Egypt Part 3

The next day we jumped on a boat to head to Gifton Island for a snorkel in the Red Sea. We spent the day cruising around, swimming, snorkelling, lying on the beach, eating and drinking. We snorkelled in boat groups as there were thousands on tourist and boats every where, our guide would call out Ramses so we all knew which way to go.











Once we had a snorkel and a lie around on the beach it was time to head home. On the way back on the boat the crew made us all towel hats to keep us entertained.








When we got back to the hotel, we had a few well earned beers and dinner before the girls hit the shops!
After a six hour bus ride to Cairo wew freshened up for our final night in Egypt, the sound and light show then dinner. The sound and light show was ok but not great a little bit on the long boring side, but dinner was enjoyed at a restaurant by the Nile river.

The next day we said our goodbyes as we left to catch our flight to Istanbul.

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Location:Egypt

Egypt Part 2

Once we got back to the cruise boat we set sail up the Nile towards Luxor, we travel overnight until we arrive in Edfu. Early the next morning we had horse and carriage ride (with a very excitable driver) to the temple of Horis which is one of the most preserved temples in Egypt.






Once we had finished exploring the temple, we found our horse and carriage and made our way back to the cruise boat. We spent the afternoon relaxing in the sun with a few beers watching the magnificent views of the Nile go by.


We arrived in Luxor that afternoon, where we had dinner and had a good night sleep in preparation for our site seeing the next day.

Luxor was amazing! Our first stop of the day was the valley of the Kings, we had a look in 3 tombs and learnt about the Kings and how the tombs where found. The scenery was amazing unfortunately we couldn't take any photos whilst inside.

After the valley of the kings we ventured to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, by this time it was the middle of the day and bloody hot! Mind you we were in the desert :-).


After all the big tourist sites there is always markets on the way out where you need to just put your head down and power through other wise you will get chased and hassled to buy something.


The next temple of the list was Karnuk, this temple spanned over 20arces and was amazing! A lot of this temple was unfortunately ruined due to a big mistake which caused the temple to be flooded by the Nile. It is also unexplained how they where able to stand the giant pillars up, Aliens????


After the temples and lunch we packed up and said good bye to half of our group who where headed back to Cairo and the cruise boat. The staff on the cruise boat made little towel animals for us every night which was really cool!








We stayed in Luxor for the night before getting on the bus in the morning for our 4 hour bus ride to Hurgada a town right on the Red Sea.

After we checked into our hotel we got prepared for our quad bike safari in the desert. Once we all learnt the in's and out's of a quad bike and were properly attired we all jumped on and cruised single file across the desert.





After a few incidents along the way, we had a half time break where we could rest, have some water and take in the scenery.


On the way back to base the sunset behind the desert the view was stunning the photos don't do it justice.



It wasn't long before we made it back very dirty and exhausted. It was time for a beer, dinner and a good nights sleep.



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Location:Egypt

Egypt Part 1

Early Sunday morning on the 12th of September we got up to catch the train from London Paddington to Heathrow to begin our adventure home. Our first stop on our 7 week journey was a 10 day tour of Egypt.


As our plane flew over Cairo we got our first glimpse of the Giza Pyramids. We arrived in Cairo on Sunday afternoon where we were picked up from the airport and taken to our Hotel in Cairo. As we were driving through Cairo we were amazed by the sites and the traffic, we drove through a particularly dodgy area when I said to Josche that it's lucky where not staying here, then the bus turned round and pulled up, that's exactly where we were staying :-).





The next day we were up early for breakfast and to see the sites of Cairo, first stop of the day was to the Egyptian museum, then the obvious highlight of Cairo the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx. While we were here we learnt that nothing is free in Egypt, so don't let anyone take photos of you or take photos of them you will be asked for money.





After we spent a few hours checking out the Pyramids and the Sphinx, taking many photos, we got to go on a camel ride through the desert. This was quite the experience, despite the sore butt and chaffing, our camel guides where very keen to get as many tips as they could out of us!


By this time we were all starving and very hot and sweaty but we had one final stop before our 4pm lunch, the papyrus shop. We learnt all about how papyrus was made.


After lunch it was back to the hotel to freshen up before we boarded the bus for our 13hour London overnight bus ride to Aswan.

We arrived in Aswan in time for Lunch on the Nile Star which would be our cruise boat up the Nile to Luxor. Josche and I took the opportunity to have a nanna nap that afternoon before our ride on the felucca (meaning boat).



We cruised down the Nile at sunset in the felucca, were we had a few Egyptian children visit us by holding onto the side on the boat whilst being dragged along on skid boards as they sang to us for a few Egyptian pounds.


The scenery was amazing at sunset, as we motored down the Nile. We eventually came to our swimming hole where we had a swim in the Nile, and yes it is safe. It was extremely refreshing!



After our swim we continued on to a small Nubian village where we had hibiscus tea and learnt some more about the Egyptian history.

The next day was a 2:30am rise to board the bus for our 4 hour journey to Abu Simbel. The early wake up call was well worth it as this temple was amazing, they actually moved the temples 80 metres higher due to the flooding of the Nile.





On our way back to the cruise boat we stopped via place that made essences and perfume bottles, we were showed how glass bottles where made and had sample of some essences.

To be cont.... See part 2


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Location:Egypt

Valencia

Our last long weekend in the Northern Hemisphere we escaped to the sunshine and warmth of Spain... Valencia! After a very early 3.30am wake up call we all (Kitz, Sam, Josche and I)jumped into the Ford KA to head out to Stansted Airport to catch our very early flight! We arrived in Valenica on time and in good spirits ready to hit the beach!

We met Em and David at our awesome! Apartment with a Jacuzzi on the deck! Jumped into our togs and we were off to the beach for a Paella, Sangria (and keep it coming :-)) and a swim. Thank god for David who is spanish he translated and ordered everything for us the entire time we were there!

After this in true spanish style it was time for a siesta under an umbrella on the beach.....Heaven!

After our siesta it was back to the bar for some ice cold beers for a few hours then more food... Tapas!!! And more Sangria :-).... In case you haven't noticed I love Sangria.

A well deserved sleep in was in order on Sunday before we walked into Old Town for lunch (yes you are seeing a pattern here we did a lot of sleeping, eating and drinking). Then out to a place that is famous for this awesome milky thing that is made off nuts ( I am so sorry David I have forgotten what it was called I will google it) soooo yummy.

After our siesta we walked down to the beach for some drinks and dinner we were all exhausted so pulled the pin early and got some ice-cream on the way home.

Unfortunately the next day was our last day so we said goodbye to Em and David who were going back to Madrid. Kitz, Sam, Josche and I took on the Aqua park the biggest one in Europe and spent the whole day there exploring and watching a dolphin show.

From 2010-08 - Valencia

That afternoon we were back at the airport for our trip back to London after a weekend of sun and fun we were all exhausted.