Suez canal-Valley of the Kings (luxor)
Construction started in 1859 and finished in 1869 at a distance of 193 km. Average depth of 22m. Boats form convoys of 20 ships sailing 10 minutes apart. There are several lakes along the canal used as staging points for the formation of conyoys.
After taking all day(16 hours) to transit the Suez Canal we arrived in Safaga a large town on Red Sea Coast. It was here that we picked up about 30 buses to take us to the Valley of Kings via Luxor, a trip of about 3.5 hours. Along the way our bus suffered a blowout and we thought at least a couple of hours for repairs. To our pleasant surprise there were several spare buses and 15 minutes later we were on our way. It happened again on the way back to ship when something overheated and smoke appeared around the tyres. Again behind us was a spare bus and got us back to the ship, last but back.
Ismailia on the Suez canal. Population 430,000
Part of the huge temple at Karnak
Tomb of Rameses IV with hundreds of visitors
Arriving at the Valley of Kings. Contains the tombs of up to 60 nobles
Yours truely alone in the tomb after tourists have moved on
North side of Suez canal. Less developed more sand
