Egypt itinerary cancelled…

I was freaking out about this latest version of Covid-19 and the World Health Organization recommendation of no foreign travel for those over 60 years old.    I’m not sure if it was this WHO recommendation, the idea of losing my money, or the thought of being stranded in a foreign country that contributed to me being a real "scaredy cat" about this upcoming itinerary.  I decided to cancel my Egypt itinerary this morning.  As the 19^th Century English novelist stated, “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”  

Venturing to Egypt in Spring 2022…

With the cancellation of my upcoming trip to Asia, I’ve decided to visit Egypt in the spring (click here for the 14-day itinerary).  This will be my first trip with the Road Scholar organization, and I’ve always wanted to see the pyramids.  I recently took a course in Ancient Egypt for my teaching credential renewal, and this will be a wonderful way to extend that knowledge.

The fourteen-day trip includes:

• Expeditions to Saqqara, Dahshur, the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx;
• Visits to the Valley of Kings, King Tut's tomb and the famed Colossiof Memnon; and
• Learning more about ancient Egypt during a four-night study cruise on the Nile.

The trip includes stays in Giza, Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, Edfu, and Aswan.

I was to visit these sites during my 2015 Around the World Cruise.  Because of security concerns, all Egyptian excursions were cancelled.  The ship was rerouted to Israel after we transited the Suez Canal.  It will be great to see these ancient sites that I missed years ago.

I still want to see the Great Wall of China, but that trip will have to be for a later date.

The trip includes stays in Giza, Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, Edfu (or Idfu), and Aswan.

Click here to see an interactive map of the river cruise and the ancient sites on the Nile.

 

Just notified of a cancellation by Holland America Line...

 

I was just notified that my January trip has been cancelled by HAL!  My trip for August 2022 (Boston to Greenland and Iceland) is still "on go" for now according to the agent for the cruise line.

Counting down the days until my next overseas trip to Asia...

I have everything ready for my next trip overseas.  It's in January (2022), and I'm so hopeful that the "variations" of COVID will soon disappear.  As I write this, the cruise line says it's only 136 days until the trip begins.

In 2018 I interrupted my Asian tour with a little time in a Chinese hospital and I missed this segment of Asia.   I was slated for this same trip when the COVID outbreak occurred in 2020.  I'm so glad I canceled as they closed the ports in Asia to Americans.

All of my flights are arranged, the excursions are scheduled, and I've been vaccinated (will soon get #3 of the vaccine).  Let's hope these countries will be receiving guests from the USA.  

I start the trip in Singapore and end twenty-eight days later in Tokyo.  🙏

Chapel of the Holy Cross

One of the beautiful places I visited was the Chapel of the Holy Cross.  Here's a video that provides drone footage of the chapel outside Sedona, Arizona.

It’s good to be home…

Well, I made it. The trip across America required my being in 14 states and the District of Columbia over the last three days.

All of my train travel was very good, but I would give this final leg of the Capitol Limited (Chicago to Washington, DC) a grade of “C.” It wasn’t staffed by the most pleasant of folks. They complained and blamed coworkers (calling one dumb for his execution of a process). The car attendant started the cleaning process before we arrived in DC, and he blocked the exits as everyone made a fast exit for other trains or to get home. This segment of my ride was the exception rather than the rule regarding my Amtrak experience.

I didn’t take many photos on the way home.  I was tired, and I just sat back to observed the scenery.  On the trip home, the Southwest Chief did announce when we went over the Mississippi and I quickly took a few shots with my iPhone.  It was a pretty playground and picnic area, and I wasn't fast enough to catch it all.  

Just a small portion of the playground and picnic areas on the Mississppi.

It looks like a few boaters/fishermen are taking advantage of the beautiful day.

I was able to get a better shot as the Southwest Chief made it across the Mississppi.

The Mississippi separates Illinois (left) from Iowa (right).

I also snapped my exit from Washington, DC’s Union Square on the Silver Star.  This time I was on the west side of the train, and I could see the Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial as we moved out of the city. 

I was on the west side of the train, and you can see the capitol visible as the train made its way out of Union Station.

I also had a good view of the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial on the Potomac, but was I unable to catch a shot with my iPhone.

