Early luggage outside my room before breakfast, then we had an early flight from Cairo to Aswan, home of the Aswan Dams. I didn’t get a picture of the High Dam; nothing about it seemed to stand out when I was near it or on it. I did get a few shots of the low dam, but those in the article are sufficient. One thing that struck me about the High Dam was that it was an earthen dam.

Next instead of a road trip we took a “boat trip” to the island where the Philae temple is located (the Wikipedia article seems authoritative.

I’ve got pictures (boy do I have pictures here) including snapshots of folks from the tour group I was with.

Back on the bus after we successfully returned to shore. We did stop by a huge unfinished obelisk in situ that remained unfinished because a crack was discovered in it. After this view we got back on the bus and joined our luggage on the Queen of Hansa boat. The first group of pictures from the Nile here were taken as we cruised to our next stop of the day.

After a late lunch on the boat, we docked, got on our bus and went to visit the Kom Ombo temple. Are there pictures? Of course there are — here.

Thursday, April 29, 2010 was the first full day in Egypt. First we saw the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.

If you can handle looking at lots and lots of pictures of pyramids click here.

Next those who had legs left went off to view the Cheops boat.

Naturally I’ve got lots of pictures of the reconstructed boat here taken as I walked through the boat museum.

Later in the day when our guide determined we were not tired enough we were bussed to the National Museum.

We weren’t allowed to bring our cameras inside (I did get a couple of shots in front with my phone) but this person was able to bring a camera.

Finally we didn’t need a ticket to visit Old Cairo that many of us had been looking forward to all day, especially since we would be able to wander through the old bazaar.

Arrived in Egypt by EgyptAir and was whisked off to the Oasis Hotel near the Giza pyramids by an Escapade Bus under contract to Gate! Travel.  There were no plans for the day, just rest and recuperate from jetlag.

From the bus as we neared the hotel I saw a glimpse of the pyramids that I was able to capture over the top of a passing truck.

I’m sitting at tbe airport waiting for boarding and feeling the trip is rather unreal. It’s hard to imagine I will be seeing the Egypt I read about as a child. I still remember the first adult book I was allowed to have — “The Egyptian” by Mika Waltari. I remember the protagonist’s name: Sinuhe, Sinuhe the physician who spent all his money on a prostitute and even the money saved for his father’s embalming.