Red Sea, Suez Canal and Port Said. April 7-9, 2022

 A few days at sea were greatly appreciated especially since I did not feel up to par.  Regrettably, although the temperatures were pleasant the air stank and it was extremely hazy.  There must have been some kind of spill, for it smelled like motor oil, used up motor oil at that.  Yuck!!! So lounging outdoors was out of the question.  

By the time we got to Port Said, the air had vastly improved and we even saw blue skies.  Wonderful.  We did not book the 13 hour tour to Cairo to see the Great Pyramids.  Just as well, my travel buddy had a vertigo issues and would not have been able to go.  She only had to forfeit on a Horse Buggy ride through parts of Said.   As I mention before, we had seen all those fantastic sites during our Viking Nile River cruise, and did not want to overlay our good memories of these sites.  Long bus rides are just not our thing especially ones through, sorry to say but, very very boring dessert terrain.

Port Said is an Egyptian city at the norther end of the Suez Canal, on the Mediterranean Sea.  It’s the second largest seaport and entry point of the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean.  It’s population is about 600,000, and was founded in 1859, the year in which the first symbolic swing of the a pickaxe signaled the  beginning of the canals construction.  The lighthouse of Port Said was built in 1869 using reinforced concrete for the first time in history.  The lighthouse now is the only original building still standing in Port Said.  Port Said has an interesting history and became very prominent during the building of the canal.  However it suffered from several was and played a historic role during the Sues crisis in 1956.   Today considered a major business center as it was declared a duty-free port in 1976.

Other than a 2 hour buggy ride I did not spend any time in town.  Though it was interesting to experience the chaotic Egyptian traffic.  There are no stop lights and I can’t say I saw a stop sign.  I did on occasion see a traffic-cop direct traffic.  It is amazing that the traffic can flow at all, the drivers essentially communicating their intension with hand gestures and honking of the horn.  Yes, lots of honking.  The horses that pulled the buggies did not seem to be disturbed by all that noise and cars and motorcycles just squeezing by with barely an inch to spare. I think you need to be quick and have nerves of steel to survive this environment.  Out buggy took us along the waterfront for  a little ways, then to a small but I get resting Military Museum, that depicted the building of the Suez Canal and all the military skirmishes  and wars.  Numerous countries all wanting the Suez Canal.  Then onto a large city square with a tall obelisk honoring those that had died.  Our last stop was at St Virgin Mary Church, once Catholic and now Orthodox.    

While most were dressed conservatively, I was surprised at the high-end shops displaying very modern western high-end clothing.  Sexy-looking male models, though the lady manikins were faceless…..so odd.   Of course there was a  McDonald’s and even a Kentucky Fried Chicken in town.  These cities are getting so westernized.  

Arriving at Port Said, seeing blue skies and breathing cleaner air.  Wow!

That is what it looked like sailing through the Canal.  It was so hazy you could actually look at the sun. And much of the stretch stank of oil.

In the far distance you see a city,  everything the same color as sand.  The sky and sandy color as well.

Just more of the same, sand, sand, sand everywhere.  Where is the blue sky??

As we got nearer to exit on the Mediterranean side, the air and sky cleared a bit.

Now in the Port Said we enjoy pleasant weather, blue skies, and clean air to breath.  What a relief.  The traveler begins her horse-buggy ride. 

Typical sights while riding through parts of Said

A lovely sculpture of doves,  surrounded by beds of crown-of-thorn plants,  all in full bloom. 

Some of the stores we passed along the way.  

We all recognize this eatery!    McDonald’s

Lovely mosque with it’s ever present minarets. 

Our Guide as we enter the Military Museum with in and outdoor exhibits

In the museum, this rendition depicts the planing stage of the Canal

This one the building of it

Small replica of the very first vessel that went through the Canal

Many paintings depicting the various wars including the 6-day war of 1956.

Typical city scenery 

City plaza/park with the Obelisk honoring those who died during the various wars

The guide and local lady who insisted I have a picture taken with them.

The lovely garden surrounding the St Virgin Mary Church of Port Said

The inside dome of the St Virgin Mary Church. Quite impressive with the 12 zodiac signs.