IL SOGNO SI AVVERA

FLIGHT.

Rome-Bologna, Bologna-Luxor. The flight over the Sahara Desert is fantastic, with its dunes and rocky mountains offering extraordinary views. Arrival in Luxor is in the evening and the landing strip in the middle of the desert is nothing short of incredible, a thin line of concrete in the middle of a sea of sand. The landing is perfect, the airport consists of four little shacks, a couple of huts and not much else, our guide Teorema is waiting for us with the group. On the bus we begin to take a look at the city of Luxor and the first illuminated temples rise up before us, giving us splendid emotions. We've arrived, we're in the land of the pharaohs, we're in Egypt!!!

LUXOR

We wake up early in the morning and our first stop is the Valley of the Kings in Luxor...needless to say the heat is suffocating, but strangely we're not sweating...so it's a bearable and pleasant heat. After dodging a great many vendors and stalls we enter the Valley of the Kings: the landscape is unique, desert and rocks pierced by caves that house tombs whose interiors are wonderfully decorated with drawings and hieroglyphics still in perfect condition. The first impact with Egypt is thrilling. The heat grips us and after the ritual photos we move on to the Temple of Hatshepsut, simply superb. Hatshepsut governed Egypt for more than 20 years and only after her death did they discover that beneath her robes was hidden a woman instead of a man.

It's one of two things: either Hatshepsut was a disgustingly ugly hag or the ancient Egyptians, too taken up with pyramids and hieroglyphics, were very confused about sexuality, anyway the temple leaves us open-mouthed.....meanwhile we begin to get to know the other members of the group, a shout-out to Piera, a true Roman, super nice!!! Once the visit to the Temple of Hatshepsut is over, we go to an alabaster shop, first rule, never buy where the guide takes you!!! So we just look. The visit to the Valley of the Queens awaits us, less beautiful than that of the Kings but still very spectacular. Before setting sail on the ship we visit the Colossi of Memnon, the remains of two gigantic seated statues, and then we arrive at the ship: Ritz. Almost as if to welcome us, the Nile, this legendary river, greets us with an unforgettable sunset. It's evening and parties are organised on the ship.

We await the belly dancer with curiosity and anxiety...but then we realise that rather than belly dancing it was more like BELLY dancing, given the size of the woman.... We have fun in the disco and then...a dip in the pool...all together...so I take the opportunity to say hello to: Francesca, Luca, Enrico, Alessia, Marcello, Claudia, Ella, Tino, Angela, Leonardo, Saro, Renata, Franco, Laura and Scilla. We're tired...we go to sleep while the ship moves slowly along the Nile!!!

KARNAK TEMPLE...LUXOR TEMPLE AND MUCH MORE

We wake up as always very early, to avoid the hottest hours of the day, and go to visit the Temple of Karnak. We start from the Avenue of the Sphinxes, a road lined with a myriad of small sphinxes, and enter the majestic Temple of Karnak, fantastic!!! With very tall columns, mighty and embroidered with hieroglyphics, Egypt conquers us more and more, at every corner a different emotion, we leave the Temple of Karnak and go to the Temple of Luxor, another historical and artistic masterpiece.

In describing these monuments it's hard not to fall into banality, but finding the words for these works is in my opinion impossible....there are no words that can convey those emotions you feel when you have these masterpieces before your eyes!! We return to the ship and you won't believe it but I get behind the wheel, don't worry, only for 100 metres..., but the pilot, who in my opinion was also drunk, smilingly lets me steer the ship. I ask if by any chance there are icebergs on the Nile... The afternoon passes on the ship, enjoying the fantastic views of the desert and small Egyptian villages and above all driving the entire ship's staff crazy: water balloons for everyone!! We even throw a waiter into the pool who has his mobile phone in his pocket!! The result? A collection and a new phone.

We arrive at the Esna lock and small boats surround the ship, not to rob us but to sell their wares, I buy a dress for my sister Laura and from one of the boats a dress flies out and hits Piera, the true-blue Roman, square in the face...better not to write what she might have said in Roman dialect....I only know that for an hour we were laughing our heads off!! The evening passes as always with dancing and games.

