Elbe River Cruise

Elegant Elbe

August 11-21

Viking River Cruises

Discover the natural beauty of former East Germany’s dramatic landscape on an 10-day Elbe River cruise. Tour the opulent palaces of Saxon monarchs and stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens; sail between the dramatic sandstone cliffs of Germany’s “Saxon Switzerland.” Marvel at the baroque splendor of Dresden and see how Meissenware porcelain is produced. Walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther in historic Wittenberg and learn about the Protestant Reformation. Your journey is bookended by one night in multicultural Berlin and one night in graceful Prague. An elegant experience indeed.

Day 1 -- Berlin

Arrive at the Berlin airport, then transfer to your hotel.* After check-in, enjoy free time and get acquainted with the city—or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and start getting oriented.

Day 2 -- Potsdam & Magdeburg

After breakfast, travel to Potsdam. Tour either Sanssouci Palace, a perfect example of German rococo architecture, or the nearby New Chambers—both built by Prussian King Frederick the Great in the 18th century. After lunch on your own, transfer to Magdeburg to embark your ship. Dinner served aboard; ship departs late tonight. (B, D)

Day 3 -- Dessau

Arrive this morning in Dessau. Take a journey to Wörlitz Park, Germany’s first landscaped park with English-style gardens. Tour inside Wörlitz Castle, fashioned after an English country home, and walk the grounds. Return to the ship for lunchtime departure and scenic afternoon cruising; enjoy the tastes of traditional German cuisine for dinner as we sail into Wittenberg. (B, L, D)

Day 4 -- Wittenberg & Torgau

After breakfast, follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps to view many of Wittenberg’s historic landmarks. Tour inside Luther’s House and St. Marien’s Church, where he preached. See the Castle Church where Luther posted his 95 Theses; then enjoy free time. Return to your ship and depart during lunch; cruise along a very pretty stretch of the Elbe.

After dinner aboard, arrive in Torgau with its wonderful Renaissance houses. Join your Program Director for an evening stroll to see fortified Hartenfels Castle, Market Square and the riverside monument commemorating the historic 1945 meeting between Russian and American troops. Ship sails at midnight. (B, L, D)

Day 5 -- Meissen

Today, cruise the Elbe, arriving in Meissen after lunch. Visit the Meissenware factory, which has produced fine porcelain since the early 1700s. See firsthand how this trademarked porcelain is created by hand and tour the museum. Proceed to Castle Hill for a walking tour through the Old Town. Return aboard for dinner and a short cruise to a glorious evening arrival in Dresden. (B, L, D)

Day 6 -- Dresden

Embark on a tour of Dresden, nicknamed “Florence on the Elbe.” Drive through the 19th-century residential area to the Dresden Castle complex; enter the Green Vault to see a comprehensive collection of the Saxon monarchs’ crown jewels. Continue on foot to see Zwinger Palace, Semper Opera House and the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) with its distinctive bell-shaped dome, which survived the World War II bombings but collapsed the following day and was later rebuilt.

Enjoy some free time to explore more of Dresden, or join one of our master chefs on a shopping trip to the local farmer’s market. You also have the opportunity to see some local arts and crafts this afternoon. Dinner is served aboard, but feel free to enjoy Dresden’s many charms and attractions this evening; we remain docked until early morning. (B, L, D)

Day 7 -- Saxon Switzerland

This morning, cruise through the magnificent, soaring rock formations of the Saxon Switzerland region, then dock at the spa town of Bad Schandau. From here we make our way to the famous rock tower known as the Bastei (bastion), formed by water a million years ago, to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Elbe. Return aboard for dinner and evening cruising. (B, L, D)

Day 8 -- Litomerice

Arrive after lunch in Litomerice, one of the prettiest towns in the Czech Republic. See St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Jesuit Church, historic Market Square and many residential buildings from the baroque, Renaissance and Gothic periods. The tour ends with a tasting of beers from this Bohemian region. This evening, join your ship’s Captain for a festive dinner on board. (B, L, D)

Day 9 -- Melnik & Prague

Awaken in Melnik; after breakfast, disembark for transfer to Prague. Upon arrival, you tour Prague, “City of a Hundred Spires.” After a guided walk through Old Town, take some free time to explore on your own. Then ride to Hradcany Castle for a tour through the castle’s interior. Return to the hotel for check-in and dinner on your own. (B)

Day 10 -- Prague

After breakfast, check out and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your time abroad with 2 additional nights in Prague, giving you time to see even more of this vibrant city. (B)

The following meals are included:

B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner

Norway Cruise -- Ocean Princess

Land of the Midnight Sun  

Ocean Princess

Roundtrip from London (Dover), England 

July 17-August 2

Day	Port / Date	Arrive	Depart
1	London (Dover), England  Tuesday, July 17		5:00 PM
2	At Sea  Wednesday, July 18
3	Bergen, Norway  Thursday, July 19	7:00 AM	6:00 PM
4	Hellesylt, Norway  Friday, July 20	8:00 AM	10:00 AM
4	Geiranger, Norway  Friday, July 20	12:00 PM	6:00 PM
5	At Sea  Saturday, July 21
6	Tromso, Norway  Sunday, July 22	8:00 AM	5:00 PM
7	At Sea  Monday, July 23
8	Magdalena Fjord, Spitsbergen (Scenic Cruising)  Tuesday, July 24	7:00 AM	9:00 AM
8	Ny Alesund, Spitsbergen  Tuesday, July 24	1:30 PM	6:30 PM
9	At Sea  Wednesday, July 25
10	At Sea  Thursday, July 26
11	Murmansk, Russia  Friday, July 27	7:00 AM	4:00 PM
12	Honningsvag (North Cape), Norway  Saturday, July 28	8:00 AM	11:59 PM
13	At Sea  Sunday, July 29
14	At Sea  Monday, July 30
15	Flaam, Norway  Tuesday, July 31	8:00 AM	5:00 PM
16	At Sea  Wednesday, August 1
17	London (Dover), England  Thursday, August 2	5:00 AM

Rome to Fort Lauderdale, November 2011

Rome to Fort Lauderdale

Pacific Princess

November 27-December 16, 2011

Pre-cruise hotel:  Hotel Nazionale

Cruise Itinerary

Date	Port	Arrival	Departure
Nov 27	Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy		6:00 PM
28	Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy	7:00 AM	7:00 PM
29	Genoa, Italy (for Milan)	7:00 AM	7:00 PM
30	Nice, France	7:00 AM	4:00 PM
Dec 1	Barcelona, Spain	10:00 AM	10:00 PM
2	At Sea
3	Motril (Granada), Spain	7:00 AM	7:00 PM
4	Gibraltar, Great Britain	8:00 AM	5:00 PM
5	Casablanca, Morocco (for Marrakech)	7:00 AM	7:00 PM
6	At Sea
7	Madeira (Funchal), Portugal	7:00 AM	2:00 PM
8	At Sea
9	At Sea
10	At Sea
11	At Sea
12	At Sea
13	Bermuda (Hamilton)	9:00 AM	5:00 PM
14	At Sea
15	At Sea
16	Ft. Lauderdale, Florida	7:00 AM

Yosemite National Park, 2011

 Half Dome at Sunset

Yosemite National Park
(The "Ahwahnee Chief" in Half Dome watching over Yosemite.)

Yosemite is truly awe inspiring.  We had never been to Yosemite before, and we loved being there.  I realize that   for more than 100 years, millions of people have been going to Yosemite and taking wonderful photos there; however, I am very grateful that I too was able to go there and take my photos.  We were sorry that we were not able to stay longer than two days on this trip. 

While there, we stayed at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel, a rustic old hotel.  In any location outside a National Park, this hotel would be rated as a one-star (or lower)  hotel; it is in great need of renovation.  However, the location and convenience were great. 

One drawback of Yosemite was the exorbitant prices at the hotels and restaurants; they were the most overpriced places we have ever visited.  The prices were completely ridiculous.

While we were there, I took a photo class at the Ansel Adams gallery, and I enjoyed hearing the story of Ansel Adams at Yosemite, as well as going for a photo walk for the morning.

Avenue of the Giants

September, 2011

After leaving Wine Country, drove up to see the giant redwood trees along Route 101. Meandered along the California coast and stopping in Mendocino, a quaint little town, and Fort Bragg.

Stayed at the Benbow Inn, an elegant old inn listed on the National Register of Historic Places and visited by President Hoover, Eleanor Roosevelt, and many movie stars.

Visited Humboldt Redwoods State Park, and drove along the Avenue of the Giants. The giant redwoods are awe inspiring; they give one a feeling of awe and peace. Also drove up to Eureka for a few hours, with its old Victorian buildings.

Sonoma California Wine Country

September, 2011 visit to Sonoma County California.

Stayed in Healdsburg, in the heart of Wine Country. Visited several of the more than 50 vineyards and wineries in Dry Creek Valley, including Ferrari-Carano and Sbragia. Also visited two of the wineries in the Russian River Valley -- Sonoma Cutrer and Korbel.

Had dinner at Cyrus, a Michelin two-star restaurant in Healdsburg. The atmosphere and service were great, but perhaps I am a bit too pedestrian for the exotic foods served. I think I prefer more recognizable foods than those served at this restaurant.

Visited Santa Rosa, former home of Charles Shulz, author of the comic strip, Peanuts. Santa Rosa has a very pleasant "old town" section.

Also visited the town of Sonoma, which was having a fall festival. Some of the buildings on the square in Sonoma date back to the Spaniards, and are interesting to visit.

Kenya and Tanzania Classic Safari

Kenya and Tanzania Classic Safari

Tauck Tours

June 26 - July 8, 2011

Tanzania and Kenya Classic Safari

Trip photos

Itinerary

Day 1
Arusha – Tanzania's safari gateway!
Tauck's Tanzania and Kenya safari begins at Serena Mountain Village, Arusha. Your Tanzania and Kenya safari begins at Serena Mountain Village in Arusha, the safari gateway city. A transfer is included from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your hotel, Serena Mountain Village, Arusha at the foot of Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania.

