My Ancient Holiday

I must say, this holiday was the most amazing one in my whole entire life (and I'm sure my entire family will agree with me). We spent two glorious weeks in Greece, Israel and Egypt (in that order). It was absolutely amazing to see the Parthenon, Dead Sea, Valley of the Kings and Pyramids all in two weeks. Once again, I think that all three countries were absolutely beautiful and I liked them all equally.

What we saw:

Greece:

1) Athens: Panathenium Stadium, Acropolis (the Parthenon, Porch of Maidens, Propylea, Temple of Athena Nike), Acropolis Museum, Temple of Zeus, Herod Attica Stadium, Hadrian's Arch, National Park, Plaka, Roman Agora, Cliff where Paul preached to the Greeks, Syntagma (Constitution) Square, Ommonia Square, Royal Palace (changing of the guards), Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, National Library. Cape Sounion: Temple of Poseidon, Sea of Olives, Gylfada, Varkiza, Vouliagmeni and surrounding resorts.

2) Saronic Islands Cruise (Aegina, Poros, Hydra): Port Piraeus, Monastary of Aegina, Aegina (around town), Poros (around town), the windmills of Hydra, Hydra (around town).

3) Delphi: Mt. Parnassos, the Sacred Way, Sanctuary of Apollo (home of the Oracle), Treasury of the Athenians and Agora, Sacred Spring, Temple of Athena, Delphi Museum (housing the Bronze Charioteer), Delphi Stadium, village of Delphi, village of Arahova, crossroad of Oedipus, Gulf of Corinth.

Israel:

4) Jerusalem (old city) and Bethlehem: Mt. Scorpus, Hebrew University, Mt. of Olives, Church of the Ascension, Church of the Pater Noster, Garden of Gethsemane and Jewish Quarter, Mt. Zion (Tomb of King David, Room of the Last Supper) Wailing Wall, Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount, Herodian Cardo, Via Dolorosa and Stations of the Cross, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Dormition Abbey (resting place of Mary), Mt. Calvary, Rachel's Tomb, Church of the Nativity.

5) Jericho, Nazareth, Tiberius (Canna), Capernaum: Judean Desert, Inn of the Good Samaritan, Bedouin village and camels, Moses' resting place, Mount of the Temptation, across the Palestine Border to the famous sycamore tree of Jericho, Church of the Feast of Canna, Joseph's workshop in Nazareth, Church of the Annunciation, Peter's House and the ancient Synagogue in Capernaum, Church of the Mount of Beatitudes, location of the Sermon on the Mount, Baptismal site of Jesus in the Jordan River (no pictures), Ancient burial grounds of Tiberius, Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (where Jesus walked on water).

6) Masada, Dead Sea, Ein Gedi Spa: Judean Desert, Q'umran (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found), cable car to Massada (Herodian fortress famous for the tragedy of the Zealots), Ein Gedi Spa/Kibbutz (dip in the sulphur springs, mud bath), Dip in the Dead Sea (lowest point on earth).

7) Jerusalem (new city), Tel Aviv, Jaffa: Israeli Museum and Shrine of the Book (viewed the Dead Sea Scrolls - no pictures allowed), Jaffa (around town), Tel Aviv (around town), walk on the beach at Tel Aviv.

Egypt:

8) Luxor (embarked the Presidential Nile Cruise's vessel, "Nile Ritz"): Temple of Luxor, Karnak Temple of Amun Ra and the Sacred Lake, Colossi of Memnon, Luxor Soukh, perfumerie, evening belly-dancing and acrobatic performances on the boat.

9) West Bank (Luxor): Valley of the Kings ( guided visit of the tombs of Ramesses 6, Merenptah, Saptah, Tutankamun - no pictures allowed in tombs), Valley of the Queens, Valley of the Nobles, Deir El Bahari (Temple of Queen Hatshepsut), Alabaster Factory.

10) Esna: Esna Loch, floating marketplace. Edfu: Marketplace, Temple of Horus (location of the world's first known seasonal calendar), evening Nubian show on the 0boat.

11) Kom Ombo: Temple of Sobek and the mummified crocodiles, galabia marketplace, Galabia Party in the evening.

12) Aswan: High Dam, Old Dam, Lotus Monument, Philae Temple, Elephantine Island, Kitchener's Island (tombs of recent nobels), Agha Khan Mausoleum, Nubian villages, Cataract Hotel (setting of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile) via felucca.

13) Cairo, Giza: Egyptian Museum (Treasures of King Tutankhamun including the famous Gold Death Mask and papyrus of the Wedding Scene, Solar Boats, Mummy room housing the mummified remains of several pharoahs including Ramesses 2, his famous son, Merenptah and Seti 1), Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, perfumery, papyrus factory.

14) Memphis, Sakkara: The Memphis Museum (housing the Alabaster Sphinx and the colossal statue of Ramesses 2), Step Pyramid of Zoser at Sakkara (camel ride to the statue of Zoser), a carpet factory, the Citadel, Mohammed Ali Mosque and tomb of Mohammed Ali, Roman Aquaduct, Khan El Khalili bazaar.