Maria - Passports Overloaded

Israel 2023

If you would like to see what and where we ate while traveling around Israel

June 11, 2023 We will start our touring program, making our way to one of the communities and Shamron (Samaria). Visit Shiloh, which was the central sanctuary of the Israelites during the pre-monarchic, before the first temple in Jerusalem was built. Here we will be briefed on the border separation fence between the West Bank and Israel. We continue north along the coastal road to the beautiful Carmel mountains overlooking the valley known as the Valley of Armageddon. We will take a beautiful picture from the top of the Mount Precipice in Nazareth also known as Mount of Precipitation or Mount of Leap of the Lord, it is believed to be the sight of the rejection of Jesus drive to the sea of Galilee and check into our hotel overnight and Tiberius Israel.

June 12, 2023 Today we will visit some of the biblical sites around the Sea of Galilee. We will then drive to the northern border of Israel in the town of Matula to view the local border security fence. Interesting part of this most guarded fence is that a number of years ago it was called “The good fence”. It is here that Christian Lebanese and members of the South Lebanon Christian Malia had free access to Israel during Lebanon Civil War years. This good fence was able to sustain supply and allow these Christians access to medical centers in the region.

Next, we will drive up to the Golan Heights where we will visit Meram Golan, and Emek Ha’bachah The Valley of Tears. This place was also the site of the most heroic fight between the IDF and the Syrian army during the Yom Kippur war. Time permitted we will view the newly redone film Oz 77 about the Yom Kippur war and discuss ( at the actual site of the battlefield bordering the current front line) the security issues that persist 49 years since that war.

Our presentation, here we shed light on another border barrier system that provides 100% security of the region. This place is the Kuneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria, where Israel managed to assist many wounded on the Syrian side. This border crossing was fought for and changed hands a number of times between the Assad army and the Syrian rebels. We will end our Golan and visit in Har Ben Tal, an Israeli IDF bunker overlooking the entire valley below, and the Syrian city of Kuneitra. We make our way back to Tiberias, stopping for a view of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley from the mount of Beatitudes.

My notes for June 12, 2023 the first stop was Caiperneum, where it was St. Peter’s Church, where we sat and listened to scriptures for a bit. Then we stopped at the church of Beatitudes to hear some scriptures after that we drove to see Banias, which was built by the Greeks. After lunch we stopped at the war spot with the tanks. Then we stopped at the bunkers Har Ben Tal. Shimon showed us where Isis was camped out. We also saw some cool metal sculptures during our drive back to the hotel we stopped at the Trump Heights sign and took some pictures.

June 13, 2023 After breakfast we will once again head north but this time we’ll make our way to the border Kubbutz, Misgav Am. Here we will meet the northern command civilian liaison for an up-to-date account of the southern border with Lebanon, which is held by Hezbollah militia. Driving across the scenic northern border road west we will arrive to Rosh Hanikra to visit the spectacular limestone grottos at the Mediterranean. This interesting place is situated at the most northern seashore border with Lebanon. Here we will view the border and see the UN observers and the IDF checkpoint. Driving south along the coastal road we make our way to Acre and begin our tour with a visit to the underground Crusaders city and halls. We will walk through the narrow passages and alleyways and emerge at the old port of Acre (Akko).

My notes for June 13 the day before Har Ben Tal is the bunker place. Tom Holman arrived last night and this morning we drove for about two hours to Misgav Am and then we met with this general that was a chief of staff to general Alon Friedman, and went into one of the tunnels.

June 14, 2023 – Today we checked out of our hotel in Tiberias and drove to the yardinet the baptismal site and some of our group got baptized afterwards we went to this pretty park Gideon springs and told us a story and we did made a birthday video for trump with Tom Homan. After lunch we went to this viewpoint and then drove to Jerusalem….. united west notes -Jordan Valley along the border line with Kingdom of Jordan. We will drive to Mizpeh Jericho the and the Dead Sea Lookout observation balcony. The views of the Dead Sea and surrounding Jordan Valley and Jericho, the world’s most ancient city is truly breathtaking.

The group photo and the couple photo we took was here…. After breakfast we take our leave of the Galilee heading south along the Drive up to Jerusalem, stopping atop Mt Scopus for your first view of the “Golden City” Of Jerusalem.