EDFU TEMPLE - KOM-OMBO AND ASWAN BY NIGHT

Another day, another spectacle!!! The Temple of Edfu, with its very high walls full of gigantic drawings, the statue of the Falcon that menacingly watches you before you enter....breathtaking!!! The elegance of the buildings, the mystery that surrounds them, Egypt captures you and never lets you go...for the rest of your life!!! We then go to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, perhaps less spectacular than the others but still very beautiful. We return to the ship and organise the Egyptian Party: we dress up, obviously I'm the God of Fertility...what can you do, some can and some can't!!! We have a great time, luckily our group, made up mostly of young people, is very lively, so lively that we decide to go out in Aswan at night still dressed as Egyptians, everyone looks at us and laughing says: "Italians"?? Damn, they recognised us!!

ASWAN + ABU SIMBEL

The usual wake-up call around 06.00 and we go to visit the Necropolis of Aswan, then the Obelisk, the dam and then, still from Aswan, on a small motorboat, which at a certain point makes us tremble because it suddenly stops and starts smoking...we arrive at the Temple of Philae. Even reaching this site is extraordinary, a small rocky island with this majestic temple that welcomes us almost pleased with its own grandeur...marvellous!!! In the late morning we have to take an internal flight to Abu Simbel. The airline is called Orca Air. What I'm about to say now, even if it may seem strange and bizarre, is the pure truth: before boarding the crate, Giusy notices that only one propeller is working, I ask the steward why this is...and the steward, with a smile plastered on his face, tells us not to worry, because it would start working once in flight. First sign of the cross.

We get on and the music is deafening, it feels like being in a disco. Second sign of the cross. When we're in flight the steward (the same one as before) opens the pilot's door and shouting (to be heard over the music) says that anyone who wants a photo in the cockpit with the pilot can do it now.....and no!!! When it's too much, it's too much!!! I stop everyone with a shout!! Watch out, the pilot lets go of the yoke to pose for the photo!!! I don't know how but we arrive safe and sound, a small jeep takes us into the desert, the heat is mind-blowing, we walk for about 500 metres and then...we find ourselves in front of Abu Simbel, those seated colossi....the place is so beautiful that we in the group applaud.....perhaps here there is only one word to explain what you feel in front of Abu Simbel: PERFECTION!!! Before that day I thought it didn't exist, but I was wrong!!!

CAIRO

Today we leave the ship: we've arrived in Cairo, the capital. This immense and chaotic city. We go to visit the Cairo Museum, astounding!! With the beautiful Tomb of Tutankhamun in gold, his mummies and many other artefacts. Once out of the Museum we head towards the Mosque, obviously after covering up well we go inside. Here unfortunately our guide opts for an extremely heavy sermon, Giusy and I and many other members of the group leave the Mosque and go to see the Citadel, with its arches, cloisters and ancient corners. Then it's time for the markets...we get lost (in the truest sense of the word) in the Cairo market...and we buy everything!!!

CAIRO

The usual early wake-up and off we go...we're still in Cairo and in the morning we go to Sakkara, to visit the step pyramid...a strange and rather mysterious fact about this pyramid is that an entrance has never been found. We obviously visit the whole Sakkara complex, with the Ramp, the Mastaba and the various tombs. Not satisfied with art and history we head to Memphis, where we visit the sculptures and the surprising colossus.

We then go to the Silk Museum, where girls (too young), sew and produce genuine masterpieces.....and finally...we head towards the most beautiful corner of the world: the Pyramids and the Sphinx...what can I say?? Nothing, simply silence:.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Is it of this Earth? I honestly believe not!! No human being could achieve so much... In the evening we go to the sound and light show, again at the Pyramids, and we wreck all our guide's plans, as he wanted about 40 dollars for the entrance ticket and transport.

The dissidents!! That's what we called ourselves, led by me and Giusy, we decide that the price is too high, so we take a taxi (an experience to be had)...at night they drive around with their headlights off and race each other, and then we pay for the show ticket: total?? 15 dollars. The show didn't enthuse us too much...long and repetitive...

