Alan , LOVE the pictures... I see they have cleaned up the area a lot! it looks great and removed the concert stages from main square. that was a big no no for pictures.. Yes, That Rest. is really good- Lots of food.
We did had 2 bagpipers and a drummer Sept. 2021.
Keep the fun going..
Mimitravels
5:51PM
. . .How much local currency would you suggest to get? Would you suggest getting if ahead of travel or once you arrive?
It is early in the tour, but we haven’t gotten any JOD (Jordanian Dinar) yet and are not likely to do so. You only need it if are planning to buy souvenirs from local vendors that don’t accept plastic or USD. If you think you will need it use an ATM at the airport or Kempinski hotel.
BKMD
6:12PM
Alan - hope you've been exercising in preparation for the longest and most-ever planned hikes in Petra.
Funny you should say that- I had been in training- walking a lot in the months/weeks prior to the tour- but have gotten a lot of exercise at the Kempinski. The hotel is in sections located on different levels on the side of a hill so, even using elevators you do a tremendous amount of stair climbing and/or walking ramps!! I had midnight leg cramps the last two nights!
Smiling Sam
6:37PM
AlanS - Did you have bagpipers in the Southern Theater? That was an unexpected treat during our Jerash visit.
Yup- two pipers and a base drummer playing amazing grace! No photos- was shooting video.
OBXnana. PureLuxury - Was dinner in the Moghul Room arranged for you by Tauck your first night? Or should I make reservations there the night we are on our own? Where did you go for dinner on your "free" night?
OBXnana...Yes, Tauck made the reservations and paid for the meal on the first night. I had dinner at the Italian restaurant for my free night.It was good, but nothing like the Moghul Room.
mil...YES, that is Sufian. He is the BEST! OMG...so knowledgable and generous and he is always smiling... can warm a thousand hearts. You cannot be in a bad mood if you're around Sufian.
Stand by to stand by- I should be able to post big update tonight. Off to Abu Simbel today. All I can say is OMG, Awsome!!!!!!!!! 15 on a scale of 1 to 10!
Back from Abu Simbel via stop at Aswan High Dam. I think we are up to a 16!
Got there about 0930 via same charter aircraft and crew we had flown with the previous day.
COVID? What Covid?- many, many buses, fairly crowded, tourism back in full swing? However, by the time our Egyptologist was done talking and we had taken a few exterior photos, the place had almost emptied out- it was incredible!!. We pretty much had interiors of both temple to ourselves and even the area in front was almost deserted!!! We (Tauck) were the last to leave!!! What timing!!! 😊 😊
Legs still recovering from Petra. One more night and round of Alleve and I should be back to normal (whatever that means? 🤪
Later I’ll address a few negatives- airport security- Ugh!!! In-flight lunches, both leaving Jordan yesterday and flying to Abu Simbel today.
Gotta do some unpacking and get ready for the felucca sail in a bit. Obviously, wifi is good right now.
AlanS - Looking forward to your Petra posts. Since you are now in Egypt you must have been in Petra when the temperatures were in the 30s and 40s. I couldn't remember your dates so I've sent you a PM. The Egypt temperatures will help your body recover from Petra. You must only have a few days left in the tour, excluding any extra days you may have added at the end.
We departed early (as usual) for Mt. Nebo where we had a fairly short tour. The weather, while clear, was cool and windy. Mosaics on the floor and those mounted on the wall were quite impressive. The guide’s commentary made the visit much more interesting. We continued on to Madaba, where in the middle of town is St. George Greek Orthodox Church. The main attraction here is the mosaic floor map of the eastern Mediterranean area of that time. In addition to known places it has also given archaeologists hints where to find other lost cities and ruins. We had lunch of mezzas and Jordanian dishes at Hikayet Seti, a local family restaurant (just our group). Getting to and from this restaurant required considerable walking though the town- the streets are narrow and not suitable for the bus.
After lunch we hit the road for Wadi Musa, the town outside Petra. It was quite a long ride through unremarkable dessert-like countryside. We made a pit stop at a large souvenir store that had clean restrooms. We finally arrived at the Movenpick which is right across the street from the entrance to the Petra site, though actually quite far from the Siq and Treasury. Adjacent to the entrance is the really well done, and free, but small, Petra museum. We arrived in plenty of time to visit it before dinner- you need at least 30-45 min., longer if you read all the descriptions and watch the videos. You should make the effort to visit it!