Lodging

Serena Mountain Village, Arusha

Day 2

Flamingos at Lake Manyara National Park
The vast Serengeti beckons as you embark on a four-night safari in Tanzania, and a five-night Kenya safari. Take your first game drive* through Lake Manyara National Park, renowned among birders for huge flocks of pink flamingos, as well as giraffes, baboons, hippos, and elephants. Arrive in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, populated by an estimated 30,000 large mammals. Your lodge for the next two nights is on the Ngorongoro Crater rim overlooking the caldera below, an excellent spot for our welcome reception and dinner.

Lodging

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Day 3

Wildlife in the "Garden of Eden" – Ngorongoro
Thought by some to be Africa’s original "Garden of Eden," Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest calderas in the world and contains a variety of ecosystems and an astounding concentration of birds and animals. Your four-wheel-drive vehicle, built exclusively for Tauck, provides an excellent mobile viewing platform when encountering massive herds of zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles. This area affords an opportunity to spot the Big Five – elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhinoceros. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater today.

Lodging

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Day 4

Early human history at Olduvai Gorge
Study the development of humankind at Olduvai Gorge, where, over 50 years ago, archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the fossilized remains of some of the earliest known human species, an estimated 1.8 million years old. Continue wildlife viewing while driving the rough dirt roads across the plains to your newly built safari lodge in the Serengeti.

Lodging

Bilila Lodge Kempinski

Day 5

The Serengeti summons
Look for wildlife in the heart of the vast savanna of the Serengeti today on both morning and afternoon game drives. Sightings might include lions, zebras, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, black rhinoceros, hippos, buffaloes, jackals, gazelles, and giraffes. When the sunset paints the sky in the evening, enjoy the show from the luxury of your lodge in Serengeti National Park, and enjoy Pan-African cuisine at dinner tonight.

Lodging

Bilila Lodge Kempinski

Day 6

Tauck's Kenya safari begins
Leave the Serengeti behind as you fly to Arusha, where Mt. Kiliminjaro National Park invites exploration en route to Kenya. Spend two nights in Amboseli National Park where herds of free-ranging elephants and other wildlife like to roam; visit a local Maasai village this afternoon.

Lodging

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

Day 7

Game drives in Amboseli
Tauck's private safari game drives in Amboseli offer ample opportunity to view the elephants, hippos and buffaloes that seek out the park's natural watering holes and the graceful antelopes that graze in the flat grasslands. Dinner is at your leisure tonight.

Lodging

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

Day 8

Oh baby... from movie stars to animal orphans
A morning flight brings you to the world-famous Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, your luxurious home for the next two nights. The former retreat of actor William Holden, the Safari Club was once the playground of such illustrious members such as Winston Churchill and Bing Crosby. Following lunch and an Equatorial demonstration, you can spend the afternoon on a private visit to William Holden’s Mount Kenya Animal Orphanage on the grounds of the club; this sanctuary for animals that have been orphaned or injured and need special care also teaches local children to cherish and appreciate the unique wildlife of their homeland.

Lodging

Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club

Day 9

Chimpanzees and rhinos in a private reserve
Conservation efforts are in full force in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. See them on game drives that bring you to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the protected natural habitat for the largest resident black rhino population in East Africa.

Lodging

Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club

Day 10

A tapestry of local culture
Take a look at local life in the village of Nanyuki. Villagers spin colorful tales into their handmade wool rugs, sweaters and shawls right before your eyes. The afternoon is your time. Spend it as you wish at your celebrity resort. Complimentary activities include swimming, tennis, lawn bowling or croquet, or, for an additional charge, play a round of golf or saddle up for a horseback ride.

Lodging

Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club

Day 11

The magical Masai Mara, a Kenya safari highlight
Fly to the Masai Mara National Reserve in southern Kenya, where you'll be welcomed by Maasai warriors. Spend the afternoon becoming acquainted with the luxurious Fairmont Mara Safari Club, your home for the next two nights. This afternoon, leave camp for a game drive in search of animals that make their homes here; perhaps you’ll see lions, antelopes, elephants and zebras in their daily rituals.

Lodging

Fairmont Mara Safari Club

Day 12

Up, up and away over Masai Mara
Today will be one that you’ll always remember as you arise before dawn to board a hot air balloon* and float over the awakening plains below as the sun rises. When you land, a special champagne breakfast will be awaiting you right there in the bush! Spectacular isn’t quite strong enough a word to describe such an experience, a Tauck Exclusive on your Kenya safari! Back on the ground, look for lions, impalas, cheetahs and giraffes – and the other animals you’ve come to love – during your final game drive, then join us for a perfect ending to your unforgettable safari... a farewell dinner at your tented camp.

