After my one day tour with Heesham and Mohamed, the 8 day tour began, highlighted by a slow cruise up the Nile. I say "up" because the Nile is one of 2 rivers in the world that runs south to north. After more touring in Cairo, we all flew to the Aswan Dam and the beginning of our journey on the Queen of Sheeba, a 200+ foot boat with four floors and a swimming pool and observation area on the top deck. Each day of sailing I would fall more and more into the rhythm of the river; the children swimming and laughing on the shores of the small towns, the hot winds each afternoon, the sound of the Muslim "Call to Prayers" 5 times each day. I think all of us were captured by it and found it difficult to leave when we finally docked. All along the shores you could see layers of life; the lush greenery of the foilage and palm trees along the banks, the next layer of small towns made of huts interspersed with the beautiful Minerettes, the next layer of desert sands, and then the final layer of desert mountains. All along the cruise we would visit Pyramids and ruins that date back for thousands of years. Hanan, the tour guide, made it all come alive for us. Hanan teaches at the University of Cairo and has actually participated in many of the archeological digs at the Valley of the Kings. Her passion for the subject combined with her knowledge and sense of humor made it all mesmerizing, despite the 110-115 degree heat. (My gift to you - if (when) you go to Egypt. go in Nov, Dec, or Jan when it is much cooler. Also, sign up for Hanan with Gate One Tours. She and Bill were incredible. They did not pay me for this commercial!!!)...It was very difficult to leave Egypt. It captured my heart. I will be back (during cooler weather) and I look forward to seeing great friends that I met there. One last piece of ancient Egyptian gossip; King Tut's tomb is actually one of the smallest and least opulant of all of the tombs found. What makes it so interesting is it is the only one discovered intact - it was discovered before grave robbers could get to it......Next trip on to Africa. Happy Trails, Marion
P.S. orsem hobby to Magic M