June 15, 2023 – Dome of the rock and mt olive to take a group photo and then we went to holy sepulcher church and then the Jewish quarter for lunch. We will visit parts of the southern wall excavations. This southern side of the temple was the main entrance for the common folk, whereas the priests and Levites had their own entrance from the higher western side. Continue through the Old City where we will trace some of the footsteps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa before walking to the reconstructed Jewish Quarter. Walk through the Cardo, the original Roman street and see the remains of the massive wall built by King Hezekiah. We will exit the city and make our way to the Israeli Parliament-Knesset for a special tour and meeting with Knesset members.

June 16, 2023 – Today we went had a special visit to Latrun. In recent years this place became our must visit place when in Israel – this is the official Israel Defense Force Commemoration Center and armament display. Latrun is the fortress that was strategically built on Israel’s main crossroads and throughout history protected the City of Jerusalem. Jexit will be laying a wreath at the Wall of Fallen.

June 17, 2023 – We drove about two hours to Masada. We will make our way to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea. Driving along the coastline we make our way to Masada. This was the last pocket of insurrection in the Jewish rebellion against the Roman Empire where 960 men, women and children defied the might of Rome and fought for three years after the destruction of Jerusalem. We will visit King Herod’s Palace, the Synagogue, and a very sophisticated water and irrigation system that is 2000 years old. On top of the rock we will hear a presentation by Ron Wexler – Never Again Later in the day a special treat awaits us as we go bathing in the “heavy water” of the Dead Sea.

June 18, 2023 – Today we went to parliament for a tour and then colonel terza the map guy gave us a tour of the walls. United west notes – Our day will consentrate on the seperation wall and security of Jerusalem (more information to follow with registered participants). Afterwards we went to the holocaust museum and then lunch and then went back to the hotel took a shower and a nap and got dressed to go to Shabbat ceremony at the walling wall.

June 19, 2023 – Today we drove to the Israel – Egypt – Gaza borders with the colonel terza for a full presentation with IDF officials and local authorities covering the border wall and all the security issues past present and future. We met with this guy who is in charge of imported goods his name was Amin. He showed us around his facility and even showed us a trick with the K9 dog. Afterwards we went to have lunch.

FIRST NOTE

SECOND NOTE

THIRD NOTE

FOURTH NOTE

FIFTH NOTE

MASADA & DEAD SEA

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

US Embassy in Jerusalem

West Bank

A day in Jerusalem

Uganda

Nile Safari Lodge was our first stop on our 10 day trip in Uganda. It is located in Murchison Falls National Park.

Entebbe – For 1 night May 10, 2023

Nile Safari Lodge – May 11, 2023 – May 13, 2023

Kyaninga Lodge – May 13, 2023 – May 15, 2023

Isasha Lodge – May 15, 2023- May 17, 2023

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp – May 17, 2023 – May 20, 2023

To get to all of these destinations we flew into many small airports.
Kajjansi Airfield then to Bungungu, Kasese, Kahihi, Kajjansi & then back to Entebbe.

If you would like to see what and where we ate while traveling around Uganda.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023 CAIRO / ENTEBBE, UGANDA
Today you are transferred to the airport to board your departure flight to Entebbe.Wednesday, May 10, 2023, 7:20 AM ADD Addis Ababa
(Bole International Airport) Ethiopian Airlines 332
ADD Addis Ababa (Bole International Airport) Ethiopia

