Lisbon, Fatima and Salamanca

During the stay in Lisbon we stayed at the Marriot Hotel which wanted to charge an arm and a leg for internet.  Lisbon was big, full of history and great things to see.  I went on an optional tour to the Atlantic coastline to Estoril, Caiscais and Sintra.  It is like the Gold Coast plus some of Portugal, very nice.  This morning Lisbon was left behind and the bus travelled to Fatima to see the Shrine.  Quite interesting, took communion.  It has mainly been a travel day with us being in Salamanca , Spain tonight.  Tomorrow we get to Madrid again and Sunday it is on the plane to Brisbane via Dubai and Singapore.
I will see you all again on Wednesday. All in all a fabulous time , busy, different.  If you send more money I will stay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Anyway, I will sign out from the trip for this year.

Serville

Yesterday we travelled from Morocco on the ferry, the crossing was as smooth as ice.  It takes an hour though by the time everyone is loaded and unloaded.   Before we started the bus driver had to shift two stowaways from the engine compartment with a stick as they were going to hitchhike to Spain from Morocco.  Apparently this is a common occurrence and he knows all the spaces that they hide.  On the way to Serville there were lots of bulls in the paddocks getting ready for the bullfights.  Big bulls!!!
Today has been a morning of walking around Serville looking at buildings, gardens and Christopher Colombus's burial spot.  Last night there was a Flamenco Show which was fiery and intense.  Their faces showed great concentration.  I think the men looked like that because their pants were too tight!  This afternoon I had a long sleep in the hotel.  Tonight we attend a Be My Guest Dinner where we go to someone's house to eat.  Hope they have a big dining room as there are 40 of us.
Tomorrow is Lisbon in Portugal.

The Bullring in Serville

Flamenco Dancers with their Swishing skirts

In the Jewish sector of Serville, town wall behind.

Small car with motorbike engine, registered as a motorbike so only need a bike licence to drive it. 

This is carried through the streets during religious festival times.  It weighs about 360kg and is all silver.

I can do no more shopping as my luggage only has 600g to go before I reach my 30kg limit!!!!  I can hardly lift my bag onto the suitcase holder or the bed.  I have given that up and open it on the floor.  Thank goodness for 4 wheels.
In the morning we travel to Lisbon

Tangier Again!

Whoops, been busy. Morocco is a land of antiquities and modern all together.  Donkeys and Mercedes Benzes all sharing the one lane in the traffic.   I have been to Fes which is a busy exotic city.  We went to the Medina without getting lost.  Next the trip was to Marrakech which I really enjoyed.  It is a little easier to get around in on your won.  I teamed up with a Canadian lady called Louise and we went to the market place in a mini taxi - Petit taxi.  We had to negotiate the fare first before getting in and enjoying the 360 air conditioning and the missing engine and smoke from the exhaust.  Not one of the window worked.  Not sure it would pass a mechanical.  When we cam back to the five star hotel we waved to the gate man as if we were the Queen in her carriage.  We went to an Arabian nights show with horses and a cat in the middle of the arena!  Lots of gun fire and fun.  The food was great.  It was all in tents except the horse riding.  A cat wandered across, sat in the middle of the arena and then wandered off in the middle of the show.  There are cats everywhere.
Today we have travelled to Tangier via Rabat.  The king is supposed to be coming to town so the place is spruced up.  Tomorrw we get the ferry at 6.15am so the call to wake up will come at 5am.
We went to the royal family mausoleum on the way through Rabat.  It was a very beautiful building with marble and carving everywhere.  The ceiling looked almost like a mosaic glass dome.I hope that Patrick has lots of time on his hands when I come back to hang my wall hangings and my new stained glass lamp.  Shopping and bargaining in the bazaars, medinas and sooks has been great fun.. Sometimes I have been called in to negotiate for some of the others as I am supposed to be the hard headed!!!  The salemen always say that you are going to bankrupt them and put them out of business etc.  But they never lose I'll bet.

Donkey and load sharing the street with the modern car in the background.

This is a waterman where people can buy a drink if you want to take the risk!!

Might use this rifle on the crows when I get home!  At the Arabian Night.

This is the tannery where they give you some mint to put under your nose so that you can tolerate the smell.

Tomorrow is Serville, back in Spain for a couple of days which will be nice.  I am going to a Flamenco show tomorrw night so we will see how that goes.  Don't think I will take any lessons thought.  And besides that I don't have the fancy clothes.
Abdul our Moroccan government assigned guide has now left us.  I thought there for a while we would all end up Muslim converts!!

