2007 - Egypt & the Nile

LAND OF THE PHARAOHS - From May 5th to May 19, 2007, Jeanne and I traveled to Egypt - part of a small group that explored a succession of temples and tombs that today stand as timeless testa ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 03:58:11 -0700

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LAND OF THE PHARAOHS - From May 5th to May 19, 2007, Jeanne and I traveled to Egypt - part of a small group that explored a succession of temples and tombs that today stand as timeless testa ...

MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - What a way to start our trip! Breakfast in Virginia, lunch in Cairo. Just 28 hours in between. But here we were - sipping soup in the shadow of the Pyramids. Our firs ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 03:59:59 -0700

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MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - What a way to start our trip! Breakfast in Virginia, lunch in Cairo. Just 28 hours in between. But here we were - sipping soup in the shadow of the Pyramids. Our firs ...

MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - Here was an urban oasis amidst the chaos of Cairo. From our hotel room to anywhere on the grounds, we could see towering above us one of the great wonders of the world.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 03:59:48 -0700

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MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - Here was an urban oasis amidst the chaos of Cairo. From our hotel room to anywhere on the grounds, we could see towering above us one of the great wonders of the world.

MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - Originally a royal lodge for the Turkish ruler of Egypt in the 1860s, the hotel is set within 40 acres of gardens, literally across the street from the Giza plateau and t ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:00:12 -0700

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MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - Originally a royal lodge for the Turkish ruler of Egypt in the 1860s, the hotel is set within 40 acres of gardens, literally across the street from the Giza plateau and t ...

MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - The archways of the hotel corridors reflected its Turkish origins.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:00:24 -0700

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MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - The archways of the hotel corridors reflected its Turkish origins.

MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - The uniforms of the hotel staff - especially the doorman who cheerfully greeted us each morning - are also a blend of Egyptian and Turkish designs.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:09:59 -0700

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MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - The uniforms of the hotel staff - especially the doorman who cheerfully greeted us each morning - are also a blend of Egyptian and Turkish designs.

MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - Could there be a better backdrop for a party?

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:06:33 -0700

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MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - Could there be a better backdrop for a party?

MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - Elegant during the day, the Mena House and its surrounding gardens became truly spectacular in the late evening.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:05:12 -0700

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MENA HOUSE, CAIRO - Elegant during the day, the Mena House and its surrounding gardens became truly spectacular in the late evening.

SAQQARA – THE FIRST PYRAMID: The day after arriving in Egypt, we traveled about 15 miles south of Cairo through the palm-lined Nile floodplain to the edge of the western desert. Our ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:04:01 -0700

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SAQQARA – THE FIRST PYRAMID: The day after arriving in Egypt, we traveled about 15 miles south of Cairo through the palm-lined Nile floodplain to the edge of the western desert. Our ...

SAQQARA - On this dusty plateau in 2630 BC, Pharaoh Djoser commissioned the Step Pyramid. It is the oldest stone building in the world, a radical departure from the box-like, mud-brick mast ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:04:16 -0700

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SAQQARA - On this dusty plateau in 2630 BC, Pharaoh Djoser commissioned the Step Pyramid. It is the oldest stone building in the world, a radical departure from the box-like, mud-brick mast ...

SAQQARA - Through the narrow entrance, we made our way to the Step Pyramid through a colonnade of 20 pairs of stone columns, carved to imitate huge bundles of reeds (which archaeologists now ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:03:43 -0700

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SAQQARA - Through the narrow entrance, we made our way to the Step Pyramid through a colonnade of 20 pairs of stone columns, carved to imitate huge bundles of reeds (which archaeologists now ...

SAQQARA - The Step Pyramid was built for King Djoser by his high priest Imhotep in the 27th century BC. It was an impressive leap forward in architecture. Imhotep's great innovations were ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:03:30 -0700

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SAQQARA - The Step Pyramid was built for King Djoser by his high priest Imhotep in the 27th century BC. It was an impressive leap forward in architecture. Imhotep's great innovations were ...

SAQQARA - It always helps to have a knowledgeable tour leader, and we had one of Egypt's best. Amr Hassan was both an experienced guide and a trained archaeologist and Egyptologist. He add ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:53:37 -0700

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SAQQARA - It always helps to have a knowledgeable tour leader, and we had one of Egypt's best. Amr Hassan was both an experienced guide and a trained archaeologist and Egyptologist. He add ...

