Egypt — Preliminary Itinerary

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Number one item on my bucket list is to travel to Egypt.

We’re planning to visit Egypt in the fall.

To that end I have been working hard on making a schedule, arranging travel, securing accommodations, and scheduling guides and drivers.

We want to leave from Baltimore-Washington International (6 minutes from our house) and limit our airport stops to one.

Day 1 

Fly from Baltimore to London on British Air where we will arrive early the next morning.

British Airways flies from BWI in Baltimore direct to London.

Day 2:  

   We have a 9 hour layover at Heathrow Airport.

We’ve been to London before and toured all the hot spots.

We have recently visited London and have seen everything but I’m hoping to work out some small excursion since 9 hours is a long day at the airport.

We’ll arrive at Cairo airport in the middle of the night.

 We arrive in Cairo just after midnight which actually puts us into Day 3.

Day 3:   (Day 1 in Cairo)

Our accommodations for our first stop in Cairo are near the Giza Plateau.  We are staying at the Guardian Guest House ($210.97 for 3 nights) where we can see 3 pyramids and the Sphynx outside our window.

The view from Guardian Guest House

They are sending a car ($30) just after midnight to meet us at the airport and take us to the hotel.

We will eat breakfast at the hotel.

The hotel booking comes with breakfast served from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. after which we will be picked up by our tour guide and driver for a day of sightseeing in Cairo — Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, and the Citadel. This will be a 6-7 hour tour — Charlie and I will surely be exhausted by the end of Day 3.

The view from the hotel terrace.

We’ll have a bite to eat then go up to the roof terrace to watch the sunset over the pyramids.

Day 4:  (Day 2 Cairo)

 After breakfast our guide (and driver) is picking us up for the half-day tour of the Giza pyramids, the Sphynx, and a camel ride.

The Giza Plateau

We have a lunch reservation at Khufu’s on the Giza plateau. Charlie and I plan to lunch alone then walk (about a mile) downhill to the hotel.

After a nice lunch we should be able to walk back to our hotel.

If we have any energy remaining we’ll explore the neighborhood including a small grocery store — one of Charlie’s favorite things to do. 

Day 5:  (Day 3 Cairo) (Day 1 Aswan)

We’ll be checking out of the Guest House very early in the morning (3:30 a.m.) to catch a plane at Cairo airport to Aswan.  We’re supposed to arrive at Aswan by 7:40 where we will meet a driver to take us on the 3-4 hour ride to Abu Simbel. After touring the temples we will be driven back to Aswan.  I’m hoping to squeeze in High Tea on the Terrace of the Old Cataract in the late afternoon.

When possible I try to book a good view from our hotel window — the Nile River flows in front of The Philae Hotel.

We have reservations at the Philae Hotel ($67.28) on the corniche where we’ll spend one night.   

Day 6 (Day 1 Nile Cruise)

Breakfast is included in our rate so we’ll have breakfast then head to our Nile cruise.

We’re planning a 4-day cruise down the Nile.

We will board Le Fayan ($1770 for 3 nights, all meals, and all tours for 2), a 5-star deluxe Nile cruise boat, where we’ll be welcomed by the reception staff . Our tours include the  Philae Temple on the Island of Agilika, followed by a visit to the Granite Quarries. Lunch will be served on board. In the afternoon we’ll  take a ride on a felucca (a typical Egyptian sail boat) around Elephantine Island, Lord Kitchener’s Botanical Gardens, and the Agha Khan Mausoleum.  In the evening a gourmet dinner will be served on board followed by a Folkloric and Dervish Show.

Every room on Le Fayan has a marvelous view.

 Day 7 (Day 2 Nile Cruise)

We’ll still be on our 3-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor where breakfast will be served on board. During lunch we’ll be cruising to Kom Ombo. Afternoon tea will be served while we cruise to Edfu. Tonight’s theme will be an “Egyptian Night” costume party for all guests. Dinner will be a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by oriental music and dancing for everyone.

Day 8 (Day 3 Nile Cruise)

 A breakfast buffet will be served on board then we’ll explore the Temple of Horus. During lunch on board we’ll cruise to Luxor where we’ll visit the Temple of Karnak and the Temple of Luxor. At night a delicious dinner is served on board.

Day 9 (Day 4 Nile Cruise) (Day 1 Luxor)

Breakfast will be served on board, check out at 8:00.  After breakfast we’ll disembark in Luxor. Our tour of the West Bank will begin with a visit to Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we will pass by the famed Colossi of Memnon.