Tangiers, Fes

Since I last posted I feel that I ahve been half way around the world in a bus with 40 people.  Yesterday we caught the ferry from Spain to Tangier.  On the way to the ferry The Rock of Gibralter was appearing from the morning cloud.  It is joined to Spain by a narrow isthmus.  Underneath the rock is now honeycombed with about 25 tunnels from side to side our tour director says.  The place we caught the ferry from was exceedingly windy.  After disembarking from the bus, immigration wanted to see the passport many times and then the Moroccan people wanted to see it and gave a police number for me for my time here.
Tangier was just as windy.  Again customs, security and police checking before embarking on the coach again.  The ferry is made by an Aussie firm and reminds me of the ones that cross from Tasmania to Melbourne.
Then the real day began.  We went back in time two hours for a start making our time difference from Brisbane now about 10 hours.  The bus started for Fes along what I thought was going to be a highway, but no it was the scenic route so that we could see the 'breadbasket' of Morocco.  Plenty of farms with fruit, veges and olives growing everywhere.  Quite pretty scenery but unfortunately after about 500 km it fails to stimulate the imagination any more.  I did have plenty of Granny naps.  We arrived at the Royal Mirage in time to tidy up and go out to dinner and a belly dancing show.   It was quite exotic.  The best part of the evening was the building and its interior.  I think I might have seen enough belly dancing for a while.

On the dock at Tangier waiting for customs, security etc

In the Medina, donkeys have right of way.

Camel head for sale at the butchers, low cholesterol we were told.

Mosaic tiles in huge amounts on the palace gate wall

Today we continued on in Fes with a trip to the Medina and Sooks.  The Medina is the old part of Fes and the streets are narrow alleyways (about 1200 in all).  We had to stick to our guide like glue because if we became lost we may never have seen the light of day again.  We went to the leather shop and factory - ponged a bit.  We also went to a carpet shop where I was very restrained. Animals have right of way so when a loaded mule or donkey came along you had to splay yourself against the wall to avoid trampling.  Every now and then the cry of "Donkey doo" went up and so you watched where you put your feet.  Step" or "Hole" were the other cries of warning included  Tonight is dinner at the hotel. 
We have been warned to only drink bottled water, don't open your mouth while showering and use bottled water to brush your teeth with.  The other warning was to only eat fruit which could be peeled and don't eat fresh vegies.  In this way the Morrocan belly wog may be just avoided.

Toledo, Granada , Marbella

I know now why we say Holy Toledo!  It has many churches, synagogues and mosques plus 18 plus convents where the nuns make fine marzipan.  It is also the home of Toledo steel.  We went to a factory where they inlay steel with gold.  Of course, as usual we were encouraged to buy.  From Toledo the tour moved to Granada.  On the way we went through the state of Mancha where Don Quixote fought the windmills.  There are still some old windmills in this part of Spain.  Quite pretty.  There were lots of olive trees everywhere.  Apparently olive picking is a purely manual job so it must be all hands on deck when it is harvesting time.
We crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  The viaducts and roads through these mountains are astounding.  Very good indeed.  Each road is only one way.
Before we left Granada this morning we went to the Alhambra Palace which is is large Moorish building once the home of the Moorish kings.  The gardens were very beautiful.  About 90 acres and 35 gardeners.
Last night I went to a Gypsy Dancing night in the caves near Granada.  It was quite fiery, fast moving and loud, but very popular.  They have two caves on the go with 3 lots of guests in each, each night.  Quite a lot of people and given what we paid, quite a lucrative little venture.  The caves were interesting, the dancers almost standing on your toes if you don't put them under the chair.
Tonight we are on the Costa Del Sol at Marbella which I guess is like the Gold Coast.  Quite an expensive and exclusive place we were told by our guide. 
Tomorrow we leave for Morocco.  We cross the Strait of Gibralter by ferry, I'm assuming vehicular at this point.  Apparently it is two hours behind Spain as Spain at the moment is enjoying daylight saving.  It isn't dark until about 8.30pm and still dark and quite cool when we leave at about 6am - 7am.