Wednesday, May 10, 2023, 10:55 AM EBB Entebbe (Entebbe Airport) Uganda

Accommodation: Hotel No. 5

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 ENTEBBE / MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK | THE NILE’S JEWEL B L D
During included activities in Uganda, you are accompanied by local guides from your accommodation and may be joined by other guests and share vehicles. Ask about arranging a private guide and vehicle for exclusive use by your party at an additional cost. Rise for breakfast at your hotel before you are privately transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your shared flight to Murchison Falls National Park, one of the most scenic spots along the Nile and the location of the classic Humphrey Bogart film, The African Queen (flight schedule to be advised). After landing at Pakuba Airstrip, you are welcomed by your guide & transferred to your comfortable lodge, keeping an eye out for wildlife en route. Being the largest game park in Uganda, Murchison Falls contains a large concentration of animals. With its variety of vegetation ranging from riparian forests and swamp lands to broad savannah, Murchison Falls provides the opportunity of seeing animals and birdlife. A launch trip along the Victoria Nile is undoubtedly one of the great experiences of East Africa, culminating at
the awe-inspiring falls. You arrive in time to enjoy lunch and settle into your tent, and later today join your guide for a visit to Murchison Falls, where invigorating spray – the collective force of the majestic Nile – pours down on a narrow ravine, crowned by an almost permanent rainbow that has become a trademark of this extraordinary natural wonder. For the more adventurous, there is a steep pathway leading down to the froth and roar below. Back at your lodge, sit down to a delicious dinner and reflect on the events of the day.
Located in in northwest Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is renowned for its diversity of habitat and species, as well as its namesake falls. The mighty Murchison Falls (also known as Kabalega Falls) cascade some 140 feet as the Victoria Nile rushes through a gap just 23 feet wide, tumbling downriver into Lake Albert. This spectacle serves as a dramatic centerpiece to the park’s broad savannas, swamplands and riparian forests, as well as the elephants, hippos, chimpanzees and abundant bird species that inhabit them. Accommodation: Nile Safari LodgeFRIDAY, MAY 12, 2023 MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK | NILE SAFARI
Today a game drive takes you along the northern banks of the Nile in the heart of Murchison Falls National Park. You may see giraffes, buffalo, elephants, warthogs, leopards, lions, and antelope. You are treated to stunning views as you make your way along the winding path of the Nile, which is laced with the adventures of history’s most ardent explorers.
Please note: During this excursion, you are accompanied by experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger/guides who provide a necessary asset to ensure the best viewing and maximize the experience.
This afternoon, take a boat cruise up the Nile River to the base of the spectacular Murchison Falls. A boat trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls is a ‘must’ activity when visiting the national park. It is a leisurely two-hour adventure to see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, a variety of antelopes, and the rich birdlife inhabiting the river’s papyrus-lined banks.
Accommodation: Nile Safari Lodge

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023 MURCHISON FALLS / KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK | BUNYARUGURU CRATER WALK
As your day begins, you are returned to Pakuba Airstrip, where your shared flight to Kibale National Park awaits (flight schedule to be advised).
On arrival to Kasese Airstrip, you are met by your guide who transports you to your lodge amid Lake Kyaninga and the Mountains of the Moon, arriving in time for lunch.
After settling in, you may choose to take an optional nature walk along the top of the Bunyaruguru Crater. Set in the dense tropical rainforest of eastern Uganda, Kibale National Park affords an excellent opportunity to spot chimpanzees swinging in the lush canopy high above. In addition to 11 primate species, the park also shelters mangabeys, exotic butterflies and some 300 species of birds. The park’s wildlife-rich Bigodi Forest swamp teems with sitatunga, mongooses, bush pigs, otters and bushbucks.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge

SUNDAY, MAY 14, 2023 KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK | FOREST OF CHIMPANZEES
Early this morning, you depart and make the short drive to the Kanyanchu Research Center where you begin a three-hour chimpanzee trekking excursion. Kibale Forest is home to 11 species of primates, including chimpanzees and mangabeys. The chimpanzees feed high in the trees, so binoculars are a must. Barks of baboons occasionally pierce the forest silence as you make your way along the trail.
In addition to primates, Kibale is renowned for its population of birds (well over 300 species) and its brilliant array of colorful butterflies. For those who appreciate the finer details of the flora, animals, insects and birds, the rewards here are many and varied.This afternoon, there is an opportunity to take a guided walk in the Bigodi Forest swamp, excellent for viewing more primates, birds, and other forest animals. Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge

MONDAY, MAY 15, 2023 KIBALE / QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK | NATURE ANEW B L D