Alan nice to hear from you, I see Mt. Nebo it's still as beautiful as I saw it. Mosaics are impressive. So, you guys had lunch at the little family own rest. food is delish and the lady chef is lovely , funny and very pretty also it looks like your main dish was different then ours.. heavier, we had the mezze and then some beef Shish Tawook, Chicken Shawarma etc..
Alan did she mention the surprise visitor? I won't tell... but that was a great Story. )
Enjoy Petra, be safe. )
What a spectacular, yet tiring, day! After an early start and a short intro we hiked to and through the Siq to the Treasury. My wife wouldn’t let me play the Indiana Jones theme song so we emerged in front of the Treasury sans musical accompaniment. The treasury was as impressive as I had imagined. A golf cart was available for folks with mobility issues. Vendors were ever present (even in areas off-the-beaten-path) but not nearly as bad as those we would encounter later at Abu Simbel, Philea, and Kom Ombo!
We had a guided tour of the Siq, Street of Facades and the main trail. After a nice buffet lunch at the Basin Restaurant, everyone else headed back, some on camels.
The pyramid tomb, a little before the outer Siq:
The Djinn blocks. (There are 26 of them in and around Petra!!)
The Nabateans cut water channels into both sides of the Siq. They were part of a massive system that collected and transported rain and spring water to the city from cisterns in the surrounding mountains:
First glimpse of the Treasury:
The Royal Tombs on the NE side of the basin:
The Roman era rock-cut theater. A few tombs were cut open when it was expanded:
Qasr al Bint (Temple of Dushares). Behind it was the beginning of the Wadi al-Farasa trail:
Due to the cool temps, doubts about their ability and the trail, everyone else went back after lunch. I was the only one to attempt the Monastery climb. The Monastery was impressive; the views of the site during the hike and at the top were also incredible! On the way up I made a very slight detour in a narrow side canyon to see the Lion Triclinium.
Lion Triclinium along the early part of the Monastery trail (lions were cut in relief into each side of the door frame). One of the Medusas (?) at the top of the door pediment:
The trail was busy with people and donkeys (I had to watch where I stepped.) It was all up hill with some very steep sections. Some had more recently constructed steps, but most were old, uneven, rock-cut steps! Needless to say, it can be a very challenging trek. I also stopped along the way to take photos, so the trip up took me about an hour. Without stops for photos, I made it down to the Basin Restaurant in about 30 min.
The view looking down into the valley at the Tombs of the Royals from about halfway to the Monastery - :
There was a large rock partially blocking the trail with just enough room for a single person walking or riding a donkey:
The big reveal was breathtaking. The architecture of the Monastery is similar to but it is considerably taller than the Treasury.
After the final, steep trail section, I emerged at a plateau containing the massive Monastery (Ad Deir). To really appreciate its size you need to look at the size of the people and compare them to the height of the entrance!:
I climbed a bit higher to get different views, to check out one of the numerous spots labeled, "Best View," and take a few more photos of the Monastery and surrounding area. I headed back down but did not waste any time. Since my legs were still doing fine, I walked a short distance to the Temple of Dushares to start the second half of my trek. Just behind the temple is the trailhead of the Wadi al-Farasa trail. I hiked the rough gravel trail up and over the hill behind the Great Temple, behind a large spoil pile which was created by the ongoing digs at Zantur, and into the Wadi.
I passed what I believe are remnants of the old southern city wall before my first glimpse Wadi al Farasa tombs:
Hmmm, an ancient Nabatean door on this tomb???? There were signs that locals still lived on the site or using tombs to store souvenirs and supplies.
This pediment, broken off a tomb, reminded me of the scene in Planet of the Apes where Charlton Heston's character, Taylor, comes across the ruins of the Statue of Liberty
The number of tombs to see and photograph in the Wadi put a real strain on my progress, but it was just too amazing to pass up. There was the Roman Soldier's tomb (so named due a statue wearing what appears to be a Roman Centurion uniform), the Garden temple complex with a cistern in the front terrace and a large walled cistern next to it, etc.
This is the last tomb I saw before I started up the back side of Jebel al Madhbah to the High Place of Sacrifice. The going got really, really tough. I wasn't able to take his photo, but at this location I ran into a local (guide?) who was seriously trying to channel Johnny Depp's Pirate's of the Caribbean character, Jack Sparrow- from his dreads, dark eye shadow, jewelry, head scarf, etc. (I didn't notice if he had a gold tooth ) Later, when I said to my wife- "guess who I saw" she responded, "Jack Sparrow." She had seen him too!
