Unfortunately our Tour Company for Egypt booked flights, Paris to Rome to airo instead of direct Paris to Cairo. Of course when we got to Cairo one of the bags was missing. It had to be the one with our clothes, not the one with the boys goodies etc! We have been wearing the same clothes for 1.5 days and just couldn’t face another day in them.

I just couldn’t see myself buying a new wardrobe in Cairo.All long and heavy with matching scarves

The first night at our hotel, there was a huge Wedding on the outside pool deck, below our balcony. The music was deafening. I don’t know how the wedding guests coped. We certainly didn’t. Darren who never complains called the Desk twice. It was still going at midnight. Unbelievable.

We are off to see the Pyramids and the Sphinx this morning.

Woken up this morning at 3.00am by a call. They found the bag. Hurray!!Great they found the bag but did they need to call soooooo early!!

Clean clothes.

Down to breakfast. The best ever. Darren is in heaven. Hot Pita Bread and all those strange things he likes.Strawberry Juice – I could become addicted.

Walked the streets of Cairo last night. Very noisy but friendly.

Went to Giza to see the 3 Pyramids. There are hardly any Tourists here in Egypt so it was terrific. Uncrowded, little traffic and easy to see everything.

Then we went to the old capital Memphis to see the giant statue of Rameses111. What a spunk. He only had one wife until she died. After he then had 42 more and had 163 children – busy boy.

The area is surrounded by Date Palms and is very lush. Crops and vegetables are grown all around the district. It is now considered to be part of the countryside. Kids riding on donkeys

And crazy drivers. There can be no more building in this area as they believe ancient tombs and treasures and buried in the area.

The people are so happy now and only want the tourists to return. It is their livelyhood. The army who is running Egypt is searching for the “lost” billions all over the world. Our guide who is also an Egyptologist was fantastic.

Tomorrow we fly to Luxor to board a big boat. Time to relax.

The MS Royal Lilly was fine. We had a nice Cabin with a full window to vuew the passing banks. They were very green with crops and Date Palms in places and just desert with small mountains in other parts.

We stopped at Luxor the first day to see the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnack. Both were amazing. Its just wonderful to be in the midst of Ancient History.

Next morning a 3.30am wakeup call to go Hot Air Ballooning. Off the boat, onto a small wooden boat, across the River Nile, into a small bus and then to the balloon site. Fantastic to watch them fill the balloons and see them stand vertically. A few instructrions by the Pilot, climb into the basket (16 peoplke in each) and off.

Just wonderful to see the Valley af the Kings and Queens from above together with Queen Hatshepsut’s grand temple.

The Architecture of this is amazing. We got to 3000’ and not scary at all. The only sound was when the gas cylinders were ignited.The dawn was fantastic!! The sun was huge and the red sky very beautiful. We could see for miles. A highlight of our trip.Landing was amazing. As there was little breeze the pilot was able to guide us back to our take off spot with a gentle landing.

From the balloon we went to visit Hatshepsut’s Temple. The temperature was rising and it was becoming extremely hot.The temple was very beautiful with tall columns carved with lotus flowers and papyrus. Hieroglyphic’s cut deep into the stone and carvings coloured with bright blues, yellows and reds. These were 5000 years old. Unbelievable.

On the way out you are surrounded by souvenir and trinket sellers. They are everywhere.

Then to the Valley of the Kings. We went down into some tombs. They are cool and beautifully decorated with carvings. We had a guide for the whole time explaining all that we were seeing. Our last stop for the day was the Valley of the Queens. The temperature was soaring. This is where Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamen’s Tomb in 1922. It is the only tomb in Egypt that was not robbed. It was found with all his treasures for the afterlife, his mummy, golden casket etc.

Today his mummy and inner coffin is still on display in his tomb. Most of the other treasures are in the Cairo Museum.

New pics Soon!!

PARIS

Our Apartment in Paris is just great. Very tiny but a perfect position overlooking the Seine. Easy to get to everything. Electric wall bed, good kitchen, washer/dryer (not so good) and a lift for the luggage. It was only big enough for one person at a time.

Have done the usual tourist things,.

Eiffel Tower – went right to the top. The lift is quite scary. I was certainly not comfortable. The queue the get up was so long and we thought it would take forever but it moved quickly. We met a lovely German family in the line and it help to pass the time.

It has been a “few” years since Cathy and I went to the Tower and some time since Darren and I have visited Paris. That time it was so cold that we didn’t even join the queue.

Visited the Louvre, Champs Elysee and Arc de Triomph, the Pompadieu Centre “inside out building”,

The Vouges Square, Monmartre and Saint Germain and Montpasse. We missed the tunnel under the road to the Arc de Triumph and played chicken with the traffic. This could have been a big mistake.

Didn’t bother shopping at Galleries Layfayette. Very ho hum with so many designer labels. They were just blending into one.

We hired the Velup Bikes – fantastic and rode around Paris. No helmets but nobody cares. Just ignore the cars and keep riding.

