The Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt

When we were planning our trip to Egypt we started off with a week-long resort stay in Hurghada.  During one planning session I looked at Matt and said "But, I can't go to Egypt without seeing the pyramids."  I think it was the tears in my eyes threatening to spill over that convinced him that we needed to explore further than the resort. Of course, he was easily convinced.  So not only did we add on a Private Cairo/Giza Tour but also a Private Luxor Tour which we booked through Egypt Tours Portal. 

The Temple of Karnak in Luxor, Egypt

It's been almost three weeks since my surgery.  I'm amazed at how much better I'm feeling.  I'm still easily fatigued.  Any activity results in spending the next day in bed.  But did you notice I managed three blog posts last week?  I'm much more productive if I get out of the apartment and luckily there is a Starbucks just a block away.  At this rate, I'll be caught up in no time.  Today we're going back to Egypt.  I've done multiple posts from that one week, but it was such an incredible experience that I can't help myself.  Today I'll be showing you photos from the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor.

Luxor, Egypt

I still have several posts about our week in Egypt planned.  When the horrible crash of the Russian passenger plane happened last month, it was devastating.  To think of those hoilday-makers flying home full of memories of Egypt and then to be killed so tragically.  Then there is all of the speculation of it being a terrorist attack and possibly a bomb.

I thought initially there is no way that I can write about Egypt now.  More and more people are questioning whether it is a safe travel destination.  The plane crash in Sinai isn't the first time terrorism has rocked this country, specifically the tourism trade that supports thousands of Egyptians. 

But, then I changed my mind.  Of course I will write about our time in Egypt.  It was one of the most incredible weeks of my life.  I will not let fear keep me from traveling and I will not let terrorists keep me from sharing some photographs and stories of our time there.  The last thing I want to do is offend anyone, but I think writing about Egypt is the right thing to do, especially in this situation.  So, on to our next stop.

Is it safe to visit Egypt?

The most common question that we get regarding our trip to Egypt is about safety.  Some do not consider Egypt a safe travel destination currently.  Although many do.  According to the UK government, "Over 900,000 British nationals visit Egypt every year. Most visits are trouble-free."  

Of course I was concerned when we were planning our trip.  We did hours of the research and I felt confident that we would be safe.  We can't tell you if it is safe to travel to Egypt, but I thought we should address the issue on our blog.  Because Matt is such an experienced traveler, I asked him to help me write this post to get the conversation started. 

Palm Royale Soma Bay Egypt

When we were planning our trip to Egypt we decided on the resort of Hurghada rather than the more popular Sharm el Sheikh.  The beach resort we selected was the Five Star Palm Royale Soma Bay, the home of Casanova. The reviews on TripAdvisor were overall pretty positive and I found them to also be pretty accurate. 

Red Sea Fishing in Hurghada, Egypt

We decided to spend our last full day in Hurghada, Egypt out on the water.  We splurged a bit and chartered a fishing boat for the day.  It was just the two of us and a crew of four.  Our plan was to fish, snorkel, lunch and visit a sand bar.  It was the perfect way to spend our final day. 

The Temple of Hatshepsut & Handling Vendors in Egypt

Ancient Egypt is a huge part of the curriculum in American schools.  Or at least it was when I was growing up.  We learned all about the pyramids and hieroglyphics.  My dad's collection of National Geographic was another source of information.  

Ancient Egypt is also very popular in Hollywood.  Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra, Raiders of the Lost Ark and who can forget Steve Martin's ode to King Tut.  You're going to have that little ditty in your head all day now.  You're welcome.  Or how about "Walk like an Egyptian" by the Bangles.  Even better.

It's obvious how Ancient Egypt has captured the imagination of generations of people.  To see it all up close and personal was a dream come true.  It's even more magnificent than you expect.

The Great Pyramids of Egypt

There's a particular scene at the very end of Titanic that has always stuck with me.  Silver-haired Rose gets in bed and the camera pans across a series of framed photographs on her bedside table.  

We see photos of young Rose in various scenarios, in a cap and gown, climbing aboard a plane, sitting atop an elephant, surrounded by family members, beaming on a horse on the beach.  All photos meant to quickly convey a life well lived, a long and fulfilling life of adventure and happiness.  