SAQQARA - The Step Pyramid was much larger than we had imagined, rising some 204 feet. It was bounded by a finely cut limestone wall originally 34 feet high. This complex once included vas ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:02:25 -0700

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SAQQARA - The Step Pyramid was much larger than we had imagined, rising some 204 feet. It was bounded by a finely cut limestone wall originally 34 feet high. This complex once included vas ...

SAQQARA - Beside the Step Pyramid was a small, stone-covered room called a serdab with two small peep holes. Looking through these holes, we could see a limestone statue of the pharaoh. It ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:22:06 -0700

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SAQQARA - Beside the Step Pyramid was a small, stone-covered room called a serdab with two small peep holes. Looking through these holes, we could see a limestone statue of the pharaoh. It ...

SAQQARA - We walked the full length of the perimeter of the pyramid, wondering what would possess a king to build not just one mastaba (a box-like grave marker) but six, one on top of the ot ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:03:00 -0700

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SAQQARA - We walked the full length of the perimeter of the pyramid, wondering what would possess a king to build not just one mastaba (a box-like grave marker) but six, one on top of the ot ...

SAQQARA - It was at Saqqara where we saw our first "working" camel. In this case, it was being ridden by a local policeman who stood guard over the nearby tomb of Ptah-Hotep, one of history ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 03:59:31 -0700

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SAQQARA - It was at Saqqara where we saw our first "working" camel. In this case, it was being ridden by a local policeman who stood guard over the nearby tomb of Ptah-Hotep, one of history ...

SAQQARA - Something like a "taxi stand," more camels could be seen on the horizon at Saqqara. At many of the ancient sites, camels are available to transport tourists on excursions in, arou ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:03:13 -0700

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SAQQARA - Something like a "taxi stand," more camels could be seen on the horizon at Saqqara. At many of the ancient sites, camels are available to transport tourists on excursions in, arou ...

SAQQARA - We also encountered a local entrepreneur who offered us a ride on his "Egyptian Cadillac." We declined.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:02:40 -0700

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SAQQARA - We also encountered a local entrepreneur who offered us a ride on his "Egyptian Cadillac." We declined.

GIZA PLATEAU - In the afternoon of our first full day in Egypt, we made our way to the country's s signature attraction: the Pyramids of Giza – perfect in form, massive in size, the u ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:12:05 -0700

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GIZA PLATEAU - In the afternoon of our first full day in Egypt, we made our way to the country's s signature attraction: the Pyramids of Giza – perfect in form, massive in size, the u ...

THE PINNACLE OF PYRAMIDS – The Great Pyramid of Khufu - this is where pyramid building truly reached its pinnacle. It may be the most photographed structure in the world, yet nothing ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:08:20 -0700

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THE PINNACLE OF PYRAMIDS – The Great Pyramid of Khufu - this is where pyramid building truly reached its pinnacle. It may be the most photographed structure in the world, yet nothing ...

GIZA PLATEAU - Khufu (or Cheops, as the Greeks called him) enlisted 30 to 50,000 of his closest friends to build his pyramid over 20 years beginning around 2540 BC. For the next 4,000 years ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:01:48 -0700

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GIZA PLATEAU - Khufu (or Cheops, as the Greeks called him) enlisted 30 to 50,000 of his closest friends to build his pyramid over 20 years beginning around 2540 BC. For the next 4,000 years ...

TWO ICONS OF EGYPT - With the Great Pyramid as the backdrop, Jeanne couldn't resist the whole "Egyptian Experience" - climbing onto her first camel for a brief jaunt (actually, very brief) o ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:05:27 -0700

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TWO ICONS OF EGYPT - With the Great Pyramid as the backdrop, Jeanne couldn't resist the whole "Egyptian Experience" - climbing onto her first camel for a brief jaunt (actually, very brief) o ...

GIZA PLATEAU - Prior to our visit, we had expected to see nothing but the Pyramids atop the Giza Plateau, but in walking around the massive structures we were surprised to discover that Pyra ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:05:06 -0700

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GIZA PLATEAU - Prior to our visit, we had expected to see nothing but the Pyramids atop the Giza Plateau, but in walking around the massive structures we were surprised to discover that Pyra ...

