(Already!) Day 12 of 102

Already, I have lost track of time.  Today is Sunday, but my first southbound transit of the Suez Canal was probably contributory to my forgetting to attend the church service! 

We were due, after dropping anchor last night in the area of Port Said, to enter the Suez Canal at 04.00 hrs.  I was awake just before then, and we were well under way.  I think the rumbling noises had disturbed my fragile slumber, and at around 05.40 hrs, I took a nocturnal picture through my stateroom window before going back to sleep.

I was joined by Jo, Ken, and Eileen for breakfast in the Kings Court buffet.  There, I can enjoy what I have at home, i.e., porridge/oatmeal and banana.  On board ship, I sometimes add cinnamon, plain yoghurt, and honey, rarely all three.  Before going to breakfast, I recorded this scene taken at the time from the Bridge-cam, which relays a continuous forward view on to the stateroom TV, Channel 40.  

There is much to see during this roughly 90-mile transit, too much to take in during the twelve hours to travel through.   However, I have “tried out” both my phone and ordinary Lumix camera on this gentle part of the cruise, pictures of which are included in this Blog.

Thankfully, a general air of contentment on board makes for a comfortable ambience. 

I think today might be the last when a pleasant cool breeze air conditions the outside decks. 

The first time I came through the Suez Canal, back in 2007, was on a Sunday.  The sounds of calls to prayer remind me of that glorious time in March, sixteen years ago.  I do not pretend to know all about tqhat we sailed by between Port Said and Suez, industrial installations, oil tankers, container-ships, various towns, and cities.  Below are a handful of pictures I took as we travelled south along the Suez Canal.

We came out of the Suez Canal shortly after 3 o’clock after what felt like a speedy transit.   Tomorrow, we dock at Safaga, a one-time significant port on the coast of the Red Sea in Egypt.  So far, I have been unsuccessful in acquiring a ticket for a Jeep ride into the desert and witness the sunset. I have no immediate plans for tomorrow, except at the very least, explore this port town on my very first visit to Egypt. Tonight, the ship has been very quiet. It is said that over 1,000 passengers are travelling to Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings on a monumental 13.5 hour journey involving getting up maybe before 6 am. Most people had gone to bed early!

Many thanks for reading, David, still up at 00.44 hrs in his stateroom.