NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229238
03/08/12 08:08 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078
Leslie B
OP
cruiser
|
OP
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078 |
We have arrived, so I am starting a new topic.
Travel went very smoothly, even though for us it was something like 30 hours door to door. Upon arrival in Cairo we were literally whisked away in a golf cart, escorted to a lounge, served tea and five minutes later we were ready to go, all the formalities and visas being taken care of for us. Traffic was a nightmare, but we finally arrived at the Four Seasons a bit after 7 PM, unpacked and split a burger in the Library Bar. On the way back to our room we ran into Kathy and Al who were just arriving and had a brief introduction to diixiechick and msunderstood who were on the same flight.
This morning I can see the pyramids in the hazy distance out our balcony!
Leslie
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229239
03/08/12 08:36 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
jhp
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967 |
Leslie, I'm an extreme night owl. Welcome to Egypt, and glad you all (Kathy and Al, dixiechick, and msunderstood) made it safely. You will be more rested than the rest to start the journey, maybe!
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229240
03/09/12 12:52 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078
Leslie B
OP
cruiser
|
OP
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078 |
First look - from our balcony:
Leslie
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229241
03/09/12 01:34 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
sedona
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471 |
Welcome to Egypt! You really got through much faster than we did. Already a great start. I think we waited for about 30 minutes. Did you wait alone or with the others in the lounge?
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229242
03/09/12 02:44 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,658
cruisinfanatic
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,658 |
Thanks for the picture Leslie, I can see them too. LOL. Probably the only way we ever will is thru the eyes of you NILE'ers. Would love to have done this with you, but just out of budget, so looking forward to everyone's posts.
JoAnn
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229243
03/09/12 02:58 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920 |
it's Helen, LCT will not let me log in?? We got off the plane on the tarmac and were picked up planeside by a fleet of sedans, Now THAT is the way to do it! We are all here and now waiting for our guide to head off to our private light show at the pyramids! How cool is that? ----------- Helen
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229244
03/09/12 02:58 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920 |
it's Helen, LCT will not let me log in?? We got off the plane on the tarmac and were picked up planeside by a fleet of sedans, Now THAT is the way to do it! We are all here and now waiting for our guide to head off to our private light show at the pyramids! How cool is that? ----------- Helen
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229245
03/09/12 03:15 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,369
Beth
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,369 |
Originally posted by Leslie B: This morning I can see the pyramids in the hazy distance out our balcony! My first sight of the pyramids from my Four Seasons balcony was one of those one of those "always to remember" moments! Thx, Leslie! Hope you all have the best time!!!
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229246
03/09/12 04:08 AM
|
Joined: Jan 1970
Posts: 15,171
KarenS
Moderator
|
Moderator
Joined: Jan 1970
Posts: 15,171 |
Yay, everyone is arriving! Leslie, what a view!! Helen, I will check into your logging in problem.
Karen Live long and prosper
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229247
03/09/12 04:59 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,569
Mrs. Marc
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,569 |
Leslie that is a great picture Really whets my appetite for more
Glad everyone has arrived safely so far. can't wait for the others to arrive Remember all of you, we need LOTS of sand mail
Arlene Adventure before Dementia!
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229248
03/09/12 10:45 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078
Leslie B
OP
cruiser
|
OP
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078 |
Leslie
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229249
03/09/12 10:52 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920 |
Wow Leslie is FAST. Got a little chilly at the sound and light show tonight and they have added a lot more to the show the last part was all new. Very lazy day today really doing nothing until we left at 5.00 pm for the light show. Tomorrow the touring begins!!
For the orignal NILE people the guys look good, Hossam's smiling face at the airport and Hany and Henry all smiles tonight. So nice to see them all again. Pam I gave Hossam your envelope and he was VERY surprised and could not believe you had kept that for two years.. he said to say "thank you" so here is the official thank you.
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229250
03/09/12 11:56 AM
|
Joined: Jan 1970
Posts: 15,171
KarenS
Moderator
|
Moderator
Joined: Jan 1970
Posts: 15,171 |
Wonderful pictures, especially the group photo with the fantastic scenery behind them!