QUEENS' PYRAMIDS - These smaller pyramids were built for members of the pharaoh's familty, although the actual identify of the occupants is unknown. An ancient tale told by the Greek histo ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:07:11 -0700

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QUEENS' PYRAMIDS - These smaller pyramids were built for members of the pharaoh's familty, although the actual identify of the occupants is unknown. An ancient tale told by the Greek histo ...

A RIVER CRUISE TO THE AFTERLIFE? - Southeast of Khufu’s Pyramid, the site resembles an ancient dried-up river port. Five boat pits have been discovered. Two were covered by slabs of ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:10:56 -0700

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A RIVER CRUISE TO THE AFTERLIFE? - Southeast of Khufu’s Pyramid, the site resembles an ancient dried-up river port. Five boat pits have been discovered. Two were covered by slabs of ...

THE PHARAOH'S SOLAR BARQUE - In the 1960s, the 1,224 pieces discovered in one of the boat pits were removed and carefully reassembled. The result was a fully functional boat, now displayed ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:04:29 -0700

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THE PHARAOH'S SOLAR BARQUE - In the 1960s, the 1,224 pieces discovered in one of the boat pits were removed and carefully reassembled. The result was a fully functional boat, now displayed ...

GIZA - To keep the Giza sand outside where it belongs, we had to don cloth "footies" while touring the Solar Barque museum. They did add a certain fashion flair.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:53:30 -0700

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GIZA - To keep the Giza sand outside where it belongs, we had to don cloth "footies" while touring the Solar Barque museum. They did add a certain fashion flair.

GIZA PLATEAU - One cannot possibly explore all of Giza in a single afternoon. When we had a couple of free hours early one morning a couple of days later, Jeanne and I returned to the plate ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:07:23 -0700

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GIZA PLATEAU - One cannot possibly explore all of Giza in a single afternoon. When we had a couple of free hours early one morning a couple of days later, Jeanne and I returned to the plate ...

GIZA PLATEAU - The lack of crowds in the early morning gave us an opportunity to explore the numerous nooks and crannies in the fallen mortuary temples around the Pyramids that had eluded ou ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:10:19 -0700

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GIZA PLATEAU - The lack of crowds in the early morning gave us an opportunity to explore the numerous nooks and crannies in the fallen mortuary temples around the Pyramids that had eluded ou ...

HARD ACT TO FOLLOW - Khufu’s son Khafre was next in the pharaonic line and built the second of Giza’s great pyramids – the one in the middle – completing it around 25 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:08:59 -0700

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HARD ACT TO FOLLOW - Khufu’s son Khafre was next in the pharaonic line and built the second of Giza’s great pyramids – the one in the middle – completing it around 25 ...

GIZA PLATEAU - In our early morning visit to the Pyramids, we took advantage of the lack of crowds to set up a self portrait -- a possible "we were there" photo for this year's Christmas car ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:11:12 -0700

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GIZA PLATEAU - In our early morning visit to the Pyramids, we took advantage of the lack of crowds to set up a self portrait -- a possible "we were there" photo for this year's Christmas car ...

GIZA PLATEAU - The round columns that was once part of Pharaoh's Khafre's mortuary temple seemed oddly out of place among the angular pyramids.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:10:36 -0700

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GIZA PLATEAU - The round columns that was once part of Pharaoh's Khafre's mortuary temple seemed oddly out of place among the angular pyramids.

DOES SIZE MATTER? - The third and smallest of the Giza pyramids was built by Menkaure, who was likely Khafre’s son. Why so much smaller? Perhaps Menkaure was running out of space... ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:59:10 -0700

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DOES SIZE MATTER? - The third and smallest of the Giza pyramids was built by Menkaure, who was likely Khafre’s son. Why so much smaller? Perhaps Menkaure was running out of space... ...

.... Or Menkaure may have been more concerned with quality than quantity – his pyramid’s first 16 layers are red granite rather than limestone. Or he may have wanted to spare hi ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:07:51 -0700

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.... Or Menkaure may have been more concerned with quality than quantity – his pyramid’s first 16 layers are red granite rather than limestone. Or he may have wanted to spare hi ...

THE GREAT GASH - In the 12th century one of Cairo's sultans attempted to dismantle Menkaure's pyramid. After eight months, the project was abandoned, merely having achieved the vertical sca ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:07:37 -0700

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THE GREAT GASH - In the 12th century one of Cairo's sultans attempted to dismantle Menkaure's pyramid. After eight months, the project was abandoned, merely having achieved the vertical sca ...