Our room at the St. George in Luxor includes a balcony overlooking the Nile.

I have reserved a Nile view room at the Sonesta St. George Hotel ($152) on the corniche where we will spend the night.

Day 10  (Day 2 Luxor)  (Fly back to Cairo)

We will have time to tour around Luxor on our own before we check out of the hotel and catch a ride to Luxor airport to fly back to Cairo on our 7:40 p.m. flight.

The view from our hotel in Cairo gives a good expanse of this city of over 22 million people.

We will check into The President Hotel Zamalek ($226.88 for 2 nights) in downtown Cairo.  I did not include breakfast in this reservation so we can visit local cafes.

Day 11  (Day 4 Cairo)

My plan is to take a guided day tour to Alexandria which I have not yet arranged.

 Day 12  (Day 5 Cairo)

This is our last day in Cairo.

A marketplace is always interesting.

We could visit a museum  but we definitely want to wander around the captivating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, which is said to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East.

Our final hotel is essentially at the airport when it’s time to leave.

We’ll move to Le Meridien Cairo Airport ($221.81) for our last night in Egypt.  The hotel has a walking bridge to the airport terminals which will help us catch our very early flight the next day back home.

Day 13 

 Depart Cairo 6:50 am

First to London, then home.

Arrive BWI  18:40 (6:40 pm)

Arabic Numerals: for recognizing Ubers

In the mean time we’re learning Arabic numerals so we can recognize our Uber drivers by license plate.

Jo

Visiting Goddard Space Flight Center

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Over the past few years I have become more and more interested in the sky, stars, planets, etc.

Visitor Center on the left and Gift Shop on the right.

Since we live very near to a couple of NASA installations I decided to visit the closest one — Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland — about 30 minutes from our house.

Coming from the north I passed more than one entrance that was closed to everyone except employees.

Look for the visitors’ entrance at the main gate.  You will not need ID to enter and the cost is free.  Plenty of convenient parking is available.

Sign posts point to a variety of NASA venues.

Upon entry to the building I was greeted by a representative at the desk who was eager to help guests and students get the most from their visit.  I started by touring the building and stopped to watch an informational film in the auditorium.

Explosions on the sun cause strange and beautiful lights inside our magnetosphere.

Many of the exhibits are  interactive.  I was particularly interested in the sun’s emission of photons, protons, and electrons exhibit as they create the aurora borealis we viewed in Iceland.

A great deal of information was housed in this small museum.

I also took a few minutes to look at information on solar eclipses since I’m planning a trip to see another one next year.

Picture me wearing this outfit and dancing on the moon.

There is a nice photo opportunity in the museum for those who can picture themselves in space.

Notice how tiny the people are in the background.

“Orbits Interweave” — a kinetic sculpture.

Outside are rockets and mobiles and other out-of-this world displays.

A close-up of the largest orb on Orbits Interweave.

Don’t miss the gift shop.

A small gift shop with a nice collection of reasonably-price, space-related items.

If I visit again I will definitely pack a lunch to eat on the grounds where picnic tables are provided.

Jo

Vieques — The Ceiba Tree

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When we flew from the island of Puerto Rico to Vieques we transferred from the international airport to Ceiba airport.

Ceiba Airport in Puerto Rico

I thought Ceiba was just the name of a place but it turns out to be the name of a tree.

The ceiba tree.

On the north side of Vieques is a park dedicated to a very special ceiba tree — it’s almost 400 years old.

In 2019 La Ceiba bloomed for the first time since being badly damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria back in 2017.

The ceiba or kapok is one of the tree wonders of the world.

Some people have defaced the tree by etching into the bark which is strictly forbidden as is climbing the tree. (Charlie is photographing the thorns which grown out of the trunk.)

The Aztec, Maya and other pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures considered it sacred—a symbol of the link between heaven, earth and the world that was believed to exist below.

That’s Charlie near the trunk of the tree for scale.

The kapok is the national emblem of Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Equatorial Guinea, and appears on the coat of arms and flag of Equatorial Guinea. In Sierra Leone it is a symbol of freedom for the slaves that fled there.

A small pavilion in the park explains the history and importance of the ceiba.

The kapok tree is best known for the cotton-like fluff obtained from its seed pods. The material is inside the long, green, tamarillo-shaped fruit that surround the seeds to aid their dispersal by the wind.

