Mike+M

Mike Milne, 2009

Nov. 13. Flew into Cairo had breakfast at 7:00am. Took bus to Cairo stayed at the Holiday Inn. Brought bags into the room it was 9:00am. It was great weather and I went for a walk through the city.

Nov. 25. Went on a tour boat cruise into Egypt. 10AM...Had lunch at 11:30 & right after started driving to the first sight Rameses 2 next I saw the sphinx then I went to pyramid salekaia then went back to the ship at 5:30 and had some iced tea

Nov.26.Woke up saw a beautiful sunrise. Nothing amazing happened today. The sunrise was great too, I could see the reflection in the water.

Nov. 27. Thanksgiving. Went to shore. There we had breakfast and went on bus tour ride to rock temple of Spos Artemidos, Temple of Goddess Pakhet Then on to tombs of Beni hasn hewn in the rock. saw lotus, an architectectural statue of a lotus tree, I saw different types of columns...Doric (oldest and simplest of Greek architectural styles) columns in two....tombs. Got back just for lunch. We went back onto the boat in the evening.

Dec. 2. Went back on shore for a tour ride on bus to Karnak, It was so hot out. Good thing I was wearing my camel back. The bus had air conditioning, so it was nice in the bus. WE saw templeof Khorus, then rode donkies a little way to Temple of Amman. It was an amazing view on top. WE went back to the boat and took a nap after lunch. Woke up had a snack and went out to see Luxor Temple. Saw another beautiful sunset and stayed out to see the colors reflecting on the water.

Dec. 3. Woke up had breakfast at 7:30, left at 8:30 & sailded across to west bank where we went on a tour bus and went to mortuary chapel of Sethor I. Then rode on to tombs of Kings and visted 4-Rameses IX, Remeses VI, Sethor I, Amenophis II- then walked up over hill for view and down to chill for lunch at restaurant. AT 2 walked to Temple of Deir el-Bahri, of Queen hatases, Then went back on tour bus back to Cairo. Went to gift store to buy gifts.

Dec. 4. Woke up early watched the news. Got room service. Left at 8 took taxi across river. Went on tour bus.to Rameseum, great temples of Rameses Second the rode to temple of Deir-el Medesnh, & temple of Medint-Habu, palace & great temple of Rameses III, by far the best in Egypt. Passes Colossi of Memnon on way back to tour bus. Ate lunch at Hard Rock Cafe. In the evening we went on a cruise on Nile for 1 hr... mailed my Christmas gifts, after coffee..walked along shore to see sunset, then went shopping.

Dec 5. Got onto the tour bus very early went from Luxor and arrived at Esna at 10.walked to the temple of Khurum (horus). Then got back on bus and went to Eduf at about 3, took camels to the Temple of Horus, It was a preserved temple, a great Pylon (gateway building) and we went to the top, up a dark stairway I counted the steps 242. In the evening we had a class on the Nile by a doctor. Got back to the hotel around 3 for a snack, we were hungry.

Dec 6. Got to Kemombo about 10 and walked to temple. This temple was dedicated to two deities, like a priest. each deity had his own special worship and gestival so there are really tow temples: the temple was divided and each side had its won gatherings and chapels. They worshipped crocodiles here. The murals were cool. You could see the whole Nile countryside from the temple.

Dec 7. At 9:30 took the tour bus to visit shops and stores then went up to Cataract Hotel ( named after rapids and falls o the Nile)...took cab and rode camels to see the granite quarries (where rocks are collected) and Bisharin camp where they put on a show of the natives dancing on the sand. The camels spit and the dancers got mad so we went back to the hotel for a swim.

Dec 11. In the AM I wrote post cards and at lunch we got to Wadi Halfa. Walked around then went up to train station and saw people off for Khartoum. Went to Post Office for stamps. After snack we went through the Nubian and the Sudanese village historical museum.

Dec. 12. Went through the tour guide and got on the camels and rode over the desert to the rock of Abu Seer, 1 and 1/2 hours. Went up on rock, and saw two natives shoot the rapids. The cataract was very cool. The moon was full.

Dec. 13. had breakfast at 8:30,took a cab to the rock tempel of Gebel Addeh 4 papyrus.columes with bud capitals -used as a christian church. soon after leaving this we passed abu simbal again.

Dec.14. reached Kalabsha just at breakfast and immediately after saw a grop of natives

Dec.16. Went to bazaar bought kimono and a blue stone. also got post card.

Dec.17. A.M. went to bazaar again ; bought some beads, cards, ect. and saw many nice things.

Dec 19. Took tour bus to granite quarries on the desert to see statue of Rameses lyin gin the dand. A 1 hr trip.

Dec. 22. Went to the dam then walked nearly across the dam and back, got back in bus and went back to the hotel for ice cream social.

Dec. 25 Christmas morning. WEnt to chruch at 10:30...saw a Christmas tree and Santa Claus, listened to the music, then saw sunset on the terrace. We had our own tree for dinner with presents at each plate and a 9 course dinner.

Jan 15...waited till nearly noon to see a tour hot air balloon go up...it was cool as we watched it go overhead, it was very colorful.