ÿþ<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Phil Craine's photos</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY BACKGROUND="../../../images/whtbrick.gif" BGCOLOR="#00FFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000CC" VLINK="#990000" ALINK="#CC00CC"> <TABLE WIDTH="615" BORDER="1" CELLSPACING="2" CELLPADDING="2"> <TR ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP"> <TD WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP"> <FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="4"> <CENTER><H2><b><u>Egypt and Israel Cruise 2010</u></b></H2></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <p>Wednesday: Alarm goes off at 4:00am. We drive to Manchester Airport, then fly to Paphos and finally travel by coach to our ship the MV Thomson Spirit in Limasol.</p> <p>The journeys go to plan and we arrive about 5:00pm local time. Evening meal is very tasty but limited in choices. Entertainment is an ABBA tribute followed by music outside by the pool. The overnight sailing seems rather choppy. <p></p> <br /> <p>Thursday: Excellent breakfast. There is a lifeboat practice at 9:30. Then we go to a presentation about the shore excursions. We have already booked but it is nice to listen. We then go ashore in Alanya (Turkey) which is a very pretty seaside town. We walk along the harbour promenade and then venture into the shopping areas.</p> <p>After a tasty snack on the ship we win a trivia quiz, but don't get the prize due to a mix-up with the tie-break question.</p> <p>Then we go into the walled town and head off up the hill. We don't go all the way up, but do have a good walk round with panoramic views of the town and harbour.</p> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/alanyafromship.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Our first view of Alanya"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Our First View of Alanya</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/alanya1.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Gardens and Ponds"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Gardens and Pools in Alanya</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/alanya2.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Views of Alanya"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Views of Alanya</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/alanyaredtower.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="View of Red Tower"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>The Red Tower of Alanya</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/thomsonspirit.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="MV Thomson Spirit"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>A View of Our Ship From Alanya</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <p>Friday: Today is a full day at sea as we sail to Egypt. A leisurely breakfast followed by relaxation in the warm sunshine. Then there is information about the excursions to Egypt and Israel. After this there is an interesting presentation by Frances Boardman a lecturer in Egyptology. We learn more about the pyramids and what we can expect to see. After more relaxing we watch the afternoon play. Good acting but after a promising start, the script was a bit lame. After a tasty late lunch we watch demonstrations by the chefs and get to eat a delicious Black Forest Gateaux.</p> <p>Late afternoon is the Captain's reception. After some waiting the captain came on stage and introduced some of his crew. We then went to the formal dinner. It's a small world, the people on our table were from Yorkshire.</p> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/formal.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="After the formal dinner"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>In Our Cabin on Formal Night</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <p>Saturday: Today we are in Alexandria. The tour takes us to a fort built on the site of the ancient Pharos (lighthouse) which was one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. Past the impressive library (close to the site of the ancient library) and on to the museum with ancient Egyptian, Greek/Roman and Coptic exhibits. Finally we stop off at a Roman amphitheatre which was only discovered in the 1960s.</p> <p>In the afternoon, we go to the second presentation by Frances Boardman. It was absolutely fascinating and gave an insight into just how advanced the ancient Egyptians were. The emphasis was on the lives of the ordinary people.</p> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/pharos.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Fort built on site of Pharos"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>The Fort Built on Site of Pharos</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/amphitheatre.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Roman Amphitheatre"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Roman Amphitheatre in Alexandria</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/roman.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Us in the Roman Ruins"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Us in the Roman Ruins</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <p>Sunday: Very early start today. We drive from Port Said towards Cairo, stopping of at a fortress built by Saladin during the Crusades. Inside there is a 19th Century mosque built by Mohammed Ali, then ruler of Egypt. The dome is covered with silver. We spend some time inside, then continue our journey.</p> <p>The traffic in Cairo is crazy and our coach has few near misses. Eventually we reach our destination; the Nile boat where we have a lovely buffet lunch. As we eat, we cruise along the Nile. The entertainment is a belly dancer and a whirling dervish. Afterwards we move to the open deck to watch the boat's progress up and down the river.</p> <p>Then we head for the pyramids at the back of a run down Cairo suburb. They are grand and impressive (considering that they were built thousands of years ago) but not quite as grand and impressive as I had always imagined them. I'm glad we came though. It really was worth the journey. The sand was blowing about and reducing visibility for photographs but we managed. Final stop for photos was the Sphinx. Now this was just as I imagined it.</p> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/mosque.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Mohammed Ali Mosque"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Mohammed Ali Mosque in Saladin's Fortress</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/nile_cruise.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Nile Cruise"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Cruising the Nile in Cairo</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/pyramid1.jpg" width="600 " height="450" ALT="Great Pyramid"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>The Great Pyramid</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/pyramid2.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Second Pyramid"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>The Second Pyramid</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/pyramid3.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Siran by Great Pyramid"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Siran by the Great Pyramid</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/sphinx.