Israel

Our stateroom attendant gives us great service.  His name is John   Pictures here are two towel folding. Some days, but not all we come to our room to find a nice surprise visitor.

Beach at our first stop in Ashdod, Israel

Enjoying the beach at a local cafe

Driving to the mall

It is a regular city

Dave at lunch with a famous David Revio, football player in the background

Enjoying my favorite salad, Israel Salad - just like Dave makes me a t home,cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and vinegar.

Driving to the Dead Sea

New lightrail system

Bedouin village

Below sea level

Israel Flag

Mid bath at the Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea



Egypt

Day Five and Six– Egypt

 

Brenda - I wished the kids could have been with us. Just for the cultural experience and the ability to be reminded of how privileged we are.  I thought I had seen poor 3^rd world countries before, but what I considered poor previously has now been replaced with the pathetic ways in Alexandria and Cairo.

We began the day with the first of many to come bus rides. We were escorted by the police and had an armed guard on the bus.  We were told that it would be perfectly normal to see a lot of guns held by the authorities.  I never felt uncomfortable with the weapons and I normally get uneasy around guns, even on held by an American police officer.  We never had any issues with safety. 

 

 

The three hour drive to Cairo and Giza was a an education in itself.   We saw a wide variety of social economical cultures.  I took 400 pictures in 2 days.  I learned about Mohamed

Ali, an Egyptian ruler during the 1800’s.  He was known for many accomplishments, one of which was the irrigation canal.  Cut through the middle of the road way, dividing the traffic lies a large ditch.  The system doesn’t work anymore.  In the center of Cairo and Alexandria people throw garbage in the canal. It looks like a dump for miles and miles. The amount of garbage everywhere is mind blowing.  There are no trash cans anywhere.   The people of Alexandria and Cairo are living a way of life that consists of corrupt government and excessive over population (8 million in Alexandria and 12 million in Cairo).  We saw dead animals (horses and goats) in the canal, the same kids were swimming in and men fishing.  Later at the end of the trip we saw a man, butt naked bathing in it  this sighting was an exception. Our Muslim tour guide who grew up in Alexandria said she had never seen anything like that before.  

The pyramids in Giza were amazing.  They were built over 4000 years ago, still standing, unprotected.  The litter continues at these sites (not to the extent of the cities).  Men on burrows, camels and on foot are begging you to buy their souvenirs.  We were warned not to speak let alone buy something from these men.  If you did you would be targeted by all of the others.  They were so pushy that they tried to force you to hold their trinkets.  One was trying to slip something between Dave’s are and body.  He almost had to push the man away.

Regardless we looked past this issue and went on our way trying to understand how these amazing triumphs had been accomplished. We saw the Sphinx, with its perfectly shaped legs and tail. 

 

We saw the first pyramid built.  It has six steps.  We were told that it was going to be a square building but when the architect decided to build another box on top of the first one.  It was coming along so well that he continued with four more boxes.   This architect apparently moved on to be a famous Doctor.

After much thought about how this heavy stone (heavy is putting it lightly) was moved for hundreds of miles and built into pyramids, the people where slaves and backed up by  the hieroglyphics. 

Some of the amazing sites that stick with me are the horse drawn trailers driving along the same street as the cars.  The old trolley.

The kids and some men waiving at us as we drove by, so happy to see our big tour bus. The narrow streets that the wide bus would try to maneuver. The library/museum was obviously a source of pride it was an impressive sight.

Dave – The sights and sounds of Egypt where amazing a very busy city with gracious and generous people the camel’s walking down the streets of Cairo the half-starved horses pulling the payload either as a cab or like a pickup truck would.  The sad side of Egypt was the utter disregard for their Antiquity’s  they were guarding the most amazing hieroglyphics with a peasant working the door hoping for a tip.  These will be destroyed within my life time if something does not change and they have been there since 2000 BC the color was still quite vivid it was truly awe inspiring.  The government has changed and my understanding is the new government is not too concerned about taking care of these natural wonders this is disturbing to say the least.  On the brighter side the people of Cairo from Mohammad Ali our guard (not the famous one) to our guides and the people we talked to on the street.  These people with their smiles of hope and change to their welcoming tones made me want to come back in 15 years to see if they were able to get it right (I sure hope so).

   

 



 





Funeral Procession



Rome

Day Two

I am writing 2 days behind, so I have to try and remember everything.  I wished today that I had my iPad with me so that I could blog while on the bus. 

We didn’t take many pictures in Rome because the camera battery died.  More pictures to come when we visit Rome on our own.

Day two consisted of arriving at the airport very, very early.  I think it made up for all the times that I am rushing because I am always running late.  We got relax and try to slept a bit.  The flight to Rome was two hours.  Once at the airport we waiting with everyone to join the Royal Caribbean excursion that took us to the Vatican, famous Roman Coliseum and much of the city of Rome including the wall.   We didn’t feel well, as the jet lag was getting the both of us.  The city was very crowded and traffic was thick.  After about a four hour tour we arrived at the Port and got on board the ship.  Once we found our room we were very thankful we were able to upgrade to a cabin with a balcony.  That evening through the next two days involved sleeping, eating, relaxing by the pool and playing miniature golf (and a beer or two). 

I am so happy that we brought the Kindle, I’ve begun a book and will actually finish it before we arrive home.  My favorite part of eating has been the specialty restaurants, like Chops, where we have already been to twice!  Now Dave is going to write with a little hair pulling! J Brenda

 

On the cruise we have met many people from all over the world (many from Romania) I have especially enjoyed learning the rules of cricket from a gentleman from South Africa and then being able to use this new found knowledge to make friends with a chap from India as India got killed by Australia (lost by 14 wickets).  Dave