Karen Live long and prosper
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229251
03/09/12 12:24 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
sedona
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471 |
Please give Hany, Hossam and Henry a big hello from us.
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229252
03/09/12 03:47 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,210
Pam
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,210 |
Oh, the memories!
Ngaire, thank you for handling that envelope for me.
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229253
03/09/12 04:17 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,868
Betty K
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,868 |
Thanks Leslie! Wonderful photos!
Betty
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229254
03/09/12 04:53 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,658
cruisinfanatic
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,658 |
JoAnn
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229255
03/09/12 04:54 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,407
Betty
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,407 |
Agree, Pam. The memories! Even freezing at the pyramid laser light show. Would go again in a heart beat. You all will enjoy it all.
Betty
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229256
03/10/12 03:30 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920
Ngaire
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,920 |
It is sad to see how few people are visiting Egypt. On the first Nile tour when we left the private sound and light show there was a LONG line of hundreds of people waiting to go in for the show. Last night a maximum of about 50 people.
Today was our first real touring day and Memphis was also pretty empty about 50 people including our 22 people. The Highlights Group left the Do it All Group in the dust and headed off to the Step Pyramid. We were eating lunch when Hossam arrived and said the other group were still at the Step Pryamid. They must be at least an hour behind. Then we went off to the Giza Pyramids to touch the stones and take pictures, visited the overlook and the Sphinx and now we are back at the hotel at 3.00 pm.
It was a good weather day, NOT hot at all but with a wind keeping it cooler but also kicking up the sand.
Tonight we leave at 6.15pm for our private showing at the Egyptian Museum. I am sure the museum is still busy during the day so looking forward to the opportunity to see the King Tut exhibit with just our group.
On a personal note for the first Nile Group Hany has a brand new baby boy, one month old. Hossam who I believe had no children when we were here now has TWO boys and Henry is holding at two and he said dealing with his teenage daughter he thinks it will stay that way! The three guys are all asking me about you all and I got them up to date on all the news.
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229257
03/10/12 05:07 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258
Mark and Cheron
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 258 |
Please give the guys our best. What a wonderful trip we had in Egypt! It puts a smile on my face knowing they are all doing fine. Enjoy your time in there as it is a trip of a lifetime.
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229258
03/10/12 07:30 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,744
pkd
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,744 |
Leslie, the pictures are great. What an experience it must have been to get your first view of the pyramids from your hotel. John and I are traveling with you all vicariously, so keep the posts and pictures coming! And have fun (which is a no-brainer with this group)!
Priscilla
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229259
03/10/12 11:00 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078
Leslie B
OP
cruiser
|
OP
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078 |
A few iphone shots from today Step Pyramid Pyramid panorama Emerging from the pyramid The Sphinx Camels Cairo scene
Leslie
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229260
03/10/12 11:24 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Ms Understood
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511 |
The museum was amazing! Well really the entire day was. I am so thankful to you Nile 1 guys who made it all sound so great that I just had to see for myself. I am totally exhausted but would not have given up a thing except maybe the assault by the vendors at the pyramids. The guys who are coming out of the pyramid are my sister Barbara's husband with the beard and the other guy is Sally/Dixiechick's brother in law. Tonite the museum was closed to all but us but there were many young men inside, apparently to make sure none of the B&K people helped themselves to any antiqities. I am pretty sure there were more of them than us. We saw a group of Army guys in a tank just hsnging under an overpass but no sign of any trouble. Tomorrow is a mosque,the Bazaar and the party at Antoine Riad's house. Looking forward to another interesting day Thanks, Karen, whatever my problem was, is remedied. -------------------- Helen
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229261
03/10/12 11:35 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 885
Ken
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 885 |
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229262
03/10/12 12:09 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
sedona
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471 |
Wow. all the pics are great. Leslie, you are making the iphone do things I didn't think possible.
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229263
03/10/12 12:43 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,641
joannapv
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,641 |
Amazing pictures!!!!! Keep the reports and pixs coming - just wonderful!!!
