#Mountain View i city New Cairo

[conceptproperties]

IL Monte Galala Ain ElSokhna

[belfastinternship2024]

Sleepless in Berlin, Soaked in Belfast: Welcome to The Holyland

Annika, Moritz, and I – three excited apprentices from OSZ IMT – met in Berlin at 4 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2024, to catch our flight to Belfast. We were fueled by caffeine and anticipation as we made our way through the airport.

After a stopover in Dublin and a bus ride, we finally arrived in Belfast.

Our first impression of Northern Ireland was breathtaking. The green hills, majestic mountains, and humid air were a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Berlin. The city of Belfast was a mix of old and new, with historic sites and brick buildings lining the streets.

Stepping off the bus from Dublin to Belfast, a taxi was waiting for us. The driver, a friendly soul, turned into our own personal Belfast guide during the ride.

One of the first things that caught our attention was the name of our neighborhood - The Holyland. It sounded interesting, but the taxi driver revealed that this area is the brainchild of a very religious developer named Sir Robert McConnell. Back in the 1890s, after a trip to the Middle East, he decided to name the streets of this new neighborhood after places he visited - Jerusalem, Damascus, Cairo, Palestine and so on. "The Holyland" just became a natural nickname for the whole area.

So our home for the next 2 months was a student dormitory in The Holyland, Belfast's vibrant student quarter. Bustling with young energy, the area was a sensory overload in the best way possible. Pubs, restaurants, and shops lined the streets, offering a taste of Belfast's multicultural scene. We had a view of the busy streets and the noise of flowing traffic. Just in time for our move, Northern Ireland welcomed us with its typical weather: pouring rain. It was a perfect start to our adventure!

Even though it was raining, we couldn’t help but be excited about our new surroundings. The people of Belfast were incredibly friendly and welcoming. We were still looking for our accommodation when several passers-by stopped to ask if we needed help. They showed us the way and even gave us tips for the area. It was a great first impression of the city!

Later that afternoon, we decided to stretch our legs and explore Belfast! We didn't have a specific place in mind, so we just started walking.

Our first glimpse was of Ormeau Park, but we kept going for a wander instead. Spring was definitely in the air - everything was bursting with flowers, especially these cheerful wild daffodils. And who knew Belfast had palm trees? They added a lovely touch of the exotic.

Following the Ormeau Road, the same one our accommodation was on, we headed towards the city centre. This road's a mini history lesson! Built in the early 1800s, it was once called the New Ballynafeigh Road. Back then, it connected a village to Belfast, helping the city grow south. Today, Ormeau Road is a cool mix of modern shops and charming Victorian buildings.

We then came across the Jaffe Fountain. This wasn't your typical water fountain! It was grand and impressive, with a huge structure and important-looking statues at the base. It reminded me of the beautiful fountains you see in European squares, all fancy and a bit out of place in the middle of Belfast.

Here's a fun fact: the fountain was built in honor of a German businessman named Daniel Jaffe. He came to Belfast in the 1800s and played a big role in the city's linen industry. His son, Otto Jaffe, even became the first ever Jewish mayor of Belfast!

After our walk, we stumbled upon Victoria Square! This massive shopping mall was the perfect place to duck in and explore. It was also getting close to dinnertime, so we decided to treat ourselves with a delicious pizza at Pizza Express!

As the day began to wind down and the sky turned dusky, we kept walking towards the city center. That's when we spotted Belfast City Hall - all lit up and looking grand!

We even saw a fun Beer Bike cruising by with a happy crowd! It looked tempting, but after our long day exploring, we were all pretty wiped out. Time to head back and rest up for more adventures tomorrow!

[powerrealestate]

[updatenewstart]

كمبوند ماونتن فيو اي سيتي القاهرة الجديدة MOUNTAIN VIEW I CITY NEW CAIRO

[familyagrestefanblog]

Miraculous World intro analysis: Locations of the other Miracle boxes

In the (freaking awesome) new intro of the New York special we saw a glimpse of Miraculous’ future plans after Marinettes Miracle Box gets showcased.

The glowing location points are all the miracle boxes that can be seen from this view and will probably have some kind of importance in future projects. The world map is actually pretty accurate even if not 100% perfect at points which I will forgive since it does its job more than fine.

So I tried making out the locations and these are my results:

For the start two general overview maps:

The way I saw it I made out 10 points in the intro shot. There will very likely be more to come because I interpreted the intro the way that with each new project of Ml World we will see not only more of the Ladybug and Chat Noir statues, we will also see more and more views over the world showing us more location points along the way.

Now let's dive a little deeper into the world map to get a bit of a better look what these locations are

If this will actually be the case (which I hope) then I will probably keep on adding them to my world map here to provide an updated version just so we all can keep track xD

Locations 1 - 3

I dont think location 1: Paris needs any kind of explaination, so moving on to location 2: Scandinavian. Here is one of the instances where the intro world is simply not accurate enough to really tell what location they meant. With every other point I found a capital city or something like that right at the location they showed, but not here. I cant imagine it being the city Murmansk because location 3: Novaya Zemlya is already part of Russia so the 2. point being somewhere in the upper part of Scandinavia, where Norway, Sweden and Finland meet, is much more likely in my opinien, because it would also give them another very popular culture to explore in Miraculous. I’m just not sure in which country to place it, therefore I’ll leave it as Scandinavia for now.

Location 4

Another very simple one since it is literally the location of this very special. Location 4: New York.

Locations 5 - 7

Now things start to get really interesting, because location 5 is Athens and location 6 is Cairo. Both Greece and Egypt are already comfirmed as places with Miraculous history in the Show (”The Pharaoh” for Egypt and the beginnings hero montage of “Origins 1″ for Greece since it shows Hercules for example as a miraculous holder which is also comfirmed by Alya in “Feast”), so I’m very excited to see what we will discover there!

Location 7 is like 2: Scandinavia a bit tricky to make out because without a better angle to look at it the glowing point could be located on both Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan. And since for now I have no way of narrowing it down any other way, I will leave it like this as well.

Location 10

I’m doing location 10: Darwin before 8 and 9 because I havent noticed any forshadowing or hints towards Australia in anything Miraculous related and therefore I dont have anything to say on this one besides that I find the idea of a Miraculous special in Australia pretty damn awesome. And I wanna add that I find the chosen location in Australia quite suspicious, this is connected to something, I can feel it. I dont know what it could be but I will figure it out.

But now lets take a look atthe last two and by FAR my favorite ones of them all!

Locations 8 & 9

Location 8: Victoria is VERY interesting in my opinion and made me squeal of excitment because it is located on one of the places where Atlantis is speculated to have been. Atlantis was comfirmed to us in “Style Queen” to have actually existed in the Ml universe before it was sunken by Plagg. So the island Victoria to be a place the Miraculous World has future plans with is just too good to be true. That could be the Ml project we get to explore Atlantis, how amazing is that? :D

And last but definitely not least, location 9: Bangalore. THIS one made me so happy once I realized the connection, I am BEAMING! Because Bangalore is near the Ellora Caves which people who read my Guardian Mountain - Mount Kailash theory would know as the Kailasa Temple. We may actually be onto something here guys, this stuff is getting better and better and I am so hyped for ALL of this! Bring it on Miraculous World, I’m ready for you!

