Letter from Egypt: CC Bob McEwen, on a three-week trip

Bob McEwen in Egypt

  Bob McEwen, on a three-week trip to Israel & Egypt during May with Vantage Travel writes to his “kids”:

24May09
Today were on Lake Nasser, where the Russian-built High Dam has created what now covers 26% of Egypt’s land mass and is as much as 280 feet deep.  It is a protected area and no industry is allowed along its shores to avoid pollution.  We stopped at an island, formerly a mountain top, where a fortress, Qasr Ibrim, built about 2,000 years before Christ seems to be a roost for a family of birds about the size of Bald Eagles.  We were not allowed ashore as it is being reconstructed.

This afternoon we will visit Amada Temples, about half a mile inland over sand.  I have my walking shoes which I bought for the Amazon cruise about 16 years ago.  Made the mistake of wearing my brown loafers at the Sphinx/Pyramids area and they need renovation.
Yesterday we toured Abu Simbel, probably the most famous artwork in Egypt.  There are four giant statues of Rameses II at various ages, along with those of his wives and children.  Inside are many artworks of his heroic adventures, all drawn back in the ancient days and many still having vibrant colors. 

It’s Monday, Memorial Day and we’re finally off the ship and in a hotel in the City of Aswan; a classy place overlooking the Nile.  More temples the last couple of days, including some built by Greco-Roman folks, one of which was built as a mosque and then was a Christian Church, then back to mosque.  All had to be moved to high ground or they’d be beneath water when the Aswan High Dam began to work & water rose.  Work of putting the puzzles back together was massive and done by various contractors, including French, Polish, German and American.

This has been one of the most strenuous “vacations” ever, with much “climbing” on improved and unimproved pathways.  Food has been good, but some strange.  No butter on tables and no lettuce in salads, but plenty of fruit, yogurt, fish, beef, lamb, but no pork that I’ve seen.  I’ve had an arrangement with a beautiful young lady: She takes photos of me at some interesting backgrounds and I do likewise for her and family members.   

Heat is not bad and we all carry water.  I don’t seem to sweat as much as many, and am comfortable.  Yesterday I wore my lightest shirt, an Hawaiian item I’ve had since a luau at town hall while I was mayor.  Got strange comments!.