THE GIZA PLATEAU - A panorama of the pyramids at Giza. To the left is the Great Pyramid of Khufu, in the middle is the pyramid of Khafre and to the right is Menkaure's and his queens' pyrami ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:05:49 -0700

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THE GIZA PLATEAU - A panorama of the pyramids at Giza. To the left is the Great Pyramid of Khufu, in the middle is the pyramid of Khafre and to the right is Menkaure's and his queens' pyrami ...

GIZA PLATEAU - The pyramids used to rest in peace and dignity far from the nearest town. But the growth of Cairo had to be done in southern direction where there was room. Today the city's ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:08:32 -0700

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GIZA PLATEAU - The pyramids used to rest in peace and dignity far from the nearest town. But the growth of Cairo had to be done in southern direction where there was room. Today the city's ...

THE SPHINX - GUARDIAN OF GIZA: Surveying the sands of Giza, the Sphinx has stood guard with regal poise since about 2500 BC – although apparently for much of that time, without a nose ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:09:32 -0700

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THE SPHINX - GUARDIAN OF GIZA: Surveying the sands of Giza, the Sphinx has stood guard with regal poise since about 2500 BC – although apparently for much of that time, without a nose ...

The Sphinx was the first true colossal piece of sculpture in ancient Egypt. Egyptians would not carve statues of such proportions again until the reign of Ramesses II, some 1,200 years late ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:06:04 -0700

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The Sphinx was the first true colossal piece of sculpture in ancient Egypt. Egyptians would not carve statues of such proportions again until the reign of Ramesses II, some 1,200 years late ...

Who wouldn't want their photograph in front of such a famous backdrop?

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:18:50 -0700

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Who wouldn't want their photograph in front of such a famous backdrop?

We also couldn't resist posing in front of the great icon of ancient Egypt.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:19:00 -0700

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We also couldn't resist posing in front of the great icon of ancient Egypt.

In 1998 Egyptian workers completed a 10-year restoration of the Sphinx. The project included replacing more than 12,000 limestone blocks along the torso and limbs of the sculpture. Jeanne ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:06:20 -0700

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In 1998 Egyptian workers completed a 10-year restoration of the Sphinx. The project included replacing more than 12,000 limestone blocks along the torso and limbs of the sculpture. Jeanne ...

In the early morning, one of the local employees at the Giza Plateau walks to work, nonchalantly passing by a sculpture that has represented the essence of Egypt for thousands of years.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:09:18 -0700

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In the early morning, one of the local employees at the Giza Plateau walks to work, nonchalantly passing by a sculpture that has represented the essence of Egypt for thousands of years.

GIZA PLATEAU - As we left the Giza Plateau, we looked back to see a camel-mounted guard keeping a solitary watch. We wondered if he perhaps was imagining the millions of visitors who for ne ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:11:23 -0700

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GIZA PLATEAU - As we left the Giza Plateau, we looked back to see a camel-mounted guard keeping a solitary watch. We wondered if he perhaps was imagining the millions of visitors who for ne ...

OLD CAIRO - The glories of Egypt are by no means limited to the age of the pharaohs. On our second full day in Cairo, we traveled into the spiritual heart of the city. Old Cairo is largely ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:30:26 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - The glories of Egypt are by no means limited to the age of the pharaohs. On our second full day in Cairo, we traveled into the spiritual heart of the city. Old Cairo is largely ...

OLD CAIRO - We walked through the tiny potholed alleyways of Khan el-Khalli, the world’s oldest bazaar, open for business since 1382. This is Cairo at its most frenetic – confoun ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:31:23 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - We walked through the tiny potholed alleyways of Khan el-Khalli, the world’s oldest bazaar, open for business since 1382. This is Cairo at its most frenetic – confoun ...

OLD CAIRO - . Any brief pause would bring out a merchant who would offer the “best price” on whatever it is we wanted to buy.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:31:12 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - . Any brief pause would bring out a merchant who would offer the “best price” on whatever it is we wanted to buy.

COPTIC CAIRO - One of the most attractive sights we visited in Old Cairo was the Hanging Church, so called because of its location on top of the southern tower gate of the old Babylon fortre ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:24:52 -0700

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COPTIC CAIRO - One of the most attractive sights we visited in Old Cairo was the Hanging Church, so called because of its location on top of the southern tower gate of the old Babylon fortre ...