Alright guys so for now this is it. Here is an overview map of the locations I just covered and hopefully we will have alot more to add in future :D

Oh and @chicoriii​ I’m just gonna tag you right away, I think you wanna see this ;D

[ahmeddocuments]

Day 1, (Cairo/Amman/Paris), 25-9-2019

Written by Ahmed Hassan, edited and corrected by Aya Ashraf

Well, this is finally it. The moment I've always procrastinated to do. I'm finally documenting my biggest trip to Europe to date!

The trip started from September, 2019 from France passing by Italy, Vatican, Austria, Prague and ending in Germany. The trip raised my travel achievements from 5 cities, 4 countries to 15 cities, 8 countries in a total of 13 months, with a total number of 33 traveling days.

When I'm documenting my trip, I'm documenting personal experience, personal observations and opinions. it also might reflect my passion for Architecture, Art and beauty of how I see things, and how it reflects from my perspective. And to be honest, I've thought a lot about ideas of how I can show my trip well, and blogging somehow was a winner. Blogging sounds like a classic idea of how things should be documented, and I'm someone who's always nostalgic and feels classic about the present and the future.

Well, Where do I start. it's 9:00 PM on a Tuesday, On 24th of September 2019. i just had a haircut and heading home after one of the strangest days of my life. it's the day i had an emotional roller coaster; I'm getting ready to travel a the biggest planned trip ever, just a few hours after knowing I've took a hit in my career. Or at least that’s what i thought at the time. but after a few hours of Anxiety, I've decided to let all of such thoughts stop, I'm going to travel! I'm literally a few hours away from doing my most favorite thing in the whole world! I started double checking my belongings; Passport and tickets, Cash money, devices and luggage.

My plane takes off at 6:45 AM. I made sure i had arrived earlier for documentation. I finished everything around 3 hours before the flight and I'm sitting there at the airport bored and bored waiting for the time to pass, still having glimpses of anxiety from time to time.

The moment has come, I hear the call for my flight. Unlike the past year, that wasn't a direct gate to the plane, but it's a shuttle bus taking us directly to the plane near the runway. It’s my first time on Royal Jordanian airlines, I gotta say the plane looks decently vintage from outside, I liked the color pattern of the fleet because you don’t see darker planes every day. as below, the plane appeared mostly black with mixed colors of blood red and gold yellow.

i picked royal Jordanian because of two factors; their cheap economy tickets (Cairo/Amman/Paris and Berlin/Amman/Cairo for 6900 L.E), their luggage policy  (two 23 Kg pieces + the carry on). But I gotta say, you get what you pay for. As someone who’s been on Air France's Joon last year, all I could do is compare the seats’ quality, friendliness level of the staff and the quality of food. The three weren’t that bad at all on the RJ planes, but yeah, that was something to mention.

So the plane is prepared to take off, flight attendants are giving us instructions about safety and emergency, then we’re taxiing the runway. When people usually describe their point of life when they feel absolutely free of any restrictions, I always think about the moment when the plane is on the runway accelerating, leaving anything behind -even if temporary- and rising above the clouds, above anything that previously caused any kind of insecurity. It’s me feeling superior and feeling good about myself.

That was my first time passing over Sinai by plane, I’ve seen a lot of beautiful scenery, like the gulf of Suez and the Suez canal and its ships lining up one after the other.

Also scenes of Sinai mountains, that looks small but great from above as well

I’m now entering the airspace of Jordan. And I got to see the river of Jordan and glimpses of the dead sea.

Just a few minutes after capturing the above picture, we were approaching Queen Aliaa International Airport in Amman for my transit. The plane was landing, and that was my first time to set foot in another Arab country. My transit was almost two hours long so it wasn’t that big of a deal, the airport was extremely clean with very fast free WiFi service, I didn’t feel bothered at all by the waiting time cause I kept exploring the airport. I wanted to buy a snack or a small meal but it was weird because of my zero understanding about the Jordanian currency in terms of what's reasonable and what's expensive. Minutes passed fast and I boarded the plane for a longer flight to Paris.

Passing over the occupied lands of Palestine gave me a special scene I won't forget, a glimpse of the dome rock mosque and the Aqsa mosque. It’s that glowing gold item in the middle of the below picture.

The flight to Paris lasted about 6 hours, passing over the Mediterranean, central Europe and then finally entering the French air field. It was a matter of time before hearing the announcement that we’re reaching Charles de Gaulle Airport, I’m landing again in my favorite city in the world, one year after saying goodbye back in 2018. Took my luggage and stayed in the airport for a few hours till Islem, the Algerian friend I’m staying with, finishes his work at 6 PM, so that left me in the airport for about 4 full hours.

First things first, I had to top up my French mobile line package so that I can communicate during my trip, then had a McDonalds sandwich at the airport. Also had time for a drink till I received a call from Islem to move to Aulnay-sous-Bois. Meeting Islem became one of Paris’s landmarks for me now, he’s a very nice Algerian, 2 years younger and shows a great hospitality each time I request to stay over. After my arrival at the platform, I found him right there. He guided me to the house, which was like 1 minute walking distance from the station which is a GREAT plus for a tourist. The neighborhood was actually built around the 1940s, and it's all about classic villas and buildings. My building is a great example of how the neighborhood looked.

I was actually staying on the fifth - and last - floor. Anyway it was almost 7.30 and I put my stuff at Islem’s, we're going to have an outing together. Islem suggested I should have like a metro pass to all the 5 Paris districts, which came in really handy for my whole stay, and it included Versailles and Disney which were planned items.

We decided to go over the downtown and launched that plan from Châtelet, stepped out of the station to Rue de Rivoli, passed by Tour Saint Jaques.

Then we passed by Paris's official city center, Hôtel de Ville. The place looked amazing as that was my first time to see it at night all lit

Also had my first look at the seine by crossing Pomt d'Arcole and its beautiful scenery over the river.

I also wanted to check on Notre Dame, as I was really devastated when the fire took place in April 2019, but it looked better than expected. But still it's a great loss to France and Europe.

For those who don't know, Notre Dame was my favorite place to visit in Paris, and it was the place that I've seen first in Paris during my first visit in 2018. I will never forget that feeling of seeing this building in person. Now it is in a really bad condition, only hoping for it to restore its previous glory soon.

I made sure to check the building as much as possible, passed by it from almost all sides. A very important funny part though: it was raining before my arrival and I didn’t notice a small water puddle behind Notre Dame, which resulted my socks and shoes all soaked with water, making me walk like i’m walking on hot rocks for a while till it started to dry out. We later reached Saint Michelle Fountain.

Had the opportunity to see one of the best seine river scenes in Paris, with Notre Dame looking so fine like it was untouched.

We Also passed by Pont Neuf, Paris’s oldest bridge with a construction date back to 1578. The term “Pont Neuf” means the new bridge, because of all the modernity that it embodied in the Middle Ages back then. The building, which spans the Seine at Ile de la Cité, was built during the reign of Henry III but was inaugurated in the early 17th century.  At that time, it was the very first stone bridge in Paris and also the first in the capital to have sidewalks to protect pedestrians from the mud projected by horses and carts.