Lodging

Fairmont Mara Safari Club

Day 13

Homeward bound as your Kenya safari concludes.  Fly to Nairobi, where a day room has been reserved for you at the Nairobi Serena Hotel. Enjoy dinner at the hotel before heading to the airport for your flight home this evening. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Your Tanzania / Kenya safari ends at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Caribbean Cruise 2011 -- Grand Princess

Itinerary
Date	Port	Arrival	Departure
3/14	Ft. Lauderdale, Florida		5:00 PM
3/15	At Sea
3/16	At Sea
3/17	Aruba	8:00 AM	8:00 PM
3/18	Curacao	7:00 AM	5:00 PM
3/19	At Sea
3/20	Grenada	8:00 AM	5:00 PM
3/21	Barbados	8:00 AM	6:00 PM
3/22	St. Vincent & the Grenadines	8:00 AM	4:00 PM
3/23	St. Kitts & Nevis	8:00 AM	5:00 PM
3/24	St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands	7:00 AM	4:00 PM
3/25	Santo Domingo	9:00 AM	4:00 PM
3/26	Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos	12:00 PM	6:00 PM
3/27	At Sea
3/28	Ft. Lauderdale, Florida	7:00 AM

View of Downtown Cairo From Cairo Tower

View from Cairo Tower, showing downtown Cairo. Left to right: Four Seasons Hotel, Grand Hyatt Hotel (two buildings in center), Sofitel Hotel (on island). Large complex in lower right is the New Opera House. From Wikipedia. Wikipedia

Trip to Egypt - October 26 - November 12, 2010

(Not shown on map: Fly to St. Catherine (Mt. Sinai) and drive back.)


Tentative Egypt Itinerary (To Be Modified as Desired)

16 Days/15 Nights Cairo + Abu Simbel + 3 Nights Nile Cruise + Luxor + St. Catherine
__________________________________________________

Egypt Travel Experts / Enjaz tours Tel # Egypt: +20123121551 /Tel # USA: +1-617-9339330 Fax # Egypt: +202.26394288
E-mail: info@ask-aladdin.com
Address: 40 Ahmed Fakhry, Nasr City, Cairo Egypt
Egyptian Ministry of Tourism License N#: 1503

Wednesday October 27: Day 00: Arrival (part 1)
Welcome to Cairo! 3 travellers arrive early and their service begins when they are greeted by our representative at Cairo airport (1915, Lufthansa flight 1956 330 from Frankfurt) who will assist them through immigration and customs formalities. After they have collected their luggage he will then take them, in our deluxe vehicle, to the Grand Hyatt hotel.

Thursday October 28: Day 01: Arrival (part 2)
Welcome to Cairo! The fourth traveler arrives and service begins when you are greeted by our representative at Cairo airport (1800, Air France flight 508 from Paris) who will assist you through immigration and customs formalities. After you have collected your luggage he will then take you, in our deluxe vehicle, to the Grand Hyatt hotel.

For the three travelers arriving on Wednesday, breakfast at the hotel is followed by a full day tour with has a religious feel to it. From the hotel you will be taken on a tour of Cairo famous Churches, including: The Hanging Church and the Church of Abu Serga (St. Sergius), where, it is said, the Holy Family took shelter in a cave, with the church being erected her to commemorate this. This whole area is a world famous destination for Pilgrims.

After lunch you will be taken to see the Coptic Museum, which holds artefacts dating back to the Persian era and the later Roman period, and have been collected from all over Egypt. It has 2 major sections; the old section established by Smeka Pasha and the new section that was opened by President Mubarak in 2006. Altogether there are 3 floors devoted to the history of Coptic Christianity in Egypt, giving what is considered to be a complete illustration of this religion.

At the end of these visits you will be driven back to the Grand Hyatt hotel.
(Meals: breakfast, lunch)

Friday October 29: Day 02: Cairo
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a full day tour. In the forenoon you will be taken to the Egyptian Museum: gaze at the wonders of King Tutankhamen, including his golden death mask. Lose yourself in the many rooms and galleries, where thousands of artefacts are awaiting your visit.

After lunch, at a local restaurant, you will be taken to the Citadel of Saladin, the fortress built between 1176 and 1183 AD, to protect Cairo from the Crusaders and rebuilt by Muhammad Ali Pasha, whose mosque here is a “must see”.

At the end of this exciting day you will be driven back to the Grand Hyatt hotel.
(Meals: breakfast, lunch)

Saturday October 30: Day 03: Cairo
and
Sunday October 31: Day 04: Cairo
Two full days with an Islamic theme. The Sultan Hassan Madrassa and Mosque is one of the extraordinarily wonderful Islamic Monuments in the Islamic World. If Ancient Egypt is proud of the Pyramids of Giza, Islamic Egypt has to be proud of the Sultan Hassan Madrassa. The Sahn, or the court, of the Mosque is almost square, about 34m long and 32m wide, with a large ablution fountain in the centre, which is covered with a wooden dome, carried on 8 marble columns around its capital decorated with a band of inscriptions of The Qur’an (the verse of Al-Kursi). 4 minarets were intended to be built in the original plan but only 3 were erected with the one over the entrance falling in the year 1361A.D leaving now only 2 minarets.

Another one of the various mosques you will visit is the mosque of Al Refaie', which is considered to be one of the remarkable Islamic structures in Cairo. The mosque is located in the Qala'a square in front of the citadel just facing the great Mosque of Al Sultan Hassan. The Shah of Iran, Mohamed Reda Bahlawy, is buried here, as are King Foaud and King Farouk. Walking tour including the Khan-al-Kahili bazaar.
Once these tours are completed you will be driven back to the Grand Hyatt hotel.
(Meals: breakfast)

Monday November 01: Day 05: Abu Simbel/Aswan
You will to fly to Abu Simbel to see these marvellous temples, which were originally carved out of a rocky mountainside by Ramses II.