After breakfast, your journey continues when you travel by road (approximately 4-5 hours) to Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to your camp. After settling in, set off on your first game drive. Queen Elizabeth National Park hosts nearly 100 mammal species and a remarkable bird population of over 600 species, making it a superb safari destination. Resident wildlife includes elephants, hippos, the elusive giant forest hog, and the unique Uganda kob.
Renowned for its photogenic, tree-climbing lions, southwestern Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park also shelters large populations of hippos, elephants, lions and leopards among its savannas, bushlands, wetlands, and forests. Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023 QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK | SPECTACULAR SIGHTINGS
Enjoy another day of game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park. While exploring, watch above for tree-climbing lions, a sight rarely to be seen anywhere else in Africa. You may also encounter some of Uganda’s largest elephant herds. Smaller plains game also thrives here, as do a number of primate species, and this means that predators are in attendance. Sightings of spotted hyenas are common, and leopards are occasionally seen.
Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2023 QUEEN ELIZABETH / BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK | MIST- SHROUDED MOUNTAINS
Set out for a morning game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park. Then continue on a leisurely 2 to 3-hour drive that takes you out of the Rift Valley and through the Kigezi Highlands of southwestern Uganda. The scenery is increasingly breathtaking as you switch back up and down the hills. Your journey culminates at your camp, located in the mist-swathed mountains of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Later today, embark on a guided forest walk and explore your breathtaking surrounds.
This evening, you find yourself lulled to sleep by the sounds of one of Africa’s most incredible natural environments. A UNESCO World Heritage Site set in southwestern Uganda’s steep, mountainous rainforest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to just over half of the world’s last surviving mountain gorilla population – a mere 700 or so remaining individuals. The Park also boasts over 360 species of birds, 200 species of butterfly and 324 different tree species within its exotic rainforest canopy.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023 BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK | GORILLA TRACKING IN THE WILD
Today should prove to be both challenging and exciting. You set out early this morning to begin your trek through the park’s dense vegetation, travelling up and down its steep slopes in search of groups of endangered mountain gorillas.
The mountain gorillas in Bwindi have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild. Once the gorillas are located, you are permitted to observe them for a maximum of an hour. See mothers keeping infants close as they knucklewalk on three limbs. Toddlers scamper around and get reined in by an attentive father, whose job is to protect his family. When you encounter a mountain gorilla in the wild, there is no mistaking the bond that exists between primate and man – they share 97.7% of our DNA – and no escaping the poignant reminder that these creatures lie on the brink of extinction. However, your presence on a gorilla trek funds conservation efforts that contribute to the gorillas’ continued survival in the wild.
At day’s end, you return to camp where there is time to relax and freshen up before enjoying another delicious meal. After dinner, you sit around the campfire, recounting the day’s activities. Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2023 BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK / ENTEBBE | MORE GORILLA ENCOUNTERS
Enjoy another day of gorilla tracking. Multi-colored forest birds fly through the canopy as you walk amid the brush, occasionally forging your own path and always hoping for an encounter. Many of the experienced guides who accompany you on your tracking excursions have been involved in the habituation process themselves. These guides use their experience, knowledge of the gorillas’ habits and information from the previous day to locate the group’s whereabouts. However, the gorillas are by no means tame. They are completely wild and unpredictable
animals. Because of this, the time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as long as 9 hours.
The number of gorilla families in the park that have been habituated to human visitation can vary from time to time as the families occasionally relocate to areas of the national park not normally open to tourists. Each family, ranging in size from 6 to 22 members, is headed up by an adult
male silverback gorilla and may be comprised of a collection of black backs, sub adults, juveniles, and infants of both sexes.
Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest CampSATURDAY, MAY 20, 2023 ENTEBBE | DEPART
This morning you are transferred (approximately 1.5 hours) to Kihihi Airstrip for your shared return flight to Entebbe (flight schedule to be advised). transferred to the airport to board your departure flight.
Brussels Airlines 465 EBB Entebbe (Entebbe Airport) Uganda

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Cairo, Egypt and The Nile Cruise 2023 # 2

Cairo = April 30, 2023 – May 2, 2023 & May 8, 2023 – May 10, 2023

The Nile Cruise – May 5, 2023 – May 8, 2023

If you would like to see what we ate while we were traveling around Egypt.

