Tag Archives: Retirement abroad

Egypt

Abu Simbel Temple in Egypt

We booked a trip to Egypt through a Spanish travel agency. We began out adventures by flying to the city of Aswan in Egypt to take a cruise on the Nile river.

On the plane heading to Egypt

We landed at the airport and met with our Guide. He spoke perfect Spanish and Arabic but absolutely no English.  His name was Aladino and he was our guide for the entire trip.

Shelley, Ray and Aladino in the Sahara Desert

We began our trip by  going to the cruise boat and getting settled in to our room. The cruise ship was called, “Grand Princess”  and had four levels plus a large deck on top with a pool and bar. Our room was quaint and simple but comfortable.

Our room on the Grand Princess cruise ship

Our guide Aladino told us that the first excursion was at 3:30 A.M.  We managed to get a few hours of rest before heading to the lobby to meet our guide. We boarded a bus and headed for our first of many Unesco World Heritage Sites in Egypt. This site was called “Abu Simbel Temple” which is located in the village  of Abu Simbel in Aswan Governorate .

We arrived before dawn and walked to the temples. The first sight of the temple was amazing and a surreal experience for us.

Abu Simbel Temple in Egypt

As we walked closer it became even more amazing just how big the stone sculptures were. The four statues representing Ramesses II are 20 m (66 ft) high. They represent Ramesses II seated on a throne and wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Entrance between the statues of Ramesses II

We went to the base and admired the statues before heading inside the single entrance into the temple. Once we were inside we saw more statues of Ramesses II in columns.

Column statues of Ramesses II inside the Temple of Abu Simbel

This was an amazing first experience for us to be able to walk within the Temple and to actually touch these amazing historical artifacts.

Shelley and Ray inside the Temple of Abu Simbel
Other statues within the Abu Simbel Temple

We explored the inside of the temple admiring the carvings and statues. We noticed that the sun was beginning to rise and we saw a beautiful dawn.

Sun Rising seen through the entrance to the Abu Simbel Temple

We left the Temple and went to look at the second temple located there. They serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari, and commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh.

The small Temple of Abu Simbel

We entered into the smaller temple and explored the interior. It was equally impressive and contained many stone carvings.

Ray at the front of the small Temple of Abu Simbel
Carving inside the small temple of Abu Simbel
Carving in stone inside the smallTemple of Abu Simbel

We explored the twin temples and discovered that these two temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. What we did not realize until the tour was that these temples were moved to this new location.

The relocation of the temples were necessary or they would have been submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the Aswan High Dam on the River Nile.

The complex was relocated in its entirety in 1968 under an artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir.

A view of the back side of the Temple which was relocated to the village of Abu Simbel.

We found the tour to Abu Simbel very interesting. There were so many unique and amazing artifacts to see in the Temples. The tour was completely in Spanish. There was no english during our entire trip to Egypt. It was a great way for us to practice and improve our Spanish.

“أتمنى لك يومًا رائعًا واحتضان الحياة”

Portugal

A trip to Sintra Portugal

We spent the day exploring the main tourist city of Sintra in Portugal. This quaint and beautiful city is on the outskirts of Lisbon and is famous for its picturesque beauty. It is located with historic palaces and castles in the city.

View of the region from the hillside of Sintra.

We went into the city and walked around the old section of the city.  There were colourful buildings and houses accenting the beauty of the city.

Shelley and Ray in Sintra

The views were spectacular and there were several unique castles. To finish our day in Sintra, we went to explore one of the castles in Sintra called “Capela da Quinta da Regaleira.”

Capela da Quinta da Regaleira

The castle was located on some beautiful grounds and gardens. We explored the gardens, walking through different areas admiring the views and gardens.

Gardens in Capela da Quinta da Regaleira
Ray and Shelley in gardens of Capela da Quinta da Regaleira

There were some spectacular structures in the Capela da Quinta da Regaleira. There were even caves, water features and ponds throughout the property. We explored some of the caves which were quite unique.

Cave system at Capela da Quinta da Regaleira
Part of the cave system

The caves surfaces were artificially made in areas to look like frightful looking faces.

Faces made in stone inside the caves.
pond on the exit of the cave system.
Pond at part of the caves.
Shelley leaving the caves across the pond

After exploring the caves we walked to the castle and explored part of it. It was a beautiful castle with stunning architectural features.

Ray in front of the castle of Capela da Quinta da Regaleira

Sintra is tourism destination within the Portuguese Riviera, and one of the wealthiest municipalities in the country. We truly enjoyed our day in Sintra.

“Até agora e tenha um ótimo dia.”

Portugal

Food Tour Through Lisbon Portugal

We went to Lisbon which is the capital and the largest city of Portugal. It has an estimated population of around 500,000. We thought what would be the best way to experience the local culture? So we decided to take a gastronomic walking tour. It was a unique way to discover parts of Lisbon, through its food, flavours and small restaurants and cafes.