After crossing Pont Neuf to the other bank of the seine, we’re right in front of the back side of the Louvre museum. Islem thankfully made me enter the Louvre from the back entrance, allowing me to see the famous modern pyramid centering the 18th century old Château from a new angle.

And now with the main stream angle, which I really love by the way because there’s no enough of how beautiful this place looks! I was actually surprised to see that much of people still hanging out there, later i realized the place is open till 9:45 PM on Wednesdays, and it was just 9:15 PM the moment I took the picture.

We were really starving afterwards, and we couldn’t pick a place to have our dinner. So we decided to eat in the first affordable thing we see in our way. We walked down Avenue de l'Opéra heading to the Palais Garnier (Paris’s grand opera house). and as much as it always looked fantastic with its golden statues, it never looked as beautiful as I saw it that night.

We were right in front of the opera when Islem suggested we go for pizza hut since it’s just around the corner, there was no space for me to say no as the last meal I had was almost 8-9 hours earlier. We went inside and we picked a chicken pizza that we shared with a drink and appetizers. and I gotta say there was no much of a difference comparing to the pizza hut we have in Egypt, only cleaner place and more expensive lol.

We were finally full and we decided that I should welcome Paris in the best cliché way possible: watching the Eiffel tower at night. We moved via metro from  Opéra to Trocadéro. For those of you who don’t know, Trocadéro is the best place in Paris where you can actually view the landmark and remain absolutely speechless till you realize you spent a lot of time there and should leave.

It was the most crowded place I visited that night. Needless to say how worthy it was, I’ll just let the below pictures speak for themselves.

After spending some time there, we decided to go home and rest, as Islem is working the next day, and I have to visit Chateau Versailles which I’m really excited about. Using both Metro and RER, we reached home and I was getting ready to sleep before it started raining outside.

I was sleeping right under a roof window which allowed me to see the sky and the rain hitting that window and I instantly started thinking about how lucky I am that:

- It started raining right after I’m back home and right before I arrived, I really felt welcomed :)

- I’m visiting the city I love the most twice in one year! Spending so much time there while having a very good trip planned ahead.

To the next day tomorrow, I’m visiting Chateau Versailles ,La Defance and Arc de Triumph. can’t wait to start going into details about that.

Bonne nuit!

[maestroegypttours]

Egypt Safari Tours

You get the chance to let go of your worries and tension by getting lost in Egypt's lovely desert thanks to Maestro Online Travel. so enjoy Egypt Safari Tours,  We give you a lot of options to pick from. We can tell you that one peek at our website will leave you speechless.

With escorted tour guides and native Bedouins, Maestro Online Travel offers the best Egypt Safari Tours to Gara Cave Safari Tours from Cairo to explore and take in the desert's Gara Cave. Visit the golden mummies, Alexander Temple, Hot Spring, Ain El Meftela, English House in White Desert, Magic Spring, and Ain Khudra, then continue to visit Santa tree (Magic tree), then explore the New and Old White Desert, the best places to go on safari in Western Desert, and more on your Egypt Safari Tours with Maestro Online Travel.

With Maestro Online Travel, discover Cairo and White Desert Safari Tours, while touring Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza, the Siwa oasis, and going on safari in the Egyptian oasis lands of Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla, and Kharga Oasis. Also enjoy the greatest experience possible during your Nile Cruise Packages with professional guides as you enjoy a Nile cruise trip in Luxor on the Nile River.

We would like to improve our safari services and safari tours in Egypt, one of which is Cairo, Siwa and Bahariya Safari tour, which explores the best sightseeing in Cairo, visits Siwa Oasis and the old city of Shali, and then drives to Bahariya Oasis to set up camp under the stars. There are many opportunities you will discover with Maestro Online Travel.

Day 1 Arrival Cairo

Maestro Online Travel wishes you an exciting desert safari adventure, our representative will meet & assist you in all the procedures upon your arrival at Cairo international airport then transfer you to your hotel & help you to check in a smooth way & overnight in Cairo.

Day 2 Cairo Day Tour 

Breakfast at your hotel, Maestro Online Travel professional tour guide will escort you to explore the secrets of the Pyramids of Giza, the most famous landmark of Egypt and one of the most astonishing monuments in the whole world, see the Sphinx which is another breathtaking monument. We will be having lunch in one of the recommended local restaurants in the area of Giza. Then proceed to visit the Egyptian Museum the largest museum in the whole world. The highlights of more than 120,000 displays include the treasures of King Tut Ankh Amun, the Mummies Hall, and many other displays dating to various eras of ancient Egyptian history, continue your tour to the Egyptian Restaurant for Launch and drive back to your hotel & overnight in Cairo.

Day 3 Black & White Desert

After early breakfast at your hotel, drive via a private air-conditioned vehicle to Baharyia Oasis, the Bahariya Oasis as it is the nearest to Cairo among all the attractions of the Western Desert of Egypt. After around 4 hours ride from Cairo, we reach El Bahariya, Lunch will be served at a local restaurant at Bahariya oasis. Then continue driving via 4 X 4 vehicle to visit the Black Desert and the natural hot spring of Valley of El Haize, then drive to see the quartz crystal at Crystal Mountain, and the rocky formations in the Valley of Agabat. Continue driving to the White Desert National Park the most well-known desert destination in Egypt. Camping in the White Desert & overnight stay.

Day 4 Baharyia Oasis/Cairo

Have an oriental breakfast, and then drive to the Bawiti Village, the biggest center of the region that features traditional houses and a huge number of palms. Our next visit will be to the Museum of the Golden Mummies, with many of the golden mummy covers buried in the region in the Roman period more than 2000 years ago. We move on with our tour to Bahariya by visiting the English Mountain, the monitoring point of the English army during World War I with a marvelous view of the Western Desert. Our following stop will be to the Tombs of Qarat Qasr Salim, with a number of tombs dating to the 6th century BC with remarkable wall paintings and magnificent ornaments. And then you will be transferred back to Cairo & overnight.

Day 5 Fly Back Home

Breakfast at your hotel, free time at your leisure then transfers to Cairo international airport with Maestro Online Travel representative for your final departure.

For more info. kindly visit www.maestroegypttours.com

or send your request to marketing@egyptonlnetours.com

Tel: +201001422529

[conceptproperties]

palm hills new cairo

[newstartproperty]

منتجع ماونتن فيو الساحل الشمالى MOUNTAIN VIEW NORTH COAST

ماونتن فيو الساحل الشمالى هى انجاز جديدة لشركة ماونتن فيو للتطوير العقارية و هى من الشركات الرائدة و من أكبر المستثمرين فى مجال الانشاء و الاستثمار منذ عهد بعيد و تعد من اكبر شركات التطوير المعماري فى مصر والتى تعتمد على الفكر الحديث فى نظم البناء و المعمار استعان فى ذلك بمجموعه كبيره من الخبراء و المهندسين ليقوم بعمل ,تحفه فنيه .

حيث توفر لك شركة ماونتن فيو فى مشروعها الافكار العصريه فى طريقة, الانشاءات و قامت بانشاء باحدث التصميمات مستوحاه من اليونان و جمالها و قد يقدم لكم المهندس/ عمرو اسماعيل رئيس مجلس الإدارة مشروع, مميز و غير تقليدي و نلاحظ ذلك فى جميع مشروعاتها السابقه و فيه اكثر من منطقه و من ضمن اعمال شركة ماونتن فيو العقارية المعروفة و كمبوندات من أميز كمبوندات التي تقام.