The trail, mostly cut steps, was extremely steep and though shorter, much tougher than the climb to the Monastery. I was starting to run out of steam and had to rest regularly. I finally reached the top. Time was getting short. Since the cell signal was no longer blocked by the mountain I texted an update with my condition and position to my wife. In addition to the Lion Fountain, I was able to view from above the tombs and other features I read about and just seen in the Wadi, including vertical cut-stone burial shafts, more cisterns, djinn blocks, etc.
I finally made it to the top where the first things I saw were two obelisks. What makes them unusual- they were not cut out of rock and erected like those in Egypt. They were not placed on top of the mountain, they are part of the mountain- made by chiseling away the mountain around them!!!
I checked out what has been called the High Place of Sacrifice. It contained at least one rock cut feature which was clearly used to sacrifice animals- it had a notch to channel blood away and another area to prepare the carcass. The purpose of other features, like the shallow rectangular basin, was less obvious.
The views from up there and on the way down were fantastic too, but I had little time to linger. The bus for the Bedouin dinner at Little Petra was due to depart in less than an hour. I checked in with my wife again and headed down. The trail down dumped me out on the Street of Facades between the theater and the Treasury. I hadn't arranged for a cart to transport me from the Treasury to the site entrance (big mistake!!!) so I had to walk all the way out. When I got to the Siq exit my legs began to cramp. I was running late but my wife updated our TD and local guide. The guide met me at the Djinn Blocks, not far from the site entrance, and carried my heavy camera bag the rest of the way. I arrived at the bus only 5 min. late. I immediately consumed a lot of water but my legs continued to cramp for a few hours. I was unable to stand to film the dancers at dinner- each time I tried, one leg or both would cramp. All I got were a few shots of the Little Petra tomb which formed the backdrop of the show and about 15 seconds of video as the dancers marched out!
Here is a map of Petra. I highlighted the Wadi al Farasa and High Point of Sacrifice trail routes in yellow. I used Google maps to time out my hike and make a spreadsheet to help me keep track so I would be back in time to catch the bus to dinner. According to my steps-based Fitbit tracker, I walked a total of 13.6 miles over 9 hrs and 52 minutes which includes the guided portion in the morning. My afternoon treks, mostly up and down, covered 9.6 miles over 5 hrs and 33 min. My spreadsheet did not include time to rest or take photos. Note, a few of the key trails have been mapped by Google with their 3D Street View system. In the months leading up to our tour, I "virtually" walked the entire route several times- It seemed shorter when I actually walked it. It took almost 2 days for my legs to recover!
Beautiful pictures Alan, so happy for you. I also made the trek to the Monastery and it was certainly worth it. Continue to have the best time ever!!!!
I am so far behind!!! 🙄. I probably won’t get caught up with this thread until we get home! I just thought I would pass along a few items, however.
New photo rules in Egypt- phones and DSLR camera photography allowed everywhere- temples, Nefertari’s tomb (Wow!!!!!!!!!) and all other tombs, including Tut’s!!- no flash. Stage lighting was enough for decent exposure. The only place photography was not allowed was in Tut’s room at the Old Museum that still holds his funeral mask and two gold inner sarcophagi .
They still have some of Tut’s and tons of other stuff there! (How many mummies and sarcophagi are enough?)
I think some of the display labels (MANY displays had no labels or descriptions!) were the same ones I saw the first time I was there 30+ years ago- typed on a manual typewriter! 😧
Be prepared for horrendous traffic in Cairo
Be prepared for multiple security checks at the airport (one right after another) everywhere in Egypt, even on the charter flight to Abu Simbel!
Day 5 Wadi Rum and flight to Aswan, Egypt.
Another early go (I can't remember if we had any normal mornings? Of course for me a normal morning starts about 9 am . ) We drove via the Kings Highway south to Wadi Rum, which most of you have heard has a Martian-like appearance and has been a filming location used in many movies- Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, Star Wars, etc. etc.
