Next we had several days at sea where we went “full speed ahead” as we transited the pirate waters near the Gulf of Aden.  This is what we were on the lookout for.  The ship goes to extra measures through this area including wrapping us up in concertina wire.  Fortunately we made it through the area into the Suez Canal with no incidents.

Our next stop was Safaga, Egypt which is the gateway into Luxor, the home of the Valley of the Kings & Queens, King Tut’s Tomb, Karnak’s Temple.  Since I have been there in the past I chose to spend the day at a resort, by a pool.

Sharm el Shiek, Egypt is an area developed for tourism with beautiful resorts and fabulous diving and snorkeling.  Note the sign on the Hard Rock café!

“Authentic Egyptian Restaurant Bar”

Going through the Suez Canal is a full day transit and quite different than the Panama Canal as there are no locks.  Traffic flows in one direction so you have to be in position on time or lose your spot which could cause a days delay in arriving at your next destination.  The west side of the Canal is irrigated and has much life including some beautiful resorts.  The east side however is just miles and miles of desert sand.

A regular item in their diet in this region is pigeon.  The cone shaped buildings are the pigeon raising farms.