March 2025

I March 2025, we were invited to join our humans as they were going to study Ancient cultures in Egypt. We were going to visit the world famous pyramids at Giza. We were also going to cruise the Nile from Luxor to Aswan. This would include a visit to Abu Simpel in the far south. And we would finish with a couple of sunny days in Hurghada. Click to check out where we went on the map.

Click each photo to enlarge

The Nile, Egypt, March 2025

From Cairo, we flew Egyptair to Luxor a good bit up the Nile - actually, it was a good bit down, down on the map. Some of us found it difficult to keep track of when it was up and when it was down. And when McBear tried to keep it all very simple, using north and south and zero and 180 degrees and then claiming that zero degrees was the same as 360 degrees, some of us got very close to hysteria.

Things calmed down when we were told that the captain of the ship would sort all that for us. Roger was told not to interfere and NOT tell the captain what to do and how to maneuver the boat on the Nile. Here we are having a group photo taken in front of our Nile cruiser, the luxurious Radamis II."

Valley of the Kings, Luxor, March 2025

Early next morning before departure, we went on a visit to the world famous Valley of the Kings. This is the place where lots of the pharaohs were laid to rest thousands of years ago.

The Valley of the Kings is located on the west side of the Nile, the reason being that the Sun rises in the east, travels across the sky and sets in the west. This represented a cycle. For humans, the cycle ended when one passed away. Hence, what was west of the Nile was seen as the land of the dead.

Valley of the Kings, Luxor, March 2025

Tomb 62 is special in that this is the small tomb of the most famous of all pharaohs, Tutankhamun. Here is his mummy. He is the only pharaoh still laid to rest in the Valley of the Kings.
Roger got sentimental - and thoughtful.
"I want a humble tomb just like TutankhAmun," he said.
"Just four floors inside the pyramid that we shall build in our garden will suffice."
Also TutankhBear was thoughtful.
"Am I really a copy made in his image? Good Lord, I wonder how I look..."

The Nile, Cairo, March 2025

When we returned from the Valley of the Kings and entered our cabin, Tom and Tutty made a surprising discovery: a massive monster on the bed.
"It's a dangerous crocodile," Tom believed. "He must have sneaked in while we were out sightseeing.
"We'll name him Ali," Tutty proposed.
"Ali? Why? It's not an alligator - it's a crocodile."
"Well, we can't really call him Croc, it isn't really a name - at least not in Egypt."
"We won't be able to watch tele tonight - Ali seems to be chewing on the remote control..."

Edfu, March 2025

We entered the port of Edfu and went to study the Temple of Edfu. This temple is said to be the second largest and the best preserved of Egyptian temples. It was covered by sand and silt until rediscovered in the 1820s. The temple was dedicated to Horus. Horus was a God with a head shaped like a falcon.

The Nile, March 2025

Our Nile cruiser, Radamis II, left the port at Edfu and headed south - that's down on the map but up on the Nile, because it's upstream... up against the stream, got it? Good God, the headaches we were encountering trying to make sure our heads were up and feet down!

From our cabin we had great views of the Nile and the other Nile cruisers. There are an estimated 300 cruisers on the Nile.

The Nile, March 2025

We went up for dinner. On the way we came across a new fellow. He was huge and had a very strange look. Roger, with his visions and imaginative mind, had a possible answer to what kind of species he was.
"It can only be an Egyptian R2D2."
McBear had a more earthy and realistic angle to things:
"Well, it's a vacuum cleaner," he explained.
"McBear, even I can see that! You are stating the obvious."
"We should make sure," McBear said, "that he can retire with a decent pension after all the hard work, he's been doing."
"Good point," Roger agreed. "I bet he's had a ton of dust to swallow over the years."

Philae Temple, Aswan, March 2025

Radamis II then anchored at port in the city of Aswan. Next day we had the opportunity to visit the famous island, Philae with the temple. We stopped to get a selfie in front of the temple. A lady showed up behind our photographer. She believed we looked so cute. Our photographer invited the lady to take some pictures of us, and of course we were delighted. McBear posed like mad, and Roger tried to look imposing.

Aswan, March 2025

In the evening we went on a tour boat around the Aswan harbour and the cataract area. From the Nile, we could see the famous hotel, the Old Cataract Hotel. It was here the world famous writer, Agatha Christie, stayed while her husband was working on excavations in the area in the 1930s. Agatha Christie felt inspired and wrote her world famous book, "Murder on the Nile".

Aswan, March 2025

Roger wanted to visit the Old Cataract Hotel. He believed it would be good for his reputation to have enjoyed some coffee at this prominent establishment. Roger, like Agatha Christie, felt very inspired after all he had seen and experienced.
"I shall become even more famous, when I write my new novel, the famous "Who was Tutankhamun behind the mask?"
"Hey, no!" TutankhBear objected. Tutankhamun is my brand name. I am the spitting image of Tutankhamun - well, I hope not the image of the mummy.
Roger got a bit grumpy.
"Very well, I shall write something else, like 'Who poisened Tutankhamun?'"

Aswan, March 2025

While staying in Aswan, we went to see the Aswan dam. A presumeable German gentleman wanted to take a picture of us, and we kindly granted him permission.

The great Aswan dam opened in 1970. 12 turbines generate around 2 MegaWatt Power for the Egyptian communitites. That's enough power to supply the entire Aswan city and more with electricity. Actually, the first dam opened in the late 1800s, but it was soon realized, that this dam was too small.

Abu Simpel, March 2025

Next day we went on a day trip, driving nearly 300 km southwest through the desert to explore the temples at Abu Simpel.

As the Aswan dam was being built, the water level started to rise and created a 500 km long artificial lake. The water threatened to flood the Abu Simpel temples, but the Egyptians managed to find funding for a project that would move the temples to a secure location at a higher level.

The Nile, March 2025

It was time to leave Aswan and set sail for Luxor. This time we would be sailing downstream, but up north. We spent some warm sunny days on top of the Radamis II. Here we are enjoying Michael's company on the deck chairs. We were aware that some people felt it awkward with bear company, but this certainly didn't seem to bother Michael.
"Any time," Michael reassured us. "Any time!"

Luxor, March 2025

We arrived Luxor and with sad minds disembarked from the Radamis II. We had just about time to visit the famous Temple of Karnak. Karnak is famous for several things, but in particular the very long Avenue of the Sphinxes.

Karnak, Luxor, March 2025

Roger wanted to take a stroll along the sphinxes at the Avenue of the Sphinxes. It was here, in 2001 Roger was sitting on top of a sphinx - and he reminded McBear of this - several times.

Karnak, Luxor, March 2025

Also featured at the Temple of Karnak are two large obelisks. There are only an estimated 7 ancient obelisks left in Egypt. The rest are on display in major cities, such as at the Louvre in Paris, at the British Museum in London and in New York.

Hurghada, March 2025

To finish off our trip to Egypt, we went through the desert and enjoyed some relaxed days at the Swiss Inn Resort in Hurghada. Hurghada has become a major tourist destination with 750,000 citizens since it was founded around 1995.

Hurghada, March 2025

We had a lovely hotel room on the third floor. The Swiss Inn was a popular resort with swimming pools, bar and several restaurants. The downside is of course one has to watch the weighing scale once back at home.