I reached the Columbia station right on time (1:30am), but I was stood up by my taxi driver.  I had prearranged for the trip, and he texted me a series of phone numbers for other options that weren't helpful.  I use Uber around the country, and I decided to use the app.  A wonderful lady name Lidia came to my rescue with her Uber vehicle in a matter of minutes.  Thanks Uber for being dependable!  

I am glad I had a wonderful trip, and I’m safely home.  

Time to return home: Flagstaff, Arizona, to Columbia, SC

As I type this, I'm preparing to catch my Uber from the hotel to the Amtrak Depot in Flagstaff.  The trip begins at 4:25am on August 26.  I ends with my arrival in Columbia on August 29 at 1:05am.  I'm not sure how long that is because of the many time changes (with potential delays because freight trains own the tracks and are a priority over Amtrak).  

Arizona is on Mountain Standard Time, but it doesn't recognize daylight saving time (exception one area of the state that is a reservation).  So, there's three hours difference from Eastern Standard Time.  When I cross between Arizona to New Mexico, both states are on MST; however, there's an hour difference between the two states.  New Mexico follows daylight savings time.

There are other contrasts between the states of New Mexico and Arizona.  New Mexico is "all in" with social distancing and masks.  Arizona seems to have a much more laissez-faire attitude (at least in the area around Flagstaff): it's up to you in Arizona.  Again, its clear to see the divide in the two states (one red and one blue).  

I will not be able to update the blog until I get back home.  As I said, I'm sure how long it takes, but it's almost a 3+ day trek across America!   I'm going sit back and enjoy the scenery.  

A change in plan… a visit to Sedona, Arizona

Altitude has not been my friend on this vacation.  I’ve been at 7000 ft. since arriving in New Mexico last week.  I was slated to go to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend today which are at high elevations.  I decided to forgo this trip and spend the day in Sedona.  Flagstaff is on top of a volcanic plateau (7000 ft.), and Sedona’s red rocks were created by lava flows down the plateau.  Sedona is at a more comfortable 4000 ft.  The interstate signs listed the change every 1000 feet.  

The tour stopped at several locations.  The Chapel of the Holy Cross (click here to read about it) is beautiful. The chapel, completed in 1956, has that modern, mid-century look.  The chapel and I are about the same age, but I believe the chapel has aged better than me!

Here's the entry to the chapel.  You must climb up a winding ramp from the parking lot.

A view of the Chapel of the Holy Cross from the road looking upward.

A view of the chapel from the side.

Inside the chapel looking toward the alter and cross.  These are the windows you see from the front.

According to Wikipedia… “as far back as 1923, Sedona's red rocks were a fixture in major Hollywood productions—including films such as Angel and the Badman, Desert Fury, Blood on the Moon, Johnny Guitar, The Last Wagon, and 3:10 to Yuma. However, the surroundings typically were identified to audiences as the terrain of Texas, California, Nevada, and even Canada–US border territory.” 

Courthouse Butte

According to our guide, this served as a telegraph office for a John Wayne movie.

Sedona Red Rocs:  Coffee Pot Rock (right)

Red Rocks Sedona:  Foreground - Chimney Rock (L) and Bell Rock (R)

The shots above were taken from the local airport looking down toward Sedona.
Red Rocks of Sedona:  Bell Rock

That's a $3 million dollar home.  Can you imagine the view from the windows on the back?
Red Rocks in the background: Red Rock Crossing (Left) and Cathedral Rock (Right)

The guide provided us with the names of each of the red rocks, and I'll spend time later identifying them in my photos.

"Some believe that the vortexes are a portal for celestial and terrestrial spirits; you may feel a range of sensations from a slight tingling on exposed skin, to a vibration emanating from the ground when you encounter a vortex."

Sedona is said have four major vortexes (vortices):  Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon.  So it’s a place where you see many “new age” experiences.  Crystals are sold everywhere.  It’s also the home of rich and famous.  While visiting downtown, I resisted the urge to have my “aura” photographed, and I didn’t buy any crystals with "healing" powers.  I didn't feel anything special while at the "vortex" at the local airport, however, I did enjoy the view.

Many locals wonder how this California MD got this approved for building as his vacation home.  You can only access it by ladder or a special lift.  The garage and pool are below.  

