Suez Canal

Suez Canal Passage
The Suez Canal is 100 miles long and connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and provides a shortcut for ships operating between European ports and ports located in Southern Asia and Africa – we began our transit this morning at 0600. Our narrator told us many facts about the canal history during the day and we stopped our activities, periodically, to jump up and see the Canal highlights as we passed. Many dredge rigs were positioned throughout the canal and you could see where they pump sand up onto the shore. This appears to be a continuous process of widening and deepening the canal as there no locks. They told us that the water level in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are the same. Today 7.5% of the world’s sea trade is carried via the canal. The cost of our ship to transit the canal was $250,000. Terry was a bit concerned that there were almost no power plants. Eventually, though, we did see a rather big one.
One of the fun things is that Leila and Shirley have been practicing to dance in a troupe that’s doing Chorus Line. The show will be on the last sea day, day after tomorrow. Too bad you all will miss it!!!! As a bonus, Dennis will be in a group that will be singing “One” that the ladies will be dancing to.
Betty has been working out in the gym for about 2 ½ hours each day. One of these pictures will show you why.
Tomorrow we’re off to the Pyramids. No, we won’t be going by ship.