Joanna
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229264
03/10/12 04:36 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,667
coffeecup
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,667 |
Diane
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229265
03/10/12 04:49 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,407
Betty
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,407 |
Leslie, are you using Instagram for your photos? They look like something from a history book. Love it.
Betty
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229266
03/11/12 04:29 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,761
seadog
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,761 |
I finally got to the Four Seasons' business center to login in and say hello from Cairo!! Everything has been so wonderful. It did take me three trips to the balcony of our room the first morning to finally see the pyramids in the hazy horizon off in the distance. Now I can't stop looking at them when we are in our room... which is not very often!! We've been "doing it all" and it's been fabulous. Hany is a wonderful guide and Ken keeps the stragglers from falling too far behind. The museum open only to us last night was like a dream. Actually everthing so far has been like a dream and I keep having to tell myself I'm finally really here and it's all real. Alice got her camel ride in at the Giza pyramids. I happily served as videographer. We fly to Luxor Monday a.m. and have free wifi on the boat. So I will post more often then.
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229267
03/11/12 05:12 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471
sedona
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,471 |
So glad you are having such a marvelous time. We were the guinea pigs and it was great for us. I can only imagine Ngaire improved on perfection. I really wanted to do this again so please keep posting what you are doing and all your pictures. We have no more trips this year and I am in serious withdrawal.
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229268
03/11/12 05:16 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,084
petlover
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,084 |
Such wonderful reporting and photos. Your trip is amazing...you're going to LOVE Luxor too! Thanks for taking us along.
Marcie
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229269
03/11/12 05:38 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 885
Ken
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 885 |
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229270
03/11/12 05:40 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 885
Ken
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 885 |
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229271
03/11/12 05:54 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,369
Beth
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,369 |
Originally posted by seadog: We've been "doing it all" and it's been fabulous. Kim, I expect nothing less from you and Alice!!! Yes, Luxor is fabulous. If you overnight there, get up early - 6 AM - and enjoy the hot air balloons rising over the Valley of the Kings. It's a marvelous sight! Looking forward to more posts when you all have free internet on the boat. Continue to have a great trip. Great pix, Ken!! Alice looks so serene on the camel. Was she meditating or praying for dear life??
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229272
03/11/12 02:11 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,569
Mrs. Marc
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,569 |
Alice looks great on the camel and looks like she is having the time of her life! Keep the sand mail coming everyone, can't wait to see and hear more
Arlene Adventure before Dementia!
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229273
03/11/12 02:24 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,516
Lee
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,516 |
One question: Ngaire, how did you get on to your knees! Obviously, you're much younger than me!!!
Love all the photos - keep up the good work. This trip is now on my 'bucket list'.
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229274
03/11/12 06:35 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078
Leslie B
OP
cruiser
|
OP
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078 |
Obligatory Cheesy pyramid shot Al hits the wall... Entrance to king Titi's pyramid. Although only two people braved entering the Great Pyramid, most of us in the do it all group went in to this one From Memphis - Ramses II cartouche on a column base Part of the original walls of the Step Pyramid at Sakkara Kids playing soccer at Sakkara
Leslie
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229275
03/11/12 06:44 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078
Leslie B
OP
cruiser
|
OP
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078 |
A day in Old Cairo. Photos from my iPhone. (I am using the Hipstamatic camera app.) Citadel Alabaster Mosque Cairo skyline Delivering pita bread The Bazaar
Leslie
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229276
03/11/12 06:57 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078
Leslie B
OP
cruiser
|
OP
cruiser
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,078 |
Leslie
|
|
|
Re: NILE2 Land and Sand Mail
#229277
03/12/12 02:42 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 961
Anna B.
cruiser
|
cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 961 |
I am so sad to say that due to some pressing business issues we are heading home in the morning. Although our time has been way too short we are so happy to have had this experience. Our time here has been amazing and we have been treated like royalty. Last night's dinner at Antoine's was so special....a once in a lifetime treat! We will miss you all. Keep up with the reports and the wonderful photos. Our very special thanks to Ngaire and Ken - you are two in a million!
Kathy
|
|
|
|
|
|