Oldies On Tour

The winter cold was getting through to our bones and the prospect of several more weeks of it was too much to bear, so at the last minute booked ourselves a 14 day package holiday to Sharm El Sheikh, that “winter warmer” at the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula, on the Red Sea.
After an interesting flight (crammed in like sardines) on a Thompson ‘plane and a short transfer we arrived at our hotel, but with a two hour time difference it was dark upon arrival. Having left at 0515hrs to ensure we had extra time to get to Gatwick, (it had snowed on the Saturday night) we were very tired, but having booked a “Fully Inclusive” holiday, we felt obliged to have an evening meal!! When we hit the sack we didn’t need any rocking to sleep.

Hotel Club Azure Pool

Tuesday there was a meeting with the Thompson Rep at the un-godly hour of 1000hrs, so any lie in had to be on another day. After a hearty breakfast we met with the rep and booked a number of excursions including that “hot spot” Cairo; more on that later.
The early part of the week was taken up by finding our way around this hotel complex, keeping warm, yes believe it or not there is a lot of cloud and a cold wind around, we were also getting Christine better, yes she had “it”, top and bottom but fortunately there was a Doctor on site so he came to our room, put her on a drip and through it administered a concoction of anti biotic’s etc., that did the trick!!! We had to change one of our excursions to accommodate Christine but hey, never mind. I soon followed but contained “it” to bottom only and following a trip to the Chemist all was fine.

The days we were not on trips we leisurely spent catching up with e mails etc. and by the pool, we played crib in the afternoon, sitting by the pool, with a waiter keeping us in drinks, very civilised.

Gloom and despondency on the Monday morning, we had to pack and be out of our rooms by noon, still we were able to indulge in another “gourmet”, well big lunch before the coach arrived around 1500hrs.

I think I should mention “Samir Hassan” our Thompson Rep. He was very courteous, helpful, and always cheerful, sometimes under very difficult conditions. We had quite a few chats to him about the Egyptian political scene, and of course some of his “visitors from Hell”!! Anyway, thanks again Samir.
A short and quick trip to Sharm El Sheik International Airport we joined the organised chaos and several hundred other passengers trying to check in. There were flights returning to every airport in the British Isles that evening and we naturally chose the wrong lane! However we were fortunate to note the “Bristol” queue had ended and we were invited to go to that desk, well we were out of our blocks like hundred meter sprinters and got to the desk first. We asked if there were any “extra leg room seats” available, there were and we booked two of them but at a cost of £20 each. We were annoyed as we had tried to book them with the Thompson rep who told us there were none available but ask on the day in case there could be some “no shows” When we checked in and bought these seats there were still many more people to check in and Thompsons would not have known at that time if there were in fact going to be “no shows” Had we booked with the rep it would have cost £6 each so we think there was a scam going on!! Anyway an uneventful and comfortable flight back, our bags arrived on the conveyor fairly quickly, bus to the car park and away: Arrived back in Waterlooville, drink and in bed by 0030hrs, knackered!!!!! Our mistake was traveling back after half term week, never again.

Up with the lark and off to Cairo, see the Giza pyramids amongst other things, collected at 0445 by private car as we up-graded to “VIP” onto Egypt Air for the short flight to Cairo through the airport terminal and again collected by chauffeur driven car with our private guide.

Mohamed Ali Mosque

Firstly we went to the Citadel of Salah Al-Din and inside this walled area is the most famous mosque in Egypt but only built in the mid 19th century by a Turkish mercenary who became one of Egypt’s recent rulers called Mohamed Ali, yes same name as the boxer! Then onto one of the two official genuine Papayas makers where we were given a demonstration in the art of this most ancient form of paper making, it was very interesting as we were also shown how to identify the fakes that are sold about the streets: Here was our first purchase!
Next the main performance, we arrived at the Giza pyramids, Wow!

Giza Pyramids

Giza Pyramids

Apart from all the hustling that goes on by the vendors, they are really one of the 7 wonders of the world. I know it is a little late in our life to visit them but they were well worth waiting for. We spent a couple of hours walking around them then off to see the Sphinx,

Sphinx at Cairo

another magnificent colossal statue carved out of the rock. Our guide was very knowledgeable about Ancient Egyptian History as he had studied it at University; he completely lost us with all the facts, dates and dimensions etc
Next the included lunch next to the river Nile, we were looking forward to some local Egyptian restaurant with local food but no, to our surprise we arrived at a TGI Fridays; worse it was a dry TGI Fridays, no booze at all, huh! Food was OK, not their normal exciting menu, but as I said ok, but their service was nonexistent. Off to the Cairo Museum next.

Cairo Museum

We only had two hours at the Museum, to complete a tour looking at everything would take about 2 years but we were pointed to the significant artefacts. It was very awe inspiring being amongst relics dating back 7,000 years to 5.000BC. The centre piece had to be the artefacts of Tutankhamun’s tomb, especially the solid gold head dress and coffins. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to go and see his mummified body, perhaps on another occasion; we did see some mummified animals though, fascinating!
We also saw the burnt out building of Mubarak’s ruling party’s headquarters, this was

Mubarack's Parties Headquarter

burnt out during the revolution, about a year ago now, we have to say there is no other sign of trouble here at all now.
Back to Cairo international airport, a good flight back to Sharm el Sheik private car back to the hotel and into the restaurant for a late dinner then bed after a very, very long but interesting day.
A day of rest and also our 7th anniversary, but unfortunately the day did not get off to a good start, I had not bought Christine a card, oh dear I am very sorry but this set the tone for the day! Still we had a full day around the pool, minimal wind but a lot of hot sun so we managed to get some colour into our skins. It is ages since we basked in sunshine, nice feeling.

