Egypt+633.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096020049789531810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDLYAfTeSV760sX3I9ZdzqkPJCZyAvyktV0Ty3Tx8cxquAMTV4dmcLF5RE63Dv-R5xA91QG72ZOuklVJYPVK1Z9jSGgtmFxjLGcV8eQwKdbTVTCTP0Cv6vSD2z8KTHuAK3Q1yLG7IXb12/s200/Egypt+633.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div>After seeing the valleys hidden treasures, </div><div>Yasser took us to an Alibaster factory.</div><div>This is a factory that produces pots and statues from this almost indistructable rock. The men working there do all the work manually. They very kindly showed how a peice of Alibaster was transformed into something very beautiful. </div><br /><div><strong>Colossi of Memnon </strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3DH44fSFddxRnFgb4ADktH8kLXy9PiKD2_fKpfo5vgsQCANqpokSIDUHlAOF6H1Vw1raCX9VdxxriuLF_0y1lM-jmCXVnAbfm0aBAt2nvP6J63eco7jnVJlucfbtjEor3pwY8MZFkq04/s1600-h/Egypt+654.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096022777093764786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3DH44fSFddxRnFgb4ADktH8kLXy9PiKD2_fKpfo5vgsQCANqpokSIDUHlAOF6H1Vw1raCX9VdxxriuLF_0y1lM-jmCXVnAbfm0aBAt2nvP6J63eco7jnVJlucfbtjEor3pwY8MZFkq04/s200/Egypt+654.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Our next stop was the Colossi of Memnon. These huge statues once stood either side of the entrance to Amenhotep III's mortuary temple. They are something to behold. It is a shame they have not withstood the weather and test of time but are still spectacular to see. The size is very clear when you look at the people below.</div><div><a href="http://www.akhet.co.uk/memnon.htm">http://www.akhet.co.uk/memnon.htm</a></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>The temple of Qu<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCD02rDjJOPx1G73Nhme_Zwtbox3IuC3DrFL_kTtx4ZQezampNgB2OKDo_ZL8jLAELJYAIrBKpO7RQHrx5Q98Gzvci__tlYFMbta2gVKfbJqROJKyI8UiLHzNLRwXBwnOZd_cv_yFb4xz/s1600-h/Egypt+648.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096028656903993058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCD02rDjJOPx1G73Nhme_Zwtbox3IuC3DrFL_kTtx4ZQezampNgB2OKDo_ZL8jLAELJYAIrBKpO7RQHrx5Q98Gzvci__tlYFMbta2gVKfbJqROJKyI8UiLHzNLRwXBwnOZd_cv_yFb4xz/s200/Egypt+648.JPG" border="0" /></a>een Hatshepsut<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdFKKdgKPjr-BliKvzdSdkNiCnyS-xj4tmgmzwhvz13TmBK4lfhpEqzy8Xt1Z68wYVCcPUzFhfTKcGl4S66dHYHmrAt3_EOLkHQZwHBI0DVDEirH5ebMQ3bi6xr1Pzb6X1LbllMJxuC9T/s1600-h/Egypt+643.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096036022772905794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdFKKdgKPjr-BliKvzdSdkNiCnyS-xj4tmgmzwhvz13TmBK4lfhpEqzy8Xt1Z68wYVCcPUzFhfTKcGl4S66dHYHmrAt3_EOLkHQZwHBI0DVDEirH5ebMQ3bi6xr1Pzb6X1LbllMJxuC9T/s200/Egypt+643.JPG" border="0" /></a></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Queen Hatshepsut or Queen Hot Chicken Soup as Yasser called her was unique. She made herself King and is depicted with a beard. She sounds like a remarkable lady and was probably ahead of her time as she was living in a time when men ruled. She took charge of her own destiny. Siobhan is pictured with one of the many guides around the temple. Siobhan gave a tip to him for this picture which is customary everywhere in Egypt. Click on the link below to find out more about her.<br /><a href="http://www.bediz.com/hatshep/story.html">http://www.bediz.com/hatshep/story.html</a> </div><br /><div>It was a very sad day as we had to say goodbye to Yasser f<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA5FzUy6HHhuL7GtJvlyB8gEke9eTBcxBoLlnHFxpS6XqtrvoETay1uCtQfhJ9z86AXhEcp66CWCDb6dyvxcPKURYAKgs6H8-kSeZC-6UYL3nCif8XX2jf8pDhd3FLX1Zv92AfyFVUO8l/s1600-h/Egypt+661.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096035022045525810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA5FzUy6HHhuL7GtJvlyB8gEke9eTBcxBoLlnHFxpS6XqtrvoETay1uCtQfhJ9z86AXhEcp66CWCDb6dyvxcPKURYAKgs6H8-kSeZC-6UYL3nCif8XX2jf8pDhd3FLX1Zv92AfyFVUO8l/s200/Egypt+661.JPG" border="0" /></a>or putting up with our westernised ways and for me at least attempting to speak the language but I did it so badly to the amusment of the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7I0-Tbt6NlGBxy7Sl7L8klfU4roeaVZiO7t-0u4AL3aoyoZNkkSVWaotKNY8_rRQVueDiYr4hHOlRdTtTtLZFPlm-yh15f8pr01Fm2jPWxX8RQscKxFiMDSSQ3XqGMrFRTr5jYvjC3hw/s1600-h/Egypt+661.JPG"></a> Egyptian people. We will miss Yasser the most for his broken English, He had a unique way with the language and was often talking about the Egyptian god Hathor who had a "sun disk between 2 hornies". His English was far better than my Egyptian.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Also to all the staff on board the liner who had treated us so well and took care of us. We have 3 of us who are vegetarians and they obliged us with the most wonderful veggie meals we have had for a long tim<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9310egMGC7ucmUPBLJaBhln1ozB0AxN1F_wWJpdRlBsrGgKgFlkxYBlr3E3SzEMVyh6d2OWiwfrHCgk1nOSeiB_5oYaB_Px6xBpenQhhGDpZwKTdod6nKHd9xaS16vo5yxpkxM36qPrC/s1600-h/Egypt+659.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096301005075199858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9310egMGC7ucmUPBLJaBhln1ozB0AxN1F_wWJpdRlBsrGgKgFlkxYBlr3E3SzEMVyh6d2OWiwfrHCgk1nOSeiB_5oYaB_Px6xBpenQhhGDpZwKTdod6nKHd9xaS16vo5yxpkxM36qPrC/s200/Egypt+659.JPG" border="0" /></a>e. Thank you<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejttdD1J-CmtocwMtNGiZAwDEe3L-CYR8Z4AFw_jgCkBcb3C4H7l8bMeuAcKBuifr_BPNp_UsCrGdgCP-ywR2fpjegPoFurSbyRzl9OdvUiRo-fcURjB_7aUjWPqd90F-GT_biAMx4nbG/s1600-h/Egypt+761.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096300536923764578" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejttdD1J-CmtocwMtNGiZAwDEe3L-CYR8Z4AFw_jgCkBcb3C4H7l8bMeuAcKBuifr_BPNp_UsCrGdgCP-ywR2fpjegPoFurSbyRzl9OdvUiRo-fcURjB_7aUjWPqd90F-GT_biAMx4nbG/s200/Egypt+761.JPG" border="0" /></a> Yasser and the crew on the Sonesta St George all of you have been wonderful.<br />We left the Sonesta St George cruise ship and headed for Luxor airport where we would fly to Cairo to stay in a third hotel, The Cairo Marriot. Tomorrow we would meet our second Egyptologist and many more <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hiIISgXrJp25DdZV-pLYYAKywxW-1zq0nOyx3jrcqs1YB5gYUxCqXhxcfPu1H1TtQgi4AvFv2_VmCH-fMU9-TK6mXSnmRjncAl0p47JJuiphYPPPTFpvOPtfbuJmKUW_VqgW5JY79ZlE/s1600-h/Egypt+660.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096729359343499538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hiIISgXrJp25DdZV-pLYYAKywxW-1zq0nOyx3jrcqs1YB5gYUxCqXhxcfPu1H1TtQgi4AvFv2_VmCH-fMU9-TK6mXSnmRjncAl0p47JJuiphYPPPTFpvOPtfbuJmKUW_VqgW5JY79ZlE/s200/Egypt+660.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>drivers and escorts from Peltours. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.peltours.com/">http://www.peltours.com/</a><a href="http://www.peltours.com/">w.peltou</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHSO5Ln05n1BXyKzNBnSdhl_3ZOlX2Vi2kQJHUfNmd8ihoQvLfNxODJ36ERxLvjT22J1p3Wi3D7-Ufz7Bkthhl7MGNckuY26G38fgeXCodkOdRanSYcvgwXurqLi2zM4OM0TUvUJNp8hv/s1600-h/Egypt+662.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098482749677320530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHSO5Ln05n1BXyKzNBnSdhl_3ZOlX2Vi2kQJHUfNmd8ihoQvLfNxODJ36ERxLvjT22J1p3Wi3D7-Ufz7Bkthhl7MGNckuY26G38fgeXCodkOdRanSYcvgwXurqLi2zM4OM0TUvUJNp8hv/s200/Egypt+662.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.peltours.com/">rs.com/</a> (Hany with Me)</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQWMA7bsv6VsYywuJq8XjkGgrEkuSuvVucCE64FngSxWNfH6Jgj_YXzIDPXhFDH7bQP6x2zgRiOgvRqRr_a3RdRPE3uU8vNRvzSlCvCi1BIrn8X9T4lMHQP1SwHBqcpXM76u1e7HIMDCf/s1600-h/Egypt+696.JPG"></a></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuZwPi_YdNKktP2wLs3W9Ibz1Zi00R_dnhS2krff29FchKhfTbf5ZQ0KdmgV92cCyLqFVPMOtqUQCC_9WRnOyP7PRnvKodeQO2RF2M-sxzJxTr74d6diB0gW7SilwtI3kSSCmntEMMIBH/s1600-h/Egypt+696.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098488629487548786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuZwPi_YdNKktP2wLs3W9Ibz1Zi00R_dnhS2krff29FchKhfTbf5ZQ0KdmgV92cCyLqFVPMOtqUQCC_9WRnOyP7PRnvKodeQO2RF2M-sxzJxTr74d6diB0gW7SilwtI3kSSCmntEMMIBH/s200/Egypt+696.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div>(Mohammed with Me)<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div>(Mena and Me)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RWMx3aQZYf4Avib1cqZZJuaMfcX9zuqcal5jhEQay8HhxY6PhaAK5hpN1DhpbSclZ4AFqULVqHidbHizH1n83i_mP-Au6XNzPU8jEjyJjEsE3ee73m7h0nmbRdBWWysn4wUkicn0Z_CX/s1600-h/Egypt+2+045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098489278027610498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RWMx3aQZYf4Avib1cqZZJuaMfcX9zuqcal5jhEQay8HhxY6PhaAK5hpN1DhpbSclZ4AFqULVqHidbHizH1n83i_mP-Au6XNzPU8jEjyJjEsE3ee73m7h0nmbRdBWWysn4wUkicn0Z_CX/s200/Egypt+2+045.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH24uIrX72oZ0ff6juIUpsz9AbSlXXIqQYOZRDc0_ygWOVdOAa6JgvX2NOjFEFDFMBG5yWWiPVUHGeC6UJqD8G7G38LN9jOaZ0wKxZ958gMFddyVVp_F2okZPiBiPMSYPYqSZYGNSlaVC_/s1600-h/Egypt+663.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098483136224377186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH24uIrX72oZ0ff6juIUpsz9AbSlXXIqQYOZRDc0_ygWOVdOAa6JgvX2NOjFEFDFMBG5yWWiPVUHGeC6UJqD8G7G38LN9jOaZ0wKxZ958gMFddyVVp_F2okZPiBiPMSYPYqSZYGNSlaVC_/s200/Egypt+663.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br />(Hany with Siobhan and Seddon)<br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p>(Hany with Siobhan and Seddon)</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-70550598709786226242007-07-29T09:46:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:24.033-08:00Luxor....this is my favourite templeWe sailed into Luxor and had lunch on board. We left the cruise liner after lunch and visited the East bank which contained Karnak and Luxor temples. <div><br /><div><strong>Karnak Temple</strong></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELK0L_l6ltPDzQ2fkLrlKNmRXuGMm1YXsRZvg_N3lJVSUIfbxRhpvIlLyXQhQ4EDcMWoeVhtki4IEHzgAlhmTRggtG1opf7EZ5pf53wk9bZ-x07YMPOROAGctuQv8Bw1sEuTNKZtuFqmq/s1600-h/Egypt+719.