I wonder what photos silver haired Selena will keep on her nightstand.  Graduations, weddings, Jessica, grandbabies and great grandbabies. What travel moments will I want to surround myself with?  Me on a camel at the great pyramids of Egypt will definitely be on that nightstand.  

Casanova the Camel

I'm currently editing the photos from our week in Egypt.  It was one of our top three trips and I can't wait to tell you more.  

I'll start by introducing you to the handsome Casanova who resides at the Palm Royale Soma Bay in Hurghada.  This was our home base for our trip and it was a great choice.

Instagram Egypt

I've started editing the photos, but it will still be a few weeks before I start posting about our week in Egypt.  I couldn't let another day pass without something on the blog.  

I'm addicted to travel and every trip is a treasured experience.  But there are a few trips that have affected me on a deeper level.  Egypt was absolutely one of those life-changing experiences.  I don't really know how to explain it.  It went by so fast but I can remember almost every single moment.  

The place, the people, the history, the dessert, the red sea, the tombs, the pyramids... all of it combined into the most epic week.  I love the way it challenged me, both physically and mentally.  It caused a big shift in my worldview of the both the ancient and the modern.  That's where travel holds the most magic.  Where it changes you.  Egypt changed me.

It's also been a difficult trip to return from.  I commute to work and sit at my desk longing to be traveling again and experiencing other parts of the world.  Egypt has taken my wanderlust to all new levels.  

Here are a few of my instagram photos from that week to give you a taste.  I couldn't resist adding a little music, so click on the mute button bottom right if you're at work.

What place has caused a shift in your worldview?

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Oh, the Places we will go in 2016!

I realize that all travel bloggers do this kind of post and if I'm honest I tend to skim through them a bit.  But it's one of my favorite things to do, looking back at the places we've been in the past year and planning a whole year's worth of new travel.  I really document all of this for personal reasons, so don't feel bad if you just skim through this post.  After writing about what a difficult year I had in 2015, I must admit it was one of our best years for travel.  

Instagram Update

Things have been terribly quiet around here for a few weeks, but I'm back and I have so many photos to share with you.  Before we get back to regularly scheduled programing here's a little Life Lately update with the help of Instagram.  My blog posts are a bit behind but here's what we've been up to. 

First and foremost... Grandbaby!  Jessica is now at 31 weeks and doing terrific.  She had a baby shower a few weeks ago.  It broke my heart to not be there but they were surrounded with love and presents.  We'll be going to Texas for three weeks in August for the delivery.  I can't wait hug my sweet baby and meet her sweet baby.

My daughter Jessica & son in law Johnny at the baby shower for little Michael. 💙 I couldn't be there but my sweet momma got all my presents there & made sure to send me lots of pictures. I just love this one!!! We'll be going to Texas in August for three weeks!! I can't wait!!! #gigi #babylove

A photo posted by Selena (@selenatheplaces) on Jun 14, 2015 at 11:58pm PDT

Lilypads at Kew Gardens

Founded in 1840, Kew Gardens in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is the world's larges collection of live plants.  It's also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It's a massive park and needs many trips to actually see everything there is to see.  I've mentioned before that is a magical place for a camera lens.  We spent a leisurely afternoon there last fall capturing all of the colors and textures. 

The Waterlilly House had to be my favorite place in Kew Gardens.  It's a warm and humid iron and glass building with a large shallow pond as the centerpiece.  I loved the way the iron work reflected on the water, the perfect circles and straight lines of the ironwork were mimicked romantically and softly by the circular lilypads and the stalks of the plants. 

I've said that in everyone of these photo essays from Kew, but these are some of my favorite.

 

We're back from the most amazing week in Egypt.  Probably one of our top three trips.  I can't wait to tell you all about it.  But, first I have some catching up to do with Norway and Nice.  No more trips on the near horizon so I'll have plenty of time for blogging and editing photos.  

Have you been to Kew Gardens with your camera yet?

 

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A week in Cyprus

It's a beautiful day today.  I'm home early from work and have the doors open.  It's sunny and in the 70's. Living in Texas in the winter is ideal.  I no longer have that crazy, urgent desire to chase the sun.  No reason to take those late winter trips further south to warm the bones.  Here are some more photos from our week in Cyprus.  Just such a trip... in search of sun and sea.  I certainly found both in Cyprus! 

Oh, the places we will go in 2014!

