A trip two years in the making. Including 7 injections, multiple visas from multiple countries, countless planning and equipment upgrades... over in a flash. A wonderful experience all the way around. I think my father and I would have preferred to stick to our original plans (photo safari in Kenya), but plans change, we adapt and make the best out of it. The best part of the experience was spending time with my father and making a few memories along the way.

Life has not gotten any less complicated or longer in any way, but we did managed to stretch it out, slow it down for a little while at least. Thanks Dad! I look forward to our next adventure.

After a quick morning flight to Abu Simbel to see our last temple we flew back to Cairo for our last evening. In the morning we head for Frankfurt and back to Portland.

The Old Cataract hotel. One of the highlights of our trip. Anyone traveling to Egypt must try and stay at the Old Cataract. Built in the early 1900s it is a vision from days gone by. Think Agatha Christie, Indiana Jones etc. The Hotel sits on the Nile in an area filled with rock formations and diversions in the river. The Faluca boat trips are a must in this area. Beautiful in every direction. By know dad and I are a little worn out as we have managed to catch colds but we are still managing to have a great time. We also tried our first Nubian cuisine, which is similar to mediterranean very wonderful.

For some reason all of our flights require us to get up at 4 AM to make it to our next destination, I do not recommend this if it can be avoided.

Travel to Luxor. After a short hop of a very early morning flight we arrive in Luxor. We meet our guide, Sameh and we are off. The first place to see is the Karnac Temple. Absolutely amazing place. Stretched out over 60 acres the temple grounds are huge and amazingly restored.

The Valley of the Kings does not look like much, just a stone covered hill. The tombs on the inside may be small but are very impressive as they were built some 4000 years ago. The paint in some look like they could have been painted yesterday. With a little extra money we made our way to King Tutt's tomb in which we were fortunate to see the King's mummy. I say fortunate because the rate the mummy is decomposing in the unprotected tomb is rapid. The mummy may only last 5 years in these conditions. Very sad.

Welcome to Alaska! Somewhere in the past a fed up tourist managed to plant a greeting in the minds of young Egyptian solicitors. The first impression of the pyramids is one of something like having to run the gauntlet. Lots of people trying to separate you from your money. People here are just trying to make a living any way they can. I have to listen to our guide Magada in the fact that they are harmless and will not steal or hurt you in any way, just a little pushy thats all. My first experience with this came when I ended up a quarter mile away from the pyramids atop a Camel with my $5000 dollar camera in the hands of a total stranger. In a whirlwind of confusion and hustle I was departed from twenty dollars in exchange for a photograph of myself on a camel in front of the Great Pyramid. On my new best friends behalf, I have to say it was one of the best views of the pyramids in that area. My Dad of course had no idea what had happened to me. I was right behind him, then I was gone!

Cairo is not a small city. Sixteen million people live in Cairo, another two travel in for the daily grind. I have never seen traffic like we are experiencing here. On the ride from the airport to our hotel last night we were fortunate to experience a little road culture. A young couple was apparently married that day and as part of the cerimony the wedding party decided to hold up the freeway traffic. The couple in a back of a pickup truck sitting upon two dining chairs surrounded by cars and mopeds with multiple riders lighting and throwing firecrackers at approaching cars trying to pass the 20 kph procession. We did not stick around to see the road stains that were sure to follow.

We met our guide in the morning, Magada. A wonderful woman who slightly reminded me of my third grade teacher. Our first stop was the Egyptian museum. Amazing antiqueties most of which are housed in the original cases built in the 20s. Everything from the mummys of the kings to some of King Tuttenkamens treasures. I find it very interesting that the only reason King Tut is so well known is that his tomb was the only tomb discovered that had not been looted, he only ruled for nine years. Where as King Ramses the second (I think) ruled for over sixty.

After the Egyptian National Museum we headed for the Citadel. The Citadel is an amazing mosk. Large and open with wonderful architecture. From there to the bazaar. Bazaar meets the definition completely, everything from every size hooka pipes, gold jewelry, to spices. People watching at its best.

After a very long day traveling from Sorrento back to rome via train, then from Rome to Cairo via plane we arrive. Talk about a culture flip. This is the first time I have been in Africa and the first time in an Arabic country. Completely different, I mean completely different. Everyone is very welcoming and helpful if you know what questions to ask.
Met at the airport by our transfer man (the person who takes us from the terminal to our car and driver) we are taken to our hotel, the Cairo Hilton. The room is three times as large as our room in Sorrento with an amazing view over the Nile river. In the morning we will meet up with our driver and our tour guide.

Todays journey took us to Capri and Anacapri. After a shoot ferry ride from the Grande Marina followed by a short ride on a commuter bus to the main square in Capri. Lots of locals mulling around on this cloudy grey day.

One heck of a bus ride to Positano. Positioned in a seat on the cliff side of a full size bus, driving a road no bigger than a hot wheels track. What fun. Amazing views along the way to this tiny colorful town on the coast. Positano, mostly a tourist destination hugs the cliffs by an unknown force. Everything is built into the rock wall stacked like legos onto one another.

Just arrived from Rome via train. Only one close call with pick-pocket in the train station. Cargos while traveling is the way to go. Sorrento we go. Where is everybody? Empty. I guess after the holidays everyone goes on holiday.

Roam in Rome. Sweet elixir of life..coffee! Every morning should start off in such a way. Hand made cappuccino with bread and jam followed by a sampling of fresh fruit and pastries.
After repacking our camera gear, Dad and I hit the streets for our first full day of photography and new experiences. Just wander in no particular direction and the images flow in.

Eighteen hours in transit, arrive Rome. Ninety pounds of baggage, 130 pounds of human pack mule.

The only thing you can count on is change. Today change is what we have. After constant monitoring of all news media accessible for the past 5 days we have decided to cancel our Kenya safari. The civil unrest has made it unsafe for travel to foreigners like us. I was holding out to the last possible moment to make the final decision to alter our plans as we were hoping for a peaceful end to the political and civil strife Kenya is experiencing at this time. I hope for a peaceful solution as soon as possible. Now we move on to plan B with hope of an equally wonderful and amazing journey. Although it will not be the same type of trip my father and I had planned, the time together promises to become the journey and the experience of a lifetime. Images will happen. Time will not be wasted.

Hello all! This is the first of hopefully many blog posts to come in the future. I will be traveling abroad starting January 4th 2008 through the 21st. With any luck I will be able to post images and info throughout my journey. This trip is a lifelong dream of my fathers of which is to go on a photo-safari to Africa. I am just the lucky traveling companion who is fortunate enough to be part of what hopefully will be an amazing journey into learning of both my father and the cultures we may encounter.