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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Dec 10, 2020 10:00 PM Enormous columns of Karnak
They say that this is the biggest temple in the world... Today I visited the temple of Amon Re in Karnak - on the outskirts of Luksor. This was my third time in Karnak, but I was impressed once again. Maybe because the temple was almost empty due to pandemic? The columns in hypostyle hall are imposing - How they constructed such a building thousands years ago? Armed police is present in every monument to guarantee the security. They are very friendly, but it is forbidden to photograph them...
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Dec 09, 2020 10:00 PM Temple of Horus in Edfu
Early wake up. At the sunrise time the horse cart was waiting on the river bank. I boarded the cart with my friend David and after some 15 minutes we reached the gate of the temple. It is big, but hardly visible from the distance because it was built below the present level of the ground. It was my first visit here and I must say I was impressed. I liked especially the nice reliefs on the walls of the temple...
In the afternoon wa will ba sailing down to Luxor....
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Dec 08, 2020 10:00 PM High dam and Philae Temple
Sun is very strong is Aswan. I must wear a hat to protect the skin on my head. :) In the morning we were driving to the High Dam. Russians built it working from 1961 to 1971. Egypt paid them sending to Soviet Union tons of cotton. Now the power plant installed here is the main source of energy for the whole country. The difference of water level is more than 100 m. The place is well guarded by army and the police and you can take the pictures only from the special parking and only by phone. No cameras or video... Entry costs 100 pounds... Impressive... I had a chance to see the place where I landed coming by junk boat from Sudan in 1976...
Later they took us down to the boat operating on the little lake between High Dam and Little Dam built by British closer to Aswan. The boat took us to the famous Philae Temple located on the island. Temple of Isis is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is really beautiful.
In the afternoon I was sailing again down the Nile to Edfu.
What a day!
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Dec 07, 2020 10:00 PM In Aswan after 44 years
In the morning I was walking the corniche in Aswan - again after 44 years. Sill nice place with the views of first cataract. Zero tourists and only few changes. One of them is huge Coptic cathedral built opposite historic Old Cataract Hotel. They charge 300 pounds to visit hotel, but the entry to the cathedral is free. the big church is worth to see and there is free voluntary guide.
In the afternoon I took the little boat to Kitchener Island to visit Botanical Garden. Nice, but 35 pounds entry..
The weather is like in the summer in Europe. I love that!
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Dec 06, 2020 10:00 PM To Kom Ombo
Wow. The result of PCR test was favorable for me!
So they woke me up at 4 am and I boarded the bus going through
the Egyptian Eastern Desert (5 hours non stop, partly gravel) to Edfu.
There I boarded the river boat and we sailed upstream to Kom Ombo.
In Kom Ombo there is ancient temple of the gods Horus and Sadek.
Impressive! In the evening we sailed further upstream to Aswan.
Wonderful day!
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Dec 05, 2020 10:00 PM Waiting for the result of the test (under blue sky) :)
They promised to send us the results of the PCR test today in the evening. So waiting we have the day at leisure. Strong sun is shining and the sky is blue. Tropical flowers around... Our beach hotel is amost empty... I like it, because I hate the crowd. Included food is not very sophisticated, but for me it is OK. Let's hope that the result of the test will be negative - in this case tomorrow I will take the bus to Edfu on thebank of the Nile where the river boat is waiting...
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Dec 04, 2020 10:00 PM Day on the plane
I spent the night in the little Airport hotel close to Chopin Airport. The advantage of this place is free transfer to the airport in the morning. The airport was empty except one long line in front of check in stands for our charter flight to Marsa Alam. They put us on the bus going to the distant park.... Cold morning... Departure was 20 min delayed and the 737-800 plane of Smart Wings was full. I was afraid about the space for my long legs, but it was not too bad. Food and drinks for sale only and rather expensive... Aha, they serve a cup of free mineral water :) Bring your sandwiches with you!
After 4,5 hours I saw the navy blue waters of the Red Sea and yellow desert. We landed in the sun in little Marsa Alam airport. They collected health declarations and allowed first to disembark people with Covid test ready. Then they took the rest of passengers to the terminal, copied our passports and collected the test material from the nose. Then we went through the passport control (to encourage tourists Egyptians temporary do not charge 25 dollars visa fee) Luggage pick-up. Buses were waiting in front of the terminal. Pleasant 24 deg. Celsius. We were driving north through the desert leaving people in the scattered hotels. We reached our "Pensee Hotel" at dusk. At 10 pm I was walking in the shirt only - the temperature of Polish summer!
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Dec 03, 2020 10:00 PM New voyage to the sun!
I am going to South Egypt to escape the December cold weather and the short, dark days - at least for a while! Traveling through a pandemic is not that easy, but possible nonetheless. However, it is associated with quite a high risk. It is not really known whether my plan will be successful. The host country requires a PCR test, for example, but they only do it after arriving in Egypt at the airport. If my test will be positive, I would be quarantined - fortunately in the sun and under palm trees! :)
Flying to Egypt is now possible only by charter plane. I was able to find a convenient date, which, however, was changed by the travel agency. Prices for travel events during a pandemic are very favorable as few tourists decide to go on a risky journey. But thanks to the fact that I am flying with a travel agency, I have a guaranteed return to the country, regardless of the changes of the situation. I was in Upper Egypt in 1976, entering from Sudan. I wonder how this region has changed in 44 years? There will also be an opportunity to see some new places, which I am very happy about. My route is marked on the map with a red line. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! :)
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Nov 28, 2020 10:00 PM 6 days till departure!
Gray, cold November around. I decided to fly on a charter flight to South Egypt... I have been there in 1976... For sure there will be a lot of changes, new hotels built in the desert... But the most important - there will be a sun, blue sea and a wind blowing from the Sahara! I paid for few nights in the beach hotel - see the picture. The prices are low because only few people travel during the COVID time.. We will see what else will be possible. :)
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Nov 23, 2020 10:00 PM I should be in the Antarctic today!
Bad luck! Bloody COV!D! Since years I was dreaming about returning to Antarctica. I booked the expedition, I paid the hardly saved money...
Today I should be on this ship... But the expedition was cancelled. They rebooked me for next November. Lets's hope!
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