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| Photos Jann Segal |
When I took the Overseas Adventure Travel trip, Egypt and
the Eternal Nile, I spent a few extra days in Cairo before the start of the trip.
I personally found chaotic Cairo to be a highlight, along with Luxor and Aswan.
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
When I took the Overseas Adventure Travels Israel trip,
The Holy Land and Timeless Cultures, I also took the pre-trip to Jordan. Of
particular interest was the two nights and one full day we spent at Petra. It
was a fascinating set of Nabataean tombs, possibly established in 9,000 B.C. as
a capital city. Of course, hiking to the Treasury thru the Siq was spectacular,
and some in our group made it to the Monastery. I was happy with going to the
Treasury, having lunch after just a little bit down the road but still inside the
complex of tombs, and walking back. All of that was a seven-mile walk in the
sun, even in early April. An early departure and return are highly recommended to
avoid the effects of the heat and the inevitable swarms of people.
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
When I went on the Overseas Adventure Travel trip
Egypt and the Eternal Nile, the most incredible of the sights we saw were in
Luxor. This included the Valley of the Kings and Queens, and the Karnak Temples. Our small ship up the Nile was headed North, so
this was a great way to end the base trip before heading back to Cairo. I think
the direction, either North or South, is really the most important in terms of
how you want to remember the trip, and the Valley of the Kings was it for me.
The other option would have been to end the trip at Aswan to see Abu Simbel.
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
They
say if you want to make God laugh tell him your plans. On the Overseas Adventure Travel trip, Untamed Iceland, we were not only on the road less traveled, but true to
the OAT travel philosophy, we met locals who truly embodied the spirit of the harsh
and unforgiving nature of the country. But they did so with big and open hearts
that looked into the optimism of future, warmer days. And I got to experience first- hand the kind
of harsh conditions that country had to offer, which made me appreciate the
people we met even more.
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
When I took the
Overseas Adventure Travel trip Egypt and the Eternal Nile, at the end of the
base trip we left the hustle and bustle of Cairo for the hustle and bustle of the
post trip in Alexandria. It’s really a hopping resort town, albeit rundown by
the elements and lack of money to improve the housing. But a traveler who has
spent two weeks in antiquity gets a glimpse of a more modern but run- down Egypt.
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| Photos: Jann Segal |
I had very little expectation of what to see during my one week of travels in Jordan, which was a pre-trip to the Overseas AdventureTravels Israel trip, The Holy Land and Timeless Cultures. Of course, I was very
excited at the thought of seeing Petra. After having just spent three weeks in
Egypt on their trip Egypt and the Eternal Nile, I was as equally taken by the
trash I saw in the Egyptian countryside and cities as I was by the antiquities.
Jordan however, was a completely different experience. There is always high expectation
with Egypt travel, and not as much with Jordanian travel. And perhaps that is what
made the difference. I was delighted with everything I saw in Jordan.