After departing Wadi Rum we stopped at a large souvenir store that had very clean restrooms and no pressure to buy!! We proceeded to the airport in Aqaba and flew to Aswan. After we arrived at the Old Cataract Hotel our TD helped my wife and I arrange for a taxi to take us to the nearby ancient quarry site of the unfinished Obelisk. It was commissioned by the pharaoh Hatshepsut, would have been the largest ever made, almost a third larger than the next one smaller, but was abandoned when a large crack appeared. This quarry and the nearly 20 other quarries in and around Aswan were the source of red granite used throughout ancient Egypt. Several other smaller in-work obelisks and holes left after sarcophagi had been removed were evident.
Traces of where a sarcophagus was cut:
We hired an on-site guide who "supposedly" spoke English. It was good he was inexpensive and I had already done research on the quarry because the guide mostly kept repeating "Obeliska, obeliska." Our taxi was waiting for us when we were done. We could have easily walked the 1.2 km back to the hotel if the taxi abandoned us.
Across the river were ruins at the southern tip of Elephantine Island and on the hills of the west back was the mausoleum of the Agha Khan and tombs of the nobles at Quebbet Hawa all lighted at night.
Day 6, Abu Simbel -
An early go and charter flight to Abu Simbel. Not only is the exterior impressive but so is the interior!! The interior walls of both temples are covered with reliefs and hieroglyphs. It was very busy with tourists when we arrived at about 9:30, but the numbers declined as time passed and it was nearly deserted by the time we departed- perfect timing!!! It was hot there- I rolled up my sleeves and zipped off my lower pant legs.
The Great Temple of Ramesses II
Small Temple of Hathor and Nefertari the wife of,Rameses.
The Sanctuary- figures of (l. to r.) the gods Ptah and Amun-Ra, Rameses, and the god Ra-Harakhty. Twice a year the sun’s rays directly enter all the way into the sanctuary to illuminate the sculptures on the wall, except for the statue of Ptah, the god associated with the underworld, who remains in the shadows.
Day 6 ended with the transfer to the Oberoi Philea and a sunset cruise of the nile on a traditional felucca.
Alan OMG!!!! so many memories... Love it. a great trip indeed- you're not behind on your postings..., it's just hard to keep up with the speed of the tour and so may amazing sights. Besides, the good things take time.... in my opinion. I'll enjoy every single picture and your mini reports. Keep it going )
Enjoy.
Mil.
Comments
Alan , LOVE the pictures... I see they have cleaned up the area a lot! it looks great and removed the concert stages from main square. that was a big no no for pictures.. Yes, That Rest. is really good- Lots of food.
We did had 2 bagpipers and a drummer Sept. 2021.
Keep the fun going..
To answer a few questions:
It is early in the tour, but we haven’t gotten any JOD (Jordanian Dinar) yet and are not likely to do so. You only need it if are planning to buy souvenirs from local vendors that don’t accept plastic or USD. If you think you will need it use an ATM at the airport or Kempinski hotel.
Funny you should say that- I had been in training- walking a lot in the months/weeks prior to the tour- but have gotten a lot of exercise at the Kempinski. The hotel is in sections located on different levels on the side of a hill so, even using elevators you do a tremendous amount of stair climbing and/or walking ramps!! I had midnight leg cramps the last two nights!
Yup- two pipers and a base drummer playing amazing grace!
No photos- was shooting video.
Have a wonderful time Alan, stay safe. Pictures are lovely. So happy you finally made it.
OBXnana...Yes, Tauck made the reservations and paid for the meal on the first night. I had dinner at the Italian restaurant for my free night.It was good, but nothing like the Moghul Room.
I was on this tour December 2021...we had a drummer and bag piper
PureLuxury Hi
That was my tour guide, He is AMAZING! really nice and fun. I'm looking for my pics.
PureLuxury this is the Jordan guide the BEST!!
Reminded me of the Edinburgh Tattoo and the inspiring performance by the Jordan Armed Forces Band. (Just Google to see Youtube videos.)
For you Alan.
https://my.xfinity.com/articles/news-science/20220319/ML--Egypt-Antiquities-75da
mil...YES, that is Sufian. He is the BEST! OMG...so knowledgable and generous and he is always smiling... can warm a thousand hearts. You cannot be in a bad mood if you're around Sufian.
Except in Mil's picture above.
Stand by to stand by- I should be able to post big update tonight. Off to Abu Simbel today. All I can say is OMG, Awsome!!!!!!!!! 15 on a scale of 1 to 10!
Back from Abu Simbel via stop at Aswan High Dam. I think we are up to a 16!
