Experiencing The Nile

debra — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:05:14 +0000

This commemorative film was a joy to make! Our time traveling up and down the Nile River brought so many surprises. Thankfully, on some of the best occasions, we remembered to have our video camera with us.

It is true that many have heard of the Nile River. There could never have been life there without it, not to mention a civilization which has endured thousands of years. To cruise in comfort, along only a portion of its length is surreal. Add to this the visits to ancient temple remains which still vibrate with wisdom, which still offer the engraved messages for you to interpret, which still welcome you to remember... OH, and we also had a lot of fun with our Egyptian hosts and our fellow travelers. This video nearly made itself.

Camel Ride

debra — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:40:36 +0000

It is taking some time to adjust, now that we are home. A few of our group returned home on a one hour flight (Israel), but this was not the case for most of us. If you were with me, an eleven hour flight demanded 24 hours once you factored in all of the steps and a time change. And some of you required more than a day, including a prolonged layover. I've noticed that you are laying low and looking slightly bewildered. I know just how you feel!

In Gratitude

debra — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:04:57 +0000

You've been very quiet this morning. Waking up in this historical hotel is only part of the awe we have been feeling. This place, called the Mena House, was built upon the residence of an Egyptian King stretching back thousands of years. Placing details aside, this site, currently a resort of incredible size and beauty, is situated near the shadow of one of this world's greatest wonders; and it has welcomed presidents, prime ministers, celebrities, and You and I for over 100 years. Beyond the resort, upon a plateau, sits the great pyramids, with a magnificent Sphynx in the foreground. Yesterday was a day that I will forever cherish. It was perfect; and You and I are still swirling within its profundity.

Hello from Cairo

debra — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:37:13 +0000

Hello from Cairo once again! Yes, yes, yes we have heard that the pre-election demonstrations, including some very sad outcomes, have resumed in the city square. But that activity is very localized, and if not for messages from home and the world news, we would not even know of it. All is calm and quite peaceful here at our fabulous resort, which overlooks the great pyramids and sphinx. And there is NO FOG this time... WOW!

Great Pyramids of Giza

The King's Chamber

debra — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:02:39 +0000

Today is a travel day. We need to fly a charter to Luxor, where we will embark upon our Nile Cruise. But before that begins I did want to share with you, what is for many, the highlight of an Egyptian experience. Within the Great Pyramid is a very special room... the King's Chamber.

Fog!

debra — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:37:48 +0000

It was so funny! You and I were standing about 30 or 40 yards from one of the biggest and most magnificent wonders of the world and we couldn't see it. Despite my laughter, you were not so pleased. All this way we had traveled to Egypt, and our personal tour guide kept reassuring us that really, a pyramid was placed right before us... and not just one, but several. What a joke it was that Mother Nature had played that day.

Arrival

debra — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:36:02 +0000

Hello from Cairo, and Happy 11-11-11! Last night we took a non-stop flight from New York, and with the addition of 7 hours of time change, we now find ourselves in a lovely hotel in Cairo, Egypt on a clear, sun-filled afternoon. From the plane's lofty view, the city of Cairo looks immense and sprawling. The buildings appear the color of sand, and if not for the water from the Nile which promotes green-growth, this place could be a complete desert. We've literally JUST arrived, but it seems to be a very nice place. The airport was modern and efficient, the roads and vehicles up-to-date, and the service is top-notch. From what I could see, it would appear that tourism is still low, because most of our fellow passengers were Egyptian natives. This probably stems from the political upheavals in this very pivotal year for Egypt.

Tahoe

debra — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:34:08 +0000

It won't be long now before we embark on a brand new adventure to Egypt! Surely that is guaranteed to take most of us to places we may have only ever dreamt about, or seen on TV. But before that begins, I wanted to share with you a short experience that I had with my Mother. She had accompanied me on a conference related trip to Reno, Nevada. After the "work" was over we spent a few nights on the shores of nearby Lake Tahoe. If you have never experienced the magic of Tahoe, or if you'd like to see it in the clear skies of autumn, the following photo montage will be sure to please.

The Grand Finale

debra — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:53:45 +0000

Do you trust me? If you do, here is my strong advice: Carve out 24 minutes in your schedule and gather around. If you have kids, then call them in. Popcorn and candy are recommended, but optional. You are about to enjoy one of the most celebrated festivals of the year... Gran Poder!

Video: Experiencing Southwest Bolivia

debra — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:24:20 +0000

Our trip to Peru and Bolivia is almost over, and it has been quite the experience! I'm tired, are you? After that wonderful tour through Southwest Bolivia we find ourselves in the town of Uyuni. It is a Wednesday afternoon, and on Sunday night our flight leaves from Lima Peru to return home. Do we really need four travel days to find our way back to Lima? Yes, I'm afraid we do! And along the way we were delighted with one more surprise experience, which we can share in our very last post...