Came back to the apartment everyday exhausted, so sat in the window with a vin rouge and watched the boats on the river.

Went to little local restaurants and ate snails, moules and canard

Drank Vin de la Maison and had a great time. Caught the Metro, buses and hop on hop off boat, but most of the time walked, walked and walked.

Sad to leave this beautiful city.

Next stop Cairo!!

Wakeup call at 4.30am, put luggage in lift one at a time (we were on the second floor). In the dark to the RER station just a 5 minute walk and the quickest way to Charles de Gaulle Airport.

We had to catch the first train of the day and made it with not long to spare for checkin.

To Madrid and Paris

Madrid Grand Palace

Left Muchenje early on Thursday to catch a plane back to Vic Falls and onto Jo'burg. We decided not to take the Fast Train into Sandton to have a look around because of safety concerns.Boarded our Iberia Flight to Madrid flying overnight. Long, long flight. No Doonas just nicely designed throws - Fleece on side with orange cotton and a graphic black print on the other side. Crew great!! Dinner great!! Watched a movie and then tried to sleep. Should have had a couple of extra drinks to help me sleep but didn't. Arrived in Madrid and caught the Metro into "town". Just so beautiful. Went through the Grand Palace - a must. Shared a seafood Paella for lunch - yum. The restaurant was just off the Mayor Square. Very grande. The apartment buildings are so beautiful. Balconies, shutters, marble, huge wooden doors and intricate ironwork. Sorry we only had 1 day there. Tired after our long flight so back on the Metro to the Airport. It is a fabulous architectural masterpiece. Open, airy with so much glass and formed wooden slats lining the ceilings. Our plane was delayed 2 hours so fortunately we could go back to the lounge. Began boarding for the second time when we were informed that our plane now had a flat tyre. Back to the lounge again. Finally boarded our flight to Paris 2 1/2 hours late.
The Captain on this Iberia Airways Flight was Australian and our Steward was Scottish. He was hysterical. We were not drinking as we were so tired but he convinced us that the red on board would cure everything. I think it did.
Finally landed in Paris Orly. I must have had a vision that we would't arrive until very late because I booked an Airport hotel. Got the bags which was astounding as they went directly from Jo'burg. Were directed to the hotel shuttle - wrong one. Went back to the correct one! Got there just as it was pulling out. Another wait. Finally arrived around midnight!!Exhausted!! Didn't hear any noise from aircraft as the windows were triple glazed by 2.
Next morning straight back on the shuttle to Orly to catch the monorail then the RER straight to Paris and our Apartment on the Ile de la Cite.!!

Muchenje Safari Lodge

From the Zambezi Queen we went back into Botswana and drove a couple of hours to the Muchenje Safari Lodge in the Chobe National Park. It has the most concentration of elephants in Africa.

Our Chalet was terrific although getting there was a bit hairy at times. Elephants regularly stationed themselves across the pathway to our Chalet. There was a Murola Tree with fruit at the side of the path. This is the elephants favorite food. We had to get the guards to move them on which was quite difficult at times. Two mornings we were woken by baboons playing on our thatched roof. They were very noisy and took delight in jumpimg across from side to side. Fortunately they cannot undo locks yet.

We had mosquito netting around our bed as Malaria is quite common there.

We went out on Safari every day and some nights. Yesterday I did a dawn Safari but Darren failed to rise as he had had a huge night with the manager.

On the all day Safari - 1/2 day in 4 x 4 and 1/2 day on a tender we saw lions twice. Very unusal.

The first time Lips our Guide followed fresh paw prints and found 2 young lions by the river. We parked so close. Lips assured us that all was ok because the lions think we are one big animal. We had to sit really still and not make any sudden movements. It was amazing.

In the afternoon we found a lioness with her 2 cubs just after she had made a kill. She brought down an Impala. This time we were in the small boat. We pulled into the bank. She and the cubs were about 5 meters away under some trees. About 1/2 an hour later she picked up a cub and want to the rivers edge to drink. The other cub followed. She and the cubs were only about 3 meters away. Breath taking. No one was allowed to move. I have photos. A 22yo Spanish kid decided to stand to take some better photos. He was quickly pulled down and told to sit still and shut up. I still can't believe that we saw lions twice and got so close.

A great day!!

Our Safari Vehicles

Our Safari 4 x 4 with guide Joseph. Went out from Zambezi Queen everyday

Darren playing Barman on the Safari Boat. It was very civilised

Watch out Linton and Oscar.

Went our twice daily from Zambezi Queen - morning and evening when the animals are drinking at the river.

Pre - dinner drinks everyday on the Safari Tender.

Our Safari Boat with viewing platform. They are really great. Joseph would pull up really close to the animals like Elephants and Hippos. A bit scary at times. If the Elephant or Hippos got nervious they would charge and we did a very fast reverse.

Very exciting.

Some African Animals we spied

Mother & Baby

In Chobe there are so many animals. You are able to get really close.

Went in Safari 4 x 4's that seat 8. Met great people and had a hoot.

So many elephants