I’ve yet to board a true train on this adventure with the exception of perhaps the Tampa Airport terminal loop, but I’ve been in cars, taxis, busses, river boats, motorboats, planes, golf carts (tuf-tufs), and even on a camel. In the case of the last, I’d rather walk a mile. My wife was comfortable on its back while I held on for dear life. It was an actual Hump Day – Mike, Mike, Mike! 

It’s now been over a week since we left home, while a palm tree was planted in our backyard and the ceiling trays are being painted. The cleaning crew will be in next, a friend is watering our plants, and the pool people have done their job -a lot of activity for an empty house, as the electric meter keeps spinning. Tally, of course, is at Schnauzerville, wondering why she isn’t getting Ham Time. 

Two more weeks to go before our return. We’ve spent one night in Lufthansa Business Class, two-nights in Cairo at the Sheraton Casino, and 4-nights on the Viking Ra riverboat cruising the Nile, with three more to go. Then, we’ll pack our bags and fly to Amman, Jordan for a couple of days on the Dead Sea at the Movenpick Resort and a visit to Petra. A last night in Cairo will be at the Airport Intercontinental before the flight to London for our final six days of exploration from the Marriott Vacation Club. 

The food is very spicy with lots of dry bread and soups. Aswan is the spice capital of Egypt. Fava and Garbanzo beans are key ingredients. I’m not a fan because of the flavors, even with bread that has always been a favorite of mine. Fortunately, the Viking chef provides us with options like burgers, omelets, steak, and pasta. My wife, of course, did buy an Egyptian cookbook at the airport gift shop. 

So far, things have run smoothly except for the two-hour delay at the airport that pushed back our tour of the famous Abul Simbel Temple and eliminated any time for lunch. There’s a 31-to-1 conversion rate from U.S. dollars to Egyptian Pounds and a need for more ATMs. We do have an excellent tour guide that will continue with us into Jordan. Once she gets us on the plane to London, we’re on our own. The biggest hassles have been the persistent vendors and having to pay for toilet paper or to pee.