موقع ماونتن فيو الساحل الشمالى

تقع قرية ماونتن فيو رأس الحكمة في منطقة رأس الحكمة وهي من أكثر المناطق المميزة في الساحل الشمالي التي يسهل الوصول إليها من أي محافظة مثل الأسكندرية والقاهرة ومرسى مطروح؛ حيث يقع على عدة طرق بارزة وحيوية، مثل طريق القاهرة الأسكندرية، وطريق وادي النطرون، وطريق الضبعة، وطريق فوكا الجديد الذي يعد أهم طريق حيوي في الساحل الشمالي، والذي يبعد عن المنتجع ما يقارب 15 كم.

يبعد 3 ساعات فقط عن القاهرة.

يبعد 200 كم عن الأسكندرية.

يبعد 90 كم عن قرية مارينا.

يبعد 50 كم عن مطار العلمين.

يبعد 15 كم عن رأس الحكمة.

نبذة عن الشركة المالكة ماونتن فيو العقارية

مشروع ماونتن فيو الساحل الشمالي Mountain View North Coast هو امتداد لسلسلة نجاح طويلة لشركة ماونتن فيو Mountain View تلك الشركة العريقة الذي يعمل بها أكثر من 1000 شخص من المهندسين والعمال والفنيين والاستشاريين الخبراء، وتمتاز جميع مشاريع الشركة بطابعها الخاص والذي تعتمد فيه على الجودة والراقي والفخامة مع تطبيق المعايير العالمية في البناء؛ لتنافس أكبر الشركات العقارية المحلية والدولية.

مشاريع شركة Mountain View السابقة مشاريع ساحلية Coastal Projects:

ماونتن فيو 1 العين السخنة Mountain View Sokhna I

ماونتن فيو 2 العين السخنة Mountain View Sokhna II

ماونتن فيو ديبلوماسيين Diplomats 4 Ras El Hikma

مشاريع القاهرة الجديدة New Cairo:

كمبوند ماونتن فيو 1 القاهرة الجديدة Mountain View I New Cairo

كمبوند ماونتن فيو 2 القاهرة الجديدة Mountain View II New Cairo

كمبوند ماونتن فيو 3 القاهرة الجديدة Mountain View III New Cairo

ماونتن فيو اي سيتي التجمع الخامس Mountain View iCity New Cairo

كمبوند ماونتن فيو هايد بارك التجمع الخامس Mountain View HydePark

كمبوند ماونتن فيو اكزيكتيف ريزيدنس قطامية Mountain View Executive Residence Katameya

كمبوند ماونتن بارك Mountain Park

كمبوند ماونتن فيو بارك ايلاند MV Park Island

مشاريع 6 اكتوبر October City:

ماونتن فيو جيزة بلاتوه Mountain View Giza Plateau

ماونتن فيو اي سيتي أكتوبر Mountain View iCity October

ماونتن فيو بارك ذا ليك MV Park The Lake

ماونتن فيو تشيل أوت بارك Mountain View Chillout Park

ماونتن فيو اكتوبر بارك Mountain View October Park

للتواصل مع مسئولي مبيعات منتجع ماونتن فيو الساحل الشمالى تواصل مع الارقام التالية:

اتصل الأن: 01146812776

تواصل معنا ع الواتساب من هنا

[awintersail]

Jordan, Egypt and the Suez Canal

April 26.  Once again I am playing catch-up with the narrative of our journey.  We are now sailing from Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy to Algiers, where will will spend a very short day tomorrow, our second consecutive brief stop. We only had six hours in Cagliari, but we used it well.  Yesterday and Tuesday we were berthed in Valletta, Malta, our first European port of the cruise.  Originally, we were to spend only one day in Malta, but the Tunisia port call scheduled for Wednesday was canceled for security reasons, and we picked up an additional half day in Valletta.  We had heard about a month ago that Tunis might be skipped, so it was not a surprise.  As described later, Malta was very nice, so it was a fine place to devote some extra time.

But, not to get ahead of the chronology, back to Jordan and Egypt.  The fact is that we didn’t see much of Jordan except  Petra and the ride through the desert and mountains to and from it.  We docked in Al Aqaba, at the end of the Gulf of Aqaba, which is Jordan’s only coastal city.  It is 4000 years old, but looks fairly modern and is taking advantage of the tourist opportunities afford by Petra and Wadi Rum.  Wadi Rum is where T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and his Arab army camped before launching a successful attack to drive the Turks out of Aqaba in WW I.  The city shares both land and sea borders with Eilat, Israel to the west, and there is a busy border crossing point here.

It is a 3 1/2 hour drive to Petra, much of it through pretty desolate countryside of sand and jagged rocks.  We climbed to an elevation of 5000’ before descending to Petra at 3000’.  When you get there it is easy to see why only the Bedouins knew it was there until the early 19th Century.  Petra was created by the Nabataeans around the 3d century BCE.  It was positioned on a major trading route, and is thought to have been occupied by 20k people.  Now, it is Jordan’s most visited tourist site

It is about a 2 mile walk from the parking area to the places shown in the pictures.  The route is through a narrow, winding path known as the Siq.  At the end of the Siq, the spectacular Treasury comes into view.   Because the tombs of Petra were carved into sandstone, and because the area formerly was subject to annual flooding, many of the original features have been worn away by wind and water, but it it remains a marvel of ancient craftsmanship.  We were fortunate that it was cooler than normal and with a breeze on this day.

From Jordan, we sailed access the Red Sea to the port of Safaga, Egypt on the west coast.  Safaga was the departure point for our trip to Luxor (Thebes in the ancient world), The Karnak Temple, and The Valley of the Kings.  Again, this was a long drive from the port, but took us through the fertile Nile River valley in addition to many miles of uninhabitable desert.  In Egypt, only the Nile valley and lands irrigated by canals from the Nile, are arable.  This constitutes only a small percentage of the country, and means that the population of 98M is concentrated in Cairo (20M), Alexandria (5M) and the other cities along the river.

Like India, Egypt has more people than it knows what to do with, half of whom are under 24 years old, and many are unemployed.  Also, there are far more males than females in the youth population.  Not a good situation.  One solution appears to be to include them in the security forces.  It is not an overstatement to say that armed men were almost everywhere.  Most of the time, we had police escorts of heavily armed men including plain clothes men with prominent firearms protruding from their blazers.  It avoided traffic jams, but we did not know whether we should feel more safe or less safe because of the security.  Tourism is an extremely important (17%) part of the economy, and an attack on tourists would be extremely bad for business.  But was this merely an excess of caution (or of armed men) or was there need for concern?  I suppose if you hire all the men most vulnerable to recruitment by jihadis, you will reduce the number who are tempted to challenge the military rulers.