COPTIC CAIRO - As we were entering the Hanging Church, we passed these young ladies coming down the steps - an interesting blend of tradition, color, and youthful style.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:25:04 -0700

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COPTIC CAIRO - As we were entering the Hanging Church, we passed these young ladies coming down the steps - an interesting blend of tradition, color, and youthful style.

THE HANGING CHURCH - The Hanging Church is possibly the oldest Christian church in Egypt, dating to around the 4th Century. Its interior is spectacular - beautifully decorated with pointed a ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:25:58 -0700

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THE HANGING CHURCH - The Hanging Church is possibly the oldest Christian church in Egypt, dating to around the 4th Century. Its interior is spectacular - beautifully decorated with pointed a ...

OLD CAIRO - The sign at the entrance to the Church of St. George marks the site where the Holy Family stopped while in Egypt. Nearby is a synagogue on the site of where Moses was supposedly ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:24:07 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - The sign at the entrance to the Church of St. George marks the site where the Holy Family stopped while in Egypt. Nearby is a synagogue on the site of where Moses was supposedly ...

ROMAN WALLS IN OLD CAIRO - Old Cairo is so named because it is the oldest part of Cairo, and in fact, predates what is now Cairo. Some Egyptologists believe that there was a settlement here ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:24:29 -0700

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ROMAN WALLS IN OLD CAIRO - Old Cairo is so named because it is the oldest part of Cairo, and in fact, predates what is now Cairo. Some Egyptologists believe that there was a settlement here ...

OLD CAIRO - One of the "must see" sites in Cairo is The Citadel, a hilltop fortress begun in AD 1176 by the famed Muslim general Saladin to protect Cairo from the Christian Crusaders. To bui ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:26:30 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - One of the "must see" sites in Cairo is The Citadel, a hilltop fortress begun in AD 1176 by the famed Muslim general Saladin to protect Cairo from the Christian Crusaders. To bui ...

OLD CAIRO - From its rocky platform at the edge of the city, The Citadel dominates Cairo’s eastern skyline.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:26:47 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - From its rocky platform at the edge of the city, The Citadel dominates Cairo’s eastern skyline.

OLD CAIRO - From these terraces atop The Citadel, Napoleon bombarded the city into submission in 1798. Today, they offer a panoramic -- though smoggy -- view of the sprawling metropolis.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:28:57 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - From these terraces atop The Citadel, Napoleon bombarded the city into submission in 1798. Today, they offer a panoramic -- though smoggy -- view of the sprawling metropolis.

OLD CAIRO - Within The Citadel is a large mosque built between 1830 and 1848. Although it is the most visible monument in Cairo, the mosque has nothing in common with the architecture of tr ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:27:13 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - Within The Citadel is a large mosque built between 1830 and 1848. Although it is the most visible monument in Cairo, the mosque has nothing in common with the architecture of tr ...

OLD CAIRO - The mosque houses the tomb of Mohammed Ali. Mohammed Ali – not to be confused with the boxer – was a young Albanian mercenary who stepped in to fill a power vacuum i ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:28:02 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - The mosque houses the tomb of Mohammed Ali. Mohammed Ali – not to be confused with the boxer – was a young Albanian mercenary who stepped in to fill a power vacuum i ...

OLD CAIRO - The alabaster-lined arcades of the mosque provided relief from the strong Egyptian sun.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:29:14 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - The alabaster-lined arcades of the mosque provided relief from the strong Egyptian sun.

OLD CAIRO - In the courtyard of the Mosque of Mohammed Ali is an ornate fountain once used for the ritual cleansing that preceeded the Muslims' daily prayers. Behind the fountain is an iron ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:23:46 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - In the courtyard of the Mosque of Mohammed Ali is an ornate fountain once used for the ritual cleansing that preceeded the Muslims' daily prayers. Behind the fountain is an iron ...

OLD CAIRO - The interior of the Mohammed Ali mosque is impressive because of its size and height; its central dome soars 170 feet high. The grandeur of this single, large chamber is enhance ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:28:42 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - The interior of the Mohammed Ali mosque is impressive because of its size and height; its central dome soars 170 feet high. The grandeur of this single, large chamber is enhance ...

