Around the World in 60 Days March 11 to May 10, 2009 China Airline – Honolulu to Hong Kong Tahitian Princess – Hong Kong to Dover Queen Mary 2 – Southampton to New York Delta Airline – New York to Honolulu Safaga, Egypt Luxor, Karnak Temple, Valley of Kings, Suez Canal, Cario, Pyramid, Solar Boat

TAHITIAN PRINCESS ROUTE

Salaga, Luxor, Valley of Kings April 13, 2009 Salaga Luxor 3.5 hr bus trip from Port to Luxor

Safaga, Egypt 4/13/2009

Karnak: Temple of Amun-King of Gods -

Row of Ram Headed Sphinxes Leading to Nile River

Colossus of Ramses II – with Daughter at feet

Scarab – Dung Beetle

West - Valley of Kings (Dead) Nile River Luxor - Living - East Sun Goes Down Sun Comes Up

Queen Hatchepsut Temple and Tomb

Temple of Luxor

Suez Canal Transit 4/15/2009

Isthmus of Suez is 100 miles long. The Canal opened 11/1869. Built by the French and nationalized in The battle over the control of the canal and the two Arab-Israel wars resulted in the closure between 1967 and Port Said was destroyed and rebuilt after Isthmus of Suez is 100 miles long. The Canal opened 11/1869. Built by the French and nationalized in The battle over the control of the canal and the two Arab-Israel wars resulted in the closure between 1967 and Port Said was destroyed and rebuilt after In Morning a convoy of ships moves south and another moves north. They pass in Bitter Lake about half way. In Morning a convoy of ships moves south and another moves north. They pass in Bitter Lake about half way.

Ships awaiting turn in Morning

4/15/2009 Pyramids and Solar Boat Built before 2500 B.C. Pyramids

Port Said

Cheops (Khufu) – Chephren - Mycerinus 2589 BC

Cheopss Solar Boat Museum

C

The 4600 year old Boat On South side of Cheops Pyramid an air and water tight hole 31 meters long and 6 meters deep covered by 41 limestone blocks. The pit lay undisturbed for 46 centuries and housed a dismantled cedar wood boat 43.5 m long, made of 1224 pieces marked by the Cheopss constructor in hieratic script codes. Reassembling the boat took 14 years and first displayed in The museum covers the shaft where the boat was found with the boat above it with the bow directed westward as it originally lay. Five pairs of oars 8.5 meters in length extend from the side and a pair of steering oars across the stern to stabilize the vessel. It had been used in royal occasions on the Nile and probably carried Cheops body from Memphis to Giza.

The boat points to the west to follow Ra, the sun god, in his day-time journey westward across the skies and during his night-time journey beneath the earth. The solar boat was intended to be used by the deceased Pharaoh in his eternal life as he journeyed across the sky from east to west to be united with Ra. Ancient Egyptians believed in the necessity of boats to approach the land that lay beyond the horizon, where the Gods dwelled. Because boats were the only form of transport in antiquity, the Sun God Ra, used a Sun barge for his journey across the sky in the day and then for the night journey under the earth thru the land of the dead. Ancient Egyptians believed in the necessity of boats to approach the land that lay beyond the horizon, where the Gods dwelled. Because boats were the only form of transport in antiquity, the Sun God Ra, used a Sun barge for his journey across the sky in the day and then for the night journey under the earth thru the land of the dead.

Joints were made either with ropes of grass or by small pin-like pieces of sycamore wood. The beams were held together by ropes set through holes that only pierce the inside of each plank with leather battens lashed underneath to seal each crack. As the lashings tighten in water, these strips made caulking unnecessary. The deck has three sections. The royal quarters has 18 wooden columns topped with papyrus-bud which housed the Pharaoh and boat captain. The prow and stern simulates a bunch of papyrus as the royal vessel is a wooden replica of a papyrus reed boat dating back into prehistory. We had heard about the boat being found when we visited the Pyramids in 1980 and hoped to be able to visit it after it was put on display.

Lights for Night Show

Sphinx

The Nile Hotel across from Egyptian Museum where we stayed during 1980 trip with CL

Tutankhamen