Got there about 0930 via same charter aircraft and crew we had flown with the previous day.
COVID? What Covid?- many, many buses, fairly crowded, tourism back in full swing? However, by the time our Egyptologist was done talking and we had taken a few exterior photos, the place had almost emptied out- it was incredible!!. We pretty much had interiors of both temple to ourselves and even the area in front was almost deserted!!! We (Tauck) were the last to leave!!! What timing!!! 😊 😊
Legs still recovering from Petra. One more night and round of Alleve and I should be back to normal (whatever that means? 🤪
Later I’ll address a few negatives- airport security- Ugh!!! In-flight lunches, both leaving Jordan yesterday and flying to Abu Simbel today.
Gotta do some unpacking and get ready for the felucca sail in a bit. Obviously, wifi is good right now.
in-flight lunches are HORRIBLE!!!!
AlanS - Looking forward to your Petra posts. Since you are now in Egypt you must have been in Petra when the temperatures were in the 30s and 40s. I couldn't remember your dates so I've sent you a PM. The Egypt temperatures will help your body recover from Petra. You must only have a few days left in the tour, excluding any extra days you may have added at the end.
We departed early (as usual) for Mt. Nebo where we had a fairly short tour. The weather, while clear, was cool and windy. Mosaics on the floor and those mounted on the wall were quite impressive. The guide’s commentary made the visit much more interesting. We continued on to Madaba, where in the middle of town is St. George Greek Orthodox Church. The main attraction here is the mosaic floor map of the eastern Mediterranean area of that time. In addition to known places it has also given archaeologists hints where to find other lost cities and ruins. We had lunch of mezzas and Jordanian dishes at Hikayet Seti, a local family restaurant (just our group). Getting to and from this restaurant required considerable walking though the town- the streets are narrow and not suitable for the bus.
After lunch we hit the road for Wadi Musa, the town outside Petra. It was quite a long ride through unremarkable dessert-like countryside. We made a pit stop at a large souvenir store that had clean restrooms. We finally arrived at the Movenpick which is right across the street from the entrance to the Petra site, though actually quite far from the Siq and Treasury. Adjacent to the entrance is the really well done, and free, but small, Petra museum. We arrived in plenty of time to visit it before dinner- you need at least 30-45 min., longer if you read all the descriptions and watch the videos. You should make the effort to visit it!
Thank you Alan for the lovely pictures and bringing back so many memories. Abu Simbel was one of my favorite places in Egypt.
Great news Alan
Alan nice to hear from you, I see Mt. Nebo it's still as beautiful as I saw it. Mosaics are impressive. So, you guys had lunch at the little family own rest. food is delish and the lady chef is lovely , funny and very pretty also it looks like your main dish was different then ours.. heavier, we had the mezze and then some beef Shish Tawook, Chicken Shawarma etc..
) 
)
Alan did she mention the surprise visitor? I won't tell... but that was a great Story.
Enjoy Petra, be safe.
AlanS - Was this the restaurant in Madaba?
What a spectacular, yet tiring, day! After an early start and a short intro we hiked to and through the Siq to the Treasury. My wife wouldn’t let me play the Indiana Jones theme song so we emerged in front of the Treasury sans musical accompaniment.
The treasury was as impressive as I had imagined. A golf cart was available for folks with mobility issues. Vendors were ever present (even in areas off-the-beaten-path) but not nearly as bad as those we would encounter later at Abu Simbel, Philea, and Kom Ombo!
We had a guided tour of the Siq, Street of Facades and the main trail. After a nice buffet lunch at the Basin Restaurant, everyone else headed back, some on camels.
The pyramid tomb, a little before the outer Siq:
The Djinn blocks. (There are 26 of them in and around Petra!!)
The Nabateans cut water channels into both sides of the Siq. They were part of a massive system that collected and transported rain and spring water to the city from cisterns in the surrounding mountains:
First glimpse of the Treasury:
The Royal Tombs on the NE side of the basin:
The Roman era rock-cut theater. A few tombs were cut open when it was expanded:
Qasr al Bint (Temple of Dushares). Behind it was the beginning of the Wadi al-Farasa trail:
Due to the cool temps, doubts about their ability and the trail, everyone else went back after lunch. I was the only one to attempt the Monastery climb. The Monastery was impressive; the views of the site during the hike and at the top were also incredible! On the way up I made a very slight detour in a narrow side canyon to see the Lion Triclinium.
