Our ship departed Luxor this morning and arrived in Qena around noon. From there, we headed out on a shore excursion to the Dendera Temple complex. It is massive and incredibly impressive. It is hard to put into words the feeling you get while walking among these ancient structures. It truly feels like stepping back in time, and it was wonderfully surreal.
After our visit, we returned to the ship for dinner and enjoyed a welcome toast with the crew. It felt so nice to come back to our little home on the Nile.
Today was a long day filled with unforgettable sights. After an early breakfast, we boarded a plane and flew south to the city of Luxor. Our first stop was Karnak Temple, another incredible highlight of the trip. The massive pillars and towering obelisks are absolutely overwhelming in scale, and the carvings are breathtaking. It is hard to even imagine the effort, planning, and motivation it took to build something so enormous and detailed.
After wandering the grounds and enjoying a strong Turkish coffee, we boarded the tour bus and headed to our home for the next several days, the Viking Thoth. The Thoth is a brand new ship in the Viking fleet, and we were the very first group of guests to sail with her. It felt so special knowing we were the first to stay in the cabins, dine at the tables, and dip our feet in the pool. For lunch, I went with the burger, yes I know, but I was craving it and it was actually really good. We always share our dishes anyway!
We rested for a few hours, enjoyed another wonderful meal, and then headed out for an evening excursion to Luxor Temple. The grounds were beautifully lit and offered a completely different experience at night. Seeing such an incredible site in the cooler evening air was truly magical. It is something I will never forget.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/3900 sec, ISO40 “Pyramid of Djoser” Giza, 2025
Our first stop of the day was the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. It was incredible to see the very first pyramid ever built, and then we descended into a nearby tomb complex. The whole experience was amazing.
After that, we made a short visit to a carpet factory and ended up purchasing a beautiful rug for our house in Japan. They shipped it to Mariko’s mom in Osaka, which worked out perfectly.
Once we finished a wonderful buffet lunch, we headed to one of the biggest highlights of the entire trip: the Great Pyramid of Giza. Thanks to some lucky timing, traffic in Cairo was heavily restricted because of the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum and visiting dignitaries. That meant hardly any tourists were at the site. It felt unreal.
The pyramids themselves were absolutely mind blowing. It is still hard to believe we stood at such an iconic place that we had only ever seen in books and documentaries. They did not disappoint. Their sheer size is something you really do have to experience in person at least once.
Next, we visited the Great Sphinx, which was just as cool and iconic as we hoped. We spent a long time there simply looking at it and feeling grateful for the chance to visit. Truly an amazing day.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/50 sec, ISO640 “Mosque of Muhammad Ali” Cairo, 2025
We had a full day in Cairo today. After breakfast and a trip orientation meeting, we boarded the bus and headed out to the Cairo Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. The interior of the mosque was absolutely beautiful, and the courtyard was especially impressive. While soaking in the view over the city, we even spotted the Great Pyramids of Giza in the distance. Very cool and totally iconic.
Next, we visited the Egyptian Museum to see a wide range of antiquities. It was fascinating, though the museum itself felt a little run down. We will be visiting the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum later in the trip, so that should be a very different experience.
Afterward, we returned to the hotel for a short rest before heading out again for a night market visit and a traditional Egyptian dinner. The market was lively and crowded, a bit chaotic but full of energy. With our guide and a security guard keeping an eye on things, we felt safe and had a great time.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/4600 sec, ISO80 “To-Go Coffee” Mexico City, 2025
Our last day in Mexico is here, and we enjoyed our time in Mexico City so much. We definitely want to come back someday, and since it is not very far from our home in Texas, I am sure we will be visiting again before too long. Until then, Mexico City, thanks for all the great memories.
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/12000 sec, ISO80 “Last-Minute Photos” Mexico City, 2025
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I use a Fujifilm X-series camera for most of the photos on this site and my Instagram. Why not pick one up for yourself?
