After breakfast we set off on a panoramic coach tour of Rhodes.
View of Rhodes from our ship.
We drove to Lindos and St Paul’s Bay.
We had the obligatory stop at a local pottery.
We passed an old amphitheatre.
We were amazed to find how close Turkey is to Rhodes.
We were dropped off in the medieval part of the town and had a wander back to the ship.
We could soon see our ship.
Back to the ship for dinner and a show. The weather has been beautiful.
After breakfast we set off on a local ‘hop on/hop off’ bus to look round Heraklion.
We travelled the whole route on the top of the open air bus and then got dropped off in town.
The stern of Azura can be seen in the middle of the photo.
Even the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum can be seen heading to the beach!
We passed along the city walls.
We had a refreshing drink at an open air cafe by the Morosini Fountain.
We passed St Titos church then walked back along the harbour to our ship.
Heading to the Main Dining Room for dinner soon, followed by a show in the Playhouse.
We set sail from Valletta last night heading to Heraklion on the island of Crete.
The journey is just over 600 miles. We had a very ‘chill’ day, eating, chatting to fellow cruisers and taking part in various quizzes.
In the evening we watched a show ‘Reel to Reel’ by the ship’s entertainment team, ‘The Headliners’. Using song and dance they told the history of British films through the years.
Tomorrow we will wake up in Heraklion.
Valletta Day 1 Embarkation
Arrived at Gatwick. Obligatory photo of parking position so we can find our car in two weeks time.
Boeing 737 Tui flight. A comfortable flight.
Arrived at last! Here is our P&O ship Azura, our home for two weeks.
We checked out of the Hotel Sheraton and boarded the coach with Marco for our last trip.
We drove out of Cairo to Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser. It is the earliest Egyptian pyramid, built by the architect Imhotep around 2630 BC, surrounded by a vast mortuary complex.
It looked busy so we stopped first at the Tomb of Kagemni.
The carvings and paintings were outstanding.
The Step Pyramid was built in stages. A square mastaba was first built with further layers added until it reached a height of 6 mastabas (60 metres).
The burial chamber lies at the bottom of a shaft in the centre of the pyramids.
The Step Pyramid is considered to be a giant stairway which King Djoser would climb after being resurrected to join the sun god, Ra, in the sky.
Our Egyptian adventure over, we drove back to Cairo and to the airport.
Today we visited Coptic Cairo, a historic, spiritual district in Old Cairo hosting some of Egypt’s most revered churches within the Roman era Babylon Fortress.
The Coptic Orthodox Church was established by Saint Mark in the 1st century, making it one of the oldest Christian communities.
We went inside the Church of St Sergius and Bacchus.
The church was built on top of the crypt where Joseph, Mary and Jesus were said to have sheltered after fleeing to Egypt.
Next was the 7th century ‘Hanging Church’ suspended over 12 pillars.
Then we visited the Coptic museum – full of religious artefacts.
Arriving back at our hotel we had free time to get a light lunch and pack ready for our departure tomorrow.
We are looking forward to a farewell meal tonight with our 38 fellow travellers, our tour guide, Linda, and our local guide Marco, at the nearby Kebabgy Grill in the Sofitel Hotel overlooking the River Nile.
Sadly we left our cruise ship and took a short flight to Abu Simbel.
Abu Simbel is two huge temples hewn out of the rock, in the 13th century dedicated to Ramases II and his favourite wife Nefertari.
Following the construction of the High Dam in the 1960s it was realised that the temples would flood as the water rose. Many countries offered solutions to save the temple and the Swedish engineering company, Vattenbyggnadsbyran, came up with the best solution. They cut the temples into huge blocks and raised them 64 feet.
This picture was interesting as the extra legs of the horse and arms of the man appear to be to show movement.
In the smaller of the two temples, dedicated to Nefertari, the God of motherhood is shown as a cow with cows ears.
We flew back to Aswan and remained on the plane as some passengers got off and others got on. Then we flew back to Cairo.
Traffic was very busy when we landed and it was a long time before we finally arrived back at the Sheraton Hotel, Giza, on a different floor but with the same view.
Our coach took us to see the ‘unfinished obelisk’, the largest known obelisk. It was commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut during the 18th dynasty. It was abandoned after cracks appeared as it was being prepared.
It was quite an arduous climb (for me!)
We drove past the British dam of 1902 on our way to the Aswan High Dam.
Our coach took us across the top of the dam. Photography was frowned upon but we managed to snap a few showing Lake Nasser to the south of the dam with the River Nile continuing towards Cairo. There are no crocodiles in this part of the river but crocodiles and hippos are found in the lake.
We passed the Lotus Flower Peace Monument, symbolising the partnership between Egypt and the Soviet Union, who helped fund the construction of the dam.
We stopped off at an essential oils/perfumery where a Nubian specialist gave us an interesting talk.
We travelled by boat to the Philae Temple on an island in the reservoir between the British and the High Dam.
Marco – our cheerful local guide!
After a seafood buffet lunch back on the ship we were back on the water but this time in a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat. After a peaceful sail along the Nile we arrived at Kitchener Island where we explored the botanical gardens.
After a relaxing return journey we arrived back at our ship as the sun was setting.
Before our last dinner on board our ship we were treated to some entertainment.
Our Nile cruise is over and we return to Cairo tomorrow.
We woke up to find ourselves docked in Edfu. Our coach took us to Edfu temple. Some of the tourists travel there in a horse and carriage but they look in such poor condition that Great Rail Journeys stopped using them.
Off the coach, we first had to walk through the ‘Valley of the Vultures’.
Edfu temple is dedicated to Horus, the falcon headed God. He killed his brother, symbolised here by a hippo.
We returned to the ship and enjoyed a BBQ on the top deck as we continued cruising up the Nile, passing many different vessels and even a train!
We docked opposite Kom Ombo Temple.
This temple was dedicated to Horus and to the crocodile headed god, Sobek.
The columns and walls of the temple are intricately carved. These pictures show the medical instruments in use at the time, and the birthing chair.
Archaeological digs continue.
Mummified crocodiles were on display in the adjacent museum.
To get back to our ship we had to walk through 5 other ships!
In the evening we had an Egyptian buffet followed by music, dancing and games.
We have now docked at Aswan, ready for another exciting day tomorrow.
We left the ship and travelled to West Luxor, crossing the River Nile.
First stop was the Valley of the Kings.
We visited the tomb of Rameses IV.
The next tomb belonged to Tutankhamun.
Rameses III came next.
Then Rameses IX,
and the tomb of Merenptah.
Next we briefly visited one of the many alabaster cottage industries in the area to see souvenirs being made.
Back on the coach we travelled to Hatshepsut’s temple. She was an Egyptian queen.
Our last stop was the Valley of the Queens – which also includes many kings. The tomb of Amonchopeshfu, eldest son of Rameses III is famous for its beautiful wall paintings.
On the drive back to the ship we saw sundried tomatoes being made.
We got back to the ship just in time for lunch and disembarkation. We are heading south, up river.
We sat on deck for a while and we are now waiting for Marco, our Egyptian guide, to talk to us about modern Egypt.
Cocktails with the Captain later!
