PYRAMIDS BY NIGHT

After the museum and some shopping we went to Giza and the pyramids for the Sound and Light Show.  These pictures were taken with my phone.  The night was actually a little cool and breezy and there were young people walking around in period costumes taking pictures. The story was the history of Egypt.  It was very well done and enjoyable.  

                                       

The green is the large Pyramid and notice soldiers and chariots in blue.

The Sphinx lit up

The large and medium pyramid.  Notice the star

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

After lunch we came to the Museum. Pictures were not allowed inside.  The high lite for me was the Tut exhibit.  I didn't get to see it when it toured the U.S.  This was the complete collection and was very impressive.  Especially when you consider that it is about 5,000 years old.  The intricate work on the jewellery was exquisite. I could have spent the whole afternoon there but we only had about an hour.  I really like Egyptology.   

LUNCH STOP

Our lunch was served at this leading Cairo hotel.  Lunch was absolutely delicious and the hotel was the Marriott Cairo Hotel and Omar Khayyam Casino 16,Saray El Gezira St. P.O. Box 33 Zamalek, Cairo11211, Egypt.  Telephone +20-(0)2-2728 3000.  FAX same except 3001.  cairomarriotthotel.com  I was impressed with this hotel.  After lunch I wandered around and took these pictures.  One of the staff saw me and took me to these rooms and showed me the ceiling.  All of the staff at the hotel were very friendly.

This is the ceiling in one of the restaurants off the hotel lobby.

 Closer view of the chandelier.

 Steps leading up to the check in desk

Not sure what this room is used for but the staff person wanted me to see it.  She was very proud of the hotel.

INTERESTING PHOTO OPS

After leaving the mosque we were headed to lunch at a leading hotel in Cairo.  I was watching traffic and took these pictures through the bus window.  This is minor traffic. 

                                    

CAIRO CITADEL OF SALAH EL DIN MUHAMMAD ALI MOSQUE

Egypt had been on my bucket list since I first saw the movie "The Mummy".  This May I got to cross it off the list.  The ship docked in Alexandria and I took the tour Pyramids,Nile & Cairo Overnight.  What an experience.  It's a 3 1/2 hour ride from Alexandria to Cairo and that in itself is quite a story I will get to later. Our first stop in Cairo was the Muhammad Ali Mosque.  It is situated on Mokattam Hill.  The highest point in Cairo.  Muhammad Ali is known as the "Father of Modern Egypt" For more info go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_of_Egypt  The mosque is built in the Citadel of Salah El Din.  It was built by Saladin in the 12th century.for more info click here  

                                      

 My first view of the Nile River           

First view of the mosque

From another angle

Interior ceiling

Inside facing east.

Another view of the ceiling

Chandelier in the center of the mosque.  Can you imagine that when this mosque was built these light bulbs were candles 

A view of Cairo from the Citadel.

Another view of the mosque.  If you look closely you can see the interior lights through the open door.

ROME ON MY OWN

The ship docked at Civitavecchia.  There were many tours of Rome available.  Having been to Rome twice before and seen most of the major monuments I opted for the "Rome on your own tour".  The bus dropped me off at St. Peter's  Square and I had 6 hours in the Eternal City to do what I please.  I spent about two hours in St. Peter's Basilica, then crossed the bridge, walked down the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, past the apartment I stayed in for a week in Dec. 2010 and cut over to the Piazza Navona.  After spending some time there, I continued through the city to the Pantheon.  It has been in continuous use for 2,000 years.  It's a unique building.  It has a hole in the roof and when it rains the center section has water on the floor.  It has been a Catholic church since the 7th century.for more information go to :  After visiting the Pantheon, I went to lunch at Trattoria Antonio's.  When L,K,S and I were in Rome in Dec. 2010 we had dinner at Antonio's.  We were the only English. speaking people in the restaurant.  The food was absolutely delicious.  So I decided to have lunch there.  It is located on a side street off of the Pantheon.  It was 12:30 and I was the only person in the restaurant.  It was also a very hot day and the owner brought me a glass of wine as soon as I sat down.  The waitress remembered me from the last time I was there (or so she said).  Lunch was delicious.  After lunch I continued to the Trevi Fountain and threw coins in the fountain which will insure that I return to Rome.  After spending some time at the fountain, I checked my watch and returned to St. Peter's Square to catch the bus back to the ship.  An absolutely wonderful day in the Eternal City

Piazza Navona in May

 Piazza Navona

 Side altar in the Pantheon

Interior of the Pantheon looking at the main altar.

 The Pantheon

Interior of the restaurant.  

Trattoria Antonio!! The man in the blue shirt and white pants gave me the glass of wine.  I think he's the owner.  I also had a second glass of wine and was not charged for either one.  A wonderful restaurant with excellent food.  I think it cost me about 12 euros.

Trevi Fountain

Notice the crowd.  I've been in Rome in March, May, and December.  This day was very hot and crowded.  Every attraction was very crowded.  In my opinion the best month was December.  The temperature was in the mid 50's, it rained a little but there were no crowds.

INSIDE ST. PETER'S

There was a special Mass this day at St. Peter's today so part of the Basillica were as closed to the public.  I have been here three times and I don't think the pictures I've taken do the interior justice.  It is just magnificent.

 Pope St Pius XII

 Pope Gregory XIII responsible for the Gregorian calendar.

 Bernini's columns

 Bernini's columns different view

Michelangelo's Pieta

The inside of St. Peter' s is just hugh.  You could easily spend an entire morning exploring.

PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA

We continued our walk through Florence and arrived at the Piazza della Signoria, a L shaped area which has served as the city center and gathering place for the people of Florence since the 1400's.  It is near the Ponte Vecchio and is the gateway to the Uffizi Gallery.  For more information about Piazza della Signoria go to

                                      The Neptune Fountain

                                              David

                                               Hercules and Cacus

                                               Perseus

 These statues are replicas of the original works which are housed in museums in Florence.

                                       Michelangelo Buonarroti along side the Uffizi.
Pictures were not allowed in the Uffizi.  Go to this link and click on the work of art to see the picture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uffizi

                                       The Ponte Vecchio