Upon arrival back from Abu Simbel you will check in to the Basma Hotel in Aswan.
(Meals: breakfast)

Tuesday November 02: Day 06: Aswan
After breakfast start your day by taking a felucca around the botanical garden of Aswan. This is followed by a motor boat visit to the Nubian village.

Lunch at the Nubian restaurant of El Dokka

The rest of the day will be for relaxation and doing whatever you wish.
(Meals: breakfast, lunch)

Wednesday November 03: Day 07: M/S Jamila Nile Cruise: Aswan
After breakfast you will check out and our representative will escort you to your cruise boat: your floating hotel for your next 4 days.

After lunch you will be driven to see the High Dam, the worlds largest rock filled dam, and then a short sail to the Temple of Philae, moved to the island of Agilika after the waters of Lake Nasser flooded its original location. It is then back to Aswan to rejoin your cruise and as the Nile laps gently underneath you, dinner will be served.
(Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Thursday November 04: Day 08: M/S Jamila Nile Cruise: Kom Ombo And Edfu
A new day and your first breakfast on board as the boat sails majestically towards Kom Ombo, where you will visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Horus and Sobek. After the visit you will be taken back to the boat for your lunch while it sails onward to Edfu, home of the best preserved temple in Egypt: the Temple of Horus. After your visit to this superb temple you will be taken back to the boat in plenty of time before it departs Edfu and sets sail for Esna.

Once you reach Esna you can watch as the boat negotiates it way through the Esna locks. Once through the boat continues on its course towards Luxor, which it will reach after you have had dinner.
(Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Friday November 05: Day 09: M/S Jamila Nile Cruise: Luxor
An early breakfast and then it is time to visit the West Bank of Luxor: the tombs of the New Kingdom Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings; the magnificent temple of Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahri finishing with the immense Colossi of Memnon.

After lunch, which you will have on board the cruise boat, you will visit the magnificent Karnak and Luxor Temples. Once your visit to these ancient Theban Temples is completed you return to the boat where your last dinner, upon this floating hotel, will be served.
(Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Saturday November 06: Day 10: Luxor
You will have your final breakfast on the boat before you have to check out and then are transferred to the Moudira Hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to do as you wish; relax or explore.
(Meals: breakfast)

Sunday November 07: Day 11: Luxor
You can either spend the day relaxing and enjoying Luxor’s many souks and restaurants, or you could return to the West Bank to visit the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III (Medinet Habu) and the Tombs of the Nobles.
(Meals: breakfast)

Monday November 08: Day 12: St Catherine
After breakfast you will check out and then you will be transferred to Luxor airport for your flight to Cairo (about 50 minutes). Upon arrival at Cairo you will be met by our representative who will transfer you to our air-conditioned vehicle for the drive to St. Catherine, and the monastery, at the foot of Mount Sinai. Though it is a 390KM, 5 hour drive, you will delight at driving underneath the Suez Canal, and viewing sites along the way; including Moses Springs.

Upon arrival at St. Catherine it will be time to check-in to the Bedouin Camp Hotel before settling down for your dinner. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)

Tuesday November 09: Day 13: Cairo
The day begins, pre-breakfast, with an optional early morning climb up Mount Sinai to watch the phenomenal sunrise. Please note: this trip is for volunteers only! After breakfast it is time to check-out and then visit St. Catherine’s Monastery before being driven back to Cairo, where you will be booked into the Mena House Oberoi Hotel for a well-deserved rest.
(Meals: breakfast)

Wednesday November 10: Day 14: Cairo
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a full day tour. In the morning you will be driven to see the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx: the most famous monuments of not only ancient Egypt, but of the entire ancient world! These massive stone structures were built around 4,500 years ago on a rocky desert plateau close to the Nile.

After lunch, at a local restaurant, you will be taken to Sakkara to see the very first pyramid ever built; the Step Pyramid of Djoser. You will also get the chance to see some fantastic mastabas, including the mastaba of Mereruka, the largest one built in ancient.

After this amazing trip through Egypt’s pharaonic past you will be driven back to the Mena House Oberoi Hotel.
(Meals: breakfast, lunch)

Thursday November 11: Day 15 Cairo
Today is not so much a tour, rather an experience! The Pharaonic Village was founded by Dr. Hassan Ragab Ph.D., who was the person who rediscovered the ancient Egyptian art of papermaking; better known as papyrus.

The Pharaonic Village is Egypt's historic park. It is a unique place where Egypt's entire history is explained in 2 to 3 hours including our ancient and modern history. It is located on an island in the River Nile: just 3 miles south of the centre of Cairo. Here you will find yourself being transported by floating amphitheatres, and a hundred actors and actresses demonstrate scenes from ancient Egypt (papyrus making, brewing, sculpting, home building….etc)

The village also boasts a complete replica of King Tutankhamen’s tomb, with all its treasures. In addition to this there are 12 new museums, 4 related to ancient Egypt (mummification and medicine, pyramids building, arts and beliefs, ancient Egyptian boats.
(Meals: breakfast, lunch)

Friday November 12: Day 16: Final Departure
Your final day starts with breakfast at the hotel followed by check-out. You will then be transferred to the airport for your final departure.
(Meals: breakfast)

End Of Program

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal
Thursday, June 3, 2010

We had been told that the entry to Lisbon was beautiful, and it was. Lisbon and many of its suburbs are stretched along the wide Tagus River, and as we entered the river, we saw the white buildings of greater Lisbon for miles. As we passed under the 25th of April bridge (the longest suspension bridge in Europe), we were welcomed by the towering Christo Rei monument that stands facing Lisbon across the Tagus River. This monument, constructed in 1959, is a copy of the more famous monument in Rio de Janeiro, which was constructed in 1931. As we sailed a few miles up the river to the port, we passed other landmarks in Lisbon -- the Belem Tower, a former fortress, and the Monument of the Discoveries, to commemorate Portugal’s many discoverers in history -- as well as a skyline filled with churches and cathedrals.