We began our tour at 8:30 in the morning at the Praca de Comercio.  Which is a main plaza with lots of bars and cafe shops along the plaza.

The Placa de Comercio in Lisbon, Portugal.

We walked through the many unique streets in the old quarter of Lisbon. There was some beautiful architecture with many buildings finished in decorative tiles.

Buildings decorated and finished with ceramic tiles.
Typical street in the old quarter of Lisbon

We explored different historic sites including several plazas

Our first stop for a taste of Lisbon was at a small local business called “Manteigaria Silva” that sold selected local foods.

Food samples from Manteigaria Silva  food tour

After enjoying some local port and food we continued our walk.  We explored many narrow streets and different barrios. The views and architecture were amazing.

We stopped at a great restaurant for some traditional plates.

Restaurant with unique Portuguese foods

We the continued our food walking tour and end at a very quaint and unique restaurant called “A Muralha Tapas and Vinhos.” This tapas bar was a great spot. The bartender served flaming meats cooked in a small pottery style tray.

Bar tender cooking Portuguese Chourico sausages
The special trays used to heat the chourico using alcohol

We enjoyed a few glasses of port and tasted several types of sardines which were very tasty.

One of the types of flavoured sardines we enjoyed at the food tasting

We finished off our tasting with a nice glass of Portuguese sour cherry liqueur.

Serving us a sample of sour cherry Liqueur.

The food tour was a fantastic way to explore part of Lisbon and experience some of the unique foods of the country. We took a group photo at the end of the tour as a small memento of our food adventure.

“Tenha um ótimo dia e aproveite a vida ao máximo”

Camino de Santiago, Spain

On the Camino de Sanitago

We began walking early every day at around 8 am or earlier.

Mark and Ray on the Camino de Santiago

Heading out early to beat the heat and enjoy the peaceful walk on the camino. The trails are well marked and easy to follow.

Typical marker along the camino trail.

We began our camino journey by walking along the streets of the camino leading through the town of Sarria and then along country paths.

Walking through the streets of Sarria on the Camino
Church in Sarria

We soon reached the countryside and began walking into some fields and walking upwards on some hills. The vistas were beautiful all along our way.

View of the roaming hills on the trail of the camino.
One of the many trails along the camino.

During the eight days we walked the camino, we came across some unique and interesting people and buildings. We walked through old Spanish hamlets and towns admiring some of the buildings and churches.

Old buildings along the camino de Santiago
One of the many churches along the camino

Old ruins of a building on the camino

There were religious crosses and other symbols along with some interesting animals.

One of the crosses along the camino.
Ray with a donkey along the camino

We would walk along with other pilgrims on the trail and chat with them about different aspects of the camino. Finally saying good  bye with the common phrase of “Buen Camino”.

Some of the many people we encountered on the Camino.

All along the camino we came across areas which had makeshift shrines. These shrines small stones, images of people and notes written to loved ones who had passed away.

One of the many shrines along the camino de Santiago.

We stopped to look at the shrines and read some of the notes left there by loved ones. It was a very moving experience to see so many along the camino trail.  Below are just a few of the camino memorials or shrines along the way.

One of the ad hoc shrines along the camino

One of the many signs along the camino.

We walked a total of 115 kilometres on the Camino from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. Over that distance we saw many beautiful vistas and towns. Here are just some of the interesting things and vistas along our 8 day trek on the camino.

We arrived at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela around noon on the eight day.

Ray and Mark at the Cathedral of Santiago

It was a very rewarding and emotional adventure. The Camino de Santiago is an emotional, spiritual and physical adventure. You have to experience the camino to truly understand and appreciate the adventure.

Buen Camino!

“La vida es una aventura, vive tu aventura”

Camino de Santiago, Spain

The start of the camino de Santiago adventure

The Camino de Santiago is a religious pilgrimage which has always been of interest to me. It is known as “The Way of Saint James” an important pilgrimage that dates back to the middle ages. There are many different pilgrimage routes that lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela. Some of the routes are considered main routes for the pilgrimage. All routes however lead to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great where his remains are located in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

I began my preparations for the pilgrimage nearly a year in advance. Walking and training with my camino partner Mark for the journey which would inevitably take me through steep hills, valleys and other challenges. Reading many articles and conducting research it became obvious that planning and the right equipment was key.

Packed and ready for the Camino de Santiago

The day finally arrived and we set out by train to our starting point of Sarria Spain.

Once we boarded our train, we settled in for the eight hour train ride.  We toasted to the adventure that would follow.

Ray and Mark toasting to the Camino de Santiago

We enjoyed the train ride and we met other great people heading to Sarria for the Camino adventure. We arrived tired but excited to start our camino the next morning.

At the start of the Camino de Santiago I felt that the adventure would be a challenging walk and a hiking experience. I did not realize that the camino de Santiago experience would change me forever.

“Deja que comience la aventura”