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096006280124380754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELK0L_l6ltPDzQ2fkLrlKNmRXuGMm1YXsRZvg_N3lJVSUIfbxRhpvIlLyXQhQ4EDcMWoeVhtki4IEHzgAlhmTRggtG1opf7EZ5pf53wk9bZ-x07YMPOROAGctuQv8Bw1sEuTNKZtuFqmq/s200/Egypt+719.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This temple is famous for featuring in a James Bond movie "The spy who loved me".</div><div></div><div>This is an amazing temple filled with a lot of history. We also went to the sound and light show but we were not impressed as it was too long and featured voices with lights. With the said, the lighting was good and it was great to see the temple in an atmospheric tone.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT-9jo7Ze-ZzwDbyK7cQcGNjqnsnRBFm04w5ZBBkcwdDS9tYYFdH8UIIupONK4KTZIjTGNIonmLcMEIuWErxzL5dhFblmO2dclY9Ze6Puom6N1SBmhmbJefzl_ShXbr3A6tM9DPa_rO5W/s1600-h/Egypt+740.JPG"></a></div><div><strong>Luxor temple</strong></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT-9jo7Ze-ZzwDbyK7cQcGNjqnsnRBFm04w5ZBBkcwdDS9tYYFdH8UIIupONK4KTZIjTGNIonmLcMEIuWErxzL5dhFblmO2dclY9Ze6Puom6N1SBmhmbJefzl_ShXbr3A6tM9DPa_rO5W/s1600-h/Egypt+740.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096010897214223970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT-9jo7Ze-ZzwDbyK7cQcGNjqnsnRBFm04w5ZBBkcwdDS9tYYFdH8UIIupONK4KTZIjTGNIonmLcMEIuWErxzL5dhFblmO2dclY9Ze6Puom6N1SBmhmbJefzl_ShXbr3A6tM9DPa_rO5W/s200/Egypt+740.JPG" border="0" /></a>I had been looking forward to seeing Luxor temple as I knew this was the roots of Tutankhamen and his wife, Ankhesenpaaten. It is one of the best temples to see as it has a lot of the monuments undamaged by time. It is stunningly beautiful.</div><div></div><div>The picture to the left are the statues of the young King, Tutankhamen and his Queen Ankhesenpaaten. It is very good condition considering the age of the temple.</div><div></div><div>We returned once again to the cruiser and this would be our last night aboard. Tomorrow we would be travelling to Ciaro and saying goodbye to Yasser.</div></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-38729651962209919512007-07-28T08:20:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:24.636-08:00Kitcheners Island and more!We had a good sleep on board the cruise liner and had an alarm call from Yasser<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aFkOk9VY0XnhumJNCUnwB0xJkO5GwwPIGQAJxIxOOmbzg-Hndl-g8yt5ofHlyPpWcW_8J3FiNv_0mYsS1sy4393093UEhFW5jSQjDrlAmmyawH-t_CZwoaweUVo0B2wipsuyF2d1TIw8/s1600-h/Egypt+567.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095980497435702786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aFkOk9VY0XnhumJNCUnwB0xJkO5GwwPIGQAJxIxOOmbzg-Hndl-g8yt5ofHlyPpWcW_8J3FiNv_0mYsS1sy4393093UEhFW5jSQjDrlAmmyawH-t_CZwoaweUVo0B2wipsuyF2d1TIw8/s200/Egypt+567.JPG" border="0" /></a> as we were starting another day of site seeing. We sailed to Kitchener's island on a Felucca whaich is an Egytian ferry. The 2 men on the Felucca rowed us to the island. It looked like hard work as most people were going over by the motorised version. We had an idilic, relaxing ride.<br /><div><div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMPUC137aFo5ibNn6v4-4X_cr8mGBoN0i-KDmJo0kwz29tuP2NtpHFE8-JaQfAam4WL1XVmff7MX4WpM4bklgkUVPinZ5q0_CX0gudhxl-7rKWRaLrVc1jkpgRXBxsmYoNa6dzlk4BAnf/s1600-h/Egypt+2+084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095981811695695378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMPUC137aFo5ibNn6v4-4X_cr8mGBoN0i-KDmJo0kwz29tuP2NtpHFE8-JaQfAam4WL1XVmff7MX4WpM4bklgkUVPinZ5q0_CX0gudhxl-7rKWRaLrVc1jkpgRXBxsmYoNa6dzlk4BAnf/s200/Egypt+2+084.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong>Kitcheners island</strong><br /><br />This island was given to Lord Kitchener in recognition of his work in the Sudan. It is a beaut<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrRIqdE0sLWfa-nAURZUZqJCtB0BH3-zUXWTmlNbmunW-et-le4Dr7YAamM3ARyYcIss3yu3iSlIjK4g-Ht_KQ7gp0egEJvNXv8p2Jxn3fWnvoKsMjjayO6UT-SurlTCIR_lyxbCdIqGH/s1600-h/Egypt+2+081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095982224012555810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrRIqdE0sLWfa-nAURZUZqJCtB0BH3-zUXWTmlNbmunW-et-le4Dr7YAamM3ARyYcIss3yu3iSlIjK4g-Ht_KQ7gp0egEJvNXv8p2Jxn3fWnvoKsMjjayO6UT-SurlTCIR_lyxbCdIqGH/s200/Egypt+2+081.JPG" border="0" /></a>iful place and has many Egyptian cats and a lot of very beautiful herbs and flowers. There is a link below with more informtion about Kitcheners island.</div><div><br /><a href="http://touregyp/">http://touregyp/</a><a href="http://touregypt.net/kitchner.htm">t.net/kitchner.htm</a></div><div><br />We headed back to the hotel, this time in a motorised Felucca and had lunch on board the Sonesta St George 1.</div><div><br /><strong>Temple of Sobek and Haeroris Kom Ombo</strong></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJWH2eHqT0kYLF9vE2HKhsUxwTQPiEZA7CGlmD_cMkz4azYldE7IZiveD1XuewYjeQznl67BOuPzbbYb1nj7REPBoVSaSQLC0RWwUdEQa_heh99UIOvhAYeDhkkwYnJNgTbt1VJ8CcuAJ/s1600-h/Egypt+594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095991690120476226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJWH2eHqT0kYLF9vE2HKhsUxwTQPiEZA7CGlmD_cMkz4azYldE7IZiveD1XuewYjeQznl67BOuPzbbYb1nj7REPBoVSaSQLC0RWwUdEQa_heh99UIOvhAYeDhkkwYnJNgTbt1VJ8CcuAJ/s200/Egypt+594.