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Andrew's Travels
Andrew's Travels

Andrew's Travels

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  • Andrew's TravelsSri LankaViaggiatore
    The first part of the tour is by small tractor engine.
    The second part is accoss a small lake by boatA great view of the Sigiriya Lion RockMaking a hat from a water lillyWe visit a local house for a demonstration of food prepared from raw materialsMaking a rotiBack to the road

    Sirigiya Village Safari

    30 marzo 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    After lunch, we arrived in Sigiriya and went on a tour of the village and local area by various means of transport; these were by a small tractor engine, boat and tuk-tuk.

    There were some great views, and we enjoyed a visit to a house for a demonstration food preparation using local products (coconut, rice, vegetables, etc).Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsSri LankaViaggiatore
    Statue of Parakramabahu I
    Veyjanta Padada, the Royal Palace of ParakramabahuCouncil Chamber; Hall / Lion on entrance / PillarThe Quadrangle; Vatadage, a circular Shrine / Haradage, opposite itThe Quadrangle; Moonstone opposite front entrance / Buddha statue at rear entranceThe Quadrangle; ThuparamaThe Quadrangle; Bodhisattva / Lata Mandapaya /AtadageThe Quadrangle; Gal Potha (Book of Stone) with Sathmahal Pasada behind itRankot Vihara Stupa (Golden Pinnacle)Galvihara; four colossal figures carved from granite

    Polonnaruwa

    30 marzo 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the second capital city in Sri Lanka; this was over the 11th -13th centuries, a period of flowering for Buddhist arts and architecture. It was abandoned in 1293 and excavated in the 20th century; many of the spectacular buildings and monuments still remain.

    We start start at the statue of King Parakramabahu I and move to his Royal Pakace and Council Chamber. The heart of the city is the Dalada Maluwa (Terrace of the Tooth Relic), popularly known as the Quadrangle. We see the buildings here (captions on pictures) and move north to see the to see the 12th century Rankot Vihara (Golden Pinnacle). Then it's the Gal Vihara rock sculptures, four Buddha statues hewn out of the Rock face.

    Another amazing citadel.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsSri LankaViaggiatore
    Aukana Buddha / Stupa
    Dambulla Caves; Granite overhang / View from terraceCave 1, the Temple of the Lord of the GodsCave 2, the Temple of Great KingsCave 2, the Temple of Great KingsCave 3, the Great New TempleCave 3, the Great New TempleCave 4, the Western TempleCave 4, the Western TempleCave 5, the Second New Temple

    Aukana Buddha and Dambulla Cave Temples

    29 marzo 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    We stop off at the Standing Buddha of Aukana on our way to Dambulla; the statue is 13m rmtall, perfectly preserved, and was built in the 5th century BC.

    The Dambulla Caves are 1st century Buddhist Cave Temples built into the Dambulla rock and characterised by a granite overhang. They were built originally by King Valagambaku I in gratitude for regaining his throne and repaired and embellished in the 17th - 18th centuries when the murals and statues were added.Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsSri LankaViaggiatore
    Dhatu Ghata relic house / Mihintale Tablets
    Ambasthala Dagoba; with Arahadana Gala behind it / with Mahaseya Dagoba behind itThe Buddha at MihintaleViews from the top of Arahadana GalaAt the top of Arahadana Gala, the Meditation RockPool at the base of Mahaseya DagobaMahaseya Dagoba / Reclining BuddhaBehind the DagobaView of Arahadana Gala from Mahaseya Dagoba

    Mihintale

    28 marzo 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Mihintale is revered as the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka as it is here where the monk Mahinda (the son of Asoka) met King Devanampiyatissa in 247 BC and introduced the religion to the country.

    We start at the second flight of steps, where the Dhatu Ghara relic house and the Mihintale Tablets are located; the tablets describe the rules and regulations for life as a monk. We continue up to the Ambasthala Dagoba (Mango Tree Stupa), which was the actual meeting place between them). Then it's up to see the Buddha statue and down again to cross over to ascend the Arahadana Gala, where there are great views of the whole area.

    Down again to then climb the main stupa here , the Mahaseya Dagoba; this houses a single hair relic of the Buddha.

    Another interesting excursion.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsSri LankaViaggiatore
    Sri Maha Bodhi and Temple
    Brazen PalaceRuwanwelisaya (Great Stupa)Ruwanwelisaya (Great Stupa)Thuperama Stupa / Lankarama StupaMoonstone and TempleAbhayagiri StupaSamadhi BuddhaEl Pokuna, one of the Twin PondsJetavanaramaya Stupa

    Anurahadpura

    28 marzo 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ 🌩️ 28 °C

    The Cultural Triangle refers to the area between the former capitals of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy.

    Anuradhapura is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the first capital city in Sri Lanka; it was founded in 380 BC and abandoned in 1073 and has three of the largest stupas in the world. Tens of thousands of monks lived here in dozens of monasteries with a by-population, and many artificial reservoirs were built over this time. It was uncovered in the 19th century by British explorers. There are many small temple relics here, but we focused on selected main sites.

    The first one was the Sri Maha Bodhi or Sacred Bo Tree; possibly 2,200 years old, and grown from a sapling under which Buddha first gained enlightenment, it is now tended. Nearby is the Loda Pasada (Brazen Palace), formerly a nine storey residence for monks, but now reduced to about 1,600 pillars. The Ruwanweliseya (Maha Thupa or Great Stupa) is 55m high and constructed from over 100 million clay bricks; it is surrounded by full-size sculpted elephants. We walk around it (clockwise) and see the Buddha relics

    We see the Thuparama (the oldest stupa on site and in Sri Lanka) and the Lankarama Stupa. Then we see the Moonstone; these are placed at the bottoms of staircases to central places of worship and depict the stages of life.

    We now visit the Abhayagiri Monastery complex and see the main ruins - the Abhayagiri Stupa (the third largest here), the Samadhi Buddha, and the Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds) - before moving on to the Jetavanaramaya Stupa (the second largest on the Anuradhapura site).

    It's been a great visit!    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsSri LankaViaggiatore
    View from the jeep
    EgretCrocodileView of natural lake, known as a WilluDeer grazingLangur monkeySri Lankan elephantSloth bear1Sri Lankan leopard

    Wilpattu National Park

    27 marzo 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    We arrive at Wilpatthu National Park, which is noted for its many natural lakes (Willu). Although not the largest of the Sri Lankan National Parks, it is the oldest. Our group travels in two jeeps along the many trails here, and we are extremely fortunate as we see many of the threatened species that live here (see images and captions). Seeing the leopard was amazing, and it just sat there as the jeeps started up behind each other to stop and take pictures!

    It has been a great safari trip, and we head on to our hotel in Anurahadapura for a well-deserved beer with our meal.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsSri LankaViaggiatore
    Coconut plantation stop-off; Trees / Toddy Tapper in action
    Toddy Tapper in actionHe's down / So is the fermented sapPrivate Hindu Temple; main entranceFigures either side of the main entranceShrine under renovationRoad sign en route / Arrival - did we or didn't we?

    En route to Wilpattu National Park

    27 marzo 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    We stop off at a small coconut plantation just outside Negombo to see a toddy tapper in action; toddy is the fermented sap taken from the stems and stalks of coconut flowers using a knife and mallet and the tapper is the man doing it (high off the ground). It is collected in a container and used to make arrack, a local spirit. The sap is OK, but the arrack (as I found out later that evening) is a lot better!

    From here, we stopped off at Madampe to see a Hindu temple built and owned by a local wealthy person; unfortunately, it was closed for renovation.

    After a stop-off for lunch (an excellent Sri Lankan curry buffet), we proceed to Wilpatthu National Park.....    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsSri LankaViaggiatore
    Negombo Fish Market
    Negombo Fish MarketNegombo Fish MarketNegombo Fish MarketOutside Negombo Fish MarketFishing Village;Traditional Oruwa fishing boats1Fisshing Village; Hauling a beach net inAlmost there!Job doneThe catch from the beach

    Negombo 2; Fish Market + Fishing Village

    27 marzo 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    After a good night's sleep and breakfast, we load up the small coach and stop off at the Negombo Fish Market Complex. This is close to the vegetable market that we visited yesterday and is also extremely interesting.

