Today, we have transited through the Suez Canal, the 163 km. long channel which links the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Construction started in 1858, when more than one and a half million people worked on the construction for over 11 years. Traveling through the Suez Canal reduces the sailing distance between Europe and India by about 8000 kms, so it is economically and strategically valuable. More than 7% of the world’s shipping passes through this canal each year.
We started the transit earlier than originally planned - we went northbound, and passed all the southbound shipping waiting in the Great Bitter Lake for their turn to travel through the canal. We have spent the day watching from various vantage points around the ship - the front decks, deck 7 boardwalk, our stateroom balcony and the rear deck - each giving a slightly different perspective.
Photos from the left bank - Egypt
Perhaps the most striking feature of the tip was the stark contrast between the left and the right bank. The left side - Egyptian side is much greener and small settlements dot the bank. at times we passed a couple of larger towns including Ismailia. On the right bank, there is very little except the stark desert landscape.
Photos from the right bank - Sinai desert of Egypt
At regular distances, we have passed armed guard houses along the banks. All along the Suez, the farmers, soldiers, fisherman, children and construction workers have waved and shouted to us - a great atmosphere. On one construction site, the workers removed their shirts and waved them over their heads while waving and whistling - just to make sure that we saw them.
At regular distances, we have passed armed guard houses along the banks. All along the Suez, the farmers, soldiers, fisherman, children and construction workers have waved and shouted to us - a great atmosphere. On one construction site, the workers removed their shirts and waved them over their heads while waving and whistling - just to make sure that we saw them.
Port Said - first impressions
We have just docked in Port Said - it is a relatively difficult dock into a small area - there is a side view of the captain steering the ship into the berth - and the hawkers have immediately gathered to set up their stalls - we have been warned that they are very persistent - so I will report back about them tomorrow - we are just going to meet some friends and go out for a drink in Port Said.
Tomorrow is another highlight of the trip - another thing to cross off the bucket list - Cairo and the Pyramids!! We have a very early start cause it is about three hours drive into Cairo - maybe we can catch up on some sleep while we are driving.
We have just docked in Port Said - it is a relatively difficult dock into a small area - there is a side view of the captain steering the ship into the berth - and the hawkers have immediately gathered to set up their stalls - we have been warned that they are very persistent - so I will report back about them tomorrow - we are just going to meet some friends and go out for a drink in Port Said.
Tomorrow is another highlight of the trip - another thing to cross off the bucket list - Cairo and the Pyramids!! We have a very early start cause it is about three hours drive into Cairo - maybe we can catch up on some sleep while we are driving.
I have booked this tour with Ramses Egypt tours - we were very disappointed when this port was cancelled because of the protests in Cairo early in the year - - and excited when it was reinstated. There are 22 traveling on the tour with us, so we are looking forward to a great day together.
I have received an email to let us know that our guide will be Mimo and he has also included some basic Arabic phrases that we might need to know - like ‘lower price please’, and ‘no thank you’. So far, the service from this company has been first class, so I am hoping that they continue to live up to their reputation.
Cheers
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