Egypt Day 1

My first experience in Cairo, Egypt was the driving. From the airport to our hotel in Giza (30 minutes) we only encountered 2 stop lights. The streets don't have have lanes and if there are markings on the street, it's only suggestive. The cars drive where they please but surprisingly I did not witness any accidents.

We stayed at the Mena House Hotel in Giza; a city on the West Bank of the River Nile, sister city of Cairo. The Mena House is the only hotel in the shadow view of the Great PyrMids of Giza. It originally was a vacation house for the King. It features lavish green grounds at the base of the Sahara Desert, main house with 3 wonderful restaurants and outer buildings with comfortable rooms. We were shuttled from building to building by golf carts or walking.

My view from my balcony, on the hotel grounds, view of the Giza Pyramid, hotel lobby

Sheikh Palace Perfumes with Sheikh Abdull; learning the oldest essential oils [Lotus and Papyrus] and the oils for healing the chakras.

Welcome dinner for "Up in the Air Life":

Goodnight Cairo!!!

2016 EPIC Trip of A Lifetime - Egypt

My EPIC Trip of a Lifetime this year [2016] was to Egypt with the group Up in the Air Life.  I am normally not a group traveler but I tried it this time to see Egypt.  It was worth it and I would definitely travel with them again.  Everything is included in the price [airfare, hotel, river cruise, meals except one, transfers]; all you have to do is pack and show up with your passport.  They provide a payment plan for the trip, and Facebook closed group to get to know the travelers, discuss travel tips; and if you are single traveler, they will pair you with a roommate.  This trip included 70 people.

It was 8 days, 7 nights in Cairo, Luxor, Edfu, Aswan, Kom Ombo.  Upscale hotels in Cairo and on board the Sanctuary Sunboat IV River Cruise; an Egyptologist along the way to detail all the sites.  The tours included the Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Treasures of Tutankhamun, Papyrus Institute, Temple of Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Valley of Queens, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Ptolemaic Temple of Goddess Hathor in Denderah, Temple of Luxor, Temple of Horus, Egyptian Cooking Lesson, Temple of Kom Ombo, Philae Temple, Granite Quaries, Sailing on Felucca, Carriage ride through Luxor.  I also added extra trips to the Essential Oils Perfumery with Shiek Abdullah, Saqqara & Memphis, The Step Pyramid by Imhotep, and a visit to the Oriental Carpet School. 

The following daily entries will give a pictorial view of our travels.

Review of the 2013 Europe Trip/Paris Week 2

The last week of my journey I was joined by my big sister [Ethlyn] and my BFF [Jeannine].  The girls in Paris!

Lunch at the Eiffel Tower and the 1st floor tour.

 

 

The Seine River - boat ride:

Moulin Rouge: [sorry, no pictures inside]

 

 

 

 

Sidewalk public toilets - self sanitizing"

Riding the train:

The Versailles:

 

 

 

 

The Hall of Mirrors

 

 

 

 



 Angelina's café - BEST HOT CHOCOLATE EVER!!!!!

Tour through Champagne Province: the city of Reims, vineyards, family owned winery LeBoeuf [best champagne], city of Epernay, Moet & Chandon [home of Dom Perignon]

Champ Elysees

Laduree macaroons:

The best meal in neighborhood restaurant, the waiter spoke very little English, there were 6 tables, and the menu was on a chalkboard.

The Black Paris Tour, Dumas Statue

Saturday market and lunch in the park.

Until next time Paris!  A bientot