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>After lunch we travelled by mini bus to Kom Ombo to visit our first temple. This one was shared by 2 gods. Yasser explained everything very well and was very informative. The temple has remnants of mummified crocodiles as they were once very popular there. The 2 gods that share it are Sobek, the crocodile god<br /></div><div><a href="http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/sobek.htm">http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/sobek.htm</a></div><div><br />and Haeroris which is a form of Horus the god of the sky.</div><div></div><div><a href="http://gei.aerobaticsweb.org/egypt_horus.html">http://gei.aerobaticsweb.org/egypt_horus.html</a></div><div></div><div>The symbols carved in the monuments are wonderful. It is so clear and beautiful.</div><div></div><div>We returned to the cruise liner for dinner and sailed into Esna ready for another full day of history.</div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div></div></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-70640177055409746602007-07-27T06:32:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:25.115-08:00On the Nile<strong>Sonesta St George 1</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1lo77o6j0BYSiEFhJE7cnBhx_SJ83SjX22pWJ9tQO4Qk9Sjvnt2r_r_5yXpFkwQCYmaL0WOPS5PITxX7LDZtq9BYTBkpOyOdxy-IDuYiUI7aPX75o8EgG0VeuMRtoI9THHgpR96NOl8C/s1600-h/Egypt+2+070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095958202260469186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1lo77o6j0BYSiEFhJE7cnBhx_SJ83SjX22pWJ9tQO4Qk9Sjvnt2r_r_5yXpFkwQCYmaL0WOPS5PITxX7LDZtq9BYTBkpOyOdxy-IDuYiUI7aPX75o8EgG0VeuMRtoI9THHgpR96NOl8C/s200/Egypt+2+070.JPG" border="0" /></a> We left the hotel and were transferred by air to Aswan for the cruise along the Nile. This cruiser, the Sonesta St George 1, is beautiful. The people are wonderful and accommodated us fully. This is the best of the best and it was fantastic.<br />Check it out for yourself.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sonesta.com/Nilecruises/index.cfm?">http://www.sonesta.com/Nilecruises/index.cfm?</a><a href="http://www.sonesta.com/Nilecruises/index.cfm?fa=StGeorge.home">fa=StGeorge.home</a><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>High Dam</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbKUSbtEGL-H0io4p4lK922tHJ2QR1jWVwzKpGU0ANWYCEN7y6qgHnHSOzq4yAzRlrSwmBhskAhwYQxu2veLi6jE4qjr2JiWrRNdSKLJmCVhOr_0cV7yV5iVmODNHU4IsdLLvc_kZUfxz/s1600-h/Egypt+506.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095954328199968178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbKUSbtEGL-H0io4p4lK922tHJ2QR1jWVwzKpGU0ANWYCEN7y6qgHnHSOzq4yAzRlrSwmBhskAhwYQxu2veLi6jE4qjr2JiWrRNdSKLJmCVhOr_0cV7yV5iVmODNHU4IsdLLvc_kZUfxz/s200/Egypt+506.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Our first visit was the high dam<br /><br /><a href="http://touregypt.net/highdam.htm">http://touregypt.net/highdam.htm</a><br /><br />It has a monument thanking the Russian people for helping the Egyptians build it as they could not get any help from other countries. It is like all of Egypt, built with hard labour, sweat and muscle. It produces a lot of the electricity that is needed in Egypt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN63BjIjOqTJLANbrcmJS5ypU4rPvq-07theAJInXVedlIO1JwWp_iHR3WI3x3spia0nFuPN8R0QMT9JB8q1YBFhekwEt7qyvBElnyd9fk_dRUNhwKSz71ZHUSPIRrwnOmaKRqfpWtQcgc/s1600-h/Egypt+2+120.JPG"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095961234507380178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN63BjIjOqTJLANbrcmJS5ypU4rPvq-07theAJInXVedlIO1JwWp_iHR3WI3x3spia0nFuPN8R0QMT9JB8q1YBFhekwEt7qyvBElnyd9fk_dRUNhwKSz71ZHUSPIRrwnOmaKRqfpWtQcgc/s200/Egypt+2+120.JPG" border="0" /></strong></a><strong>Philae Temple</strong><br /><br />We then visited the Philae temple. This templed was moved from its original setting due to the high dam. It was reasembled and is a stunning peice of Egyptian architecture.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.touregypt.net/Philae.htm">http://www.touregypt.net/Philae.htm</a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095964180854945250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVrhjBx8uBjWcQKxUSTeMjhd0hRmtmi-QtQHcH57Hc8ZbMhw7j7N50TigiBF8wV_NyVNJcESCuKSn7f7PZvvwt84bPPhxX9MtuYEl8UY3MTPGi9wqBuvHijpTl68av1U2YzetryYMqS5k/s200/Egypt+541.JPG" border="0" /><strong>Granite Quarries</strong><br />We also visited the granite quarries where the obelisk were made and Yasser explained the process of how they were carved and lifted upwards. This is one tremendous peice of workmanship and skill as the obelisks are huge, about 20-30 feet high with art work and hyroglyphics all over it. <a href="http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/minesandquarries1.htm">http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/minesandquarries1.htm</a><br /><br />I hope these links are helpful. If you have any more information you would like to see here,please let me know.