Our weather luck did not hold at Karnak and the Valley of Kings.  It was hot and hotter; reportedly 105-110F.  At least 2 people from the ship passed out from the heat.  Despite the heat, this was the best ruin I had never heard of.  This site is 4000 years old, and is remarkably well preserved, given its age.  It is the largest religious building ever built.  Comparing it to Petra shows you the difference between sandstone and granite.  Much detail remains and many of the hieroglyphs have been translated.  Truly amazing.

After Karnak, we crossed the Nile to the Valley of the Kings.  It is a huge complex of underground tombs, only some of which have probably been found.  The ancient Egyptians always placed burial grounds on the west side of the Nile, because that is where the sun sets.  The Pharaohs abandoned pyramids and began creating underground tombs when they realized that a pyramid was mostly a large  marker announcing:  “grave robbers, here’s what you are looking for”.   This dodge only worked a little better, which is why the discovery of King Tut’s tomb at this location in 1922 was such a big deal.  It was still intact and the treasures were undisturbed.  There has been nothing like it, before or since.  Tut’s mummified body is displayed n the tomb, as is one of the sarcophagi which covered him.  The remaining items are in the Cairo Museum which we visited 2 days later.  Photography is not permitted in Tut’s tomb, but the other 3 open sites can be photographed.  They include colors which were applied 3500 yers ago and are still bright.

On the next day we took a break from the heat and snorkeled in the Red Sea at Sharm el-Sheikh.  As advertised, the fish and coral here were beautiful: far better than The Great Barrier Reef.  Sharm, as the natives call it, is quite beautiful, and used to be a favorite beach resort for Egyptians and Europeans.  It has a casino and many hotels of all prices.  And, it is pretty affordable.  Unfortunately, in recent years the political instability and fear of terrorists has kept many tourists away.  Our snorkel guides said business is starting to rebound.

The entire day on Friday (April 20) was spent going through the Suez Canal.  Because there are no locks, and the surrounding countryside is mostly desert, this was not very interesting.  We did see the new part of the canal which was recently opened to permit two-way traffic in a portion of it.

On Saturday, we docked in Alexandria, and immediately departed the ship for another all-day bus ride to Cairo, the Pyramids at Giza, and the Sphinx.  Giza is on the west side of the Nile opposite Cairo.  As you might be able to see in the pictures, the city has crept to within a few hundred yards of the Pyramids. Despite the ever-present garbage in Cairo, the historical sites are pretty-well kept, at least by developing world standards.  However, like everyplace we went in Egypt, there were hundreds of people trying to sell us “stuff”, or camel rides, or donkey rides, or offering to take our photo for a tip.   Everything was “a dollar”, until you agreed to a dollar and then the price went up.  These places finally put me into vendor overload.

The Sphinx is right next to the Pyramids, so it did not take long to see it.  It is undergoing restoration, which is partly completed.

As noted earlier, we went to the Cairo Museum, which will soon be the old Cairo Museum.  It is filled with antiquities, but the big attraction is the King Tut display which occupies a large part of the second floor.  Pretty nice.  Lots of people were here but we could have used a couple more hours to see it all.  

Between the museum and our visit to Giza, we had lunch on a Nile River cruise boat as it motored through Cairo.  Lunch was good.  We had 4 police escort boats.  Like I said, lots of security.

Egypt shows signs of entering the world of developed nations but still has a long way to go.  Literacy among the young exceeds 90%, Internet access is widespread, and college graduation rates are high. However, there are no jobs for those graduates.  Birth rates are still too high.  And to make a bad situation worse, 135K Syrian refugees have come to Egypt.  On the other hand, in the rural areas, horse and donkey carts were plentiful, and people were harvesting wheat by hand.  It is as if the 21st century is struggling to emerge from the 19th century.  

That’s all for today.  More soon on Malta and Sardinia.

[flyingcarpettours]

Egypt Vacation and Jordan Tours

Imagine yourself on board a fancy cruise sailing the most famous river in the world, embracing the source of the first civilization and visiting the exceptional collection of monuments of the Ancient Egyptians, with Egypt Vacation and Jordan Tours.

Try to travel to Egypt Vacation and Jordan Tours and get best experience in Egypt Vacation and Jordan Tours without fear from the prices, we offer best Egypt Tours with best prices grantee unlike any travel agency in Egypt. Visit the amazing sightseeing in Egypt.

If you are looking for a new adventure with a different style, you should experience Egypt Vacation and Jordan Tours, this offer from Flying Carpet Tours will take you in an amazing trip to feast your eyes with the magnificent historical places in Egypt, you will visit the fabulous Luxor city which was described as the world’s biggest open air museum, so, there's no better place in Egypt to stop for a few days and simply lose yourself in the wonders of the ancient world.

With Egypt Cruise feast your eyes watching the astonishing tombs of Valley of the Kings which was the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs, some of the tombs were including the Pharaoh’s mummified bodies such as Ramses I, Amenhotep I, and Tuthmosis.

Follow the traces of the Ancient Egyptians and explore their greatest achievements through our Egypt Vacation and Jordan Tours, wonder at the great Pyramids of Giza which considered a defining symbol of Egypt and the last of the ancient wonders of the Ancient World that was built as massive tombs for the Pharaonic Kings. Discover the amazement of Sphinx the huge sitting statue with its human head and lion body. Scout around the Valley Temple which was the main entrance to the Giza Plateau and more.

Get excited with a lovely amazing Nile view while exploring the most important sightseeing in Egypt with our Egypt Nile Cruise. Flying Carpet tours gives you the chance to enjoy cruising one of the most famous rivers in the world and discover the ancient Egyptian history while visiting the charming attractions between Luxor and Aswan such as Philae Temple, the High Dam, Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples, Karnak Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, and Queen Hatshepsut Temple.

Live a luxurious experience and enjoy yourself on board one of our fancy Egypt Cruise which sail between Luxor and Aswan. Our Egypt Cruise and Jordan Holidays feature elegant, modern accommodations with panoramic views of the Nile River. Get the chance and explore the glorious past of Egypt while visiting the remarkable archaeological sites that has always symbolized the majesty of the Ancient Egyptians.

In our Egypt Vacation and Jordan Tours you will enjoy the arts and history in Jordan, scout to Jerash, Dead Sea Tour, then pave the way for breathtaking in Petra, its unforgettable memories to try this combined tours.

Wadi Rum is a protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan. It features dramatic sandstone mountains like the many-domed Jebel Um Ishrin, and natural arches such as Burdah Rock Bridge. Petra, the world wonder, is with no doubt Jordan's most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans.

Explore Egypt Vacation and Jordan Tours

Day 01 : Arrive Cairo

At the time your flight touching Cairo Land, one delegate from Flying Carpet Tours will be holding a sign with your name, transfer to hotel, relax from the inconvenience of your travel, be ready for your Cairo and Nile Cruise Package tomorrow, overnight in Cairo.

Day 02: Pyramids of Giza, Egyptian Museum, Old Cairo

Taste the flavor of your breakfast at hotel, then Flying Carpet Tours guide will lead you to a ravishing tour to Pyramids of Giza, feast your eyes by visiting Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinus, then your guide will take you to panoramic view of the pyramids, memorable photos available to the three pyramids together, next move to the Sphinx, scout the valley temple, relax by having lunch at local restaurant, after Lunch your tour guide will escort you to the Egyptian Museum which contains amazing treasures of King Tut Ankh Amun, your last visit will be to Old Cairo, visit the hanging church, Abu Serga Church, and Ben Ezra synagogue, finally back to hotel, night at leisure, or choose from variety of optional tours, Either to try Dinner Cruise on the Nile River with Folklore show, Belly Dancer, surprises are waiting for you, or try optional to the sound & light show at the pyramids, overnight in Cairo.

