At Dendarah Temple.
Dendarah Temple.
The MS Amarco 2.
The MS Amarco 2.
Celebrating the Egyptian way!
Egyptian evening.
Egyptian evening.
Egyptian evening.
Cecelia with the boat manager, Mr Ahmed Kamal, and Mr Hamdi Orabi,
Office Manager American Express Aswan, who arranged my visit to the
Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan.
The terrace at the Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan.
Beautiful view of the Nile from the Terrace.
Roman Baths at the New Cataract Hotel.
The Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan.
The Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan.
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My recent visit to Egypt!
16 September
2011
I have just returned from a 5-day visit to Egypt. I took a flight on
EgyptAir from Johannesburg to Cairo and connected straight through to Luxor.
On my arrival in Luxor I was transferred directly to the MS Amarco 2 Cruise
Boat.
A group of 15 passengers from Australia, a honeymoon couple from Egypt,
and I were onboard. It was really fantastic for me to be back on the Nile
again !
The Crew were amazing and they were so happy to be working again. The
food was really great.
On the Egyptian evening, we celebrated a birthday and shared our good
wishes with the romantic honeymoon couple. It was amazing to sense and see
such great joy and energy from everyone aboard. We all danced together on
the top deck in the shadow of the crocodile-headed god, Sobek's
temple of Komombo. We then went ashore and continued the festivities at a
Bedouin cafe, enjoying the "shisha" Egyptian waterpipe, and tea.
Halla, the beautician's relaxing Spa treatments were a great treat.
It was very sad to sail past the cruise boats, docked along the Nile as
if just waiting for the Tourists to return. We were overjoyed whenever a
cruise boat would appear from nowhere and pass us by. The cheers would be
heard all round from both parties.
Once I docked in Aswan, I was most fortunate to be allowed an inspection
visit to the Old Cataract Hotel, which will have its official opening today
(16 September 2011). It has been in renovation for 3 years and the Egyptian
Government should be very proud that they have restored and maintained this
beautiful piece of art.
The Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel, as it is now known, has been restored to
its original grandeur, including a cigar room which was once frequented by
Sir Winston Churchill, leading onto the Colonial veranda overlooking Aswan,
which has to boast one of the most spectacular views of the Nile.
I also inspected the "New Cataract Hotel" which has now been
linked to the property. It boasts a huge marbled Roman Bath as you enter
the lobby.
The rooms have been decorated in modern decor, with the most stunning
walk in cupboards and huge bathrooms with stand-alone ceramic bath,
allowing one to overlook the scenic view of the Nile.
I was hosted to a welcome drink on the Kabbabgy Terrace which overlooks
the Nubian Village in Aswan.
The Hotel Management are planning to host guests to attend the World
Travel Day on the 27th of September 2011.
I was so grateful to have experienced this stunning property first hand
and can really wish the Sofitel Team and Management all the best for the
future. I am sure Agatha Christie would have been overwhelmed to see how
the Hotel has been preserved and I can now see where she obtained the
inspiration to write her novels, particularly "Death on the
Nile."
I returned to Cairo on EgyptAir, and was then hosted at the new
Kempinski Hotel downtown, which opened 6 months ago.
It is a beautiful boutique hotel. The furnishings are all Art nouveau
and I was upgraded to a luxury suit, which included free drinks, mini bar,
teas and coffees and my own personal butler, who met me to welcome me and
assist with unpacking my suitcase and bringing a welcome drink whilst I
checked in in the comfort of my room.
I took a drive down to Tahir Square, where the Egyptian Revolution took
place. Besides the closure of some of the shops downtown, Egyptian life
seemed normal, with the exception that now in the sidewalk coffee shops,
the Cairenes where drinking their turkish coffee, smoking "Shisha"
and working on their laptops.
I also learned from the staff of my Egyptian travel partner, that he had
actually not laid off any staff since the start of the revolution, but
thanked them for their support over the past years and continued to give
them their monthly income.
So, this leaves me to welcome you back to Egypt as I am now sure that when
you do decide to go to Egypt, it will be a fantastic visit!
Cecelia Amory - 16/09/2010
If you would like to go on a similar tour...
... call Cecelia or Lindy at the Egypt
& Beyond office on tel: 011 678 6165/4777 or fax: 011 678 5789 or
e-mail: cecelia@egyptandbeyond.co.za
/ info@egyptandbeyond.co.za
/ lindy@egyptandbeyond.co.za
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