<br /><br /><a href="mailto:Phu_phita@hotmail.com">Phu_phita@hotmail.com</a>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-34611439285072118312007-07-26T06:08:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:25.560-08:00And we're off<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TkOkdv-PUgaJE1jOxeD8PYdPCrIOX1XQ9S9ZW_pzwOs6qX4Ez8Og7F3n1sUKbjOKlFu2UVa5QXOBUohUfx_8n682VVaZZPkMEHbaL-MSsF6Mu7c-dC4ba_iwxfbppEcE5z2DTR4tR2gP/s1600-h/Egypt+511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095949333153002914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TkOkdv-PUgaJE1jOxeD8PYdPCrIOX1XQ9S9ZW_pzwOs6qX4Ez8Og7F3n1sUKbjOKlFu2UVa5QXOBUohUfx_8n682VVaZZPkMEHbaL-MSsF6Mu7c-dC4ba_iwxfbppEcE5z2DTR4tR2gP/s200/Egypt+511.JPG" border="0" /></a> We were so bleeried eyed this morning. Everyone managed to get up and made it to the coah to be transferred to the flight and then the next hotel. We were met by another Peltours rep who escorted us through the terminals of te airport and we were met in Luxor by a different one again with a people carrier all to ourselves. We were settled into our hotel and introduced to our Egyptologist who, again, we had all to ourselves. He was called Yasser and we nick named him Charlie as he called us his angels. He is pictured here with Rich.<br /><br /><strong>The final judgement papyrus painting</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStvmq5Kt6R8acOvuv8Zr-uTSMzsd3stIBnarbQwuud2MVX3Kk98nOkgLyvLs0EmbIgcTyH1bF8mAuNn6wDO5oaiWlCqr0cr9Wv9lUwvlWZss-KyuukYIKnDjcvkl_LYjgx-Eizh_ojmtw/s1600-h/final+judgement.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095977632692516338" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStvmq5Kt6R8acOvuv8Zr-uTSMzsd3stIBnarbQwuud2MVX3Kk98nOkgLyvLs0EmbIgcTyH1bF8mAuNn6wDO5oaiWlCqr0cr9Wv9lUwvlWZss-KyuukYIKnDjcvkl_LYjgx-Eizh_ojmtw/s200/final+judgement.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Yasser took us to a papyrus museum so we could see how it was made. I bought one for myself called the final judgement. There is a link below that explains the papyrus painting.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.egyptologyonline.com/book_of_the_dead.htm">http://www.egyptologyonline.com/book_of_the_dead.htm</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4hhMyWW0U0-7EJ9dnDWWAq4TF9fmePaEkjk3SiBBA1yeNeJubQZULWkhoclqDikDnrUL5AnA-7yKuLztbbMV0NV2ueqop0L8Dgt6ypuvclhepcWYRK7Ekv-KuVUUaGk9l7nYQCwBto_Z/s1600-h/Egypt+482.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095947980238304642" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4hhMyWW0U0-7EJ9dnDWWAq4TF9fmePaEkjk3SiBBA1yeNeJubQZULWkhoclqDikDnrUL5AnA-7yKuLztbbMV0NV2ueqop0L8Dgt6ypuvclhepcWYRK7Ekv-KuVUUaGk9l7nYQCwBto_Z/s200/Egypt+482.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Sonesta St George Hotel</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />We stayed in another 5 star hotel called the Sonesta St<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8c-stLIVd10KIR0tmv3tpfIs7s4TmHfylqSRpUHoeZ7M1QuaJ1Vd8gBV9Cedyy9izzs2y407-cTEZZyhhV1mAslLpc6_Apfk3nNxLwgKTksRnDYQbMX826hVuR3VzwD-dz5DIAfnQtP3m/s1600-h/Egypt+326.JPG"></a> George<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sonesta.com/luxor/">http://www.sonesta.com/luxor/</a><br /><br />This hotel was beautifully decorated and had the most stunning chandelier in the foyer. The people were very polite and helpful and the rooms were lovely.Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-5091714904746304292007-07-25T05:54:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:25.838-08:00Last night in Taba<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu-OI7n2vNH0i0Yc-dyrTpio7uS4ttldWOZFqK6vl1tTgvjuBsrAez_AG55jybg5GHjfu5Vz1-A83sDT1VkgVh3yrm1txPsehRTyZAEoI3eGZnLdmNuWRo_m5JZrUeo5Qf7UEL8WqAR1D/s1600-h/Egypt+160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095942036003566946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu-OI7n2vNH0i0Yc-dyrTpio7uS4ttldWOZFqK6vl1tTgvjuBsrAez_AG55jybg5GHjfu5Vz1-A83sDT1VkgVh3yrm1txPsehRTyZAEoI3eGZnLdmNuWRo_m5JZrUeo5Qf7UEL8WqAR1D/s200/Egypt+160.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is our last night at the Marriot until 2nd August when we come back for 2 days before we go home. Time for Jacqz to do a bit more sunbathing and for us all to chill out. So far so good. We are going to a hotel tomorrow and the following da<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG0ioz_9p9J5dEy-1UEesW7Y0SZJDkQf0Z6O8qAQ-yIHcs7Qg-fhAUe6WpJRTjSmw16GvUqnHduKc4JMUtG21ASUazTjC11mHJDPVUXCRZw0OT-uolUF9nkAs_JCcuGtns76N7sSmBhbU/s1600-h/Egypt+456.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095942804802712946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG0ioz_9p9J5dEy-1UEesW7Y0SZJDkQf0Z6O8qAQ-yIHcs7Qg-fhAUe6WpJRTjSmw16GvUqnHduKc4JMUtG21ASUazTjC11mHJDPVUXCRZw0OT-uolUF9nkAs_JCcuGtns76N7sSmBhbU/s200/Egypt+456.JPG" border="0" /></a>y onto a cruise liner to start our tour of the Nile and its surroundings. I am so looking forward to the valley of the kings and queens.