We arrived in Lisbon on a national holiday, Corpus Santus, and stores and government buildings were closed. We had intended to mail some things home from the post office at the dock, but it was closed. Our plan was to take the hop on/hop off bus to view the city; we enjoy these busses because they go to all the important places and they have audio commentary in English. When we went to breakfast, we saw Gilles and Denise, our friends from Montreal, and we spotted the red and yellow busses directly across the street from the port building. We decided to tour together, and after breakfast, we met at the gangway, and we were off.

As we exited the port building to cross the street, a taxi driver who spoke good English approached us and would not take no for an answer. His persistence paid off, and we decided to take his taxi, a Mercedes Benz, for the entire day for only 50 euros each. He promised to take us to far more places than the hop on/hop off bus would take us. He took us first through the old Moorish section of Lisbon, the Alfama, and stopped at the 12th century Se Cathedral, which survived the devastating earthquake of 1755, which destroyed most of Lisbon at that time and killed 30,000 people. We also stopped at the Santa Engracia church with its great dome, which serves as a pantheon for many of the great heroes of Portuguese history.

We then drove up the hill to the Castelo de Sao Jorge, but we did not pay the fee and enter as the most important thing in the Castle is the view of the city, and we chose instead the much better views from the Alto do Parque Belvedere, a beautiful panoramic overlook of the city. We drove through the Baixa section, or Lower Town, and stopped for photos at the “Black Horse” Praca do Commercio, or Commercial Square. We then stopped at the Rossio Square, the location of the National Theater of Dona Maria II as well as shops and outdoor restaurants. I quickly stepped nearby to the Rua August, the beautiful pedestrian street, for a photo. Leading North from the Rossio Square is the 1879-vintage Avenue of Liberty, a beautiful wide boulevard lined with shops and park benches and covered by a canopy of trees. The boulevard reminds one of the Champs Elyses in Paris. The boulevard leads up to the tall monument to the Marquis do Pombal.

From there, we headed out of the little mountainside town of Sintra, about 15 miles away. We wandered through the narrow streets filled with souvenir vendors and stopped at Piriquita, a local patisserie, for Travesseiros de Sintra, a wonderful local pastry. It was hot from the oven and was a perfect lunch, along with coffee. We took photos of the church, but did not pay the fee and enter. Our principal visit of the day was just up the mountain from Sintra, the Palacio Nacional da Pena, an incredible mountaintop Moorish fortress that was later used by Spanish kings as a retreat. What an incredible place that was, similar to the Alcazar in Seville. No photos were permitted inside, so we had to buy a CD of photos from the gift shop.

From Sintra, we headed to the beach north of Lisbon from where we would drive along the beach back to Lisbon and the ship. We stopped for a photo at Guincho Beach, where we were almost blown away by the high winds. Because of the holiday and the warm day, the beach was very busy. We then drove through the beautiful beach town of Cascais, formerly a quiet fishing village and now a very upscale beach community of high rise apartments, outdoor restaurants and shops. From there we drove through Estoril, another beach town made famous as the scene of the first James Bond film. Portugal remained neutral during the cold war, and the Hotel Palacio in Estoril was a well-known vacation place for spies from both sides. Ian Fleming visited Estoril and wrote one of his books based on the site. We then drove past Carcavelos Beach, the largest of the public beaches, and it was packed with beachgoers. The traffic was very heavy and slow all through this drive.

We passed through Belem and stopped at the Jeronimos Monastery for a photo; however, the monastery was closed because of the holiday. We were going to stop for a pastry at the famous Pasteis de Belem, but we did not have enough time, nor did we stop at the Belem Tower, a former fortress guarding the mouth of the river. From there, we drove directly to the port, arriving at 4:15, a few minutes of the “all aboard” time of 4:30. It was a great day, and we visited all of the sites that were on all of the ship tours for less than one third the cost. Lisbon is a very beautiful city. We only touched the surface of Lisbon in our one-day port stop. It would be great to return to Lisbon for a week or more sometime.

Seville, Spain

Seville, Spain
Wednesday, June 2, 2010

During the cruise, we had become friends with Gilles and Denise, from Montreal, and we took the bus to Seville together. This was a bus that simply dropped us off at a specific location and then took us back to the ship at the end of the day. Seville was about one and one-half hours from the ship, and the pick-up time was 3:00 p.m., so we had time to visit only the two most important sights in Seville -- the Alcazar and the Seville Cathedral. These two sights are directly across from each other, and only a short walk from the bus stop.

