The Middle East, ME 91
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Our first night in Cairo - the traditional Sufi dancing was stunning.
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 Hey, we are really here, the weather's great and we are at the Pyramids! |
 Heather, "kisses" an iconic Egyptian gentleman - the Spinx.
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 Brenda, climbs the wall. These huge polished slabs are the outer capping stones of the Bent Pyramid, near Sakkara. |
Five camels and a Kiwi - Stuart and his new found friends, at the morning camel market near Cairo
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Our guide at a Wadi Natrun Coptic Monastery was most interesting.
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His description of monastic life and the ancient Coptic Church really held our interest.
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Vera considers the housework - the Montazah Palace, Alexandria.
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Robin was delighted to "meet" the horses at the Alexandria Sports Club Stables.
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 Michael our guide, shows Beth how to use a local water pipe. |
View of Siwa Oasis from the old Shali.
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Robin and Anne taking a Siwa "taxi"
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Waiting for sunset at Siwa Oasis
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From Siwa we started our five day 4x4 jeep safari across the Western desert - almost 1600kms
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 The desert showed us many faces, the variety of landscapes being never ending.
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 Marilyn hitches a ride on a donkey - the main mode of transport in the desert oases towns. |
We really loved the off road excursions that our Guide "Clever" found for us.
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 Janet feeling dwarfed by a magnificent eroded cliff face. (Western desert near Siwa)
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Pam feels the salty foam that lined the shoreline of Baharia's salt lake
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Leaving Baharia we entered the Black Desert.
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The White Desert National Park, a region famous for its stunning rock formations.
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The rock formations were amazing, the eye saw many familiar shapes from garden gnomes to Sphinx look-a-likes.
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Camels crossing the surreal White Desert landscape.
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Brenda and Bruce saw this eroded rock as a "bar table".
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The white rocks of the desert looked gorgeous in the warm evening light.
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After dinner our drivers entertained us around the campfire.
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Sunrise from our desert camp.
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After our "shower-less" camp this local hot water swimming hole was greatly enjoyed, especially when tea was served
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Our blats across the desert were great fun.
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Jean, at the Farafra Art Gallery that featured the work of a talented desert artist.
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 We explored El Gaser, a medieval Islamic town close to Dakhla Oasis. The maze of alleys was such that we hung close to the local guide to avoid getting lost! |
Stuart tries his hand at an ancient olive press.
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 Ann, aboard her camel and ready to ride, Dakhla |
The entire herd came along, riders or not.
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Beth at the entrance to Karnak Temple, Luxor
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Circling one of the 134 massive pillars of Karnak, it took 12 of us to complete the circle. They are HUGE!
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 Sunset over the Nile, Luxor |
We crossed over the Nile to visit the Valley of the Kings and the other major sites of the West Bank.
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Entering the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
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Jean and Vera at Medinet Habu.
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 Stuart and Jeannene beside the giant black granite head at the Ramesseum.
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Trying out the local mode of transport, the West Bank - such fun.
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Our evening visit to Luxor Temple was pure magic!
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Janet, admires the well preserved edifice of Edfu Temple, the Nile Valley
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 Jeannene, under the watchful eye of the Egyptian God, Horus (Edfu Temple) |
 Pam, dwarfed by the mighty statues at Abu Simbel. |
 The late afternoon light was gorgeous for our felucca ride at Aswan |
Beth lead the charge to inspect the Nubian jewellery and craft which was on offer.
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Brenda, "thankful for her childhood ballet lessons" as she descends from her came ride up Mt Sinai.
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 Janet P, in Bedouin dress with our Jordan guide, Mohamed. (Wadi Rum) |
Smile please - Brenda tries for a close up.
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 The Monastery, one of Petra's most famous facades |
 Jeannene enjoying the colourful rock caves of Petra. |
Some the intricately carved facades at Petra, the Palace and the Corinthian tomb.
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The salty waters of the Dead Sea made synchronised swimming a breeze. The ancient city of Jericho is on the distant shore between Janet and Vera.
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Bruce relaxes in the extremely bouyant waters of the Dead Sea.
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We were fortunate to catch a glimpse of a Roman Chariot Race while visiting the ancient provincial city of Jerash (Jordan).
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The well preserved theatre at Borsa, southern Syria.
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Ann, at the Crac des Chevaliers Crusader Castle, near Hama.
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 Heather, in the old Mosque within the castle walls. |
Marilyn finds a high spot as we walk along the impressive 2km "Straight Street" at Aphamea.
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Our ladies, dressed appropriately for entering the Aleppo Mosque.
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Janet at the hill-top sanctuary of San Simeon, near Aleppo.
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 Beth, sizes up the huge protective doors of the Aleppo Citadel, each one decorated with horsehoes. |
We had great fun shopping in the Aleppo Souqs, much laughter and joking took place.
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A post shopping "show and tell" at our Aleppo hotel.
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A Grassroots tradition fulfilled - bathing our feet in famous bodies of water, this time, the waters of the historic Euphrates River.
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A fabulous desert sunset, Palmyra.
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Walking along the colonaded street at Palmyra.
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The main arcade of the Damascus Souq
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 The old and new, the back streets of the Old City, Damascus. |
Our team - (L to R) Back Row - Stuart, Janet, Bruce. Middle Row - Pam, Ann, Marilyn, Beth, Jeannene, Jean. Front Row - Vera, Heather, Brenda and Fay
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