Another 4am start and of course several temples to visit.
A good nostalgic flight in a propeller aeroplane followed by a harrowing drive in our private car, yes VIP again; to the Valley of the Kings.

Valley of the Kings

We walked into 3 tombs and were amazed at the original colours still clearly visible on the walls after about 3,500/4,000

Original paintings circa 3500 BC

years as well as the size and weight of the sarcophagus These were made of a size that would just get through the entrance tunnels, what exact engineering. Of course there are numerous tombs buried into these mountains, many still to be discovered, fascinating.

Next stop was to watch how alabaster was taken from the basic rock and hand carved into beautiful vases, lights, drinking vessels and anything else you

Original paintings circa 3500 BC

can think of, again fascinating. Naturally the object of this visit to the factory is to buy something, which we did, our second significant purchase!!

Al-Deir Ali-Bahari

Al-Deir Ali-Bahari

Off then to Al-Deir Al-Bahari, King Hatshepsut’s Temple. This King actually was a woman but to keep the throne, she had to be seen as Man, can you believe that!!! Enormous temple built into the mountain side but this was not her tomb that was the other side of the mountain in the Valley of the Kings!
Lunch followed aboard a boat on the Nile, excellent, far better than the TGI’s we went to in Cairo.

Entrance to Karnak

Next we drove to Karnak Temple, the largest temple in Egypt that covers some 68 acres and spans several hundred years.  Again we were blown away about the great size of the columns and Obelisks, the latter being carved out of one piece of rock

several hundred kilometres south of Luxor and then transported to this site; and we think we are clever these days! This temple was also a featured in the James Bond film, “The Spy Who Loved Me”.

Karnak Amazing

A last visit to yet another temple, “Luxor Temple”, and following this we asked our guide if we could get a cup of tea, but not in a western type establishment, a local Egyptian place.

Karnak Temple

We were taken down the usual alleyways and in the middle of the souk came across this very local café and had Egyptian tea accompanied by a smoke of the water pipe.

Geoff trying to smoke a water pipe

This was the first time either of us has smoked this bit of kit, I struggled to suck hard enough to draw the smoke through but Christine managed it quite well; naturally our guide did it perfectly however he was worried in case we reported him to the tour operator as they have strict instructions to stay on the designated (safe) tour routes, and we went off it!!!
Again we had a good return flight in that propeller plane, and our car was waiting for us at the airport. After a late dinner we hit the sack, exhausted. We had a great day and the weather was very hot, we can’t imagine how tourists visit these tombs etc., in the heat of summer, this time of the year was hot enough and we went through several bottles of water.

On our first excursion it was billed as a “VIP Cruise” where we had an excellent day with

Geoff ready for snorkeling

Christine about to go in

Christine doing three snorkeling sessions on three different coral reefs, I went in but only for 5 minutes as I thought it was very cold “BUT” I had been under the weather and was suffering with a chill, but never mind, we had a very enjoyable day.

Christine in the Red Sea

Though it was windy the sun shone for much of the day and the water was very clear allowing the “brave” ones snorkeling to get excellent views of the numerous species of brightly coloured

wild and windy

fish as well as the protected coral reefs. Being VIP meant that the boat was only about 25% full allowing us lots of space to change our positions as we wished; there was also a lunch bar-b-q on board, though that was not the best bar-b-q chicken we has ever had!

Our last trip on (our last day) Sunday, but fortunately it didn’t leave the hotel until 1430hrs, so again more sun tanning time by the pool in the morning ready for the off.

Christine in desert kit!

The coach took us to where the Quads were neatly assembled in a long row, and following a short familiarisation and driving test on a short circuit, we were off into the desert.Like any convey we were governed by the speed of the slowest, Christine and I were right behind the guide and trying to egg him on faster! Eventually he invited us to go ahead, I did but Christine was happy to stay behind. Our route through desert

Resting after Quad bike ride

circumnavigated several mountains that were sticking up out of the desert and we drove between them; spectacular yet dramatic scenery, we were quite surprised, not as we had envisaged.

First stop was to ride the Camels, this Christine did with

Christine of Arabia

spectacular skill, I declined having done this before and did the camera work!

Off again, this time to the “Bedouin” enactment, though more like a second rate film set! Now we come to the only disappointment of our holiday. Firstly it was a lot colder than we were warned about; the food they served us was, frankly, quite dreadful, everybody left most it. Next we were subjected to what may loosely be called “dancing”, followed by these “dancers” getting most people up and doing the Hooky Kooky, very Bedouin I must say!!! Most of us could not wait to get away and back to our hotels for a decent meal. This was a great shame as the “Quad Guide” was excellent; the driving and camel ride experience was second to none, and the day was only spoiled by the second half. It would have been better to have just booked the “Quad Bike” ride only; still we know for another time.