The drive to Seville took us through rolling hills of dark, fertile farmland. The crops were still early in the season, and the young shoots were very pretty against the dark soil. The climate is dry, and the irrigation sprinklers filled the fields with little sprays of water. We also passed several other interesting sights -- a group of huge windmills generating electricity, a Roman viaduct, a huge cathedral on a hill in a very small town. We also saw many stork nests; storks come to this area in the Spring to raise their young (as they also did along the road to Tetouan in Morocco). I tried to get photos, but was not very successful.

Seville was controlled by the Moors of Spain for many centuries, and the Moorish influence is very clear in the buildings. The Alcazar was designed as a Moorish fortress in 913 and rebuilt as a palace much later after the Christians gained power. It is a huge building with endless rooms and gardens, each of which were more beautiful than the one before. One simply cannot describe the beauty of each room, courtyard, garden. The beauty is truly stunning. We were there almost two hours, but then had to leave.

We stopped for some ice cream at a sidewalk café on a very narrow, pretty street filled with sidewalk cafes and souvenir shops. In the shade, the temperature was very nice, although it was hot in the direct sun. We enjoyed our break, and then headed for the cathedral.

The Cathedral of Seville is 15th century Gothic, and Europe’s third largest cathedral. We were told that it is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. The cathedral was built on the site of a mosque, and the tall minaret is still used as the bell tower for the church. Many people climbed the tower and were shocked by the deafening noise when the dozens of huge bells rang. The cathedral is huge and ornate, and one can get a full description of it on the Internet. We were there the remainder of our time until the cathedral closed at 2:30, when we hurried back to the bus just before 3:00 for the uneventful ride back to the ship. When we arrived back in Cadiz, we were surprised by dense fog, producing eerie sights. Later, the ship faced almost complete loss of vision as it eased out of the port in the fog on its way to Lisbon.

Tetouan, Morocco

Tetouan, Morocco
Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Another day, another souk! The old souk in Tetouan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it was truly great to visit it. We took the ship tour, and it went directly from the pier in Ceuta, Spanish Morocco, the short distance of 40 kilometers to Tetouan. As we left Ceuta, which is Spain, we had to go through the Spanish checkpoint at the border with Morocco, and to keep things simple, the procedure was to give the Spanish authorities our passports and the pick them back up as we reentered Spain. That procedure caused some apprehension, as we were reluctant to give our passports to anyone else; however, the tour guide assured us that the procedure had been used for years, and was okay. It worked out fine in the end.

As we left Ceuta, the guide pointed out a long line of people on foot entering Ceuta from Morocco. He said that these people have a job, and the line is related to their job. Ceuta is a free port, so there are no taxes on items bought there up to a certain value. These people were hired by merchants to go into Ceuta and purchase certain items -- shoes, dresses, luggage, everything -- and take it back across the border to be resold by the merchants in Morocco. They made trip after trip all day every day making purchases up to the value limit, and taking the items back across into Morocco, only to return again for another load. There were thousands of people performing this service, and it appeared that most of them were women. A very interesting sight; however, I was unable to photograph it because no photos are permitted near the border.

Once we were inside Morocco, the entire distance between Ceuta and Tetouan was one long -- very upscale -- beach resort area. Club Med has the largest building on this coast, and there are many other resorts and developments all catering to people on holiday. This area is the most well known, highly regarded coastal holiday area in Morocco, and perhaps on the entire North African coast. People from all over the Muslim world visit this area on holiday. The road seemed new, and extensive landscaping was underway in preparation for the upcoming summer holiday season. The guide said that the area would be packed with people within a couple more weeks. It was a truly beautiful area, especially with all the landscaping, including a beautiful, long promenade along the coast.

Once in Tetouan, we went directly to the souk, and we spent the remainder of our time there. We had just spent the previous day in the souk in Marrakech, so the comparison was inevitable. We found the souk in Marrakech more extensive and somehow “older”, but the people selling wares in the souk in Tetouan were friendlier and more willing to let us take their photo. People on the street were also friendly, and many of them permitted me to take a photo of them. I got much better photos in Tetouan than in Marrakech.

One other difference was that many of the people in Tetouan were Berbers; they wore distinctive clothing. We did not find Berbers in Marrakech, although some Berbers do live in Marakech; in fact, Berber is one of the principal languages in Marrakech. A word about clothing. Our guide today told us that only in Morocco do people wear a “jelaba”, which is a robe that has a hood. He said that Romans wore these garments when Rome ruled what is now Morocco, and the Berbers started wearing the garment at that time. The jelaba is worn both by men and women, although mostly by men. The guide said that a man’s jelaba is inexpensive, but a woman’s jelaba is very expensive because of the difference in the fabric used. A man’s jelaba is functional, while a woman’s jelaba is stylish.

One other fact about Morocco -- it is a large country, larger than Spain and France combined. Morocco has a population of over 34 million, less than either Spain or France. The new king of Morocco, who is young and has been educated in Britain and the U.S., is promoting economic growth in Morocco, and that economic growth is evident everywhere, with road and building construction going on at a very rapid pace. The king has a goal of greatly upgrading the highway system in Morocco, and the results are very evident.