    From here, we double back and leave Negombo heading north before stopping off at a local fishing village; it is no coincidence that we arrive on time to see local fishermen hauling in a catch from fixed nets on the beach. This is fantastic to see.

    From here, we head off to our next stop....    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsSri LankaViaggiatore
    The Dutch Canal
    Dutch style colonial building / St Sebastian's ChurchHindu TempleSt Martin's ChurchNegombo MarketNegombo MarketNegombo beach walkNegombo beach walkSunsetThe tour group

    Negombo 1; Old Town, Market and Beach

    26 marzo 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We arrived at Colombo Airport after our flight from London and met our entire Explore Travel group (9 total) before transferring to our hotel in Negombo.

    Negombo is a popular start or finish place for tourists/travellers due to its proximity to the airport. It is a large fishing town with reminders of its colonial post; Portuguese, Dutch, and British Empire; in fact, we crossed the Dutch Canal on our way to town.

    After a short break, we (Helen and I) set out for a walk from the hotel to the Old Town. We see St Sebastian's Church, which is based on Reins Cathedral. Many local people in Negombo are Roman Catholic due to the activity of missionaries in the past. After passing a Hindu Temple, we visit St Mary's Church (also RC), and from here, we proceed to the vegetable market nearby.

    On the other side of the market, we reach the beach and walk back to the hotel; there are good views of local housing, distinctive fishing boats en route.

    After a rest, we meet up with the group and tour leader at our hotel rooftop bar for dinner and trip discussion.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsLincolnshireViaggiatore
    Boston Gateway Marina
    Grand Sluice LockView of St Botolph's Bridge and The Stump (from the hotel room yesterday)View of South Street from High Street, on the other side of the riverView back to town from South Terrace en route to Boston Port areaView across The Haven to QuaysideBoston Harbour railway swing bridge

    Boston 2; From the Marina to the Port

    19 febbraio 2023, Inghilterra ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    A short walk upstream from the town centre brings you to the Boston Gateway Marina and the Boston Grand Sluice Lock.  Walking back into town on the footpath on the side of the River Witham, we pass the new eliptical St Botolph's pedestrian bridge, divert around the White Hart Hotel, and rejoin at the High Street.  There are good views of South Street on the other side before we reach the bridge over the John Adams Way and cross over, and proceed along South End and then South Terrace.  There is a footpath along the outskirts of the Port of Boston Industrial Area, but only as far as the railway swing bridge here.  

    The Port of Boston handles more than one million tons of cargo per year, including the import of steel and timber and the export of grain and recyclable materials. The port is connected by rail via a railway swing bridge, which is active several times each day.

    It has been good to be close to the port area, as it is often not considered on visits to Boston.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsLincolnshireViaggiatore
    Swan House / Municipal Buildings
    The Market Place1St Botolphs Church, with a statue of Herbert Ingram beside itInside St Botolphs ChurchMaud Foster MillWar Memorial / Pescod HallShodfriars Hall / Blackfriars Arts CentreThe GuildhallFydell HouseHussey Tower

    Boston 1; The Heritage Trail

    18 febbraio 2023, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    Boston is a market town and inland port in Lincolnshire; it is situated on the River Witham and used to be the second largest port in the UK after London, but decline started when the flat countryside around the town, The Fens, started to be drained.

    We start our Heritage Trail walk at the station; close to this is Swan House - located on Trinity Street, the building has been converted into flats, but it was originally built for the processing of feathers for pillow cases.  We walk into town and pass the Municipal Buildings on West Street before crossing the Haven to the town centre, and the Market Place (the River Witham is known as The Haven on its route through Boston).  From here we cross to St Botolph's Church (aka The Stump); this is Boston's most notable landmark and the largest parish church in England - it has one of the tallest medieval towers in the country (over 266 feet) and this is visible from miles away across the surrounding flat countryside. 