<br /><br /><p>We have to be up early as we will be leaving on a 4:00am bus to get our flight at 8:15am from Sharm-El-Sheikh airport to Luxor....AARRGGHHH.....</p><br /><p>We had an early night as we would need to be up around 3:00pm to get ready and have all our bags packed.</p>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-59908068324809117202007-07-24T05:34:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:26.286-08:00My *$th Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAobPX4dp-faWpujSgplKOAiO-5n3OASba2r1w983ugahr5OhyS-l7jhT02JPEUnwKhPxApU7A1athg8DT1xqXlAEZIXU3WaJLw-5JKrvf5mJ5XX61ijXUa3pyOL2coTLdeBUyxgqKERG/s1600-h/Birthday+cake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095938380986398002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAobPX4dp-faWpujSgplKOAiO-5n3OASba2r1w983ugahr5OhyS-l7jhT02JPEUnwKhPxApU7A1athg8DT1xqXlAEZIXU3WaJLw-5JKrvf5mJ5XX61ijXUa3pyOL2coTLdeBUyxgqKERG/s200/Birthday+cake.jpg" border="0" /></a> It's that day again, with a difference....I AM IN EGYPT!!!!<br /><div></div><div>I can't beleive it! My sister gave me a lovely dress and bracelet that I will be wearing tonight and my children gave me a photo album. We chilled all day again. I could get used to this...the waiters do everything. The custom in Egypt is that the men do everything for the women and when this w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifA1LZxPheSTBiC6PS_FP1ayBVd7F8Vet5gdoqijqo4iY7nKwuRn8vjEgE2kCwosxBMbLmuwBhdMScr0kDe2KkZqgH3Lnh27aVa-gnLEvNGLNtRJkXSI5kR3D3wTbCyowfgBRANUQXAvqo/s1600-h/Egypt+122.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095939029526459714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifA1LZxPheSTBiC6PS_FP1ayBVd7F8Vet5gdoqijqo4iY7nKwuRn8vjEgE2kCwosxBMbLmuwBhdMScr0kDe2KkZqgH3Lnh27aVa-gnLEvNGLNtRJkXSI5kR3D3wTbCyowfgBRANUQXAvqo/s200/Egypt+122.JPG" border="0" /></a>as mentioned to my son he said " yeh, but I'm on holiday", no change there then : )</div><div></div><div></div><div>I had a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zxzg2onrAiiwyHAMhnmpzCYW3W9f7RusvHooseujv1jHPrT-OhrLAQP5P_cvg-G61_2hJSLp6d4uiRTKBINObl3aPDkF3zKdkHwrkY9SzncCQZ87hbvJGTz4CUziMHFrYXHF-H0yV2OB/s1600-h/Egypt+121.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095939428958418258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zxzg2onrAiiwyHAMhnmpzCYW3W9f7RusvHooseujv1jHPrT-OhrLAQP5P_cvg-G61_2hJSLp6d4uiRTKBINObl3aPDkF3zKdkHwrkY9SzncCQZ87hbvJGTz4CUziMHFrYXHF-H0yV2OB/s200/Egypt+121.JPG" border="0" /></a>birthday cake (above) from the hotel management which was very kind and we took it with us to the restaraunt. </div><div></div><div>The guys (Fun 2 c) played in the Regatta club tonight Jon anbd the girls weregreat as usual. They played some requests for us including purple haze by Jimi Hendrix, Lithium by Nirvana and Bryan Adams Summer of 69 and baby when your gone which I dueted with Jon on. I had a great day and am glad to be here but I do miss Kieran.</div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-18674524546301637272007-07-23T05:18:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:26.717-08:00Flooding in the uk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qK5OCc_UIL1Nb1UFi6_sC-Aqf_7GsDr6vjjmCc-wThwLBVJP2q0PhNja4afgUoOW9EbdWLK_c0H0w6hqZBVIYMoHlCeuS46LAwrAdev08Hc-6vrjhZT0ui5BkCKJlzHcZ-3rNp1MaP3d/s1600-h/Egypt+144.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095934021594592514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qK5OCc_UIL1Nb1UFi6_sC-Aqf_7GsDr6vjjmCc-wThwLBVJP2q0PhNja4afgUoOW9EbdWLK_c0H0w6hqZBVIYMoHlCeuS46LAwrAdev08Hc-6vrjhZT0ui5BkCKJlzHcZ-3rNp1MaP3d/s200/Egypt+144.JPG" border="0" /></a> We have been watching the TV and seen that London is pretty badly flooded. It doesn't seem to be sinking in properly as we have heat of 140 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I don't feel like I am on the same planet.<br /><br />We had another chill out day and Jacqui and I tried out the local bar. There was a fantastic band in there called Fun2c. This band is made up of 2 beautiful girls, Rosalene and Mai and one of the best guitarists I have ever seen Jon. They are fro<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxQ45JI5bqvKeXDymqzilYkMeejrVuPP2bvfb2lgpQvRbqSpn_a7Zos1FcqlgKDhq4PKvD-bzxF5km0nTsNPsMo-bJcsf4da4vfWPs-YXjgKvq9Ga_Q-UO-Wm5Uzuu-T3H_tE_z4S4nSw/s1600-h/Egypt+124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095934438206420242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxQ45JI5bqvKeXDymqzilYkMeejrVuPP2bvfb2lgpQvRbqSpn_a7Zos1FcqlgKDhq4PKvD-bzxF5km0nTsNPsMo-bJcsf4da4vfWPs-YXjgKvq9Ga_Q-UO-Wm5Uzuu-T3H_tE_z4S4nSw/s200/Egypt+124.JPG" border="0" /></a>m the Philopines<br />and have real talent.<br />Mai is picured with my sister.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAJkSg5LGN0RKJpj6el6E3fzipt8nVo8VH3ZuuL05V4mP13JA_hn5B10N9_LeIZHlD25a0er1vR_vSFBrroKCKv2QXpWKFPQkjlfDdtGTzhDdIvxV70yB955MwLFV7mG3BUBJ6hx7Lf22/s1600-h/Egypt+123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095934949307528482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAJkSg5LGN0RKJpj6el6E3fzipt8nVo8VH3ZuuL05V4mP13JA_hn5B10N9_LeIZHlD25a0er1vR_vSFBrroKCKv2QXpWKFPQkjlfDdtGTzhDdIvxV70yB955MwLFV7mG3BUBJ6hx7Lf22/s200/Egypt+123.