March 24, Monday, Safaga, Egypt
Since we didn't have a shore tour planned for our stop in Safaga on the Red Sea, we thought we would sleep a little later than usual. So, of course, I was awake and up by 6:45. I peaked out the window and there were about 20 buses lined up on the dock.
The only two tours offered for this port are a 15 hour trip to the Valley of the Kings and back and a 3 day overland rejoining the ship in Alexandria. Not that we couldn't see them again, but we didn't want to spend 7 or 8 hours on a bus to see the tombs. Or miss an opportunity to transit the Suez Canal.
By 8:15 when the first buses rolled out of the parking lot we knew we had made the right choice. Everyone had to wait until the last person was on the last bus before they left as for safety's sake they were traveling in a convey with police escort. I just hope they don't all descend on the same oasis for lunch. Or a coffee out stop!
Holland America didn't earn many points with passengers today as they ran only one shuttle bus to the Holiday Inn. We were told there was nothing there except the Holiday Inn and if you wanted to use the facilities it would cost $20. We decided we'd just take the ride, sea the desert, stay on the bus and return to the ship. After waiting in line for 30 minutes, along with members of the crew who had a few hours off, a representative of the bus company said the crew had to wait for a later bus. The passengers around us were incensed ,stating the crew worked hard, had little time off and had been in line with everyone else. It didn't do any good. We don't know if it was the bus company policy or Holland America but it didn't sit well with many. Later we found out that the Holiday Inn was paying for the bus but who knows.
Safaga is a strange place. It is on the Red Sea and the dock is surrounded with huge silos and sheds. Someone said the silos were for grain storage but Safaga has numerous phosphate mines and is the top phosphates export center so the silos may contain phosphates.
As we drove toward the Holiday Inn it was evident that they expecting a big population or tourist boom. Many, many apartments and hotels are being built. Once you are past the dock area there are beautiful beaches, surfing, diving and mineral springs. Next to the Holiday Inn was a street and courtyard with the usual shops, souvenirs, native clothing, water pipes and carvings of the Egyptian gods.
Today was the 26 mile desert run.....happy to say the runner and his bicycle escorts made it in fine shape and were welcomed back to the ship with an arch of pink balloons, applause, music and pink lemonade for all.
The day after tomorrow, the Suez Canal.
Here are a few facts about the canal.
Opened November 17, 1891
Length 101.06 miles
Distance that can be saved 7,350 miles (they didn't say from from where to where)
Average Transit 15 hours
Average # of ships a day 50
Average toll $205,600 US
First ship to transit Agile, yacht of French Empress Eugenie
Max draft 53 feet
Max beam 210 feet
Narrowest point 196.8 feet
Southern entrance Port Suez
Northern entrance Port Said
Locks none
Construction time 11 years
Aida Opera written by Verdi to honor opening of canal
The canal was built by La Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez under the direction of Ferdinand Marie deLesseps who persuaded the Egyptian Viceroy Mohammed Said, to give his blessing to the canal after being turned down by the authorities. Earlier plans, including a study by Napoleon's engineers, were scrapped because erroneous surveys "proved" there was a 30 foot difference in the levels of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
Tomorrow a sea day. Plenty of lectures so no time to relax. Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. The Easter bunny was spotted hopping around the Amsterdam
Yesterday.
I'm going to try and put a couple of pictures in. Where they appear is anyone's guess. One if the laundry in Mumbai. The other should be the lock on our door in the hotel in Jaipur. Who knows what you'll see.
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