    From here, we walk the length of Bargate and cross the Maud Foster Drain to see the Maud Foster Windmill, a seven-storey, five sail windmill; the tower mill and adjoining granary is a grade I listed building.  We double back into town to see the magnificent War Memorial before turning off to see Pescod Hall, originally built in 1450 and now in front of the Pescod Square Shopping Mall.  Then its back to the Market Place and along South Street towards the Cultural Quarter; here we see Shodfriars Hall, a substantial timber-framed building of three storeys, and in a road behind it is the Blackfriars Arts Centre, situated in a converted medieval friary.  Along South Street is The Guildhall, a former municipal building and now as a local museum, and next door to this is Fydell House, a Queen Anne house and open to the public for room hire, conferences and weddings.  We cross the John Adams Way to South End for the short walk past Boston Grammar School to see Hussey Tower, hidden away behind some new houses on the edge of the School playing fieds; this is a grade II listed historic tower, dating back to 1450, and the remains of a medieval brick-fortified house.  

    It has been a very interesting walk around Boston; there is more to see here than one thinks.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsCambridgeshire; South DistrictViaggiatore
    The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    The Hare and HoundsHarlton Clunch PitBarrington Chalk PitBarrington Chalk PitViews of Barrington Chalk Pit en route to BarringtonThe Whole WayView from the top of The Whole WayLimes Farm, Harlton

    Harlton Circular

    12 febbraio 2023, Inghilterra

    Harlton is a small village 5 miles southwest of Cambridge, just off the A603.  We pass an attractive church, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the public house; the Hare and Hounds is a community owned thatched village pub that is popular in the area - so much so that the Devils Dyke Morris Men there during the Summer.

    We leave the village and walk up a ridge to Harlton Clunch pit; clunch is the traditional local term for a hardened chalk and there is a cluster of clunch pits dug into the sides of the low chalk ridges bordering the upper Cam valley and along the Fen edge towards the Suffolk border.  The village was an important source of this building material for many centuries, and clunch was sourced from here to build Cambridge Castle in 1295; the pit is now a wooded recreational area.  

    We leave the clunch pit and join an ancient track, the Mare Way, which runs along a raised ridge dividing it from Barrington.  There are good views of the Barrington Chalk Pit; this is now a disused quarry area that was originally worked for chalk and clay for cement production.  It is a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest as it is the only surviving exposure of the Cretaceous Cambridge Greensand; the quarry is currently being utilised for landfill and rehabilitation and for disposal of spoil transported by rail from High Speed 2 construction sites.  

    After a while, we turn left and head south in the direction of Barrington and enjoy views of the quarry area as we reach Wilsmere Down Farm.  We carry on into Barrington and then double back north on another footpath, eventually turning on to the Whole Way. After a while, we turn right on to the Mare Way again and then left towards Limes Farm and Harlton.     Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsImperial War Museum DuxfordViaggiatore
    Overview of the exhibition hall; all 7 Hurricanes can be seen
    Three Hawker Hurricanes on the left-hand side of the exhibition hallThree other Hawker Hurricanes on the right-hand side of the exhibition hallThe Hawker Hurricane evolved from the Hawker Nimrod and Hawker Fury biplanesHurricane Mk I (P3717); shipped to the Soviet Union after we became allies, recovered after Cold WarSea Hurricane Mk Ib (Z7015); originally a fighter-bomber, it was converted to a two-seaterHurricane Mk I (R4118); this brought down 5 enemy aircraft in 6 weeksComparison of the Hurricane and Spitfire bodyComparison of the Hurricane and Spitfire wing thickness and 4 guns on eachComparison of the Hurricane and Spitfire wheel base

    Hurricane; Unsung Hero

    6 febbraio 2023, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    With 7 examples of the Hawker Hurricane under one roof for the first time (only fourteen airworthy Hurricanes remain in the world) in an exhibition running from 27 Dec 2022 to 19 Feb 2023, it seemed appropriate to make another visit to IWM Duxford.  This exhibition, in the Conservation Hall in the AirSpace super hangar, celebrates one of the Second World War’s most hard-working fighter aircraft, the Hawker Hurricane; it is often overlooked in favour of the Spitfire, yet the Hurricane accounted for sixty percent of air victories in the Battle of Britain. 

    The Hurricane's design was derived from the Hawker Nimrod and the Hawker Fury, both earlier biplane fighters that flew in the 1930s that had wood and metal framework covered in fabric. Although essentially out of date, despite later improvements, the Hurricane was a stable and rugged aircraft that could be maintained and repaired more easily than the metal bodied Spitfire.  There is a Spitfire in the hangar for comparison purposes; the Spitfire is smaller and weighs less but is more susceptible to gun damage. Other differences are shown in the pictures.