The park is easy to find and entry is free along with ample parking.

Kapok is waterproof and much lighter than cotton; it is most often used as a stuffing material, although it has now been largely superseded by synthetic fibers. (In my youth orange life vests — personal flotation devices — were filled with kapok.)

My selfie with the ceiba.

It is now mostly grown commercially in the rainforests of South East Asia, particularly in Java, hence Java cotton, another of kapok’s names.

The north side of Vieques is the weather side.

Charlie and I enjoyed exploring the northern side of Vieques which included a drive out on a long pier where we could take in the view.

Jo

Vieques — Riding on the Beach

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Charlie and I try to take a horseback ride almost every place we visit.

The horses were all tacked up when we arrived at the barn.

Our trip to Vieques, PR was no exception.

Elizabeth went over the basics of mounting and riding before we took the reins.

I booked a late afternoon (4 pm) ride with the Esperanza Riding Company.

Hardhats for hardheads.

After getting instructions from our wrangler we were each assigned a helmet and a horse.

My ride was Carlitos — Spanish for Charlie.

We mounted one at a time and lined up for our trail/beach ride.

The ear of Charlie’s blond gelding is just visible in the lower left corner. I’m in front of him.

Off we rode at a walk out the gate and into the hills of Vieques.

The view from the hills went all the way out to the Caribbean.

Some of our excursion was on the paved streets of Esperanza in Vieques.

Another shot of my best side on the Black Sand Beach of Vieques.

The real thrill of the ride, however, was walking along the black sand beach which eventually became white sand.

We stopped for a photo shoot.

Then we rode around a rock outcropping that forced us totally into the water.  It was exciting to let our horses navigate the waves.

I was tired and ready to head back to the stable.

Finally we rode into the sunset — like all good endings.

Jo

Vieques — Mosquito Bay

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Our main reason for going to Vieques — an island part of the Puerto Rican archipelago — was to see the bioluminescent bay. It contains up to 160,000 microscopic dinoflagelates per liter of water.  When agitated, these microscopic organisms (Pyrodinium bahamense or swirling fire) react emitting a blue-green light for about a decimal of a second. There are other bioluminescent bays around the island, but the Mosquito Bio Bay is the one that shines with the most intensity, its shallow and small entrance from the sea impedes the waves from washing away the dinoflagellates; and the mangrove trees, with their decomposition process, provides abundant food for the micro-organisms.

No moon, only stars.  (The bright star in the middle of the left side is Sirius — pointed to by the 3 stars in Orion’s belt.)

In order to see the bioluminescence at its best we traveled during the new moon so the nights would be especially dark.

The interior of the bus was painted with sea creatures and lit with a black light to allow our eyes to adjust to the darkness.

We met up with our travel companions just down the street from where we were staying.  Each of us was issued a personal flotation device.  Then we boarded a small bus driven by Eduardo who informed us of what we would do and see on our tour.

Ours are the kayaks on the left — completely clear so we could see the luminescent microorganisms as we paddled through the bay.

We disembarked at the edge of Mosquito Bay* where we met up with our guides:  Eloy and Jimmy.  Eloy gave us a paddling lesson and Jimmy led us while we were in the water.

The luminescence is difficult to capture in a photo. (The horizontal line is the gunwale of the  clear canoe.)

Jimmy took us to different areas of the bay as he told us ecological facts and legend.  He was also very good at showing us constellations in the night sky.

We enjoyed our trip.

Even though this is not a good photo opportunity the bioluminescent bay in Vieques is a magical sight on a dark night.  It’s the reason we went to Vieques and we were not disappointed.

Jo

* Mosquito Bay is not named because of mosquitoes — there were none — but for a pirate ship that used to hide there. Mosquito Bay is named after “El Mosquito,” a small ship owned by Roberto Cofresí, a pirate who was a Robin Hood-type character. Cofresí often hid El Mosquito in the bioluminescent bay, which was connected to the ocean by a small, easily defensible inlet.

A Birthday Surprise Outing

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Charlie and Sug have birthdays one day apart so when we celebrate one we celebrate both.

We celebrated with a coffee morning get together.

Since we are all of a certain age I try to give experience gifts as opposed to hold-in-the-hand gifts.

The archery range is set up during the warm months.

This year I arranged for the 3 of us to take an hour and a half target archery lesson to learn the basics with a certified instructor.

The equipment shed held multiple types of bows.