CAIRO

We have the day completely free, most of the group decides to stay at the hotel pool, Giusy, Gloria, Marco, Ella, Claudia, Laura, Marcello, Saro, Renata and I decide to go and visit Coptic Cairo. We start from the Church of Abu Serga, then the Tomb of the family of Mohammad-Ali and here we understand the contrasts of this incredible city, on one hand 5-star hotels, the Pyramids and unrestrained luxury, on the other the City of the Dead, an old cemetery with chapels inhabited by the living. Giusy and I also find the time to go to modern Cairo and do a bit of shopping. In the evening we organise a football match: Italy-Egypt, needless to say we won!!!

SHARM EL SHEIK

In the morning, with an internal flight, we go to Sharm el Sheikh, a week of absolute relaxation awaits us. We stay at the Conrad International and at the entrance of the hotel, a surprise, a mega drum kit...the temptation is too strong...I sit down and launch into some rabid heavy-metal rock!! The police arrive and tell me I can't play: what a shame!!! We enjoy the whole day on the beach, diving into a crystal-clear sea and admiring the fantastic coral reef. In the evening we go to Naama Bay and there I discover an Egyptian place with posters of Roma everywhere and a sign: "better a son a bastard than a Lazio fan!!!" Scary!! ROMA CAPUT MUNDI!!!

QUAD RIDE IN THE DESERT

A premise is needed. The excursions organised by the hotel are much more expensive than those from local agencies, and don't believe anyone who tells you they're better...that's absolutely not true!! The evening before in Naama Bay, at one of the many agencies that organise excursions, I meet Abraham, an Egyptian guide, the conversation was simple and direct: "If I bring you a group of kids for a couple of excursions, Giusy and I don't pay, right"?? "Of course"!! So everyone happy and content, the dissidents saved money and Giusy and I didn't pay...first excursion?? The desert motorbike ride: wrapped up in scarves we set off on these three-wheeled bikes, I should mention that I've never had a motorbike and that I did the whole route at the front with the guide signalling something to me with his hand and me responding by waving, we arrive first at the canyon, then at the Bedouin tents for

a tea, Giusy gets on a camel...get her down!!! She suffers from vertigo!!! The scenery is fantastic, the bikes, the sand, the dunes, the desert, the sunset....on the way back Giusy drove!!!

SHARM EL SHEIK

A day of absolute relaxation, in the sea of Sharm......and when you need it, you need it!!!

RAS MOHAMMED-RAS UHM SID-KATTY BAY

Excursion again with Abraham, towards Ras Mohammed bay, the boat trip is terrible, almost all the members of the group feel sick, Giusy and I hold up...Ras Mohammed bay is fantastic, so many colours and wonderful seabeds, with corals and colourful fish...extraordinary!!! After Ras Mohammed we go to Ras Uhm Sid, to admire another corner of paradise, with the blue of the sea contrasting with the brown of the desert....to finish we then dive into Katty Bay, where the fish almost come towards us....

SHARM EL SHEIK

We stay in Sharm, resting... dives... sea and a great game of beach volleyball.... the nighttime swim in the pool is wonderful!!!

COLORED CANYON-DOLPHIN BAY-DAHAB MARKET

It's our last excursion, we're going to the Colored Canyon, before getting there we roll down the desert dunes, the Canyon is made of pink granite... despite the terrible heat we venture inside, among caves, tunnels and jumps... we arrive exhausted, looking for shade... we continue our excursion toward the Dolphin Bay, where before reaching the beach we are mobbed by lots of children, we buy necklaces and bracelets and then we dive in and the dolphin is right beneath us... beautiful... they tell us it's a female dolphin and that she's pregnant!!! Congratulations then... we then reach the Dahab market and buy....

SHARM EL SHEIK

The vacation is coming to an end... we stay in Sharm to enjoy this exceptional sea.

THE GOODBYES

It's our last day.... we convince the police and, to say goodbye to everyone, I play the drums accompanied by Marcello and Marco who sing... the group is called: "Gli Squallidi"... we didn't have much success!!! We leave the rooms at noon and the plane is at night... we wander around the hotel and savor these last seconds of a magical, mysterious place, of a place that has always inspired fascination..... of a place that will always remain in our hearts: Egypt!!! A greeting to all the members of the group.