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023 CAIRO | ANCIENT TREASURES
This morning at 8:30 a.m., gather for a welcome briefing. Then, join your expert A&K Egyptologist for an exploration of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities (or the Grand Egyptian Museum, upon its opening), to view its huge collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including treasures from Tutankhamun and items dating to 4000 BC. After lunch at a local restaurant, return to your hotel where your afternoon is at leisure.
Accommodation: Marriott Mena House Hotel

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023 GIZA | THE PYRAMIDS & SPHINX
Today, roam the Giza Plateau, site of the pyramids of Mycerinus and Chephren as well as the Great Pyramid. Built in the Fourth Dynasty (approximately 2690 BC), it is the only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Revel in the opportunity to enter the interior of one of these legendary structures, and marvel at the massive stones used to construct them. Ride a camel across the sands of Giza, and then view the Great Sphinx backdropped by the pyramids, a setting that has captured the imaginations of adventurers for centuries. Pause for lunch then return to your hotel for some time at leisure.
Accommodation: Marriott Mena House Hotel

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2023 CAIRO / LUXOR | TEMPLE OF LUXOR & VALLEY OF THE KINGS
Early this morning, fly to Luxor, site of the ancient city of Thebes.
Begin your full day of exploring by visiting the striking Temple of Luxor. View the three large statues of Ramses II along the front of the temple pylons, the Courtyard of Ramses II and the Colonnade of Amenhotep III, with its 50-foot-high columns. Walk in their shadows, as visitors have done since antiquity, and ponder the astonishing feats of engineering it took to create them. Then, step aboard ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV,’ an elegant river cruiser.

Enjoy lunch on board before disembarking to explore the west bank of the Nile River and the Necropolis of Thebes and view the Colossi of Memnon. Continue to the architecturally stunning Temple of Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s first female pharaoh and regarded today as one of its most successful. Carry on to the Valley of the Kings, burial ground of the pharaohs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a period of 500 years beginning in the 16th century BC, tombs were built along this valley for pharaohs and nobles, including that of “the boy king,” Tutankhamun. Enter the tomb of Tutankhamun – found in 1922 by British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter – to discover the secrets of this storied chamber. Next, descend into the beautifully decorated tomb of Seti I, the father of Ramses II, one of the best-preserved tombs in the valley.
Accommodation: ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV’

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023 CRUISING THE NILE | LUXOR TO ESNA
This morning, disembark to continue exploring the east bank of the Nile, beginning with a visit to the awe-inspiring Temple of Karnak, where generations of pharaohs wished to record their names. Karnak Temple is a temple within a temple, a shrine within a shrine. During your visit you walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall with its massive, expertly aligned columns, truly a sight to behold. Enjoy lunch onboard as you cruise to Esna. On arrival, disembark and visit the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum and marvel at its soaring columns. The beautifully preserved Great Hypostyle Hall was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius.
Take a short walk through Esna’s bustling streets to the temple site, located about 36 feet below the present level of the town where it was excavated from the silt that had accumulated through centuries of annual Nile floods. The walls of the temple are covered with inscriptions, most of which date back to the Roman period – proving that it was a popular attraction even then. Accommodation: ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV’

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 CRUISING THE NILE | TEMPLE OF HORUS & KOM OMBO
Today, view the Temple of Horus, falcon-headed god of the sky. Built in 230 BC by Ptolemy III, this amazingly well-preserved and colorful structure reveals what temple worship in ancient Egypt was like.
Back on board, learn to prepare local dishes on a Chef’s Table experience: a cooking lesson with an onboard chef.
Later this afternoon, enjoy a refreshing Scenic Sundowner as your cruise continues. Disembark at Kom Ombo (hill of gold) to visit the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Haroeris (the sun god) and Sobek (the crocodile god), whom some ancient Egyptians considered the creator of the world. View the mummified remains of several crocodiles that once basked along the ancient Nile shore, just as their descendants do today.

Tonight, attend a festive Egyptian-themed costume party onboard your vessel. Sample a buffet of local cuisine, listen to music and dance, and if you wish to look the part, a complimentary galabeyya (traditional Egyptian robes) is provided to each guest from the ship’s bazaar.
Accommodation: ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV’

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2023 ASWAN | MAJESTIC PHILAE
After breakfast, disembark for a visit to the impressive granite quarries and site of the Unfinished Obelisk. Illustrating the skills of Egypt’s stonemasons, this monolith structure measures one-third taller than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk – even in its unfinished state. Next, ride a motorized boat to Philae Temple on the island of Agilika. This sacred complex was dedicated to the Goddess Isis and reflects a fusion of three great civilizations – Egyptian, Greek, and Roman.
The temple was dismantled, and then painstakingly reassembled when the Aswan High Dam was constructed. Built in the 1960s, the dam spans the Nile River, more than two miles across and incorporating 16 times the amount of material that went into the Great Pyramid at Giza. It provides irrigation and hydro-electric power to much of Egypt, and the reservoir that formed behind it, Lake Nasser, is 340 miles long.
After lunch on board – weather permitting – you Ride Like a Local in a traditional Nile felucca, (a typical Egyptian sailing boat) around Elephantine and Kitchener’s Islands with an opportunity to view the splendid Aga Khan Mausoleum high above the river.
Arrive back to ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV’ in time for high tea and some time at leisure. Accommodation: ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV’