Madrid

Left the hotel in Cairo this morning at 6.15am.  To get to the airport in time for the 9.45am flight we needed to leave then because of traffic.  Of course we got there at 7am and then I waited.  We boarded the plane at 9.20am and waited then for another hour and a bit for clearance as it is difficult for the plane to get out of the busy airport!  Hmm.  The seats in the 737 didn't recline at all.  All in all very uncomfortable.  But I did find my way through another airport.  This hotel is five star so they say.  We have had our briefing by the 'lady' from the tour group.  There are 4 Aussies in all out of about 30 I think.

I have decided not to do the Madrid by night trip which is optional because I am dead tired.  We are off to Toledo at 7.45am in the morning.  The big story we got from her is to be very aware of pickpockets and thieves.  She made it sound worse than Egypt and Turkey.  Anyway tomorrow will be a whole new day and we shall see.

Cairo

Today has been a very busy day in and out of the bus and travelling around Cairo with lots of horn beeping and lane changing - well I assume lane changing as there doesn't really seem to be any.
First stop at 8am this morning was the Pyramids of Giza - 4 in total and the Sphinx.  We went down into one of the pyramids into the burial chamber but of course there was no body there.  The French had already taken it years ago.  The Sphinx was large and actually carved from limestone, not built out of two and half ton blocks like the pryramids.  The guide told us that at the present rate of decay there would be no Pyramids or Sphinx in 60 years.  Sounds like they might have to get a bit busy about looking after them a bit better.
All around the Pyramids and Sphinx is urban development etc - even a golf course.  It just sits on a few big hills.  Not what you expect at all.  I thought at least there would be plenty of desert as depicted in comic books and magazines - but no not at all.  The area is very dusty of course and hawkers every where.  There are the obligatory horse and cart rides and of course the camels.  Poor things, not well cared for at all.  When I came back to the hotel this afternoon I could feel the dust and sand on my face.
On the way back the bus passed the Israeli Embassy.  The place was bristling with military for streets around.  Today there wasn't much of a demonstration at all and it was in Tahrir Square which is a bit of a way away.  The Marriot hotel is actually on an island.  The Australian Embassy is also on this island.

My modelling career - the latest Chanel jacket for winter

Belly dancing in Turkey

Horticulture on Aswan Dam

Tomorrow morning after a 5.45am start I am off to the airport to fly to Madrid.   Not sure what the internet situation will be but we will see I guess.

Back in Cairo

I have been off the air for a few days as I have been on the Nile River cruise where the signal has been too poor to even try to email or blog.  We arrived back in Cairo from Luxor this morning.  I have seen such places as the Temples of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and King Tut's tomb and the Aswan High Dam and granite quarries.  On cruise each night there was dancing or music.  One night was Galabea Night where we dressed Egyptian and danced and sang.  Another night we had a belly dancer and what they called Whirling Dervish, but having seen the real thing, he looked more like a man spinning with circus lights all around him.
We flew to Abu Simbul which is the temple cut from rocks that was saved before being flooded by the dam.  Incredible sights.  The internal flights have all been without hassle.  Our guide is very good at managing such a diverse group of strange tourists.  There are very few tourists so things are not too crowded.  The riot here last Friday was the usual Friday gathering - Friday being the day of prayer.  They were a little cross at the Israelis so had a rumble outside of their embassy.  There are no problems though.
Tomorrow the trip moves to the Sphinx for a close up view and the Pyramids where we actually are allowed to go down.  Many of these places are camera free unfortunately.  Some still have colour on the walls.  A trip to Memphis, the old capital of the ancient world is also on the agenda.
So far I have been lucky and not had the cold or the dreaded Egyptian belly.  Some had that on the cruise but I have had a strict handwashing programme and didn't eat anything off the boat so think that may have helped.

Abu Simbel

I have the key of Life

Our boat for the trip

I have had a great time with the bargaining at the stalls. 
When the Galabea night was going to be on we were going through the locks up the Nile.  Small boats came out with the guys throwing their goods up in a plastic bag and then bargaining.  The money or the goods were then thrown down to them in their little boats.  Sometimes the goods went into the water.  It was a spectacle to watch from the top of the boat.
On Saturday morning I am being collected and taken to the airport to go to Spain.

Cairo Marriot

This photo is taken near the Omar breakfast room.  Notice the beautiful rug on the marble floor.

This the the hotel pool.  You must walk down to it as it seems to be at a lower level.

I want my brother's wife to note how they display clocks here.  Wonder if you can get one of these hall tables in Australia.

A stained glass window, one of many.