Sedona is an artist colony.  I really enjoyed seeing all the artwork, sculpture, and other works of art.  It was, however, a little too expensive for my art budget!

My vacation is coming to an end!   It's time to pack and make the return train trip home.  😭

El Tovar

This hotel is a beautiful old lodge.  It has some modern amenities (e.g., very fast wireless internet).  The hallways are wide and the room doorways are beautiful wood (but with electronic locks).  There are animal heads in the lodge lobby watching the guests.  

Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, playwright George Bernard Shaw, western author Zane Grey, and telegraph inventor Marconi all visited and stayed at this hotel.  I know Teddy liked to hunt big game, but I'm not sure if he provided one of the animals for the El Tovar taxidermist to preserve.

I was in the “basement” (a garden view room). It was nice and comfortable.  There’s one thing that’s missing:  there are no elevators.  I’m not looking forward to having to get my heavy luggage up the stairs this morning!

These guys watch over the guests.  Note the logs and the beams, too.

I took this shot of the hallways outside of my room at El Tovar.  Does it look familiar to you?

Here's the hallway outside my room.  Does it remind you of the lodge in "The Shining"?  
"Come out, come out, where ever you are." - Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), The Shining.
I didn't see the Grady Twins lurking at the end of the hall exclaiming, “Come and play with us.”
I resisted the urge to type repeatedly, “All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy.” 

I'll stop with "The Shining" references now!  Use this link to read more about the history of this hotel that was constructed in 1905.

A gallery of photos taken at the South Rim at mid-day…

 

“DON’T FALL INTO THE CANYON!”

Before getting off the train, the guides kept reminding us: “Please don’t fall into the canyon.”  I took this short video to show how that warning should be heeded by South Rim visitors.  You’ll note I show the rim, and you’ll see my shadow right on the rim trail edge.

I picked the best time of year to come to the Canyon.  There are few people here.  The staff member said that this was the lightest she had ever seen.  It was beautiful, but a little windy (note my flying lens cap on the second video).  No chance of me blowing over the ledge!  The temperature was warm, but as they say a "dry heat" is not so bad.  The only thing still bothering me was the altitude which is about 7000 ft. above sea level.  So, I say I got lucky with may day of viewing the Grand Canyon South Rim.

Moving to the Grand Canyon from Williams, Arizona, was full of "cowboy drama"

The Grand Canyon Hotel and Railroad have the art of presenting a tour to the visitors like a science.  The hotel even takes care of your luggage to your next hotel at the South Rim.  There’s a cowboy show followed by the 2.5 hour ride through the ponderosa pines.  Our guide told us to smell the ponderosa when off the train.  He claimed that you’ll either smell vanilla or butterscotch.  Ponderosa doesn’t smell like a pine tree.  I'll have to put that to the test.

According to NPR, "Scientists don't know why a closely sniffed Ponderosa smells like baking cookies. The aroma may arise from a chemical in the sap being warmed by the sun. 

The ride, to make it interesting, had performers.  Our car had a “singing cowboy” who was working for the tips he could get from the passengers.  Our car didn’t have a robbery like many of the other cars.  There were no kids in our car, so why waste that experience on a bunch of old folks. 

The train arrived at the Grand Canyon South Rim Railroad Depot, and I was off to see the Grand Canyon.

Outside the hotel, there's a set for a 15 minute pre-railroad trip cowboy show.

The cowboys like to show off a few tricks.  This horse could do the "Michael Jackson moonwalk."

This train car performer's songs, selected from the catalogs of Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, and  Kenny Rogers. focused on cowboys.  These were the songs my Dad often played, too.

The train ride was slow, and it took about 2.5 hours to go the roughly 80 miles of ponderosas.  You can only get a quick glance of the Grand Canyon from the train upon entering the village.

The Grand Canyon Railroad Depot was where everyone disembarked the train.

My hotel was right behind the depot, but it was all uphill.  That's tough to do when it's already 7000 ft. in elevation here.  I was huffing and puffing, but I made it!

El Tovar from the back: I had lunch in the dining room at lunch.  Those windows give diners a beautiful view of the south rim of the canyon.  I had a reservation; the popularity of the dining room makes it a challenge to get a seat.