Lion Triclinium along the early part of the Monastery trail (lions were cut in relief into each side of the door frame). One of the Medusas (?) at the top of the door pediment:
The trail was busy with people and donkeys (I had to watch where I stepped.) It was all up hill with some very steep sections. Some had more recently constructed steps, but most were old, uneven, rock-cut steps! Needless to say, it can be a very challenging trek. I also stopped along the way to take photos, so the trip up took me about an hour. Without stops for photos, I made it down to the Basin Restaurant in about 30 min.
The view looking down into the valley at the Tombs of the Royals from about halfway to the Monastery - :
There was a large rock partially blocking the trail with just enough room for a single person walking or riding a donkey:
The big reveal was breathtaking. The architecture of the Monastery is similar to but it is considerably taller than the Treasury.
After the final, steep trail section, I emerged at a plateau containing the massive Monastery (Ad Deir). To really appreciate its size you need to look at the size of the people and compare them to the height of the entrance!:
I climbed a bit higher to get different views, to check out one of the numerous spots labeled, "Best View," and take a few more photos of the Monastery and surrounding area. I headed back down but did not waste any time. Since my legs were still doing fine, I walked a short distance to the Temple of Dushares to start the second half of my trek. Just behind the temple is the trailhead of the Wadi al-Farasa trail. I hiked the rough gravel trail up and over the hill behind the Great Temple, behind a large spoil pile which was created by the ongoing digs at Zantur, and into the Wadi.
I passed what I believe are remnants of the old southern city wall before my first glimpse Wadi al Farasa tombs:
Hmmm, an ancient Nabatean door on this tomb????
There were signs that locals still lived on the site or using tombs to store souvenirs and supplies.
This pediment, broken off a tomb, reminded me of the scene in Planet of the Apes where Charlton Heston's character, Taylor, comes across the ruins of the Statue of Liberty
The number of tombs to see and photograph in the Wadi put a real strain on my progress, but it was just too amazing to pass up. There was the Roman Soldier's tomb (so named due a statue wearing what appears to be a Roman Centurion uniform), the Garden temple complex with a cistern in the front terrace and a large walled cistern next to it, etc.
This is the last tomb I saw before I started up the back side of Jebel al Madhbah to the High Place of Sacrifice. The going got really, really tough. I wasn't able to take his photo, but at this location I ran into a local (guide?) who was seriously trying to channel Johnny Depp's Pirate's of the Caribbean character, Jack Sparrow- from his dreads, dark eye shadow, jewelry, head scarf, etc. (I didn't notice if he had a gold tooth
) Later, when I said to my wife- "guess who I saw" she responded, "Jack Sparrow." She had seen him too! 
The trail, mostly cut steps, was extremely steep and though shorter, much tougher than the climb to the Monastery. I was starting to run out of steam and had to rest regularly. I finally reached the top. Time was getting short. Since the cell signal was no longer blocked by the mountain I texted an update with my condition and position to my wife. In addition to the Lion Fountain, I was able to view from above the tombs and other features I read about and just seen in the Wadi, including vertical cut-stone burial shafts, more cisterns, djinn blocks, etc.
I finally made it to the top where the first things I saw were two obelisks. What makes them unusual- they were not cut out of rock and erected like those in Egypt. They were not placed on top of the mountain, they are part of the mountain- made by chiseling away the mountain around them!!!
I checked out what has been called the High Place of Sacrifice. It contained at least one rock cut feature which was clearly used to sacrifice animals- it had a notch to channel blood away and another area to prepare the carcass. The purpose of other features, like the shallow rectangular basin, was less obvious.
The views from up there and on the way down were fantastic too, but I had little time to linger. The bus for the Bedouin dinner at Little Petra was due to depart in less than an hour. I checked in with my wife again and headed down. The trail down dumped me out on the Street of Facades between the theater and the Treasury. I hadn't arranged for a cart to transport me from the Treasury to the site entrance (big mistake!!!) so I had to walk all the way out. When I got to the Siq exit my legs began to cramp. I was running late but my wife updated our TD and local guide. The guide met me at the Djinn Blocks, not far from the site entrance, and carried my heavy camera bag the rest of the way. I arrived at the bus only 5 min. late.