We met our coach at a local archery range and were supplied with all the equipment we would need.

The rules were both written and verbally given.

Thankfully the April weather was outstanding.

I couldn’t actually pull the arrow back as far as we were instructed.

We started with very basic bows with which I was immediately successful.

My first 2 shots were remarkably accurate.

For me it was all downhill from there.

Our teacher/coach took us through the basics.

On the other hand Charlie and Sug improved with practice and upgraded equipment.

Charlie eyes up the targets and lets the arrow fly.

We were all a little weary at the end of class due to the heat and our attempt to concentrate on our coach’s instructions.

By the end of the session Sug (left) and Charlie (right) were both consistently hitting the target.

We had a fun and informative outing learning something we had all tried before and now realize we had no idea what we were doing.

Jo

April 2023 — Objectives

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April is spring in Maryland — in all its glory. The dogwood bloom, daffodils are rampant, the weather is milder.  Charlie starts his vegetable garden. Bring it on!

  1.  Celebrate Easter.

    Nothing is so cheery as a bit of springtime fun.

  2. See a play.

    I have tickets for the preview of Hamlet.

  3. See a movie.
  4. Belated birthday surprise outing for Charlie and Sug. No hints yet.
  5.  Read a book. I’m sticking with my Egyptian series by Elizabeth Peters.
  6. Work on a project in the Treetops Room.

    The Treetops Room is ready for guests but still has a lot of clutter.

  7. Eat vegetarian for a week.  (#92 on my 101 in 1001 list.)
  8.  Visit Goddard Space Flight Center.

    Top to bottom– the moon, Venus, Jupiter — 3 items I can identify in the night sky.

  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: WONDER.
  10.  Write a goal list for May, 2023.

Jo

March 2023 — Processed

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Ah, Spring! Oddly the sunlight streaming into the house makes me want to wash windows.

El Malecón in Esperanza, Vieques, Puerto Rico.

In addition to the planned items in the numbered list below:

  • I watched some classic movies including Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, Giant, Inspector Bellamy, The Third Man, The Apartment, All About Eve, and The Philadelphia Story. My favorite was the latter which starred Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, and Cary Grant.
  • I went to ukulele class at a local library. 

    The library was prepared to lend a tuned ukulele to whomever needed one.

    I also talked to a librarian at my nearest library to see what might be brewing in this area closer to home. She said I inspired her so I’m hopeful something fun will be scheduled. 
  • I continued doing tai chi twice each week. 

Now for my attention to my actual goals for the month:

  1. Celebrate birthdays. 

    We had a subtle Saint Patrick’s theme for the coffee party.

      We had another Friday morning coffee get-together for Charlie and Sug  whose special days are one day apart on the calendar. 

    I made lots of little treats so everyone could try everything.

  2.  Head to Vieques in Puerto Rico. 

    An ocean view never gets old for me.

  3. Begin working on a small claims court filing. 

    Why don’t people just pay their ground rent?

    I looked up information on the internet and filled out the initial paperwork.
  4. See a movie. I saw Jesus Revolution which was well-cast, informative, and entertaining. Also 80 for Brady which was a lot of fun.  I also saw the Oscar winner Everything, Everywhere, All at Once — I’m not a fan.
  5.  Read a book. This month I read one of Elizabeth Peters’ early Egyptian mysteries — The Falcon at the Portal.

    I have more Elizabeth Peters books scheduled to read.

    I’m learning a lot about Egypt while enjoying a good mystery.
  6.  Remove a box from the attic.

    I’m on a roll — next to go foam and globe.

    I removed 2 boxes and ruthlessly threw away things I haven’t looked at for years and years. 

    This big box is in the recycling.

  7.  Work on fall travel plans.  I have plane tickets to Egypt for Charlie and me, including trips inside the country.  I have made hotel reservations and booked our Nile cruise. 

    We’re planning a 4-day cruise down the Nile.

       That’s as far as I got.
  8.  Get rid of 5 pairs of shoes. 

    Now some of the shoes on the floor can be stored in a shoe cubby.

     All 5 pairs useless for some reason or another — no heels, insides deteriorating, inside color rubs off on feet, etc. Now I have no navy blue shoes!
  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: HOPE.
  10.  Write a goal list for April, 2023.

Vieques — Getting There

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Vieques is an island just off the coast of Puerto Rico where the world’s foremost bioluminescent bay can be found.

A large Adirondack chair on the  Malecón in Esperanza, Vieques, PR.

