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Page 3 |
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13-Day Program
D Itinerary
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Day 9
Mon, March 27
B/D
Old Cairo / Egyptian
Antiquities Museum |
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Join us for breakfast before our drive to the heart of Old Cairo and the
ancient Roman fortress of Babylon. Here we will explore the Coptic
Museum and the beautiful "Hanging Church" that is still in use today.
We’ll also see Cairo’s oldest synagogue, Ben Ezra, which dates back to
at least the 9th century.
Next, we’ll drive up to the
Citadel, a medieval fortress built by Saladin in AD 1176 using blocks
from the Queens’ Pyramids at Giza. Its main court contains the Alabaster
Mosque, built for the 19th-century ruler Mohammed Ali and modeled after
the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. From there we’ll enjoy spectacular views of
Cairo.
Our last stop of the day
will be the incredible Egyptian Antiquities Museum. We’ll spend the
afternoon viewing treasures spanning 5,000 years — from Egypt’s
prehistory to the Greco-Roman period. You’ll have extra time at the
museum’s prized collection from King Tutankhamen’s tomb. Join us this
evening for dinner and a discussion about tomorrow’s journey through the
desert to Mersa Matrouh. |
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Day
10
Tue, March 28
B/L/D
El Almein WWII Museum and Cemetery / Mersa Matrouh |
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After
breakfast, we’ll board our private motorcoach and drive northwest across
the desert toward El Alamein, the site of the great World War II battle
where German General Rommel and his Afrika Korps were routed by the
British General Montgomery, thus securing Cairo and the vital Suez Canal
for the Allied forces. We’ll stop at El Alamein to visit the war museum
and the Commonwealth War Cemetery. Continuing on to Mersa Matrouh, we’ll
have brief glimpses of the sea, as the highway parallels the
Mediterranean coastline. In the late afternoon we will arrive in Mersa
Matrouh and our hotel which is adjacent to the Beau Site hotel,
TravelQuest’s eclipse headquarters, where we will attend a pre-eclipse
briefing followed by a buffet dinner. |
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Overnight: Hotel St. Joseph (2 nights) |
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Day
11
Wed, March 29
B/L/D
Sallum – ECLIPSE DAY! |
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After an early breakfast we’ll begin the 2.5-hour journey west to our
specially selected eclipse-viewing site outside the seaside town of
Sallum, just 15 kilometers (9 miles) off the centerline. We’ll arrive in
plenty of time to set up equipment before first contact, and there will
be ample food and drinks available throughout the day. Our motorcoach
will be on standby in case of cloud cover. After fourth contact, we’ll
return to our hotel to enjoy a celebration dinner. |
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FIRST
CONTACT |
(partial eclipse
begins) |
11:20:04 a.m. |
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SECOND
CONTACT
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(totality begins) |
12:38:02
p.m. |
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THIRD
CONTACT |
(totality ends) |
12:41:59
p.m. |
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FOURTH
CONTACT |
(partial eclipse
ends) |
1:59:54 p.m. |
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Duration of totality:
3 minutes,
56 seconds
Sun Altitude during totality: 62o |
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Egypt Weather Prospects
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by
Jay Anderson, Eclipse
Meteorologist
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The Mediterranean coast at Sallum is the sunniest climate along the
eclipse track save for dusty locations in the deserts of Libya and Niger.
At eclipse time the dry season is just beginning and Sallum averages about
9.5 sunshine hours per day. about 79 percent of the maximum possible. Rain
is reported on only one day in 10, and the average cloudiness for the
region is under 40 percent. Daytime temperatures average a comfortable
22°C (72°F) but can reach a blistering 42°C(108°F).
In March migrating
low-pressure systems move either along the coast of North Africa or
further inland, where they are known as Khamsin depressions. Approaching
lows bring southerly winds and sunny weather if they pass offshore and
dusty (but sunny) conditions if they move inland. Broken high and midlevel
cloud and occasional rainfall follow behind the low. If a strong cold
front comes with the depression, a severe dust storm lasting a few hours
is possible, though such dust storms are much less frequent than at sites
deeper with the Sahara. While these Mediterranean lows can make eclipse
observations a challenge, only three or four per month are expected on
average and extensive cloud is the exception rather than the rule. The
terrain at Sallum, which is dominated by a 400-meter ridge just west of
the town, will help modify some of the harsher effects of the passing
depressions. The excellent highway stretching parallel to the
Mediterranean coast will facilitate rapid movement to a new location if
cloudy skies threaten. |
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| Back to Top |
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Copyright 2005 TravelQuest
International. All rights
reserved. 800-830-1998
Revised: July 29, 2005.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies or trademark holders. |
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