OLD CAIRO - The courtyard fountain of the Mosque of Mohammed Ali framed by the stain glass window above one of its doors.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:28:21 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - The courtyard fountain of the Mosque of Mohammed Ali framed by the stain glass window above one of its doors.

OLD CAIRO - Arabic script was an intriquing puzzle to us during the entire trip. This sign at The Citadel caught our eye. (Arabic words, by the way, are read from right to left - while num ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:27:41 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - Arabic script was an intriquing puzzle to us during the entire trip. This sign at The Citadel caught our eye. (Arabic words, by the way, are read from right to left - while num ...

OLD CAIRO - WAITING FOR LUNCH: In the crowded alleyways of the Khan el-Khalli market, we gathered for lunch outside a restaurant named for Naguib Mahfouz, an Egyptian novelist who won the ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:54:15 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - WAITING FOR LUNCH: In the crowded alleyways of the Khan el-Khalli market, we gathered for lunch outside a restaurant named for Naguib Mahfouz, an Egyptian novelist who won the ...

OLD CAIRO - Near the Khan al Khalili market is the Sayyidna al Hussein Mosque. Considered one of the most important mosques in Cairo, it was built in the Fatimid period in the year 1154 and ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:31:38 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - Near the Khan al Khalili market is the Sayyidna al Hussein Mosque. Considered one of the most important mosques in Cairo, it was built in the Fatimid period in the year 1154 and ...

OLD CAIRO - Entry to the Mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein is carefully controlled. Men and women have to enter through separate doorways, as the sign above states.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:31:56 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - Entry to the Mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein is carefully controlled. Men and women have to enter through separate doorways, as the sign above states.

OLD CAIRO - As we were resting outside the Mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein, Jeanne (and her blond hair) attracted a steadily growing crowd of youngsters eager to practice their English (which ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:29:41 -0700

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OLD CAIRO - As we were resting outside the Mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein, Jeanne (and her blond hair) attracted a steadily growing crowd of youngsters eager to practice their English (which ...

OLD CAIRO - Like most of Cairo, the square in front of the Mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein was full of people going about their daily duties, including this young boy carrying freshly baked br ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:54:25 -0700

1000places
OLD CAIRO - Like most of Cairo, the square in front of the Mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein was full of people going about their daily duties, including this young boy carrying freshly baked br ...

CAIRO - Purportedly the most crowded street in Cairo, it is where vendors gather to sell used clothing and other household goods to local residents.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:32:26 -0700

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CAIRO - Purportedly the most crowded street in Cairo, it is where vendors gather to sell used clothing and other household goods to local residents.

CAIRO - Cairo is a frenetic city with traffic that can be best described as barely controlled chaos. Yet in stark contrast, along its busiest streets there would often be a donkey-drawn car ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:32:12 -0700

1000places
CAIRO - Cairo is a frenetic city with traffic that can be best described as barely controlled chaos. Yet in stark contrast, along its busiest streets there would often be a donkey-drawn car ...

CAIRO - A standard feature of OAT trips is the "home hosted" dinner. In Cairo, our hostess was a professional interior designer (as was her husband who was away on business). They lived in ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:33:14 -0700

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CAIRO - A standard feature of OAT trips is the "home hosted" dinner. In Cairo, our hostess was a professional interior designer (as was her husband who was away on business). They lived in ...

CAIRO - During and after dinner we had the opportunity learn much more about the everyday life of a modern Muslim family.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:32:57 -0700

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CAIRO - During and after dinner we had the opportunity learn much more about the everyday life of a modern Muslim family.

CAIRO - Our next day began with a trip to one of the great museums of the world – Cairo’s Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. Sitting in the shadows of Cairo's modern downtown, the ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:34:16 -0700

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CAIRO - Our next day began with a trip to one of the great museums of the world – Cairo’s Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. Sitting in the shadows of Cairo's modern downtown, the ...

CAIRO - An ancient and very well-presereved sculpture outside the museum displayed amazing colors in the stone.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:34:46 -0700

1000places
CAIRO - An ancient and very well-presereved sculpture outside the museum displayed amazing colors in the stone.

CAIRO - Another carving in the garden of the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities displayed an intriquing triad of figures. We wished we had more time to inquire about the ancient symbolism of th ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:33:55 -0700

1000places
CAIRO - Another carving in the garden of the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities displayed an intriquing triad of figures. We wished we had more time to inquire about the ancient symbolism of th ...