However getting there is an adventure in itself.

We flew above the clouds over the Atlantic Ocean.

First Charlie and I flew from Baltimore to San Juan Puerto Rico — nonstop on Southwest Airlines.

Even though we were in the final seating group we snagged seats in the 4th row from the front.

I had prearranged by email to be picked up by a private van owned and operated by John Rosario Gonzales (Highly recommended) who met us at San Juan airport to shuttle us to another airport — Ceiba — about an hour away.  He texted me when our plane landed to tell us where to meet.

VAL — Vieques Air Link — 10-minute flight from Ceiba to Vieques.

We had tickets on a smaller flight from Ceiba to Vieques.  When I say smaller flight I mean they weighed everything and everyone.

We were tightly packed in a tiny plane for 8 passengers.

Our luggage had to be less than 25 pounds or we would be charged $1.50 for every pound over — my suitcase was 19 pounds.

The luggage compartment was at the rear of the plane.

When we arrived at Vieques we were picked up by a driver in a van from Maritza’s Car Rental.  He drove us to the rental car lot where we were given a royal blue Kia Soul which would be our wheels for the week on Vieques.  The taxi, flights, car, and accommodations had been arranged months in advance and confirmed within weeks before our trip.

A vehicle must be reserved well before the trip because they run out.

We drove to our AirBnB across the island about a 15 minute drive.

The view from our AirBnB balcony.

The setting was ideal.

Jo

Vieques — Itinerary for a Week

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Although we just returned from Florida a month ago Charlie and I have been planning a return trip to Puerto Rico for a long time.

Even though we were in the final seating group we snagged seats in the 4th row from the front.

We arrived at San Juan airport but transferred immediately to a smaller airport where we were transported to Vieques, a nearby island.

We flew above the clouds over the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 1 Friday

Our travel day started early in the morning.

The Vieques Air Link desk in Ceiba.

By the time we reached the airport at Ceiba, Puerto Rico, it was afternoon.

We were seated in the last row of the little plane.

Then we flew to Vieques on an 8-seater.  The flight took 10 minutes.

Vieques Airport from the tarmac side.

After securing a rental car we headed to our room in an AirBnB.

Our room was the second door on the left.

Day 2 Saturday

On the second day of our trip we explored the island by car, went grocery shopping, and tried some local restaurants.

Charlie likes to check out the fare at local grocery stores.

We also found a barber who would give Charlie a traditional haircut.

Careful with that razor, Tito.

We saw the Southern Cross constellation on a cloudy night in San Juan, in February, 2019.

Crux is visible just above and to the right of the tallest boat mast.

We tried again in Vieques and were delighted to see it clearly from our south-facing position in Esperanza.

The Southern Cross — Crux.

Even though it was relatively low in the sky we had no doubt .  After staying up half the night we were happy to get back to our room.

We slept well in this comfortable bed even though folks partied in the street until the wee hours.

Day 3 Sunday

In the morning we  attended a service in Spanish at Holy Redeemer Methodist Church in Esperanza where we were cheerfully and sincerely welcomed.

Church began at 10 a.m. and went on until about noon — lots of music and a grace-filled gospel message.

In the evening we had arranged a Biobay Tour in the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world.

We toured the bay in completely clear kayaks (at the left of the photo).

Touring Mosquito Bay in the dark was our primary purpose for visiting Vieques.

Day 4 Monday

We relaxed at the beach then took a sunset horseback ride in late afternoon.

My steed’s name was Carlitos — Charlie in Spanish.

This was the first time that we had ever had the opportunity to ride in the ocean — exciting.

Day 5 Tuesday

We drove to the north side of the island especially to see the almost 400-year-old Ceiba tree.

That’s Charlie near the trunk of the tree for scale.

It was quite spectacular.

Day 6  Wednesday

Each day began early for us with the aid of nature’s alarm clock.

Coqs crowed morning, noon, and night.

Charlie and I headed to Sun Bay early in the morning to try tai chi on the beach.

Charlie (in the light clothing) enjoyed tai chi more than he expected.

Day 7  Thursday

Beach Day.

White sandy beaches with palm trees for shade.

Our favorite beach was Pata Prieta —Black (or brown or dark) leg.

Beaches are free on Vieques.

Our final sunset on Vieques.

We enjoyed the night sky and the setting sun.

Day 8  Friday

Travel day.

The first leg of our journey home was in a small plane.

Details soon.

Jo