As we left the port, our next port of call was Cadiz, which is in a westerly direction, back out of the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea. The Captain sailed the ship directly across the mouth of the Mediterranean close to Gibraltar so we could get a good look at Gibraltar as we sailed by. It was very nice to see it. However, Gibraltar sits at one end of a bay, and all the other territory around the bay is in Spain. We noticed a yellow cloud across the bay, and we noticed a dozen or more smoke stacks billowing yellow smoke, all coming from the Spanish part of the bay.

Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech, Morocco
Monday, May 31, 2010

Salama sent an email message that our driver would pick us up at the pier at 7:00, and we were the first ones off the ship. We saw a line of cars and vans picking up passengers, but our driver was not there. Some other passengers were also missing their drivers and we learned that there was a hold-up for some reason, and some drivers were not getting through the gate to the pier. After 15 minutes, we saw a line of drivers coming to the pier, and our driver was the first one. His name was Yassin. We hopped in, and off we went to Marrakech.

The day was cool and clear, and the humidity was low. It was a perfect day. Bas had looked up the forecast temperature in Marrakech, and he reported a temperature of 100 F was forecast. We were dressed in cool clothes, ready for the day. We also knew that we would be inside the air conditioned van, so we were not concerned. It felt good to be in Casablanca again. We were in a hurry to get through the traffic and get on the road to Marrakech, but we faced morning rush hour traffic as people were on their way to work, and the going was slow. I enjoyed seeing the wide boulevards lined with palm trees, and I enjoyed seeing the different manner of dress of the women. We saw women completely covered except their eyes, and we saw women wearing jeans and tops, with no head scarves. Our driver, Yassin, proudly told us that Morocco is very tolerant of all manner of dress; he said that many women wear western-style of dress. We saw many women in slacks of one type or another (lots of jeans), but no dresses or skirts and blouses.

After half an hour, we exited Casablanca and entered a toll road to Marrakech. It was smooth sailing from then on; there was little traffic on the road that was completed only seven years ago, in 2003. The scenery was very flat farmland; rolling hills and dark, rich soil. The scene was very pretty, and it was unchanged for almost two hours until we reached the river; after that, the land was quite different -- very arid and rocky and not used much for farming. We saw many small herds of sheep, goats, and some milk cows. With each herd, one or two herders were present watching over them. We never see herders with herds of animals in America, so the sight was interesting. After the river, we also came upon very small walled towns, and Yassin said that the towns were inhabited by poor farmers and sheep herders. Every one of the towns or buildings had electricity, and many buildings had a TV dish on its roof.

After three hours, we reached Marrakech, and it was very different from what I had imagined. Marrakech is a very flat town, and it is very modern and very prosperous. As we entered the city of one million, we saw many new apartment buildings and many new homes. I was expecting the city to be a “red” city, with buildings the color of the “red” soil; however, the soil is not as red as I expected, and the buildings are a reddish tan color, rather than the deeper red color I had expected. Marrakech seemed very French to me with its wide boulevards and many buildings with balconies. The city feels very modern, and Yassin proudly boasted that Marrakech is the most modern city in Morocco; “Until you have seen Marrakech, you have not seen Morocco,” he said. Although most women wore head scarves, few of them wore abayas, and almost none had their faces covered. Motor bikes were everywhere, and were a menace in traffic, but cars were also everywhere.

We picked up Salama at a hotel, and we went directly to the medina. We entered through the Bab el Jdid gate and walked to the Koutoubia Mosque, which dates from the early 12th century. Yassin then drove us to the “back” side of the souk area, where we visited the intricately ornate Ali ben Youssef Medersa, the former Islamic school. What a beautiful marvel that building is. We then entered the souks, where we spent most of our time in Marrakech. Salama led us through one area after another, and we took as many photos as we could take. Salama had told us that if we wanted to take photos of people, we should ask them first; some would permit photos and others would not. Some would ask for a small amount of money for a photo, and Salama agreed to give them a coin each time we asked him to. We also gave coins to some of the ones who agreed to let us photograph them. We got dozens of photos of the souk and of people in the souk. We hope some of the photos will be good.

After a time, Salama took us to a Berber rug weaving store, and we looked at many beautiful rugs as we drank soft drinks. After a time, we worked our way through the souks to the great square in the medina, Djemaa el Fna, where we bought some dates, which were incredibly delicious. We then sat on an upstairs outdoor balcony restaurant and drank soft drinks as we watched the scene below. Snake charmers, fortune tellers, monkey trainers, and all sorts of people selling all sorts of items. It was truly a carnival. Many people said that the square is far busier and more interesting in the evenings. Our time was drawing short and we had to leave much too soon. As we exited the medina to join the van, we looked down many streets to see one incredible view after another, and we knew that we must go back to Marrakech to absorb the city more fully. Salama took us to one last gate, the beautiful Bab Agnanou, for a photo, and we had to leave the medina to head back to Casablanca. We dropped Salama back at the hotel, and we were off.

The drive back did not seem as long as the drive over, but it lasted more than three hours. When we got back to Casablanca, we had time to drive by the great Hassan II mosque for a photo, and then Yassin returned us to the ship. The day was truly great, and we must return to Marrakech some day.