Today has been a day of exploring this hotel - and there is lots of it.  I went down to the shops outside, the concierge assured me it was safe.  Hmmm if you consider the streets and traffic I'm not so sure.  There are blocks of cement in the middle of the footpath, taxis asking me if I want a taxi Madam, and 4 lanes of traffic where anything goes to cross without lights and pedestrian crossings.  I'm not sure that pedestrian crossings would work here anyhow.  I have played "Spot the Aussie" today and there are a few who are tripping about.  We will see if they are on the same tour as I am in the morning.  I am going to include some photos ( I hope) of this hotel.  The old parts are rather interesting with furniture from the palace also in place.  Of course the old part is very glitzy,  with gold on most things.  Marble patterned floors of course. 
 Tomorrow is the first day of the tour and I believe we are going to the Museum where we will see Tutenkarmun's artifacts and other wonderful things.  In the evening there will be a light show at the pyramids.

I am going to endeavour to include a video I made of the Whirling Dervishes with this.  See how I go.  Ithought they were rather interesting especially the footwork. I was rather taken by their performance.  This video is of the demonstration of the dance after the real performance which you are not allowed to photograph as it is a religious ritual/ service.   Some said they felt dizzy after the performance.  It was in an underground cave.  If it doesn't show the video you know that the computer battery ran out before it uploaded.
Today I went to a shop that sells papyrus.  It feels interesting, rather fragile.  Some was blank, some painted on and some printed.  I thought I may be able to get some and roll it in a tube but it must lay flat.  They give you a cardboard sheath to put it in but I'm not sure it would stand the trip.  It is very light.
As I do this post I am sitting in a 'lounge ' area in the hotel.  Lots of men in traditional white gear.  Some ladies bu also some in Western clothing.  The waitress has a white shirt, black vest, black stockings, long legs and a black mini skirt on.  It is a uniform.  So there really is a mixture of traditional and Arabic wear.

Goodness I'm In Egypt

Well I think I lost one entry through the hotel server going down on me or something.  I have had a busy time in Ankara, the Turkish capital.  Istanbul was great.  Went to lots of places but there are so many more things to see in that city of 14.4 million people.  There ws very little free time at all unfortunately and at the end when there was I was exhausted. . 

Today I have arrived in Egypt after a 2 hour flight.  It looked interesting from the air.  There are 20 million living in this city.  I have a whole day before the tour starts which will be good  Some sleep and some laundry to be done.  This hotel, the Marriot is on the Nile River.  I will endeavour to include some photos for you but last time I think that was the cause of the lot disappearing.  This site is in Arabic and I just have to guess which button to push.  The writing also goes from right to left across the page as I type so is a little off putting.  All in all things are going well with my navigation through airports

I'm not sure where this is up to so here goes and hope like hell as the writing is skipping from right to left. 

Cappadocia

Today I have travelled around Cappadocia.  This is an area noted once for its horses.  First thing this morning we visited the rock carved churches which contain ancient frescoes.  Afterwards we went underground 4 levels.  I didn't pike out and some of the laneways and tunnels were a tight squeeze for some of the larger men, some scraping their backs.  Once the Christians used to escape into these caves and troglodyte houses to escape the Romans.

Later I visited a hand made Turkish carpet centre.  The rugs were just amazing.  Of course the credit card should have stayed at home but it popped out of the wallet.  There are so many different varieties -wool, cotton and silk and designs.  Of course the ones I purchased are just for an investment, like gold ingots. The one pictured above is called "The Tree of Life".  Rich colours, wonderful texture.  Yes, Patrick it comes with the hooks already to hang it (and the others).
This evening after dinner in the hotel there will be a visitation to an underground cave to see a floklore show with belly dancers, folk dances, singers and music.  Senol, our guide is shouting the drinks.  I don't think he realizes what big drinkers some Aussies are!!!
The area we are in is called Cappadocia but we are staying in a place called Nevsehir.  My Turkish is not improving either by the way.

Pamukkale to Cappadocia

This morning was an early start.  I am feeling religious as I have been to a mosque at Konya along with half of the population of Turkey I think.  It is the Diem and they are holidaying, the mosque is a shrine where the founder of the Whirling Dervishes is buried.  Late this afternoon I went to a 'performance' by the Whirling Dervishes.  It was interesting, different.  It was on my wish list and am pleased that I saw it but not sure I would bother again.  Lots of chanting and whirling around.  I don't know how they can continue to whirl for at least 20 minutes at a time and not get giddy.  I think I was giddy watching them.
This hotel is clean, but the bathroom is small.  We are actually here for 2 nights so there might have to be some domestic chores such as washing etc.

