Hi Percy.. we just booked the Equinox Holyland for 10/18/10 unexpectedly...thanks for the info on Naples... any ideas for Messina or Corfu.. Alexandria would be perfect to go to Luxor but Parrot Pops mobiity problem may hinder that.. Oh yes.. we are also going to Jerusalem and Haifa... how cool is that. and celebrating our 55th wedding anniversary and Parrot Pops 80th birthday

Well congratluations, that is just terrific, my hat is off to you for sure.

I will have to keep quiet about Messina and Corfu ,as I have not been there.

Are you going to go to Alexandria ?

Good for you for celebrating your glorious events .

Take care
Percy

Oh yes.. ...Rome, Naples, Messina, Corfu, Ålexandria overnight, and the big deal for us is Jerusalem and Haifa..for almost two days..and then two days at sea and back to Rome. Any ideas on a hotel in Rome?,almost tempted to hire Claudio now... Don't know if we can afford to get to Luxor for $$ and mobillity problems, but there are a few excursions that look do-able.. This one is not as port intensive as the one before and the one afterwards is a t/a.. which we could afford to do that one too..not that I wouldn't mind four weeks plus away on the Equinox, but ..I;d really miss my birds, dogs and the house..lol

Gee getting to Luxor might be pretty hectic and fast paced .

You may want to see the Pyramids though ...in Cairo..but it take a nice train ride to get there.

In Alexandria you can see:

1. Catacombs

2. Qait bey Fort

3. Pompey's Pillar and Sphinx and Amphitheatre ( close by )

4. Library... a MUST see place.

5. Abul Abbas Mosque ..lovely place and near downtown

6 Tomb of Unkown soldier .. very nice and downtown again.

7. Montazah Palace...a do NOT miss place.

8. Cecil Hotel in Saad Zaghloul Square where Cleopatra commited suicide.

9. Mohammed Ali Square ( Midan Tahrir) renamed by Nasser in 1956...from where he nationalized the Suez Canal ( Rememebr the Suez Canal Crises!!!.)

A private tour guide could show you around to all these places ... if you are not going to go to Cairo.

Yes, I would not mind seeing Claudio again !

Take Care
Percy

Since the ship is in Alexandria overnight...there is a side trip to Luxor..quite expensive.. a flight down "they" also mention armed guards on some tours..lol Can you just see the national news.."elderly cruise tourists hijacked by terrorists in Alexandria while touring"..lol Just my luck..lol Seriously, I have read the Library is a place I'd like to see and any and all bazaars..for local atmosphere... of course.. Parrot Mom.. never shops... yah. right..lol

I am sure the Luxor flight would be expensive because you would fly from Alexandria to Luxor

... then see the Luxor Temple , Karnak Temple and the Valley of Kings.

This would be pretty fast paced !

You could go to Cairo ..see the Pyramids and other places and then the second day in Alexandria..you could see the places I have mentioned.

You have lots of time to plan!