Although I worked in the Persian Gulf from 1981 to 1996, I never took the time to 'do' Egypt. In particular, I have for some time harboured the desire to stand upon a vessel on the Nile River. So, this is one detail on the itinerary that we'll accomplish come late spring. It's probably better that I waited for years and years. I have had time to get a slightly better grasp on the ebb and flow of world history. I most definitely feel better able to put the famous ancient sites into a personal schema now. Maybe I'm just trying to say that I feel a hell of a lot smarter than I was during my 20's and 30's.
We plan on flying into Cairo and initially seeing the Nile River Valley and famous archaeological sites of Upper-Egypt. As well, it might be interesting to see the Red Sea from the south of the Sinai Peninsula. We will probably, then, head up through Jordan. We already have our return tickets showing departure from Israel.
Jay and I have travelled much of the world together. He has, in fact, seen Cairo and Alexandria in the past whereas I have not. This photo was taken on a solo trip he took during our last year in Taif, Saudi Arabia. He had accrued sufficient vacation leave whereas I hadn't. He has already seen the great Pyramids of Giza and will be my tour guide this time around, a full 27 years after his initial visit.