MONDAY, MAY 8, 2023 ASWAN / ABU SIMBEL / CAIRO | TEMPLES OF RAMSES II & NEFERTARI
Early this morning, bid farewell to ‘Sanctuary Sun Boat IV,’ disembarking to fly to Abu Simbel, site of the magnificent temple of Ramses II.
Flights to and from Abu Simbel are subject to last-minute cancellations. You will be advised by your Resident Tour Director if the flights are cancelled. In the event of flight cancellations, you will be driven from Aswan to Abu Simbel, approximately three hours each way, with no changes to scheduled sightseeing. There are in fact two temples, namely the Great Temple of Ra-Harakhte, fronted by the four colossal statues of Ramses II (each nearly 70 feet tall) and the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to Ramses’ beloved wife Queen Nefertari. Impressive in themselves, these temples are further remarkable in that they were cut into pieces, raised up the hillside from their old location and then reassembled around a concrete dome on the current site, when threatened by floodwaters from Lake Nasser and the High Dam project. At the conclusion of your visit to Abu Simbel, board your return flight to Aswan and connect on to Cairo, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2023 CAIRO | DESIGN YOUR DAY
This morning drive to Sakkara, site of hundreds of tombs and 14 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Built by Pharaoh Djoser during his 19-year reign, it stands at 204 feet and was the largest building of its time.
After lunch, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities, arranged for you by your Resident Tour Director:
-Discover Coptic Cairo, visiting a church built where the Holy Family stayed, as well as St. Barbara and the Church of the Virgin Mary.
-Tour Islamic Cairo, including a walk in El-Moaz Street, and the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar.
-View the Royal Mummies, and countless other artifacts, as you tour the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
This evening at 7:00 p.m., gather with your fellow guests to reflect on your journey through Egypt and along the Nile at a farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza

Museum in Cairo

Photo Gallery

John, Maria & Our good friend Bernie Kerik

John & Maria – With our good friends Mariya & Nano Lopez

Maria & John – with our good friends Adrian & Irene

Maria & John – with our cousins Keith and Terry

Maria & John – With our good friends Michael & Nancy

Maria & John – with our good friend Yvonne Blount Alciatore

Maria & John – with our good friend The Frogman Tim Cotterill

Maria & John – A cool tintype picture taken of us

Our plane tickets from October 2008 until December 2017

Our key cards from October 2008 until the present – One card per hotel -328 key cards

Rome, Italy 2023

April 27, 2023 – April 30, 2023

If you would like to see where and what we ate while we were in Rome, Italy.

Cinque Terre (La Spezia), Italy

April 25, 2023

If you would like to see what and where we ate while we were in Cinque Terre

Monte Carlo, Monaco 2023

April 24, 2023

Marseille, France

April 23, 2023

Applaud the ochre village of Roussillon, considered one of France’s prettiest towns, and the striking cliffside hamlet of Gourdon on this extraordinary journey to the heart of Provence. Wind along the gentle slopes and green pastures of Provence during your journey by coach, stopping briefly in photogenic Lourmarin. On the highest hills between the Coulon River Valley and the Vaucluse Plateau, you’ll find Roussillon, a dreamlike village tinted with vibrant colors. During your guided walking tour, see the storied ochre quarries that account for Roussillon’s rich tones and wander among the village’s distinctive streets. You’ll appreciate time on your own, perhaps partaking in lunch at a welcoming brasserie. Travel to charismatic Gordes, which rises dramatically in tiers atop a series of bluffs in the Vaucluse Plateau. Roam along timeworn lanes, under vaulted passageways and up stepped alleyways lined with arcaded medieval dwellings and the remains of age-old ramparts. You’ll long treasure your memories of this excursion to Provence’s fairy-tale villages.