Day 03: Cairo to Aswan - Nile cruise

Taste the flavor of your breakfast at hotel, then Flying Carpet Tours delegate will lead you to Cairo airport, fly to Aswan, once your flight arriving Aswan transfer to Your Nile Cruise, then start to scout the fabulous High Dam, feast your eyes by watching the glory of Philae Temple, Enjoy riding a Felucca on the Nile around Elephantine Island, finally transfer back to your Nile Cruise, Lunch is waiting for you on board, dinner and overnight on board.

Day 04: Nile Cruise

Taste the flavor of your breakfast on board, feast your eyes at the time your Cruise Sailing to Kom Ombo, scout the glorious of Kom Ombo Temple, then sail to Edfu, Visit Horus Temple in Edfu, continue sailing to Esna, Lunch included on board, dinner and overnight on board.

Day 05: Nile Cruise

Taste the flavor of your breakfast on board, sailing to Luxor, arrive Luxor, beguile your eyes between Valley of the Kings ( visit 03 Tombs Only ), next tour to Valley of the Queens, Next visit to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, known now with the name of El-Deir El-Bahary, your last visit will be to Colossi of Memnon, Watch the glory of the two huge statues, Lunch on board, get your dinner on board and overnight on board your Nile Cruise.

Day 06: Luxor to Cairo

Taste the flavor of your breakfast at hotel, embrace the Culture of Luxor, visit the flourishing Karnak Temple, watch the glory of the huge Pillars hall, move to scout Luxor temple, finally Flying Carpet Tours delegates will lead you to Luxor Airport, catch your flight back to Cairo, Arrive Cairo, transfer to hotel, overnight in Cairo.

Day 07: Cairo to Amman

Taste the flavor of your breakfast at hotel, then Flying Carpet Tours delegate will transfer you to Cairo Airport, move to Amman, at the time you arrive Amman, transfer to hotel, relax from the inconvenience of Travel, overnight in Amman.

Day 08: Jerash, Dead Sea

Taste the flavor of your breakfast at hotel, then drive by air-conditioned vehicle to Jerash, which back to the Roman Empire, located in Gilead Mountain, it is considered one of the largest sites of the Roman Architecture, watch the glory of the colonnaded street, Artemis Temple and the Nymphaeum, then drive to the famous dead sea, which is a salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west, It was one of the world's first health resorts, it is your chance to enjoy natural health and the beauty at the same time, the dead sea considered the saltiest and most mineral-laden body of water in the world. Get relax, and enjoy, at the end of the day transfer back to the Hotel in Amman, Overnight in Amman.

Day 09: Petra Tours

Taste the flavor of your breakfast at hotel, then drive by air-conditioned vehicle to The Rose Red City of Petra, know the legends of Petra, carved directly into vibrant red, white, pink, and sandstone cliff faces, the prehistoric Jordanian city of Petra was "lost" to the Western world for hundreds of years, Petra is without a doubt Jordan's most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction, enter this hidden city through a long narrow Siq, Explore the amazing carved buildings made by Human hands, get the chance to try horseback riding to the entrance of the canyon, Camels are available to hire inside Petra, finally at the end of your tour drive back to Amman, overnight in Amman.

Day 10: Final departure

Today is the valediction day, taste the flavor of your breakfast at hotel, then one of Flying Carpet Tours delegates will lead you to Amman International airport, for the final departure.

More info about: Egypt Vacation and Jordan Tours

Tel.: +201099906242

Email: sales@flyingcarpettours.com

Website: www.flyingcarpettours.com

[hasansonsuzceliktas]

Energy of the Cities

Throughout the ages, humankind has instinctively built cities on the most favorable sites, such as where there is easy access to water and good geographical conditions, as well as where ley lines pass through. Stonehenge in England, the great pyramids of Egypt, and Machu Picchu in Peru were all built on ley lines. Ley lines result from the natural electromagnetic energy of the earth and can be located through dowsing techniques. While they don’t directly affect people, they can exaggerate emotions. For example, if you are a positive person, you become a much more positive person, but if you are depressed, your situation may become dire. The energy of a city affects the psychology, emotions, and behavioral attitudes of its inhabitants, not only because of ley lines but also the prototype qi distribution. When you travel to a new city, you feel a shift in energy. It is actually visible on people’s faces. You can observe the stress of people in big busy cities and their calmness in small quiet towns. Whenever I travel to a new city, I normally adapt to its energy within 48 hours, so I wait and observe how it affects me. Here’s a list of cities I have visited and clearly felt their energy.

London London is an important metropolis in the world as an economic, scientific, and fashion capital. What I strongly felt in London was a form of “intellectualism” that a developed economy and nobility had provided it. London is protected by hills on the north and south, giving a feeling of security. The River Thames flows through the heart of the city in a form of fengshui for economic development. This is then sustained by a variety of parks and green areas in the city, so the people of London will never have money problems. Geography and economy give people the opportunity to deal with intellectualism. People from various nations gather here for educational, art, and cultural events. The slow flow of the Thames provides an air of calmness and coolness. When it comes to the city’s architecture, the red of the bricks, buses, and telephone booths were instinctively chosen to compensate for the missing fire element between water and wood, thus completing a natural cycle that brings harmony to the city.

Cairo Cairo still retains its importance as having hosted one of history’s oldest civilizations, and it is still the most developed city in Africa. What I strongly felt on landing in Cairo I can best describe as “competition.” The city is far from hills and mountains and gives a feeling of insecurity. The population settled around the River Nile because it was the only economic source, but it flows fast and causes money to run off. This wild flow causes especially the men of the city to overreact, often suddenly. The repeating wars over the Nile in history resulted from the general climate, drought, and energy of the Nile region. There aren’t enough parks and green areas here to sustain the economy like those in London, so the economy can’t develop and persist. Competition also shows up, because it comes from a consciousness of famine. When it comes to architecture, the city has many unfinished buildings, because builders can only build one part each year for economic reasons, one year the bricks and the next year the plaster. Finished houses have blue and green blinds that were instinctively chosen to bring the missing wood element. Under a strong fire and metallic energy, Cairo is still an exotic city.

Barcelona After grabbing the attention of the world during the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona found fame and became one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. What I strongly felt in Barcelona was a clear “smooth harmony.” This city owes its pleasant energy to its geographical orientation. In our eighth period (2004-2024), the most convenient direction is southeast, and all cities facing this direction have a positive vibe. Barcelona is one of them, so it is very lucky. The small mountains at the back support and give safety, while the Mediterranean Sea brings wealth and fortune to the city. The grid arrangement of the buildings and roads gives the order and harmony that qi loves, so it can travel easily in the city. The smooth flow of the city comes from both its fortunate facing and grid arrangement. This positive energy is reflected on its inhabitants, and the Catalans are a really easygoing, calm, and comfortable people. In this two-way situation, energy affects architecture, architecture affects energy, and both affect people. The famous architect Gaudi created smooth, corner-less designs and used colors from all elements, because none of them are missing—that’s why he emphasized all the colors. The city has a smooth, flowing, and loving architecture.