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My son Richard also enjoyed the attention! Rosalene is wearing his hat.<br /><br /><br />Left: Jon doing his stuff...sorry about the picture quality.Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-64220325561325803092007-07-22T05:36:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:27.114-08:00First full day in Egypt<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tavuCVblZ-8F1bNUyjMGzwxV2J7cY1hLhMBFfXn38wx4myILxfjmKI26VodCJIsHD29U5w28FwO_7ezwFeOW7TsgeAxziZYa7QS2CeHfk9JgmOBr2llRkP2SbIzGvPZVXl22YNrVqwZV/s1600-h/Egypt+117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095929198346319058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tavuCVblZ-8F1bNUyjMGzwxV2J7cY1hLhMBFfXn38wx4myILxfjmKI26VodCJIsHD29U5w28FwO_7ezwFeOW7TsgeAxziZYa7QS2CeHfk9JgmOBr2llRkP2SbIzGvPZVXl22YNrVqwZV/s200/Egypt+117.JPG" border="0" /></a> We don't have anything planned for the next fews days as the tours don't start until 26th July when we are transferred to Sharm El Sheikh airport to fly to Luxor.<br /><br />We are trying out the swimming pools and the eating areas. The food is certainly not 5* as it is luke warm and not that appetising. The Orange juice tastes like dilute juice and I have heard tht this is a p<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxE3qskiwB_ks54KZAz3aBShk74aAmi_b5DTJmY81p617Lkyf7Pz-_-PHf1HHWhwG3im3kNvlNne3NI4BrvVZaknl8FvXA9oVW-eObwcwQKdHT7UN7SQrjd5YvaKDe3xt8jID03ZWn5tL/s1600-h/Egypt+116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095930040159909090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxE3qskiwB_ks54KZAz3aBShk74aAmi_b5DTJmY81p617Lkyf7Pz-_-PHf1HHWhwG3im3kNvlNne3NI4BrvVZaknl8FvXA9oVW-eObwcwQKdHT7UN7SQrjd5YvaKDe3xt8jID03ZWn5tL/s200/Egypt+116.JPG" border="0" /></a>owder. Saying that though the people are very friendly and helpful.<br /><br /><br />The picture, above right, is my son Richard with Seddon my daughters boyfriend, in the pool. The heat was very intense and everyone was careful, Especially Seddon as he has such fair skin.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxE3qskiwB_ks54KZAz3aBShk74aAmi_b5DTJmY81p617Lkyf7Pz-_-PHf1HHWhwG3im3kNvlNne3NI4BrvVZaknl8FvXA9oVW-eObwcwQKdHT7UN7SQrjd5YvaKDe3xt8jID03ZWn5tL/s1600-h/Egypt+116.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br />As you can see, my sister enjoyed it also!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-y2c2CZlMwk7qJQN0qnqB8c8eipa1nbafy59z2L-ojLGDCnUQMKPkg2LVHiJeiytmmodJ-0kJKptTqxHK1nc6O88IBFNt2pjxz52zaFp7Xk7Q6FEGMnYP7YvwQ0iL4D8D3L4FQ1_lTAS/s1600-h/Egypt+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095930701584872690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-y2c2CZlMwk7qJQN0qnqB8c8eipa1nbafy59z2L-ojLGDCnUQMKPkg2LVHiJeiytmmodJ-0kJKptTqxHK1nc6O88IBFNt2pjxz52zaFp7Xk7Q6FEGMnYP7YvwQ0iL4D8D3L4FQ1_lTAS/s200/Egypt+009.JPG" border="0" /></a>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-28427263068975755782007-07-21T03:45:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:27.538-08:00Destination Egypt!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyMRo-ieOWSB78Dg8phCINuOXzgIs7ZzOQ1MKLUVK5Zt0ptqF1UEtza9HxOFaaaKBMNe_NdlQxw9z9mKgW0yrSOI1klMyLWsNVXrCXOZumgc4zXp366NbipfRjnjl_UmGhUXYRRhjOgRt/s1600-h/London+Gatwick.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095918564007294114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyMRo-ieOWSB78Dg8phCINuOXzgIs7ZzOQ1MKLUVK5Zt0ptqF1UEtza9HxOFaaaKBMNe_NdlQxw9z9mKgW0yrSOI1klMyLWsNVXrCXOZumgc4zXp366NbipfRjnjl_UmGhUXYRRhjOgRt/s200/London+Gatwick.jpg" border="0" /></a>We repacked and are ready to go. We are off to Egypt and are looking forward to seeing the tombs and monuments of the ancient Egyptians. We left Gatwick for the flight to Egypt at around 11:55am after panicking that we would not make it through the security screening section as the was a massive queue. We arrived in Taba at around 17:55 as there is a 2 hour change with the time. Egypt is ahead of the UK. We were met at the airport by<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7K_Dq3bgumD0OVGBHjt-IT6rSdQebG1x9EcMiVp4EjVj9s7EDOsurFloYOGvi814zpxgrz1eGzK7PmJenTxm22AYMzDBMFNVTEunqMj-vALGBvtKf1O6wEyn1B2kkDTMc8uwBXcO2JXQ/s1600-h/Egypt+002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095919964166632626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7K_Dq3bgumD0OVGBHjt-IT6rSdQebG1x9EcMiVp4EjVj9s7EDOsurFloYOGvi814zpxgrz1eGzK7PmJenTxm22AYMzDBMFNVTEunqMj-vALGBvtKf1O6wEyn1B2kkDTMc8uwBXcO2JXQ/s200/Egypt+002.JPG" border="0" /></a> the PELTOURS rep who escorted us via coach to the Marriot hotel at Taba Heights. I have added a link below that will take you to their website.