On the Road - by Bob Van Leer

Tour Egypt, 1-31-2006 A Tour of Egypt and Cruising the Nile

By Bob Van Leer

(Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 31, 2006) - We are staying at the Ramses Hilton Hotel on the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt, after a long flight that began in Crescent City, CA.

The Pyramids, 2-1-2006 Pyramids Most Famous Monument

By Bob Van Leer

(Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 1, 2006) - Our main stop today was to visit the pyramids of Giza, the most famous ancient monuments in the world. The three pyramids are located on the plateau of Giza on the west-side of the Nile overlooking Cairo.

Cairo Cab Ride, 2-2-2006 Cab Ride in Cairo an Experience

By Bob Van Leer

(Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006) - Today Betty and I rented a cab for five hours and drove around Cairo.

Old Cairo, 2-3-2006 A Tour of Old Cairo

By Bob Van Leer

(Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Feb. 3, 2006) - Today we visited the Mohammed Ali mosque and The Citadel, two landmarks of what you might call "modern Cairo". Mohammed Ali is regarded as the founder of modern Egypt.

Abu Simbel Temple 2-5-2006 A Majestic Temple

By Bob Van Leer

(Aswan, Egypt, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006) - Today we made a short flight south to Abu Simbel to see one of Egypt's most notable antiquities, the temples at Abu Simbel. The flight is only about 108 miles and takes less than a half-hour. This is extreme southern Egypt. It is only 20-25 miles further south to the Sudanese border.

Aswam Dam 2-6-2006 The Aswan High Dam

By Bob Van Leer

(Aswan, Egypt, Monday, Feb. 6, 2006) - This morning we went to see the two dams that define Aswan, the British-built Low Dam and the Soviet Union and Egyptian built High Dam.

Edfu Temple, 2-7-2006 Best Preserved Temple

By Bob Van Leer

(On the Nile, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006) - We are cruising down the Nile to transit the lock at Esna. The tour of the day was the Temple of Horus at the town of Edfu.

A Balloon Flight 2-10-2006 Over The Nile

By Bob Van Leer

(Luxor, Egypt, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006) - We started the day with an early morning balloon flight over the Nile River valley.

New York Snow, 2-18-2006 Flight Snarled by New York Snow

By Bob Van Leer

(Gold Beach, Oregon, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006) - Saturday, Feb. 11, we flew from Luxor on a short 50 minute flight to Cairo. From the air there is a ribbon of green along the Nile. Away from the Nile is a brown desert - no settlements, nothing. There is an occasional unpaved road over the brown hills and dry washes.