Los Angeles Los Angeles is one of the most developed cities in the world. What I felt in Los Angeles was “transition.” It is no coincidence that the biggest companies, especially from media and television, are headquartered in Los Angeles. It is really a media and communication city. The many mountains at the back represent the metallic element and the media. The winds coming from the ocean carry water and financial energy all the way around the city. It has a very developed network of roads, and this is also a good way to distribute money and develop communication. Many large green areas and parks then help stabilize that money. All these bring overgrowth and population, however, and a developed economy with purchasing power quickens the traffic and hardens life. What I felt to be “transition” may be due to too many people flowing into the city, causing a failure to hold on to the city. For many people, Los Angeles may just be a stepping stone, with the winds from the ocean and the large roads possibly nudging them to other destinations. The city’s architecture reveals the same development properties, with people moving from homes to residences with views. As we see in all these cities, energy affects architecture, architecture affects energy, and both affect people. Read the full article

[alittlenomadchristina]

Best Time to Visit Egypt [by a local]

If you’re wondering about the best time to visit Egypt, this guide is for you.

Whether you’re a history buff looking to explore Cairo, the pyramids and all the ancient temples Egypt has to offer, or do a once-in-a-lifetime Nile Cruise, 

or prefer to go desert hiking (like Mount Moses) or scuba diving and snorkeling the Red Sea, I’ve listed the best times to travel to Egypt for every occasion and type of traveler.

I'm a solo female expat based in Egypt since 2016 and I've experienced all seasons as well as done all the major tourist attractions.

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I can really give you an authentic overview of the best seasons for each travel purpose, not like some other travel bloggers who only visited once for a week or two.

If you're still unsure whether you want to travel to Egypt or not, here are the Top 10 reasons that might convince you.

I've also linked to many of my other insider information blogs throughout this article to find out more about all the main destinations in Egypt.

What's the best time to visit Egypt

For Pyramid Visits, Scuba Divers, Nile Cruisers, and Desert Hikers

There is a reason the Ancient Egyptians worshipped the sun. 

The southern city of Aswan is the third sunniest place on Earth, with over 3,863 hours of sunshine every year. 

Egypt has an African desert climate with only two seasons. A strikingly hot summer blends into a mild chilly winter, with little spring or fall weather. 

If you’re used to rainy, overcast days then you are in for a real surprise! Weather in Egypt is arid and dry, with little to no rainfall. 

You’ll never need an umbrella, but if you’re visiting lots of outdoor historical sites you may want one to protect you from the sun ;) 

Best Time to Visit Cairo and the Pyramids

The Pyramids of Egypt are the only Ancient Wonder of the world still standing in the modern era.

They are a must-see destination for world travelers, and if you choose to visit Egypt you cannot miss them.

The Pyramids are an outdoor-only attraction. You may think there are advantages to coming in the summer; maybe the kids are out of school or its your only vacation time.

As a resident of Egypt for a few years, I can say that you will be HOT and I don't recommend it!

Temperatures climb over 100° F (38°C) easily, so if you’re going to brave the summer heat make sure to take a large supply of water and stock up on sunscreen.

The best time to visit the Pyramids would ideally be from October throughout the winter until around April.

There are also amazing night time activities at the Pyramids, such as the Pyramids Light Show. October to April this show begins at 7pm, and May to September at 7:30pm.

If you go during the winter, make sure to bring a jacket as the temperatures can drop to 50° F (10°C), though the average temperature in the winter is about 59° F (15°C).

Cairo itself is a bustling city full of activities, with gardens and museums to discover.

If you’re planning a trip that will be mostly indoors, you can absolutely visit in the summer, as most places like this will have air conditioning.

If you plan on a garden tour, or want to visit local churches or mosques, I suggest coming in the cooler months.

Best Time to Do a Nile Cruise

It’s quite easy to book a Nile Cruise, which can take you from one end of Egypt to the other.

A cruise from Cairo all the way down to Aswan takes around two weeks though, which is why most ships just go up and down the Nile between Aswan and Luxor for 4-5 days, this is where all the main attractions are.

If you want to visit Aswan and Luxor, the site of many historical temples and tombs, it is an idyllic way to view these cultural treasures.

Some travel operators will even meet you at the Cairo Airport, where you will transfer to a smaller airplane and fly to Luxor.

You will spend your days seeing amazing locations, and your nights floating on the Nile (some afternoons you'll be cruising as well).

The ancient sites are numerous with temples, grand burial sites, and even a mummification museum. 

Since most of the activities are outdoors, you’ll want to avoid doing a Nile Cruise during the summer months.

Aswan and Luxor are in the south of Egypt where the heat is even more intense, with summer temperatures reaching over 104° F (40°C).

There is little shade and most of the most interesting statues and sights are directly under the hot Egyptian sun.

The best time to take a Nile cruise is from November to March. I went in October and it was bearable, but I'm used to the sun.

Even if you go in the coldest of winters, the temperatures usually fall in the 70s F(20°C), which is perfect for roaming the “open-air museums”.

If you’re interested in swimming in the Nile, aim for fall. The water will still be warm enough to enjoy, but you won’t bake under the sun. It's not the cleanest river, though.

Best Time to Scuba Dive in Egypt’s Red Sea

Egypt’s Red Sea Coast has amazing beaches and resort towns which cater specifically to tourists who are looking to go scuba diving.

If you’re interested in marine life, like dolphins and sharks, the best time to visit the Red Sea of Egypt is June and July. Though it is very hot, you will have the best chance of seeing amazing aquatic animals.

If you want to spend time in the water as well as on land, you should visit Egypt between September and March when temperatures cool off.

The water temperature can vary a lot from season to season, as well. The water will not be as warm in winter, but April and May will see water temperatures around 22°C.

In Marsa Alam, the water can be mid-80s F (28°C) in the hottest part of the summer, but I think a fall visit to the beaches is perfect. 

I’ve spent time at the beaches in all seasons, and the water is just fine for swimming through most of the year.

If you’re sensitive to the cold, you might want to put on a thin wetsuit in winter. For diving, you will definitely need one unless you go in July/August/September or are not getting cold easily...

Some of the best places to go scuba diving in Egypt are the following:

Sharm El-Sheikh is not only the best scuba diving destination in Egypt, but one of the best in the entire world. Marine life is buzzing and big creatures like sharks, dolphins and manta rays stop by frequently, especially in Summer. Check my scuba diving guide to Sharm El Sheikh for more information about the best dive sites etc. I also have a guide for snorkeling in Sharm.

Dahab is a paradise for most people, locals and expats alike, and has been my home since 2006. It's a mix of traditional Bedouins and foreigners living peacefully without any hotel- or restaurant chains, just a simple life by the beach with lots of street art and street dogs & cats. It is home to the world-famous Blue Hole, a dive site that every scuba diver should have experienced at least once. Here's my scuba diving guide to Dahab.