Welcome a leisurely walking tour of alluring Aix-en-Provence, a graceful provincial city with a noble heritage. Rejoice in a picturesque drive through the Provençal countryside, a verdant patchwork of gentle foothills and bucolic valleys that stirs the imagination and stimulates the senses. Begin your exploration of magnetic Aix on Cours Mirabeau, a lively boulevard shaded by 200-year-old plane trees that is framed by cafés, bookshops and splendid mansions, whose attractive façades are enriched by wrought-iron balconies and finely carved doorways. You’ll cherish the verdant Mazarin District, founded in 1646 by the noted archbishop of the same name and later home to writers and artists such as Paul Cézanne. Admire Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, which was built over ten centuries, resulting in its intriguing meld of architectural styles. During time on your own, perhaps look for the 16th-century belfry that boasts a sophisticated astronomical clock from 1661 or relax at an inviting café beside one of the myriad fountains gracing this refined city.

Palma De Mallorca, Spain

April 21, 2023

Explore this beautiful island beginning with the magnificent Seo Cathedral and Bellver Castle. See the windmills and impressive manor house in the verdant countryside. Discover the amazing natural wonders in the Drach Caves. And for romance, visit the former Carthusian monastery in Valldemosa, where George Sand and Chopin spent a winter.

After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive at Bellver Castle, a spectacular Gothic landmark from the 14th century. Its round design is unusual among Spanish castles, and although seemingly impenetrable, the fortress never served a defensive purpose.

As you ramble about the hilltop castle taking photos, you will appreciate the origin of its name, which means “lovely view” in Catalan. Few panoramas are quite so beautiful.

Delve into Mallorca’s grand capital city of Palma on a guided visit to two stunning Gothic landmarks, La Seu Cathedral, and Bellver Castle, and stop at a purveyor of Majorcan pearls. Enter resilient Palma, a city repeatedly invaded over the centuries due to its strategic position in the Mediterranean, and learn how each conqueror left their mark at La Seu, the city’s spectacular Gothic cathedral. You’ll delight in its enormous rose window, which casts a beautiful light into the church, and the wrought-iron canopy over the main altar, which was designed by idiosyncratic Catalan architect Antonio Gaudí. Enjoy a guided stroll to the city center, where you’ll discover an imitation pearl shop and learn the process behind the manufacture of these remarkable jewels. After some free time to shop and wander, continue to Bellver Castle, a revered 14th-century Gothic landmark. Gaze in awe at its unusual round design and seemingly impregnable fortifications, punctuated by towers of varying heights, and find a patio with a double gallery of arches, the Capella de San Marc chapel, and the Palma History Museum. You’ll celebrate the Gothic treasures of Palma on this enlightening tour.

Alicante, Spain

April 19, 2023

Lying on Spain’s radiant Costa Blanca, Alicante exudes a rare beauty. Lovely Baroque buildings cluster around the historic central district. Marble plazas grace its broad waterfront boulevard, the illustrious Explanada de España. Pristine beaches like San Juan hug the shoreline. It’s no surprise that Alicante is popular year-round. Venture to the grand Castle of Santa Barbara overlooking the city and walk from its high towers down into the dungeon. Stop for a glass of refreshing sangria in the Old Quarter. Behold the masterpieces hanging in the Gravina Museum of Fine Arts, a former 18th century palace.

Relish a guided introduction to the vibrant resort town of Alicante, founded in Roman times as Lucentum, the City of Light, on this enthralling tour. Journey to Santa Barbara Castle, one of the largest in the Mediterranean region and strategically located atop a rocky mass that soars nearly 600 feet above the city and sea. You’ll discover a massive complex that includes numerous ramparts, the medieval Hall of Nobles, the 16th-century Room of Philip II and the ruins of the ancient hermitage of Santa Barbara. Visit Alicante’s historical district and admire the more than 6 ½ million small red, black and cream tiles covering the Esplanade, one of the most enduring images of the city. In Alicante’s charming Old Quarter, survey Town Hall Square and the Cathedral of Alicante, better known as the San Nicolás de Bari, whose impressive façade is considered one of the finest examples of Spanish Religious Baroque. Enjoy free time in the Esplanade, perhaps walking the broad promenade, browsing the inviting stalls along the way and soaking up the colorful atmosphere of this sun-kissed town.

If you would like to see what and where we ate while we were in Alicante, Spain.