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Sphinx"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Sphinx</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <p>Monday: Our ship is docked in Ashdod and today we visit Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This was an amazing day out. Even the road signs on the journey to Jerusalem were reminders of Bible stories. Our first stop was on the Mount of Olives with spectacular views across the Kidron Valley to the walled city. We pass the Paternoster Church on the site where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer.</p> <p>Then down to the garden of Gethsemane. It was alleged that some of the olive trees were old enough to have been there as Jesus prayed before his arrest. There is a inter-denominational church there, the current building being less than 100 years old (in the art deco style).</p> <p>Next we enter the walled city and go to the Western (Wailing) Wall where the Jews write out their prayers and tuck them between the stones. We were told that they can even fax their prayers and have a proxy place them on the wall.</p> <p>Then we followed the Via Delorosa. This is Jesus' route as he took the cross to the place he was crucified. The stations on the way tell the story of events as Jesus carried the cross. It was very moving to get a small glimpse of the terrible suffering he endured for <b>us</b>. I was dismayed by the bad taste of some shops on this route.</p> <p>We then reached the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is where Jesus was crucified at the place called Golgotha. The church is full of artwork and symbolism. On the way out we are shown what is alleged to be Adam's remains. We leave the city through the Jaffa Gate. Next stop Bethlehem</p> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/jerusalem1.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Jerusalem"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/gethsemane1.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Garden of Gethsemane"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Garden of Gethsemane</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/gethsemane2.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Garden of Gethsemane"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Garden of Gethsemane</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/gethsemane3.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church in Gethsemane"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Church in Gethsemane</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/gethsemane4.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church in Gethsemane"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Church in Gethsemane</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/gethsemane5.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church in Gethsemane"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Church in Gethsemane</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/westernwall1.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Western Wall"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Western Wall of the Temple</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/westernwall2.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Western Wall"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>The Western Wall</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/via_dolorosa4.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Via Dolorosa"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Via Dolorosa IV</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/holysepulchre1.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church of the Holy Sepulchre"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Church of the Holy Sepulchre</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/holysepulchre2.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church of the Holy Sepulchre"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Church of the Holy Sepulchre</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/holysepulchre3.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church of the Holy Sepulchre"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Church of the Holy Sepulchre</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/holysepulchre4.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church of the Holy Sepulchre"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Church of the Holy Sepulchre</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/holysepulchre5.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church of the Holy Sepulchre"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Church of the Holy Sepulchre</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/adam.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Adam's Remains"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Adam's Remains</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/davidstower.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Tower of David"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>The Tower of David</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/nativity1.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church of the Nativity"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/nativity2.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Church of the Nativity"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Under the Church of the Nativity</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/stgerome.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Grotto of St. Gerome"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>In the Grotto of St. Gerome</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/bethlehem.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="Bethlehem"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>Bethlehem</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/*****.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="*****"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>*****</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/*****.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="*****"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>*****</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/*****.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="*****"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>*****</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/*****.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="*****"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>*****</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/*****.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="*****"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>*****</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/*****.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="*****"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>*****</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/*****.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="*****"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>*****</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> <CENTER><IMG SRC="images/*****.jpg" width="600" height="450" ALT="*****"></CENTER> <CENTER><p>*****</p></CENTER> <p></p> <br /> </FONT> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </BODY> </HTML>