Mel's Birthday

Mel had several of celebrations for her 37th birthday. Celebration #1 with the Moores, including fancy drinks! Then a lovely day at work including gifts and lunch from colleagues and a Happy Birthday serenade from John Hallenbach's singing group (that he gathers together occationally). Back: Seamus, John, Larry. Front: Marci, Mel, Beth

The third celebration was a dinner Marc organised with friends at a little place called the Cellar Door. In this photo we have just finished a fantastic carrot birthday cake sent by Priscilla - who couldn't come :( - thats why we look so satisfied.Marc, Mel, Marci, John, Regina, Andy, Carmen, Sandra, Dan.

Moores Do Upper Egypt Day 4

The Aswan high dam (2nd largest in the world - largest Lake Argyle WA!!!) A boat trip to get to... Philae Temple (it is on an island in the Nile)...Things to buy from the Nubian boys on the boat.Perfume Factory - enough said...Sunset on deck...our last evening on the boat and the end of our cruise.

A great finale - now back to Cairo and time for the Moores to head to Switzerland.

Moores Do Upper Egypt Day 3

Exploring Edfu Temple...

Brightly colored trinkets...you know you want to buy...something...Komombo Temple (it was the temple of the crocodile headed god)...Who is this local family at the Egyptian dress dinner?

Moores Do Upper Egypt Day 2
The Colussi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings (no photos alowed inside the tombs)... Hatshepsut's Temple... Reading books while...Mum and Dad explored the temple.Alabaster making... Lots of table tennis on the boat! Ball girl - at least for a few more years. Enjoying the (very cold) swimming pool on deck. Cruising the Nile...and going through the lock at the Nile Cataract.

Moores Do Upper Egypt: Day 1

I am sure you are all waiting impatiently for this posting of our Nile Cruise. Here are some photos of Day 1:

Chillin' on deck of the MS Nile OdysseyExploring Karnak Temple A couple of statues! What's with this tall pointy thing? Now this is exploring Egypt! From Karnak to Luxor Temple. Clip Clop! Luxor Temple...we slept well!! Day 2 soon!

Girls Do Alexandria, Boys Do Kid's Day of Fun

Sunday Melissa and Melanie went to Alexandria for the day on the train to see the new library (Bibliotheca Alexandria) while Marc and Kim gave the kids a really fun day. M&M left home at 7am and took the metro line into Ramses Station and from there took the direct train to Alex (2 1/2 hours). We arrived in Alex at 10:30 and walked from the station to the library to get a feel for the city. Some of the way was along the corniche (the path along the semi-circular Mediterranean bay). We did a tour of the impressive library and were struck by the contrast between the run-down state of the city and overwhelming opulance of the library.

(part of the reading hall with space for 2000 users!)

We then went to the 2nd century A.D. catacombes (3 levels underground) but no photos as we had to leave our cameras at the gate. After that we headed back to the station to catch the 3 o'clock train back to Cairo. Meanwhile the boys and Madi went to City Stars Shopping Center, the newest huge shopping complex in Cairo. They had lunch at RainForest Cafe, a US chain restaurant that is totally decorated as a rainforest jungle complete with waterfall and animals that move and make noise at random moments. After that they saw a movie and then had some rides in a theme park - all in the mall!! Today is a rest day before our 5.30am flight to Luxor and 3 night Nile cruise starting tomorrow!

No more blogs until we get back.