CAIRO - The lotus flower - today's water lilly - frequently appeared in the writings and drawings of ancient Egypt, so it wasn't unusual to find the rare Egyptian blue water lilly growing in ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:34:24 -0700

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CAIRO - The lotus flower - today's water lilly - frequently appeared in the writings and drawings of ancient Egypt, so it wasn't unusual to find the rare Egyptian blue water lilly growing in ...

CAIRO - Touring the gardens of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, we came upon this carving. Could these be stone portraits of the same person? Or brothers, perhaps? Or fathers and sons? ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 05:38:10 -0700

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CAIRO - Touring the gardens of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, we came upon this carving. Could these be stone portraits of the same person? Or brothers, perhaps? Or fathers and sons? ...

CAIRO - In the Museum's courtyard rested the top of an obelisk that became separated from its lower section sometime in antiquity.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 05:38:12 -0700

1000places
CAIRO - In the Museum's courtyard rested the top of an obelisk that became separated from its lower section sometime in antiquity.

A GREEN THREAD IN AN EXPANSE OF YELLOW - After our visit to the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, we boarded EgyptAir for a flight that took us 537 miles south. From the air one can see the dis ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:04:30 -0700

1000places
A GREEN THREAD IN AN EXPANSE OF YELLOW - After our visit to the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, we boarded EgyptAir for a flight that took us 537 miles south. From the air one can see the dis ...

ASWAN - WHERE EGYPT BEGINS – We landed after dark in Aswan, so it wasn't until dawn the next morning when we could get our first look at the city. In antiquity, Aswan was considered t ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:52:58 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - WHERE EGYPT BEGINS – We landed after dark in Aswan, so it wasn't until dawn the next morning when we could get our first look at the city. In antiquity, Aswan was considered t ...

ASWAN - THE VIEW! -- And what a first view it was. Looking out our hotel room, we had this view of the Nile, the First Cataract, and on the far hillside, the Mausoleum of Aga Khan.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:52:46 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - THE VIEW! -- And what a first view it was. Looking out our hotel room, we had this view of the Nile, the First Cataract, and on the far hillside, the Mausoleum of Aga Khan.

ASWAN - Speaking of cataracts, we stayed at the New Cataract Hotel (which was actually nearly 50 years old) adjacent to the Old Cataract (above), an elegant leftover from the early age of to ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:50:05 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - Speaking of cataracts, we stayed at the New Cataract Hotel (which was actually nearly 50 years old) adjacent to the Old Cataract (above), an elegant leftover from the early age of to ...

ASWAN - Perched on a picturesque bend on the Nile, the Old Cataract was where Agatha Christie penned Death on the Nile; so in her memory we joined the gin-and-tonic crowd on the Victorian ho ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:51:29 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - Perched on a picturesque bend on the Nile, the Old Cataract was where Agatha Christie penned Death on the Nile; so in her memory we joined the gin-and-tonic crowd on the Victorian ho ...

ASWAN - Two of the "gin-and-tonic" crowd we ran into on the balcony of the Old Cataract Hotel.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:19:51 -0700

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ASWAN - Two of the "gin-and-tonic" crowd we ran into on the balcony of the Old Cataract Hotel.

ASWAN - The New Cataract Hotel, where we stayed, didn't have the charm and style of its older sibling, but there may have been no better place in Aswan to sit on a balcony and enjoy the scen ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:50:22 -0700

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ASWAN - The New Cataract Hotel, where we stayed, didn't have the charm and style of its older sibling, but there may have been no better place in Aswan to sit on a balcony and enjoy the scen ...

ASWAN - This was the view from our balcony "downriver." We could have sat for hours and watched the feluccas sail gracefully back and forth across the Nile -- a scene that probably hasn't c ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:51:16 -0700

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ASWAN - This was the view from our balcony "downriver." We could have sat for hours and watched the feluccas sail gracefully back and forth across the Nile -- a scene that probably hasn't c ...

ASWAN - Our balcony was also the best place for Jeanne to catch up on her trip journal. Note that when writing in her journal, Jeanne would don her "Thoth" shirt. Thoth was the Egyptian di ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:50:39 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - Our balcony was also the best place for Jeanne to catch up on her trip journal. Note that when writing in her journal, Jeanne would don her "Thoth" shirt. Thoth was the Egyptian di ...

