I'm loving this trip more and more! The ship's company will be fantastic.

Peggy - is this more to your liking? DESERT: Dubai, Egypt, Suez Escapade, Ramses Tour

Cleo and Marc A. purportedly have a private tour at group pricing thanks to the talented Mama Sup (a/k/a Ngaire) and Ker and Downey. Either that, or Cleo & Marc A.'s reputation discouraged other travelers from joining up on our two-week Realizing Our Desire In Egypt (RODIE) tour.

We'll be sailing down De Nile on the MS Triton. Most assuredly, if it conveyed Betty and Al (graywolf), it's more than suitable for Cleo. After that, we're cross the River Jordan to Petra and Wadi Rum, where we will face off for the camel races for three days.

I am so delusional I expect no strikes on Alitalia. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Cheers, Cleo (a/k/a Anne)

Carolyn and Don--I agree with Olivia, it will be great to see you again. We're looking forward to hearing about how you like Georgetown.
Cleo (Anne)--much better description for DESERT--Thanks. Are you planning to participate in the camel races, or are you just going to be a spectator? One of the things I must do on this Dubai-Athens trip is get a ride on a camel--that will be one more thing crossed off my life list :cool:

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Cleo and Marc A. on another adventure! Camel races, crossing the River Jordon...Don't worry about airline strikes, YOU are The Queen of De Nile


:banana: :banana:

Suzie, I love your cartoons!

Peggy,
It will be wonderful to sail with you, Jerry and Olivia and the rest of the gang again. This looks like a fascinating itinerary and just a year away. We love Georgetown we still miss New Orleans but the move has been great for us. We love being Texans.

Carolyn

Carolyn - it will be wonderful to meet you. We were in New Orleans about one month ago, just in time for a few of the Mardi Gras parades.

Anyone up for a kicking up a little dust on a Greek Island when CAMEL concludes?

Cheers, Anne

Anne, I'm sort of ready to get home at the conclusion of a cruise, but if you can get some interest going, Mykonos has quite the night scene, and Santorini has a lot of restaurants overlooking the small harbor! This my impression from my land "cruises" there!

Editing to ask Carolyn, when did you move to Texas? I guess I always thought you lived in NOLA, maybe because of the biz! Anyway, glad you are happy in Texas!

Hi Everyone,

I spoke with the fabulous Ngaire this afternoon and we are now signed up to join you. Our first time on Silversea and with a great group of friends too!

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Mary Ellen

Good news M'ellen, it's been a long time no see! This cruise is starting out to be an event!

Welcome aboard, M'Ellen & Jim, my fellow ROARin', Range Rover buddies. This CAMEL ride is getting better & better! And a hardy welcome to Carolyn & Don! We look forward to meeting Georgetown, Tx. friends!

Anne, Santorini sounds good to me. I've been to Mykonos and planned a 2 or 3 day post in Athens because Marilyn has never been but I don't like Athens so what and where and how long are we talking?

How about tossing a few plates on Santorini? Don hasn't been to Greek Islands but I was a wandering student in the late 60's in Mykonos, & a few others. Haven't been to Santorini.

Either Santorini or Mykonos sounds good to me--we've been to Santorini and wouldn't mind returning, but have never been to Mykonos. We've also been to Athens a couple times --we really like it there. Speaking of pre and post, we most definitely need to do a couple days in Dubai before the cruise. I checked on the rates at the Burj Al Arab (the famous over-the-top hotel that looks like a sail) thinking it would be fun to stay there. But the rates START at $1400 per night. Ouch!! But there's lots of other nice hotels in Dubai at more reasonable prices.
Maryellen--looking forward to seeing you and Jim again.

I can't do the cruise but I am tempted to meet you all for a party in Greece!

OK .. sounds like there's interest for a post-cruise for several of us. I'll take it up after we return from Queen of De Nile.

Cheers, Anne

Peggy,
I wanted badly to stay at Burj Al Arab at least one night, maybe 2...this is disappointing. Ouch is right :(

If you're flying Emirates Air, they sometimes have package deals for stayovers. I just looked yesterday & didn't see the Burj included; but that could always change.

Hopefully yours, Anne

....hum...maybe we could get 1 room at the Burj Al Arab & share it ...or take turns. :D ................... Ok, just kidding. Is it true one can't even walk into the lobby if not a registered guest there?

Michelle, I read somewhere that if you aren't staying at the hotel, you can go there for tea in the afternoon or cocktails in the evening, but you have to have reservations several weeks in advance. The tea is $61 per person, what they call "Indulgant" tea is $95--don't know about the cocktails.

Thanks, Peggy. I'm looking forward to "indulging" myself in many things that Dubai offers! :cool:

Ahh I love your little TURDLEY on your signature line. He is very happy here at my house and waiting for his next adventure!