El Gouna is a gorgeous, European-standard town with surprisingly good diving opportunities just north of Hurghada. It’s a relatively new town, only about 30 years old, and custom-made for awesome vacations. It is clean and organized with prime restaurants, hotels, and dive centers. This is where Egypt's elite owns vacation homes and keeps their yachts - Egypt's St. Tropez. Here's my scuba diving guide to El Gouna - it shares many dive sites with Hurghada, I'm still working on the Hurghada diving guide. If your timing is good, you can also attend the El Gouna Film Festival which usually takes place in September. 

My most popular scuba diving blogs:

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Scuba vacations are a great affordable adventure in Egypt!

If you’re not a scuba diver, there are also amazing snorkel and swimming opportunities. For more specific information check out my other articles linked above.

Best Time to Hike Mt. Moses and Visit the Sinai Desert 

If you plan to visit Mount Moses and the Sinai Desert, be prepared.

While the city of Cairo has indoor activities that may provide you with Air Conditioned respite from the heat, the desert will give you no such luxuries.

You can also take the more direct route up the 3,750 rocky “Stairs of Repentance” to the monastery on the peak.

There are two paths to summit Mount Moses. You can climb a 2.5 hour winding trail, or hire camels for the journey.

Here are 8 Things You Need To Know Before Climbing Mount Sinai as well as my guide to St. Catherine, the monastery, and other hikes around the area where I give more details about the climate all-year round.

While the best time to visit Egypt’s mainland (Cairo, Luxor, Aswan…) would be the winter, remember that in the desert temperatures can drop almost 20° C from day to night.

I highly recommend that you take your climb up the peak of Mount Sinai in Spring, when the desert begins to bloom.

In winter, the temperatures can drop below 0°C with the possibility of snow on the mountains. For more information, I have a guide to Climbing Mount Sinai here. 

For hikes other than summit climbing, and if you don’t intend to sleep in the desert, the winter is absolutely perfect as it doesn’t get so hot during the day.

High Season and Low Season in Egypt

As with all other destinations, Egypt obviously gets more crowded during the holiday seasons.

It mostly depends on the European school holidays, as most tourists who come to Egypt are from Europe due to the short distance (ca. 4-5 hour flights) and much better climate down here.

Don’t expect to see empty beach towns during these peak seasons for Easter, Summer, October, and Christmas.

As a final note, you should also check out when the Holy Month of Ramadan falls.

Ramadan is a month-long religious ‘holiday’. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, and most daytime activity is suspended.

Stores may be closed during the afternoon, and restaurants will be packed exactly at sundown for the fasting break. 

The best time to visit Egypt will change depending on this holiday, as the beach towns along the Red Sea and North Coast will be filled with Egyptian tourists and hotels mostly booked long in advance.

Check out when exactly Ramadan will occur here, as the time of the year always changes. I have an article about navigating traveling to Muslim countries during Ramadan here. 

So, what's the best time to travel to Egypt after all?

Overall, it is very hot in June, July, and August and quite cool in December, January, and February.

You’ll have the best time in Egypt when avoiding the oppressive heat of the summer months, unless you go snorkeling and diving only.

The spring will afford you the best in blooming flowers and wildlife.

The fall will give you cooler temperatures. October is my personal favorite month of the year in Egypt, as you can do anything from Nile cruising to beach bumming.

Anytime you choose to visit Egypt will give you amazing sites and sounds that only an ancient country can provide.

The people are welcoming and accepting of tourists, and I loved it so much I made it my home. 

Post Source Here: Best Time to Visit Egypt [by a local]

[nasa]

Black Marble: NASA View Illuminates Earth at Night

When the sun goes down, the lights on Earth shine bright. A new look using our satellite data captures the lights coming from our neighborhoods, vehicles, buildings, factories, fishing vessels and other human activity brightening the night.

Our scientists have just released the first new global map of Earth at night since 2012. This nighttime view of our home planet, dubbed the Black Marble, provides researchers with a unique perspective of human activities around the globe.

By studying Earth at night, researchers can investigate how and why cities expand, monitor light intensity to estimate energy use and economic activity, and aid in disaster response in near-real time.

The data on Earth at night comes from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite, jointly managed by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

VIIRS captures visible and infrared light, allowing researchers to glimpse the Earth as it looks to astronauts peering out of the International Space Station. The new map is a composite of data collected in 2016, and it took several months of processing to filter out clouds, moonlight, airglow, and other interfering features to create the global image. In the coming months our scientists will release daily nighttime lights data at even finer resolutions for the first time.

The East Coast sparkles with population hubs, suburbs circling cities and major roadways. The I-95 corridor includes the most densely populated region of the United States – the stretch from Washington, DC to Boston.

To get images like these from the satellite data, our scientists had to filter out moonlight, aerosols and other sources of extraneous light – the goal is to eventually be able to detect the lights from a single building or fishing boat.

Daytime satellite images, like this one from Landsat 8, can show us the forests, deserts, mountains, waterways and built-up cities. Add a nighttime view, and scientists can study when and how people are using these limited resources – like the lights tracing the Nile River leading to the metropolis of Cairo, Egypt.

Lights aren’t confined to land. With the global nighttime view, the ocean is dotted with fishing fleets, including boats that try to attract their catch with bright lights.

What lights illuminate your neighborhood? Download a high-resolution version of the Black Marble HERE, and find out more about our new night lights data HERE.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

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Petra pt. 2

We spent the first half of the next day in Petra, this time hiking to the monastery where we were rewarded with an incredible panoramic view stretching into Israel.

A cat joined us at the top.

We decided to take the long way back to Amman, so we meandered our way up and out of the valley and to a road that winds through mountainous cliffs to the Dead Sea. In the mountains, we passed a pack of wild dogs. Truly more dogs than I’ve ever seen in one place before.

We took the switchbacks down from the top to the Dead Sea as the sun set. When we reached sea level, the sky and sea blended together, the sun having painted both a soft sherbet pink. The sun set fully and we saw glimmering lights from the other side, Israel and then the West Bank. A few more hours up the road, and we were back in the hustle and bustle of Amman. Driving in Jordan was wild but fairly smooth at the same time. The cars effortlessly drift from side to side, ignoring lanes but avoiding each other.

We went on a shoe hunt that night because I had already walked through my walking shoes. The mall was sparking and huge. It was a totally different shopping experience from the shops downtown, where each street was crammed with small shops selling the same goods, their windows packed from floor to ceiling. I didn’t find anything, so we went by another (equally huge, nice) before heading to the airport the next day and I picked up a shiny new pair of timberlands.

That final morning in Amman, we walked around the neighborhood we stayed in, Jabal al Lweibdeh. It was not too far from where we had stayed before, but the neighborhood is home to ex-pats and artists, with calmer streets and full of cafes and restaurants. We went to the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, which was showing a Mohanna Durra retrospective. We saw some of his super early paintings, collages, abstracts, portraits, and too many clowns.

We caught an Uber to the airport with a driver who was happy to talk with us about our time in Jordan, giving us some recommendations on what to do on our next visit. He also provided a challenge to our Eurocentric worldview that’s still tumbling around in my head by insisting that if you’ve seen one European city, you’ve seen them all. I think a lot of Americans would think the same about the Middle East. Guess we get to test that (obviously false) theory out because next stop: Cairo!

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iCity Mountain View