ASWAN - Another view of the Nile - this one from a Nubian restaurant where we had lunch one day.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:49:35 -0700

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ASWAN - Another view of the Nile - this one from a Nubian restaurant where we had lunch one day.

FELUCCA FLOATING - The most mesmerizing aspect of the Nile was watching the feluccas silently drift from one side of the river to the other. With their towering triangular sails, feluccas h ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:41:50 -0700

1000places
FELUCCA FLOATING - The most mesmerizing aspect of the Nile was watching the feluccas silently drift from one side of the river to the other. With their towering triangular sails, feluccas h ...

FELUCCA FLOATING - Soon after our arrival in Aswan, we were treated to a sail onboard a felucca. An Egyptian proverb says: "The one who voyages the Nile must have sails made of patience. If ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:42:07 -0700

1000places
FELUCCA FLOATING - Soon after our arrival in Aswan, we were treated to a sail onboard a felucca. An Egyptian proverb says: "The one who voyages the Nile must have sails made of patience. If ...

CONQUER A COUNTRY, GET AN ISLAND - One of our felucca trips took us to Kitchener’s Island. Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener was an Irish-born British Field Marshal, diplomat, and states ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:08:12 -0700

1000places
CONQUER A COUNTRY, GET AN ISLAND - One of our felucca trips took us to Kitchener’s Island. Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener was an Irish-born British Field Marshal, diplomat, and states ...

KITCHENER'S ISLAND - Some of the multi-hued hydrangas growing on Kitchener's Island.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:08:14 -0700

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KITCHENER'S ISLAND - Some of the multi-hued hydrangas growing on Kitchener's Island.

ASWAN - For some of our trips across the river, particularly when our schedule was tight, we chose not to rely on the whims of Allah and the wind; instead, we would board a more modern motor ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:59:36 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - For some of our trips across the river, particularly when our schedule was tight, we chose not to rely on the whims of Allah and the wind; instead, we would board a more modern motor ...

ASWAN - As interesting as the passing scenery was, however, the more intriquing photograph was often of our stoic pilot.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:59:26 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - As interesting as the passing scenery was, however, the more intriquing photograph was often of our stoic pilot.

ASWAN - One of first explorations in Aswan was to the nearby dams -- the "Low Dam" and its more famous (or infamous) successor, the "High Dam" -- both "modern day pyramids" that have altered ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:39:40 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - One of first explorations in Aswan was to the nearby dams -- the "Low Dam" and its more famous (or infamous) successor, the "High Dam" -- both "modern day pyramids" that have altered ...

ASWAN - The next stop was the "High Dam." Just north of the Sudan border, this rock-filled dam captures the Nile in the world's 3rd largest reservoir, the 500-mile-long Lake Nasser (a lake ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:39:49 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - The next stop was the "High Dam." Just north of the Sudan border, this rock-filled dam captures the Nile in the world's 3rd largest reservoir, the 500-mile-long Lake Nasser (a lake ...

ASWAN - It was pretty incredible to realize that if the Aswan High Dam ever broke it would take only 8 hours for the flood to reach Cairo and engulf everything in its path (and everything wi ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:40:06 -0700

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ASWAN - It was pretty incredible to realize that if the Aswan High Dam ever broke it would take only 8 hours for the flood to reach Cairo and engulf everything in its path (and everything wi ...

ASWAN - When Gamal Abdel Nasser decided to build the "High Dam," the Soviet Union stepped in to assist in the design and construction...and also, the Soviets hoped, to gain a political footh ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:40:31 -0700

1000places
ASWAN - When Gamal Abdel Nasser decided to build the "High Dam," the Soviet Union stepped in to assist in the design and construction...and also, the Soviets hoped, to gain a political footh ...

ASWAN - Nasser died the year the dam was completed, so it was his successor Anwar Sadat that presided over the dam's dedication. Near his image on the Soviet-Egyptian "Friendship Monument," ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:38:50 -0700

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ASWAN - Nasser died the year the dam was completed, so it was his successor Anwar Sadat that presided over the dam's dedication. Near his image on the Soviet-Egyptian "Friendship Monument," ...

ASWAN - A view upward through the towering spikes of the Egypt-Soviet Union "Friendship Monument" near the Aswan High Dam.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:40:52 -0700

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ASWAN - A view upward through the towering spikes of the Egypt-Soviet Union "Friendship Monument" near the Aswan High Dam.