(a) Just got a blurb today Dubai has entered into an agreement with the Louvre museum in Paris to showcase certain of their works.

That'll be worth a look in the mid-day heat.

(b) My sister-in-law gave me "Leap of Faith" by Queen Noor of Jordan. Lots of airport time meant I finished reading it. It gave me a better idea of recent history, as well as a better idea of what to see. I recommend it.

Check out www.visitjordan.com for ideas. Also www.tourism.jo for other travel ideas and maps. My guess is we can get a local operator to do a van if we like for less than the $195/pp rate from Silverseas. King's Highway from Aqaba to Petra is the historical travel route; that's an idea for a CAMEL ride.

Cheers, Anne

I want to at least walk into that indoor ski place someone sent me a picture of from the internet in Dubai! Definitely some pre- and post- planning when Anne returns. At least we have lots of time.

Olivia - I'm with you! A skiing day in Dubai in April? When will we ever get the chance to do that THAT again?

OH GEEEZZZZ I want to be with you two

C'mon, Joanna, jump in....Dubai, Camels, Sheiks,Midnight at the Oasis, skiing, Burj Al Arab and "The Girls!!"

Suzie: You have the greatest bunch of "Girls"

Don't forget--we need to save some time to go to the Gold Souk. Also, the Ski Dubai slopes are in the Mall of the Emirates, supposedly one of the biggest malls in the world. We could probably find some places to spend money there!!!

Hee hee .. one of the greatest shopping malls in the world is the Dubai Airport duty-free. Goes on for miles! Puts Las Vegas to shame.

Cheers, Anne

ROAR II reunion??? I just added up and of the 24 booked 18 are ROARERS. Joe and Judy may come too! Dont worry non ROARERS this is a welcoming bunch and you dont have to be a ROARER to enjoy this group of people.

We tend to run in a pack (or herd).

Joe and Judy? The 'Shopper extraordinare'? Ask Joe if he wants to golf in Dubai. Marilyn can carve another notch on her driver.

Okay CAMEL people how many are going to ride the DONKEYS to the Monastery after Annes report??

Not I, Ngaire! I had a donkey experience in Santorini going down to the water many years ago that did me in! I wouldn't take it back or change a thing! Everyone should do a donkey ride at some point, like I have to ride a Camel. I know what she says about them pushing people out of the way! In my case, as they passed other donkeys going up in the opposite direction! However, they had just a bit more insulation to brush against the walls, and I only had skin!

We did donkeys in Santorini as tram had been hit by lightning - ONCE and only ONCE for that ride!!! - our clothes smelled but it was an experience!!!

All things considered, the donkeys don't look like the best option for the trip to the monastery. We will grill Anne & Gary during the first few days of CAMEL about the issue; but it appears that walking (even up & down a lot of steps) would be better than hanging on for dear life to some poor injured (allegedly) donkey.

We, too, have ridden those whacky donkeys at Santorini (and then discarded the clothes we were wearing at the time - definitely a donkey version of penguin poop fragrance - or maybe that was the donkey handler - he was remarkably ripe, as well, with a bit of acrid tobacco and garlic added to the pungent donkey aromas - ah, Essence of Santorini *ss). (Karen, that word means "donkey" and is used in the Bible a number of times - 10th Commandment.)

On a less fragrant note, we will indeed be interested in hotel options in Dubai. The Burj appears to be a likely non-starter, due to its shocking tariffs. Is there a Dubai Motel 6???

Fred: I agree - so many times I want to say "you donkey" "you are a pain in the donkey" " who me? .. I am a donkey??" Or tonight to Tony "why are you always such a donkey?" Guess Karen will make us stick to donkey Bible or no Bible :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Everyone should have the full "eau de donkey" baptism once in life, preferably consecrated on level ground. Olivia, I also got my knee scraped twice on the way back down to Mother Earth in Petra. Fortunately, my pant leg was not torn in the process.

De donkeys at Petra who were not gainfully employed hauling tourists up the steps or back out to the Siq were instead engaged in Donkey Kong. There were so many donkey fights breaking out - biting, kicking, running each other out of Dodge. Geez! Camels suffer the reputation from being nasty (rumor is camel spit won't come out of your clothes) but the donkeys were .. well ... *sses.

Cheers, Anne

Trying to figure out whether to get my camel "baptism" on TAP or CAMEL. Perhaps they have a sanitized version of the camel ride in Dubai?

For all you men out there, Gary says camel baptism is for level ground only. Those wooden pommels get way too close for comfort when you're riding downhill. Then again, there's a good reason the local men ride the camels sidesaddle. :D

Cheers, Anne