January 27, 2010 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
From New York to Dubai we’ve traveled 9752.0 Nautical miles & it’s day 23.
Our clock is 9 hours ahead of New York.
The exchange rate $1 equals 3.67 Dirhams.
We rode the complementary shuttle to the Bur Juman Shopping Centre (mall) where walked some. We rode the Dubai Metro to the nearest station we were told to get to the Burj Dubai.
We then walked approximately an half an hour thru constructions sites (sand), on pavement, and when lucky sidewalks to the Burj Dubai. The Burj Dubai is an experience not to miss. The quay
took us down long corridors with walls explaining the construction followed by illustrations about the amount steel, iron rods, and glass used. The condensation is collected and used. The elevators went up 120 stories with great speed (with ears popping) to within about 15 stories (of the 140 floors) from the top. The view is indescribable. While up there we found a metro station much closer making the return trip easier. We did walk 9.22 miles in all.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
January 26, 2010 Muscat, Oman
The exchange rate $1 equals 0.38 OMR.
Thanks to Fanette, Janet, and Margaret, took the excursion “Muscat Impressions”. Our guide was English Professor at college and was informative, personable, helpful, and easy to understand. The Sultan’s (President) palace flanked by Portuguese forts (Jalali & Mirani) and the Bait Al Zubair Museum (small, very clean, and interesting) were highlights. This is a very pretty and clean place. You’ll receive a ticket from the police if your vehicle is dirty or a taxi driver without the traditional clothing on. Tourists (20%) are the second largest income behind oil and ahead of farming & fishing.
We did buy some souvenirs.
The exchange rate $1 equals 0.38 OMR.
Thanks to Fanette, Janet, and Margaret, took the excursion “Muscat Impressions”. Our guide was English Professor at college and was informative, personable, helpful, and easy to understand. The Sultan’s (President) palace flanked by Portuguese forts (Jalali & Mirani) and the Bait Al Zubair Museum (small, very clean, and interesting) were highlights. This is a very pretty and clean place. You’ll receive a ticket from the police if your vehicle is dirty or a taxi driver without the traditional clothing on. Tourists (20%) are the second largest income behind oil and ahead of farming & fishing.
We did buy some souvenirs.
January 22 Thru 25, 2010 Sea Days
We just did odds & ends such lectures, movies, shows, and some casino time. We participated in the decathlon (nine events, the tenth event apparently was the awards party) with Dave & Mick (competitors last year). The sports directors changed the events & the rules multiple times, but they’re nice people (Marc reminds of Steve in personality & ability). Between the Tug-a-war & the awards we attended a wine tasting of 3 reds & 3 whites. Then had our seventh in champagne, all in less than an hour. Speaking of free drinks; we attended another cocktail party (another night).
Dolphins put on a couple different shows. The group were very active jumping, usually in pairs, but was vertical completely out of the water.
We just did odds & ends such lectures, movies, shows, and some casino time. We participated in the decathlon (nine events, the tenth event apparently was the awards party) with Dave & Mick (competitors last year). The sports directors changed the events & the rules multiple times, but they’re nice people (Marc reminds of Steve in personality & ability). Between the Tug-a-war & the awards we attended a wine tasting of 3 reds & 3 whites. Then had our seventh in champagne, all in less than an hour. Speaking of free drinks; we attended another cocktail party (another night).
Dolphins put on a couple different shows. The group were very active jumping, usually in pairs, but was vertical completely out of the water.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
January 21, 2010 Safaga , Egypt
The exchange rate $1 equals 5.64 Egyptian pounds.
The excursion today went to Luxor, Karnak, & the Valley of the Kings. Temperature was 15 C (59 F) to a high 22 C (72 F). The trip went through mountains and then through rural areas where the crops were cabbage, tomato, and similar products. Their main products are sugar cane and aluminum. The crops are irrigated by water pumped from a canal of water that comes from the Nile. There were work donkeys, some camels and cattle. The people seem to live in homes that make trailer parks look like luxury. There were many check points and/or intersections where vehicles had weave through gates one direction at a time. Elsewhere there were speed bumps to slow traffic.
It was very interesting and enjoyable visiting the Temple of Karnak in Luxor. There are avenues of ram-headed sphinxes, courts, and pylons. The hypostyle Hall is a mass of over 100 pillars with every square inch of which seems to be covered with carved figures and hieroglyphics.
A buffet was at a Sheridan big enough to feed the caravan of approximately 17 buses of about 40 each.
We continued across the Nile to the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings. A ride on a train on four carts took us to tombs. Our tickets allowed us to enter 3 tombs of Pharaohs. The first was a very steep and okay. The other 2 were easier but much more interesting. All went down with the walls & ceiling telling stories through hieroglyphics.
Then we traveled back across the Nile the East Bank and along the canal to the mountains to the Queen Mary 2. We very tired of setting as the trip was 3 to 4 hours each way.
The exchange rate $1 equals 5.64 Egyptian pounds.
The excursion today went to Luxor, Karnak, & the Valley of the Kings. Temperature was 15 C (59 F) to a high 22 C (72 F). The trip went through mountains and then through rural areas where the crops were cabbage, tomato, and similar products. Their main products are sugar cane and aluminum. The crops are irrigated by water pumped from a canal of water that comes from the Nile. There were work donkeys, some camels and cattle. The people seem to live in homes that make trailer parks look like luxury. There were many check points and/or intersections where vehicles had weave through gates one direction at a time. Elsewhere there were speed bumps to slow traffic.
It was very interesting and enjoyable visiting the Temple of Karnak in Luxor. There are avenues of ram-headed sphinxes, courts, and pylons. The hypostyle Hall is a mass of over 100 pillars with every square inch of which seems to be covered with carved figures and hieroglyphics.
A buffet was at a Sheridan big enough to feed the caravan of approximately 17 buses of about 40 each.
We continued across the Nile to the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings. A ride on a train on four carts took us to tombs. Our tickets allowed us to enter 3 tombs of Pharaohs. The first was a very steep and okay. The other 2 were easier but much more interesting. All went down with the walls & ceiling telling stories through hieroglyphics.
Then we traveled back across the Nile the East Bank and along the canal to the mountains to the Queen Mary 2. We very tired of setting as the trip was 3 to 4 hours each way.
January 20, 2010 Sokhna , Egypt
The exchange rate $1 equals 5.42 Egyptian pounds.
A caravan of 5 buses took our excursion to City Star Mega shopping mall in Cairo to get some fresh air and exercise (approximately 7 miles). We walked a floor, and then climbed the stairs to the next floor each of the seven floors going into many stores. We went on a scavenger hunt looking for a new twister into several nail salons to no avail (they didn’t know what a twister was). There was a very large grocery store (similar to an older and small Wal-mart) on the bottom floor. No luck there either. On our way out after about 3.5 hours we found a pharmacy that had several choices. We shared a fajita and each had a virgin margarita at El Chico. The shuttle bus took over 2 hours each. We were late getting back in time for our normal meal setting, and therefore eat the buffet on deck seven.
The exchange rate $1 equals 5.42 Egyptian pounds.
A caravan of 5 buses took our excursion to City Star Mega shopping mall in Cairo to get some fresh air and exercise (approximately 7 miles). We walked a floor, and then climbed the stairs to the next floor each of the seven floors going into many stores. We went on a scavenger hunt looking for a new twister into several nail salons to no avail (they didn’t know what a twister was). There was a very large grocery store (similar to an older and small Wal-mart) on the bottom floor. No luck there either. On our way out after about 3.5 hours we found a pharmacy that had several choices. We shared a fajita and each had a virgin margarita at El Chico. The shuttle bus took over 2 hours each. We were late getting back in time for our normal meal setting, and therefore eat the buffet on deck seven.
January 19, 2010 Suez Canal, Egypt
Not much is going on since our last report. We been going to lectures and participating in sports (getting the valuable vouchers). Two people have been hurt (1 minor and 1 apparently blew a knee playing and must get off is Cairo).
We’re getting 3 good meals a day; plus we’ve had many interesting conversations with many different residents of many different countries. Last night we requested the first available French evening at the Chef’s Grill for all of our dinner table. In the evening we’ve had steaks, surf & turf, pasta, fish, and many other excellent choices.
Last night we enjoyed “Middle on Nowhere” at the Illuminations. Back in cabin we drank sum sparking wine and ate the snacks of cheese and crackers plus cashews while sitting out balcony.
A great date night.
We have had just a couple of high fifties and low sixties. Most days were low forties to low fifties.
Today we entered the Suez Canal before 4 A.M. at the back of the caravan of 13 and emerged the leader about 3 P.M. Apparently there were 34 ships going north. Ships have wait in Lake Bitter as the canal is one way. Lloyd, Gloria, and I spent about an hour in the Commodore Room and went to the Winter Garden taking in the view. Jan spent her time on a lounge chair soaking up the sun and meeting more people. The canal is still enjoyable and very interesting.
Not much is going on since our last report. We been going to lectures and participating in sports (getting the valuable vouchers). Two people have been hurt (1 minor and 1 apparently blew a knee playing and must get off is Cairo).
We’re getting 3 good meals a day; plus we’ve had many interesting conversations with many different residents of many different countries. Last night we requested the first available French evening at the Chef’s Grill for all of our dinner table. In the evening we’ve had steaks, surf & turf, pasta, fish, and many other excellent choices.
Last night we enjoyed “Middle on Nowhere” at the Illuminations. Back in cabin we drank sum sparking wine and ate the snacks of cheese and crackers plus cashews while sitting out balcony.
A great date night.
We have had just a couple of high fifties and low sixties. Most days were low forties to low fifties.
Today we entered the Suez Canal before 4 A.M. at the back of the caravan of 13 and emerged the leader about 3 P.M. Apparently there were 34 ships going north. Ships have wait in Lake Bitter as the canal is one way. Lloyd, Gloria, and I spent about an hour in the Commodore Room and went to the Winter Garden taking in the view. Jan spent her time on a lounge chair soaking up the sun and meeting more people. The canal is still enjoyable and very interesting.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
January 16, 2010 Civitavecchia, Italy
We had breakfast served to our room prior to leaving on the excursion through the beautiful & green countryside to Tuscania. Interesting tour capped off by stopping at a winery where we received a glass of wine and some snacks. We bought a bottle for Lloyd and Gloria. We enjoyed petting the white begging cat. Tomorrow we will travel the strait between Italy’s and Sicily before spending all day passing through the Suez Canal on Wednesday. First we have a substitute port of Sukhna instead of the originally schedule to Alexandria, Egypt. Tonight we were notified that the port in Vietnam was change Vung Tau to Phu My for ease of disembarkment access to Ho Chi Minh City. Earlier we inform we now are going back Cochin, India instead Mumbai.
We had breakfast served to our room prior to leaving on the excursion through the beautiful & green countryside to Tuscania. Interesting tour capped off by stopping at a winery where we received a glass of wine and some snacks. We bought a bottle for Lloyd and Gloria. We enjoyed petting the white begging cat. Tomorrow we will travel the strait between Italy’s and Sicily before spending all day passing through the Suez Canal on Wednesday. First we have a substitute port of Sukhna instead of the originally schedule to Alexandria, Egypt. Tonight we were notified that the port in Vietnam was change Vung Tau to Phu My for ease of disembarkment access to Ho Chi Minh City. Earlier we inform we now are going back Cochin, India instead Mumbai.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)