    It has been another interesting and educational visit.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsKentViaggiatore
    Faversham Guildhall
    Old buildings along West StreetShepherd Neame breweryViews along Faversham CreekDevelopment on the other side of Faversham CreekStandard Quay; quirky shops / Oyster Bay HouseChurch of St Mary of Charity and its flying spireChurch of St Mary of CharityInside the church; view of inside / rare medieval painted pillar

    Faversham

    15 gennaio 2023, Inghilterra ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    Faversham is the oldest market town in Kent, recorded in the Domesday Book and located on a winding creek; there are many listed and historic buildings here.  It is also home to Britain's Oldest Brewer - Shepherd Neame, which has been brewing beer since 1698.

    We start our quick walk of the town starting at the Guildhall; it is located in Market Place, stands at the very heart of Faversham, and was originally built as a market hall in 1574.  We divert down West Street to see some of the lovely old buildings there and then double back to the Guildhall to walk down Court Street and head down to the Creek - passing the Shepherd Neame Brewery on the way.

    Faversham Creek connects the town to the Swale that separates mainland Kent from the Isle of Sheppey; during Roman Britain and into the first millennium, the Faversham coast was a large estuary with peninsulas either side.  We walk along the Creek and reach Standard Quay; this was the town’s main unloading quay from the sixteenth century onwards and boasts one of the oldest warehouses in Britain, built from materials taken of the original Faversham Abbey when it was destroyed during the dissolution. On the opposite bank of the Creek to Standard Quay is a good example of regeneration; the modern apartments built along the Creek were once a part of Pollock’s shipyard.  There are several classic ships and boats at Standard Quay now, along with many unique shops and outlets; at the end is Oyster Bay House - this  was originally built to store locally-grown Kentish hops before being transported up the creek to the Hop Exchange near London Bridge (despite its name this warehouse has nothing to do with oysters but Faversham did have a great oyster trade).

    We double back to town and walk up Abbey Street past the site of the original Abbey and cut across to the Church of St Mary of Charity; reputed to be the second largest in Kent,  the church was founded in the medieval era,  but the flying spire, known as a crown or corona spire, dates to the 18th century.  The church is also noted for its rare medieval painted pillar.

    A great visit to an interesting town; I must go back (not least for a brewery trip visit or to attend the Faversham Hop Festival).    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsMuseums of CambridgeViaggiatore
    Entrance to the Fitzwilliam Museum
    Inside the magnificent Fitzwilliam MuseumDavid Bowie / Freddie KruegerDivided! by BanksyBoris Johnson / Tony BlairThe Exploded Transit Van, part of the Big Bang 2 ProjectObjects made from bank notes of worthless valueZero dollarBritish Prime Ministers (Conservative)

    Fitzwilliam; Defaced!

    30 dicembre 2022, Inghilterra ⋅ 🌧 8 °C

    Defaced! Money, Conflict, Protest is a major exhibition to explore a 250-year history of protest, using currency and canvas as vehicles for rebellion. Since it is passed through many hands, cash - both notes and coins - is the ideal way to circulate a message while having a go or poking fun at those in power. "If you're fed up and throwing rocks isn't your thing, take it out on the money."

    On disply are objects of rebellion made by radicals of the nineteenth and early twentieth century shown alongside works by contemporary artists and activists, including Banksy.  The objects include a Boer War cannon and the loan of the fragments of an exploded Transit van detonated by The Hoe Street Central Bank as part of the Big Bang 2 project, which bought up £1.2million of payday loan debt.

    It was an extremely interesting visit; see captions with the pictures for descriptions of some of the things we saw (no images of coins though as they were too difficult to photograph in the low light conditions).    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    View from the road approach / Outside The Citadel
    The Mosque of Mohammad Ali, aka The Alabaster MosqueOpen Court; Turkish Baroque Ablutions Fountain / Ornate clockPrayer Hall; the domed ceiling / the two minbarsThe Mosque of Sultan al-Nasir; the dome / one of the two minaretsColumns / the mihrab and minbarView down onto the Mosque of Sultan Hassan and the Al-Rifai Mosque from a terraceThe National Military Museum; the way in / the way outThe ornate interior of the Harem Palace which houses the museumTowers along The Citadel walls / Panoramic view of The Citadel

    Cairo 5; Islamic Cairo - The Citadel

    29 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    The Citadel of Cairo is a medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo, Egypt, built by Salah al-Din (Saladin) and further developed by subsequent Egyptian rulers. It is located on a promontory near the centre of Cairo and commands a strategic position overlooking the city and dominating its skyline. It is now an iconic and preserved historic site, comprising mosques and museums.

    The southern enclosure is dominated by the Mosque of Mohammad Ali; it is also known as the Alabaster Mosque because the lower storey and forecourt is tiled with alabaster.  It is built in the Turkish style, with an open court and prayer hall.  The open court has a Turkish Baroque Ablutions Fountain and a monumental tower clock in the middle of the north-western wall; donated by Prince Philippe of France, it was reciprocated by a the obelisk of Luxor (now in Place de la Concorde).  The huge prayer hall inside is vast and noted for its two minbars (pulpits used for sermon reading).  We then visit the Mosque of Sultan al-Nasir and have a look in the Police National Museum.

    Much of the northern enclosure is closed to the public at present, but the Egyptian Military Museum is open; this is the official museum of the Egyptian Army and was moved to the Harem Palace at the Cairo Citadel in 1949; the interior of the place is extremely large and very beautiful.

    We take a taxi back to the hotel in good time to transfer to the airport and the flight home.  The Egyptian Experience trip has been fantastic.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    View of the Fatimid city walls / Bab al-Nasr Gate
    Bab al-Futuh Gate / Minaret in the walled Old CityWalking towards the main bazaar areaOlives / Zalabya, a popular street foodA shisha shop / ArtisanViewsKhan El-KhaliliKhan El-KhaliliMinaret and dome of the Mosque Khan El-Khalili / Local delivery serviceMosque Al-Hussein

    Cairo 4; Islamic Cairo - Khan El-Khalili

    28 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We fly back to Cairo from Luxor this morning and after landing set off in the coach to see some of the real thing - Islamic Cairo.

    The Fatimids established Cairo as their new capital in 973; they built city walls around medieval Islamic Cairo and we see some of these and the portals (gates) in them. We then set off along the streets of the bazaar to reach its centre - the Khan El-Khalili, a famous souk area in this historic centre. We have a falafel sandwich wrap before exploring further and meeting up at the large Mosque Al-Hussein.Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    Tomb of Tutankhamun; Colourful wall murals around the sarcophagus
    The Mummy of TutankhamunTomb of Seti I; Ceiling on the way down / Preliminary sketch on pillar in a side chamberPillared hallWall relief / Relief of cow in side chamberWall reliefsWall reliefs in side chamberAndrew / HelenWall relief / Vaulted ceilingDetail of ceiling

    The Valley of the Kings 2

    27 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We pay extra to visit two more tombs:

    The Tomb of Tutankhamun is the most famous in the Valley of the Kings, but is tiny because of his short reign. Discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, its treasures are in the Cairo Museum.

    The Tomb of Seti I is the finest and deepest in the Valley of the Kings. It was closed for many years but now open at a high price to keep it exclusive! It is noted for the quality of its painted relief decorations and the vaulted ceiling of the burial chamber.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    Plan of The Valley of the Kings / The pyramid shaped Al-Qurn mountain peak
    Tomb of Ramesses IV; Entrance (typical for all the tombs) / CeilingWall reliefsView along the tomb walls / SarcophagusTomb of Ramesses III; wall reliefsWall reliefsTomb of Tausert/Setnakt; wall reliefsWall reliefsAndrew and Helen

    The Valley of the Kings 1

    27 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    The Valley of the Kings is removed from other parts of the Theban Necropolis; the site was selected by Pharaohs because of the pyramid shaped mountain peak of Mount Al-Qurn. There is a total of 63 Royal Tombs here, and relatively few are open to the public. Our guide selects her favourite three to cover the three that we can visit with our ticket:

    The Tomb of Ramesses IV is noted for its colourful reliefs.

    The Tomb of Ramesses III is the grandest of the Ramessid tombs and has 10 side chambers.

    The Tomb of Tausert/Setnakt is noted for having two burial chambers; the first is for Seti's wife, Tausert, and this was usurped by a disgruntled Setnakt.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    The Colossi of Memnon
    The RamesseumThe Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-BeiriColumn relief / Wall reliefThe Goddess Hathor / View up from second terraceReliefs in the main SanctuaryIn the chapel

    The Theban Necropolis

    27 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Situated on the Western Bank of the River Nile, opposite Luxor, is the Theban Necropolis. Like the Pyramids, it is a testament to the Ancient Egyptians obsession with death and resurrection. There are many funerary monuments here, including:
    - The Valley of the Kings
    - The Valley of the Queens
    - The Tombs of the Nobles
    - The Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Beiri
    - The Colossi of Memnon
    - The Ramesseum
    - and others too.
    This post features some of the "lesser"" monuments.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    The Main Gateway / Forecourt with ram headed sphinxes
    Forecourt; a colossus of Ramesses II / View into the Great Hypostyle HallGreat Hypostyle Hall; coloured columnsHatshepsut's obelisk / The SanctuaryView of the obelisks from the Sacred lake / Sculpture of Scarab BeetleView of the open air museum / The Temple of KhonsuThe Temple of Khonsu; Coloured wall reliefsThe Temple of Opet; coloured wall reliefView of The Precinct of AmunThe Gateway of Euergetes II / The Avenue of Sphinxes

    Luxor 2; Karnak - The Precinct of Amun

    26 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    The Temple Complex of Karnak is second only to the Pyramids of Giza on the list of "Wonders of Egypt". There are three separate enclosures or "precints", with each dedicated to one of the Theban Triad of Gods (Amun, Mut and Khonsu); together,. they cover an area of 100 acres Like most tours, we visit The Precinct of Amun, which is by far the grandest (and largest at 62 acres).

    We enter the Temple of Amun via the Processional Way and pass the largest pylon in Egypt as we reach the Temple Forecourt. As we leave, and just before the second pylon, is a colossus of Ramesses II; we then enter the Great Hypostyle Hall - 600 square metres of titanic columns where the original colours are being recovered using special cleaning techniques. On the outer walls of the Hall are reliefs of battle scenes. Beyond the third and fourth pylons there are obelisks before we reach the Sanctuary.

    We leave the Temple of Amun and enjoy views from around the Sacred Lake and walk through some of the open air museum to the Temple of Khonsu where there are some excellent wall reliefs; the Temple of Opet is here too and we see this and enjoy a fine view back over the Precinct of Amun.

    Opposite the Temple of Khonsu is the Gateway of Euergetes II which opens to the Avenue of Sphinxes; this provides a direct route between the Karnak Complex and the Luxor Temple.

    Another fantastic visit.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    Entrance to the Bazaar
    In the bazaar / A drink at the Om Kalthoum cafe (she was an Egyptian singer)Luxor Temple; Avenue of Sphinxes / Temple Gateway (pylons, obelisk, colossi)Gateway - one of 2 obelisks / Court of Ramesses II - Mosque of Abu el- HaggagCourt of Ramesses II; wall reliefsCollonade of Amenophis / Hypostyle Hall - Roman altarCourt of Amenophis IIIInner Sanctum; Entrance to Amun's Barque Shrine / Wall relief showing Alexander the GreatView of the outside of the templeThe Corniche / Wall art

    Luxor 1; Downtown and Luxor Temple

    25 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We disembark and walk to Luxor Temple along the Corniche and via the bazaar.

    The Temple was founded by Amenophis III and added to by Tutankhamun and Ramesses II, with the Sanctuary rebuilt by Alexander the Great. The Temple was half covered by sand and silt for centuries and very recently The Avenue of Sphinxes has been uncovered; this linked Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple back in the day, and it is now possible to walk the 2.8km between them again.

