Here is gallery 3/4. We arrived in Istanbul mid-day and after a long and sweaty cab ride to the hotel (the driver relied on Google maps which kept telling him to go down pedestrian-only streets). Crystal, being the superb trip planner that she is had arranged a cruise on the Bosphorus1 in our own private yacht. Having dinner on the boat while we sailed up and down the Bosphorus was a real treat – we even got to see dolphins playing in front of the boat though it was too dark and precarious to get any pictures.
Crystal on the Bosphorus
Kai looking snazzy in his dress shirt.
A Turkish flag catching the setting sun.
Water birds skimming over the Bosphorus
Crystal and Nora on the cruise
Crystal catches the setting sun
Water front mosque on the Bosphorus
Waterfront mosque and buildings
Kai on the Bosphorus cruise
Crystal on the cruise
It was a warm day but the temperature dropped pretty sharply on the water and even more so after the sun went down.
Nothing much to see or do. Time to check snapchat
White marble mosque at dusk on the Bosphorus
White marble mosque at dusk on the Bosphorus
Bosphorus hillside after dark
Passing by the old city fortifications on the Bosphorus cruise
Istanbul at night.
It got downright cold.
Kai takes advantage of the blankets the crew offered.
The Nile cruise was amazing – a very comfortable boat with great food and periodic stops to see amazing sites.
Luxor sunset
Up until now our Nile cruise was just a hotel docked on the water. After Luxor temple we got underway for the first time.
Nile sunset
In Edfu the streets were too narrow for busses so we took carridges to the temple.
Kai gets a "free" head dress
Jacobs family at Edfu temple
Edfu temple courtyard
An Egyptian version of "Sam the Eagle"
Ka and Nora at Edfu temple
Carvings at Edfu temple
This hieroglyphic slug was a recurring motif and it amused us each time we saw it.
Front of Edfu temple - another well-preserved one as it was mostly buried in sand.
Fishermen on the Nile
Fishermen on the Nile
Nile with reeds on mosque
Fishermen on the Nile
Moonrise over the Nile
Crystal and Nora at Kom Ombo - our only night tour.
Kom Ombo temple at night
Nora with hieroglyphics
The unfinished obelisk in Aswan. It was twice the size of any other and cracked during excavation. It was left where it lay
The crowded boat docks to get to the island with Philae Temple
Crystal on the boat to Philae temple
Kai on the boat to Philae Temple
Philae Temple seen from the water
Kai, Crystal and Nora outside Philae Temple
Philae Temple.
Another shot of a building at Philae Temple
Philae Temple from the water on the other side
Felucca on the Nile at Aswan
Feluccas with ancient tombs on the hillside and a Mosque on top
Nora on a Felucca ride
Feclucca at sunset on the Nile
Spice market in Aswan
Kai, Nora and Crystal (and a random photo bomber) in the Aswan market
Sunrise over the western desert on the way to Abu Simbel
Temple at Abu Simbel - it was moved uphill when lake Nasser was created by the Aswan high dam. The entire hill along with the temple was moved - if you look closely you can see the cut marks on the hill.
Ramses II at Abu Simbel
Jacobs family at Abu Simbel
Crystal and Nora at the opening to the Ramses II temple at Abu Simbel
Last picture of Egypt from our balcony at the old cataracts hotel. Before this dam these area was a torrent of rapids.