I wish you were here

After two days in Luxor and after crossing the Esna Locks, we stopped at Edfu to visit the most well-preserved temple in Egypt, the Temple of Edfu.

This temple is near the cruise ship port, so we went on a horse carriage (locally called calèche) to reach this beautiful temple. When we reached it, we were greeted by hundreds of carriages lining up at the entrance.

The Temple of Horus at Edfu was built over a period of 180 years during the Ptolemaic Kingdom and is dedicated to the falcon god Horus. It is a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture, and its walls are covered in intricate hieroglyphics and reliefs.

The United States boasts a diverse array of 63 national parks, each offering unique natural beauty, geological features, diverse ecosystems, and various recreational opportunities.

These parks are managed by the National Park Service and are designated for their outstanding scenic features or natural phenomena.

The first national park, Yellowstone, was established in 1872, and since then, the system has grown to include parks in thirty states and the territories of American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Here is a list of the most popular National Parks:

We landed at the Arboretum by mistake, and I am glad we did. I passed this place many times on my way to hikes close by but never stopped to explore.

On this day, we were heading to Eaton Canyon for a great waterfall hike but were blocked by a roaring stream with a dangerous crossing. So we decided to check out this botanic garden in Arcadia.

The 127-acres beautifully landscaped garden is nestled against the San Gabrial mountains. It provides a sanctuary of nature, where flora and fauna thrive in harmony, and visitors can escape the urban chaos and immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural world.

The decision on where to spend the nights at Yosemite depends on your preference, budget, and your planning skills. You can find very inexpensive tent cabins or you can go all the way and stay at the luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel (Majestic Yosemite Hotel). You can rough it at a campground or go on a backpacking trip through the wilderness.

Whatever you decide to do, you will need to plan way ahead. All hotels, lodges, and campsites are booked many months ahead of time. Some of the more popular ones are booked 12 months in advance.

Lodging

In my opinion, the best lodge for the value is Yosemite Lodge at the Fall (Yosemite Valley Lodge). It is located right on the valley floor next to Yosemite Fall. It is a large complex with about 240 rooms, a swimming pool, a food court, a restaurant, shops, bicycle rentals, and many other amenities. Rooms will run you around $200 per night depending on the season.

The main drawback is that there is no air conditioning in the rooms and if you want WiFi for your gadgets you will need to go to the main lobby. 

The Disney Resort is practically in my backyard. Throughout the years we learned a lot about Disney’s parks, hotels, shopping, and restaurants. In these pages, we will share our knowledge with you.

Pixar Pier is just like any beach town boardwalk with lots of rides, food, and entertainment. You can spend a lot of time and money trying to win at shooting, racing, or other skill games.