At Sea Again

WOW!

An amazing, whirlwind tour of Petra, Cairo and Istanbul in six days, four hotels and three flights.

But we're now safely aboard Holland America, ms Noordam, rounding the boot of Italy. We'll get back to you on that experience as it proceeds; meanwhile, just the very top highlights of last week.

Petra (Jordan) lies on the ancient trading routes along the Middle East "Crescent," in the general area of Moses' 40 years wandering in the desert. It has to be one of the top two or three single site locations to visit in the world. It was rediscovered a century and one-half ago, but was known to exist long before that. That must be a tribute to it's remoteness and naturally sealed entrance. A few photos will help but not do it justice.

On the 1 1/2 mile trek into the actual city remains of Petra.

The iconic "Treasury" at the entrance to the old city.

Ancient stadium seated 3000.

Originally burial tombs carved from the sandstone, these were used as houses by the Bedouins who subsequently occupied Petra until about 20 years ago when it was declared a World Heritage Site.

After a short overnight stay in Amman, Jordan, it was a quick flight to Cairo across the upper Red Sea. Cairo has 18M people and is a study in contrasts, to say the least. Once the host to the most advanced society on Earth, it would be hard to claim anything close to that today. There are wide disparities between the haves and have nots. The ancient monuments literally abut the current city at most locations. Elaborate mosques jut skyward from depressed surroundings, and so it goes. Again, a quick pictorial.

Shots from the hotel balcony--trash on the rooftops, but serenity across the Nile.

Step pyramid, believed to be the oldest in Egypt, built nearly 4000 years ago. Note the wall structure which originally surrounded all these guys.

Great Pyramid of Cheops from lawn of Mena Hotel.

What's she saying??

It's not really THAT big!

You know this one. Pretty beat up when viewed at close range. When you're there, you realize he's actually looking at a KFC and Burger King!

Inside Muhammad Ali mosque, Cairo.

Local market in old Cairo.

And finally there was the contrast between Cairo and Istanbul, a clean, 21st century city that easily incorporates its past and present. One only has to experience the respective airports to know the difference. We spent a scant 24 hours there, but a couple of highlights are worth noting.

Local "spice" bazaar, AKA pashmina heaven.

Old wall once surrounded the city.

And where we departed yesterday.