Suez Canal to Red Sea
by Diana Studer
- gardening for biodiversity
in Cape Town, South Africa
Splendid birthday 3
Our shipboard pictures look out to the sides, or backwards. Windows to the front reserved for The Yacht Club's first class passengers, and treadmills in the gym! We were escorted by two tugs. Did NOT want to risk blocking Suez Canal again in November last year.
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| Two tug escort - don't want to block Suez again! |
We were the majestic part of a stately procession of ships of all sizes. At a very gentle pace so as not to make waves against the canal walls, towns and fields.
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| Suez - stately procession of ships - Jürg's picture |
There is a newer section of dual carriageway. The New Suez Canal was officially opened on the 6th of August 2015 (with 2 video clips - up close the engineering is impressive). And the next ten kilometres (for June 2023). The human impact.
The humungous like us. And tiny fishing dhows as living memory.
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| Suez ships - humungous and tiny |
I run out of adjectives for the civil engineering projects. All along the canal are large metal pipes. Sucking up wet sand. Dumping it a little inland on the mudflats to drain back to the canal. Near the towns the reclaimed land becomes blocks of flats and industrial hubs.
One tiny flock of pelicans and flamingos. As we travelled the Jellyfish Highway.
Lessepsian migration. An influx of Indo-Pacific species has invaded the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, changing the sea’s ecology and threatening the region’s fisheries
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| Suez reclaimed mudflats |
El Ferdan pair of swing bridges for the railway line.
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| El Ferdan swing bridge for the railway line - Jürg's picture |
Many ferry terminals for trucks, cars and people.
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| Suez ferry terminal before the bridge |
El-Qantara city just before the bridge. We were about at walking pace so could focus on details. Hear the muezzin's call to prayer. Under the sand, buried tanks from WWI. WWII. Six Day War 1967. Yom Kippur War 1973.
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| El-Qantara city before the bridge |
Al Salam bridge is a landmark in this wide flat landscape. Connects Africa to Asia.
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| Al Salam bridge connects Africa to Asia |
Passing Mecca, we met a couple from Germany who holiday in our suburb!
With flying fish. Salalah in Oman (first medevac). Because our ship is 'too big' we were always moored in the container terminal.
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| Salalah in Oman - container terminal |
Azamara Journey zipped in and out to refuel. Hurrying to reach safer waters?
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| Azamara Journey refuelling stop |
We had time to watch this ship loading gravel. 24/7. Carefully distributed across the holds.
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| Ship loading gravel |
Captain's talk. Code Red - go to ballistic area. The theatre in the heart of the ship - if - pirates board. Wait! What?? We were escorted by naval ships - this warship we saw off Sanaa in Yemen. And other commercial ships getting on with daily life. Please stay off your balcony, curtains drawn, outside lights off - at night. Lasted for four nights and the outside decks were in gloom.
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| Red Sea 'pirate' corridor |
Midnight diversion to the Seychelles for an off-shore medevac.
'Walking' thru Suez Canal with so much to see ticks a bucket list item. I have, been there, done that! It was fascinating. Disappointed that they cancelled my tour of the new Alexandria library tho. The Ungardener was looking forward to Petra.
In retrospect, since we slipped thru before ships rerouted via my Cape of Good Hope, I am grateful for our digital detox, we couldn't doom-scroll. And understand why my sister burst into tears when she saw me safely home.
4 Mauritius and Pamplemousses garden
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That looks like an interesting ride - and it was photogenic too! A long time ago, my husband and I took a ship that passed through the Panama Canal and we were surprised at just how entertaining an experience that was.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an adventure! I understand why your sister was emotional when you got back. Good for you on taking on this excursion. And thank you for sharing some photos and stories!
ReplyDeleteI cannot even imagine the Suez and Red Sea. And quite a scary place to be these days. Environmentally precarious but so much history surrounds. That is too bad you couldn't go to Petra or Alexandria Library. I would feel like I lived there in another life.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post! I feel as though I've lived vicariously through your experience - I'm not sure I'd ever make it there.
ReplyDeleteMy mum was born in Alexandria. The family left for South Africa (via Paris) following the rise of antisemitism after the Suez crisis