I immediately consumed a lot of water but my legs continued to cramp for a few hours. I was unable to stand to film the dancers at dinner- each time I tried, one leg or both would cramp. All I got were a few shots of the Little Petra tomb which formed the backdrop of the show and about 15 seconds of video as the dancers marched out! 
Here is a map of Petra. I highlighted the Wadi al Farasa and High Point of Sacrifice trail routes in yellow. I used Google maps to time out my hike and make a spreadsheet to help me keep track so I would be back in time to catch the bus to dinner. According to my steps-based Fitbit tracker, I walked a total of 13.6 miles over 9 hrs and 52 minutes which includes the guided portion in the morning. My afternoon treks, mostly up and down, covered 9.6 miles over 5 hrs and 33 min. My spreadsheet did not include time to rest or take photos. Note, a few of the key trails have been mapped by Google with their 3D Street View system. In the months leading up to our tour, I "virtually" walked the entire route several times- It seemed shorter when I actually walked it.
It took almost 2 days for my legs to recover!
Thank you for the wonderful photos Alan. Hopefully, I will finally get there next year.
Glad to hear your years of planning worked out, Alan
Hopefully you had/will have an opportunity to play "walk Like an Egyptian" while your wife wasn't nearby
Alan , great Pictures! you did it..... Amazing!! Aleve Martini for you tonight!
Tomorrow Egypt! , best to come.
Take care.
Beautiful pictures Alan, so happy for you. I also made the trek to the Monastery and it was certainly worth it. Continue to have the best time ever!!!!
I am so far behind!!! 🙄. I probably won’t get caught up with this thread until we get home! I just thought I would pass along a few items, however.
Another early go (I can't remember if we had any normal mornings? Of course for me a normal morning starts about 9 am
. ) We drove via the Kings Highway south to Wadi Rum, which most of you have heard has a Martian-like appearance and has been a filming location used in many movies- Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, Star Wars, etc. etc.
After departing Wadi Rum we stopped at a large souvenir store that had very clean restrooms and no pressure to buy!!
We proceeded to the airport in Aqaba and flew to Aswan. After we arrived at the Old Cataract Hotel our TD helped my wife and I arrange for a taxi to take us to the nearby ancient quarry site of the unfinished Obelisk. It was commissioned by the pharaoh Hatshepsut, would have been the largest ever made, almost a third larger than the next one smaller, but was abandoned when a large crack appeared. This quarry and the nearly 20 other quarries in and around Aswan were the source of red granite used throughout ancient Egypt. Several other smaller in-work obelisks and holes left after sarcophagi had been removed were evident.
Traces of where a sarcophagus was cut:
We hired an on-site guide who "supposedly" spoke English. It was good he was inexpensive and I had already done research on the quarry because the guide mostly kept repeating "Obeliska, obeliska."
Our taxi was waiting for us when we were done. We could have easily walked the 1.2 km back to the hotel if the taxi abandoned us.
Across the river were ruins at the southern tip of Elephantine Island and on the hills of the west back was the mausoleum of the Agha Khan and tombs of the nobles at Quebbet Hawa all lighted at night.
An early go and charter flight to Abu Simbel. Not only is the exterior impressive but so is the interior!! The interior walls of both temples are covered with reliefs and hieroglyphs. It was very busy with tourists when we arrived at about 9:30, but the numbers declined as time passed and it was nearly deserted by the time we departed- perfect timing!!! It was hot there- I rolled up my sleeves and zipped off my lower pant legs.
The Great Temple of Ramesses II
Small Temple of Hathor and Nefertari the wife of,Rameses.
The Sanctuary- figures of (l. to r.) the gods Ptah and Amun-Ra, Rameses, and the god Ra-Harakhty. Twice a year the sun’s rays directly enter all the way into the sanctuary to illuminate the sculptures on the wall, except for the statue of Ptah, the god associated with the underworld, who remains in the shadows.
Day 6 ended with the transfer to the Oberoi Philea and a sunset cruise of the nile on a traditional felucca.
AlanS...Great memories. Thanks for sharing
Such wonderful memories. Looks like you had great weather there too.
Alan OMG!!!! so many memories... Love it. a great trip indeed- you're not behind on your postings..., it's just hard to keep up with the speed of the tour and so may amazing sights. Besides, the good things take time.... in my opinion. I'll enjoy every single picture and your mini reports. Keep it going
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Enjoy.
Mil.
WOW Alan -- Beginning to think I should put this tour on my "To Do" list. Thank you so much!