    From the Avenue of Sphinxes we enter the Temple via its gateway of two pylons, one 25m high obelisk (the other of the original pair is on La Place de la Concorde in Paris) and 6 colossi og Ramesses II. We pass into the Court of Ramesses II, where a mosque has been built on the remains of colonnades. We walk along the Collonade of Amenophis III to the Court of Amenophis III and on to the Hypostyle Hall, with its Roman altar. We then reach the inner sanctums and visit the Birth Room and the Sanctuary of Amun's Barque.

    We walk back to the Cruise Ship for our final evening on it.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    Views en route from Edfu to Esna
    Views en route from Edfu to EsnaViews en route from Edfu to Esna; View / The Red Sea Mountains on the eastEsnaVendors come to the cruise ships, since they don't stop here nowEsna locks; first lock / second lockAn 8m difference in height is easily managedEn route from Esna to LuxorEn route from Esna to LuxorArrival at Luxor; View / Luxor Temple

    Nile Cruise 2; Edfu to Luxor

    25 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We leave Edfu at about 8am; Intrepid trepid Travel tours do not visit Edfu Temple for ethical reasons, but that does stop the other tour groups making a short and rushed visit.

    There are excellent views from the top deck, where we relax for the morning until we reach Esna. Here there are two barrages that act as bridges over the Nile; just before reaching them many small boats come to the ship and throw their wares up in the hope that they will be inspected and purchased, since cruise ships do not stop here. Each barrage has a lock to allow vessels to pass through.

    We cruise on to Luxor, arriving at 3:30 pm; we dock close to the magnificent Temple of Luxor and disembark.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    Our Nile Cruise Boat / Sunset over Kom Ombo
    1Kom Ombo TempleTower / The double entranceThe crocodile god, SobekA temple of two halves; the divide / south for Sobek / north for HorusRelief showing the two gods treating somebodyRelief of calendar showing hieroglyphics for the days of the month / Another reliefThe Crocodile MuseumThe Crocodile Museum

    Nile Cruise 1; The Temple of Kom Ombo

    24 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    We leave Aswan and the first stop on our Nile Cruise is the town of Kom Ombo, to visit the temple here.

    The Kom Ombo Temple is about 30 miles north of Aswan situated on a promontory at a bend in the Nile, where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbanks here .

    The Temple is unique because of its 'double' / mirror image design meaning that there are courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms duplicated for two sets of gods; the southern half of the temple was dedicated to the crocodile headed god Sobek (fertility) and the northern part of the temple was dedicated to the falcon headed god Haroeris aka Horus (power and healing). There are many reliefs and carvings; an interesting place to visit.

    There is also a small museum here dedicated to Sobek; it features a number of mummified crocodiles and statues in the shape of crocodiles. Quirky!

    We leave Kom Ombo and the ship stops overnight at Edfu.    Leggi altro

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  • Andrew's TravelsEgypt ExperienceViaggiatore
    1The Great Temple of Ramesses II
    Entry HallWall reliefs at the site showing his prowess in battleThe Sacred Sanctuary; Ramesses II with the triad of Gods of the TempleThe Temple of Hathor and Nefertari / Both templesEntry HallColumns / Sacred SanctuaryEn route back from Abu Simbel to Aswan; natural scenery / reclaiming land / desert scenery

    The Temples of Abu Simbel

    24 novembre 2022, Egitto ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    It is a three and a half hour drive to Abu Simbel from Aswan, and a very early start.

    The Temples of Abu Simbel were discovered as recently as 1813 because they were covered with sand blown by desert winds; they are located just 40km north of the border with Sudan on the West Bank of Lake Nasser. They were actually relocated to a higher level between 1964-8 to prevent flooding as the High Aswan Dam was scheduled to be completed by 1972.

    The Great Temple of Ramesses II was carved out of the mountain rock in the 13th century BC and is dominated by four colossal 20m tall statues of the Pharaoh as a display of power. We go in and enter the large hall with 8 columns and statues of him; the reliefs at the sides show Ramesses' prowess in battle. We then enter the Sacred Sanctuary, where Ramesses is with the triad of gods of the temple.

    Close by is The Temple of Hathor and Nefertari; this is smaller, but also has an impressive rock hewn facade of Ramesses, Nefertari and two of their children. We pass through the entry Hall to the Sacred Sanctuary.

    This is an amazing place to visit!    Leggi altro

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