Our most recent trip was in Egypt of May of 2006. While in Egypt, we explored the country’s 5000 year’s of history, from the Pyramids, the only surviving seven wonders of the Ancient world, to the temples of Luxor, and the more modern Islamic city of Cairo.

In Cairo, we saw the Pyramids, and the Egyptian Museum with its vast collection of ancient artifacts and pharaohnic treasures from King Tut’s tomb and other pharaohs. We also toured Cairo’s Islamic sites, including the Mohammed Ali mosques and the Khan Al Khalili bazaar, an endless maze of outdoor shops, dating back to the 14th century. Finally we toured Coptic Christian Cairo. After the Pharoanic worship of deities, Egypt’s main religion was Christianity before the Muslim Turks spread Islam throughout the country. It was in the Coptic region of Cairo we visited ancient churches and synagogues dating back to the time of the Holy Family when Mother Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus fled to Egypt to escape King Harod’s edict.

We then took a flight from Cairo to Aswan south of Cairo where the old capital of Egypt once resided. Luxor’s old name was Memphis, and it was once the capital of ancient Egypt. Here we explored some of the more significant ancient temples such as the Temples of Phillae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Hetshepsut, Luxor and Karnak. West of the Nile is the Valley of the Kings where the 18th dynasty kings and Queens are buried inside the foothill mountains, including King Tut and Ramses II tomb. Inside these tombs, the original paintings and colors of ancient Egyptian daily life are still in tact after more than 3500 years.

It was in this area of Aswan and Luxor that we toured these sites in a boat while cruising on the Nile River where we enjoyed scenic views of the Nile, ancient ruins, and daily life of the people, on our own balcony.

Click on the links below to view the pictures.