Egypt and Jordan 2009 PicsEgypt and Jordan 2009 Pics Bob and Ann in Egypt and Jordan 2009

  • December 10 - Alexandria to Cairo

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    We left our royal suite this morning at 8:00 to begin our bus ride back to Cairo. We drove west along the Mediterranean to el-Alamein. The roads were wet because of overnight storms. Drivers here don’t appear to be used to driving on wet roads, so they slow way down whenever they see a puddle on the pavement. This was frustrating to me because we could have made much better time.


    A few miles out of Alexandria, the roads started to dry out. We could see the Mediterranean off to our right. We could also see mile-after-mile of newly constructed “resorts” along the shore. They are actually condos and small villas with a modern design and clashing colors. They drew much criticism from Samy who bemoaned the fact that these were pristine beaches a few years ago.



    el-Alamein Cemetary for North Africa Campaign Troops

    We eventually reached el-Alamein. This was the scene of two major battles in World War II between the British and Germans in 1942. We visited the War Museum which was built in the area where Nazi aggression was first checked. This is where Montgomery’s British Eighth Army defeated Rommel’s Afrika Korps. There were artifacts in the museum’s five halls – one each devoted to Egypt, Great Britain, Italy and Germany plus a general interest hall. On the ground outside of the museum were some preserved military equipment including a Sherman tank, Howitzer guns, a Spitfire fighter plane, armored troop carriers from all armies, etc. It was an amazing display.


    After the museum we walked around the military cemetery and saw hundreds of graves of allied soldiers.



    Truck Stop Lunch on the Road from el-Alamein to Cairo

    Back on the bus, we headed south on the shortcut to the Alexandria to Cairo highway. It was here that we began to travel into the desert. We saw camels, lots of sand, little desert bushes, and irrigated farm land where they grow oranges, olives, grapes, and other vegetables and fruit.


    We arrived in Giza (Cairo) amid chaotic rush hour traffic. The last 10 kilometers took us almost an hour. As we reached the end of one boulevard to turn left onto another, two pyramids loomed up to our right. These were the real thing. As Samy says, “Pinch me. Am I really here”? We get to see them up-close tomorrow morning.


    Our hotel, Amarante Pyramids, was a couple of miles from the pyramids. It was an older hotel, but the rooms were large and clean. We had orange lilies on our beds greeting us. Ann took a swim in the hotel’s large pool. She reported that it was cold – 70 degrees.


    We met the rest of our group this evening with an orientation meeting and group dinner at the hotel. Bedtime was at 10:00.


    Here is a map of where we went today: