Shalom #9

While in Luxor, Egypt we were able to have several modes of transportation. The tour included a plane ride from Cairo to Luxor, a Flukah ride (which are small transport boats up and down the Nile), horse drawn carriage rides, the "famous" Camel ride and when our time was over in Luxor we took the famous Luxor Train back to Cairo. So the Sheraton Hotel had a boat dock that we could take the Flukah boat ride to the Karnak Temple. After a several hour tour, we then rode the horse drawn carriages to our hotel. It was in the afternoon that we took the Flukah boats over to the other side of the Nile to have our camel ride.
We are waiting our turn to be loaded on to the camel's for a ride in the country side....

So I've made it up on the camel and I have an 8 yr old boy ....Maqmoud...who is my camel master? He was a cute young boy like any of our grandchildren that age. He knew his business about the animals. We were pretty much kept in a straight line but it as safer that way.

I learned a lot about camels. They have a long life expectancy, don't need water that many times a week and it is a very uncomfortable ride.
So the summer students came back so excited about their camel rides and said"Bro.&Sis.Allen you have to ride the camels!" So we have been looking forward to it, unfortunately by the time they got to Bob...the only thing that was left was this ole' plug of a horse. We laughed so hard at the situation .....but here Dad is riding his "horse".

This is one of the "streets" that is part of this little community that we rode through. Typically, the little children ran out to greet us and asked us if we had any candy. The mothers were more shy and often stayed behind their doors. It was a great experience seeing into their homes and their standard of living.

This is a picture of Andy Skinner upon his dandy steed....ready for the trip through the country side and village.

We headed back to Cairo late in the afternoon via the Luxor Train.  What an experience that was.  We had our own sleeping compartment.  Now have you ever heard or read of the Orient Express?  We decided this must be Egypt's version.  Needless to say, it was quite a night.  When we arrive at our hotel early the next morning, our director informed us that we would be holding church in the restaurant after breakfast which meant we came as we were from the night on the train.  We did not have time to clean our selves up but as we gathered together and started singing our hymns and had a prayer the Spirit came into that room and we could feel the scriptures being fulfilled, "Where two or more are gathered in My name".  Dad had assigned several speakers and a special musical number prior to leaving.  As the Sacrament was being  prepared and blessed, there were tears of gratitude for the blessings of being members of the Church of Jesus Christ.  We were all grateful for that sacred opportunity.  The talks were well prepared and uplifting and the girls sounded like angels as they sang their song

 a cappella.    It was one of the highlights of our trip to have our Sacrament Meeting in the restaurant of our Cairo hotel.  

Shalom #7

EGYPT: After a short ride we arrived at the border where we crossed and were met by a new bus, tour guides, and security personnel. Each bus had their own tour guide and 2 security men. It took most of the day to drive to Cairo. We arrived in Cairo around sunset just in time to see the great Pyramids of Giza off in the distance. When Dad pointed them out to the students sitting around us, there was a great shout of excitement on our bus and the cameras started clicking away. We enjoyed watching them and seeing their reactions.

We couldn't pass up an opportunity to say HI from Egypt!

The pyramids of Giza were built as part of the magnificent tomb complexes for three pharaohs: Kufu, Khafre, and Menkaure during the Fourth Dynasty (26th-25th centuries BC). The Giza pyramids sit on the eastern edge of the Nile Valley. The oldest and largest is Khufu which originally stood 481' high. It has an estimated 2,300,000 limestone blocks each weighing an average of 5,000 pounds. Many scholars still debate how the pyramids were constructed and how blocks were transported into place. Many suggest a combination of ramps and pulleys.
The Sphinx was carved out of a single mass of rock. It is sculpted after the body of a lion and the head of Khafre.
Dad is trying to show how there was no seam in the rock....they actually carved a corner out of this magnificent granite!

This gives you a good perspective of the size of these stones which were carved and some how put into place. L to R: Keith Wilson, Linda Wilson, Janet Skinner, Andrew Skinner, Sue & Bob

The tombs are open for people to go inside. What an experience that was. Small, narrow passage way which took you down into the depths of the tomb. It was dark, humid, hot and crowded. One could easily get a panic attack which I almost had. Did that once....don't need to do it again. Everyone needs that experience once in their lives.

Another great day!