<br /><div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tcpeg-taba-heights-marriott-beach-resort/">http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tcpeg-taba-heights-marriott-beach-resort/</a><a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tcpeg-taba-heights-marriott-beach-resort/">sort/</a></div><div></div><div>When we left the plane the heat was intense, 140 degrees!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NxZr56z4d5dZva0tcDaF1JcSo2CqfSYIQoVU5AXNVJxiJIvR0O7kepFyk13RagSoXCKogmm99_hYAenb9B8mvn3OO1eMb04U5L9vI6Y_TL1oqM0rFvri4OTnjDfjX1_UxpjGKQAabXTw/s1600-h/Egypt+467.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095925088062616770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NxZr56z4d5dZva0tcDaF1JcSo2CqfSYIQoVU5AXNVJxiJIvR0O7kepFyk13RagSoXCKogmm99_hYAenb9B8mvn3OO1eMb04U5L9vI6Y_TL1oqM0rFvri4OTnjDfjX1_UxpjGKQAabXTw/s200/Egypt+467.JPG" border="0" /></a> The surroundings of the hotel are beautiful. The picture above was the view from my room. The little pond at the bottom is the Red Sea. Usually there is a security guard who sits on a chair under the palm tree. It certainly looks like 5* accomodation but the food dictated otherwise. We have a few days of chilling out ahead of us before we start the tours. This place looks stunning, it is like a paradise.<br /><div></div><br /><div><em>FOOT NOTE :A little note about the airport staff, I thought they were mechanics as they wear blue overalls but they are infact toilet attendants and hand out paper for money. The toilets are disgusting and some didn't have any toilet paper in them. Make sure that you have some with you when visiting toilets in Egypt.<br /></em></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNwtZBE00iueDSA00GDphK5ACt9hqu543GhnjfAjB0gRUuH5D_wyCbnbjQSkmK0ru6zaMME6s4sjJTOZInkHA04xORDh5Yqqlzd9GvAw1KRiG8eha1c6_tC1LxM5KEFpzMUJBxDln8vj8/s1600-h/London+Gatwick.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-34523000923883087452007-07-20T03:30:00.000-07:002007-08-14T09:50:40.771-07:00Off againWe will be travelling to Egypt for this trip. This is a place I have always wanted to visit. It has a fantastic history and seeing all the tombs and temples up close will be so humbling I am sure.<br /><br />We are leaving Plymouth at 4:00pm and stayiing over night in London before our flight tomorrow.<br />"I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it, I'm about to lose control and I think I like it".Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-10122967036412261442007-07-10T15:55:00.000-07:002007-07-19T16:01:43.956-07:00Back homeWe arrived back home to Plymouth ad the first thing I did was hug Siobhan. She had been in my thoughts the whole time we were away. One of the first calls I got when we arrived home was to arrange my CT scan. Well....I had 2 weeks not thinking about Theo.<br /><br />I am now looking forward to my next venture which is a trip to Egypt. We will be going for 2 weeks and will be seeing all the sights and history of Egypt. We will be going to the valley of the Kings and Queens, seeing the pyramids, going on a nile cruise and visiting the Egyptian museum and much more. I will be going with my daughter, Siobhan, my son, Richard, my siter, Jacqui and Siobhan's boyfriend James. I am looking forward to this holiday as much as the Florida trip. I wil miss my liitle bean though (Kieran my youngest son). I will be doing a blog when I came back.Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4006213548478839343.post-4233944812484826562007-07-09T15:41:00.000-07:002008-11-13T06:14:27.731-08:00Off to London<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrEfIVGlaZH8CFpoYS5gOg8DhY6vpKC_VcLdZY8jf2TQ_A69VvFCTrs95-Yf_73QxyVflFZelUADWXc7_-z7njS-NbQ3DF5wwP3GkFL_BqXbkMMrfEUtfou5u1ZLxaXtwrzShlRcwAtE8/s1600-h/pict-05s.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089044127790321090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrEfIVGlaZH8CFpoYS5gOg8DhY6vpKC_VcLdZY8jf2TQ_A69VvFCTrs95-Yf_73QxyVflFZelUADWXc7_-z7njS-NbQ3DF5wwP3GkFL_BqXbkMMrfEUtfou5u1ZLxaXtwrzShlRcwAtE8/s200/pict-05s.jpg" border="0" /></a> We got the plane ok and travelled back to london. Florida will become a memory that will stay with us forever. I hope my boys remember every day with fondness as it has been a wonderful experience. We will stayed in London over night in a little hotel called "Little foxes". It is so tranquil and is the ideal place after a very long plane journey. We got into London about 7:55am and by the time we got all our stuff together is was aroung 9:00am when we got to the hotel. I am adding the link as I highly reccomend this little place. Even if it is for a weekend break, it is so pretty.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.littlefoxeshotel.co.uk/">http://www.littlefoxeshotel.co.uk/</a><br /><br />My Holiday was booked through Global Travel Choices. I have added the link also as Jim, the travel agent and a very new friend, has been wonderful in taking the holiday options from me and organising the whole thing. Thanks Jim... your a star.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.globaltravelchoices.co.uk/">http://www.globaltravelchoices.co.uk/</a>Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09469147082089751558noreply@blogger.com0