As one year comes to a close and we are faced with the promise of a blank calendar,

one of our favorite things to do together is to plan our travels for the upcoming year.

It's so exciting.  There are just so many places to go and I've become addicted.

I want to see all of them!

We've pinned down our two big trips this year.

My brother and dad are visiting this summer and we're going to spend a week exploring Scotland.

And in the fall we are going to do another Explore! tour to the Balkans for two weeks.

We will explore Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina.

Matt is heading to Minsk with the guys this month,

but our first trip of the year together is Iceland in February.

I've had so much fun planning this trip and I can't wait.

We have our fingers crossed that we'll experience the Northern Lights.

You can follow along on Twitter and Instagram using #JonesInIceland.

In March, we are planning a trip to Dunkirk, France.

Matt's grandfather was captured at Dunkirk during WWII and spent five years as a prisoner or war.

We are going to take the car over on a ferry to explore some historical sights

as well as everything else that Dunkirk has to offer.

After an English winter, there is always the desire to find a warm beach as soon as possible.

We are planning a long weekend on a beach (probably Egypt) for the spring.

And a Girl's Trip to Provence is on the calendar this summer.

  I'm making great progress on my 50 by 50 goal.

What we have planned so far takes me up to 40 countries in 2014. 

All that is left is to fill in with weekend trips whenever possible.

On our wishlist for 2014 are Guernsey, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Norway.

 I'm also planning to get back to the US sometime this year.

So many places, so little time!

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights;

it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” 

– Miriam Beard

Do you have any suggestions and tips to share about our 2014 destinations?

Where are you going in 2014?

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Green at Kew Gardens (and grandbaby news)

Do you remember this post that I wrote about Jessica and John's beautiful wedding?  All of the emotions.  It's the most special post that I've ever shared on this blog. It was an incredible day.

Today marked another milestone in my sweet baby girl's dreams coming true.  It's a boy!  Jessica and John are going to have a sweet baby boy.  At 14 weeks it is early to know, but they had the Panoramic genetic test done and everything came back perfect. Jess told me a week ago it was a boy.  A momma just knows.

Obviously, I cried when I found out.  Nothing brings tears to my eyes quicker these days then thoughts of my grandbaby.  Knowing the gender just clicks everything into a bit sharper focus.  I can picture him more clearly now.  I can almost smell that intoxicating baby smell.  I can't wait to kiss his feet.  I'm madly in love already. 

Now that I'm pledging into the Nana Gigi Grandma Sorority, I have a whole new insight into the women I know who are grandmas.   Wow.  How do you ever utter a sentence that is not about your grandbaby?  This is going to be a thrill!  I wonder if GrandMummy blogs will be the new thing.  I'll try to refrain, although it will be difficult.  

In other, much less important news, we are packing for another adventure.  I'm packing bright colors and dangly earrings, flip flops and maxi-dresses and even a swimsuit.  Goodbye, London!  We're off to a Red Sea resort in Hurghada, Eygypt.  But, it won't be just lazing about in the sun, although mostly.  We're taking an excursion to Cairo and Luxor.  I'm actually going to see the great pyramids.  Pinch me.

I'm a bit giddy today, I must admit.  So with thoughts of babies and beaches rolling around in my head, I'm going to share a few more photos from our day in the Kew Gardens.  If you have a camera, run don't walk to Kew Gardens.  It's a feast for the lens.  

These are some of my favorite photos from that day, because green is my favorite color.  Although I say that about all the photos I've edited from that day.  Oh, there are more.  

I hope to be instagraming from Egypt if you like to follow along.   And a huge thank you to everyone who's sent such sweet words and thoughts about the new addition to our family.  We're obviously over the moon already.  

What's got you over the moon lately?

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Happy Mother's Day, Love!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers and mothering souls out there.  Mother's Day is one of those days with the potential to bring up some of the harder emotions, isn't it?  There is love, happiness and joy, but sometimes loss or sadness. 

I'm experiencing a whole range of emotions today, but the primary one is love. Absolute love for my wonderful mother, pure love for my beautiful daughter, excitement and joy that she will now know the joy of motherhood, and a new fierce love for a grandson that I will soon meet. And for my husband who loves me enough to know just what I need on a day like today when I'm far from home. Today I'm celebrating all of the love. So whatever emotions you are dealing with today, I wish you love.