Tomorrow will be a full day again but around this area which will be nice after travelling 700 km today.  We finally sat down to dinner at 8.45pm.  But it was lovely.

This photo was taken from my hotel window yesterday morning.  In the background is the Aegean Sea and the foreground is  the hotel pool.

Kusadasi and Pamukkale

Another busy day, getting up early, bags out by 7am and breakfast.  I thought this was a holiday!   This morning we went to a leather factory which makes  the goods for Chanel and Gucci.  Firstly the young modelled the then the young man chose a man and myself from the group to model a jacket each.  They took us out the back and dressed us up in a jacket each.  The leather was so soft it was almost like silk.  I modelled one of the new designs for this year's Chanel releases.  We all had some fun with that and hope to download a photo from one of the other's cameras.  Unfortunately that was rather an expensive stop for the bank account.  I have had that little stash shipped home, so Bek and Patrick should be getting that little parcel to their door any day soon.
After lunch we arrived at the Pamukkale terraces which are huge white cliffs with curved terraces of water. These white cliffs and scalloped terraces are the result of water with calcium dioxide.  This occured after an earthquacke a very long lime ago we were told.   After a paddle and a walk around the Roman ruins we came to our hotel.  Of course again the meal was delicious and once again ate too much.

Today is the first day of the week national holiday marking the end of Ramadan.  All of the eating places will be full tonight.  Families all go home to their relatives etc.  Yesterday they visited cemetries.  Tomorrow is a very early start as we travel by bus the 700 kilometres to the next place with some more ruins (stones) on the way and apparently a museum which is some holy shrine.  

Izmir - Epesus - Kusadasi

Today we left the port of Izmir and went to Ephesus where we saw the best preserved Roman ruins - so they say.  They were pretty good.  There was a huge amphitheatre where the Christians were fed to the lions and we walked through the tunnel whence the lions came into the arena.  Also I saw the House of the Virgin Mary that St John built for her.  Much of it is still intact. At the site of Ephesus there is a church being excavated that was the church that St John built for her also.
Tonight we are staying at this magnificant 5 Star hotel.  Each room has its own jacuzzi.  The balcony looks out over the pool and the Aegean Sea.  Unfortunately I am only here for one night.    It has been quite hot today but is ok when the breeze blows in.  I actually had to buy a hat fom a market stall.  Many of us did as we were 2 hours walking around the ruins.  The little men in their stalls made a killing as we had to rush and didn't have time to bargain well.  No photos tonight as the system wouldn't let me upload. Ah well you didn't really want to see such sumptuous surroundings anyway.

Troy

Today we have travelled to Troy to see the ruins and the renowned wooden Trojan Horse.  The replica is huge and really not based on too much fact at all I don't think.  After Troy we went to Pergamon which is the site of the first recorded hospital.  The ruins were strewn but some parts like an underground tunnel, shower, mud baths and healing springs are intact.  Tonight finds me in Izmir which is the second biggest seaport in Turkey after Istanbul.  It is quite modern by the standards of what I have seen so far.  This hotel is quite sumptious.  Izmir actually overlooks an inlet of the Aegean Sea.

The food has been great and plenty of it.  Tonight dinner was in a huge convention resteraunt in this hotel.

Day 1

Today we left Istanbul after going to the Grand Bazaar where there are over 4000 'shops'.  Gallipoli was different from what I had imagined and quitea  moving experience.  We crossed the strait from Europe to Asia on a vehicular ferry.  At the moment I am in Cannakkale for one night.  It is quite an amazing sight to look out the window and see this magnificant half moon pool.  The Agean Sea ws really blue. 
I had no problems with all of my connecting flights and meeting up with the tour group.  It is mostly Australians and New Zealanders.  I am sharing a room with an American travel writer.  She is quite nice.

Departure Time

Well it has been an eventful? day where I went to work then discovered my leave had started already.  To think that I am going to navigate around five countries solo and I can't even get the first day of my Long Service Leave right!!!

4 Days to Go

Tonight is bag packing night.  The gear is all laid out on the bed and now it is time to try out the bag.  The reason for this entry is to make sure that I am able to manage this blogging before I depart to far shores without my IT support.

Our First Test Message

Today we are setting up the blog site for the trip.  It is a huge learning curve, Patrick's frustration levels are rising and I am going blank.  Bek is sitting on the other side of the table, crocheting and laughing!!!!