BROWN TRAVELERS ANTIQUITIES OF EGYPT CAIRO & THE NILE RIVER _________________________________________________ February 25 to March 8, 2010 WITH LANNY BELL, VISITING SCHOLAR IN EGYPTOLOGY Dear Graduates, Parents and Friends of Brown, Every trip to Egypt is memorable, given the breadth and variety of her ancient monuments. No one can fail to be moved by the pyramids, the vast temples in Luxor or the riches of Cairo’s museums. Our first trip on the Brown Travelers schedule for 2010, this exceptional winter journey also features a four-night Nile River cruise. We are delighted to be accompanied by Lanny Bell, one of the world’s leading Egyptologists and a Visiting Scholar in Egyptology at Brown. Professor Bell, who was featured in the National Geographic documentary film Egypt: Quest for Eternity , has conducted numerous seasons of fieldwork in Egypt and led dozens of travel programs to rave reviews. His brief biography appears elsewhere in this brochure. Our program begins with three nights in the intriguing city of Cairo. History will be brought to vivid life at the G reat Pyramid complex at Giza and the remarkable Step Pyramid of King Zoser, dating from the 27th century B.C.E. Then fly to Luxor, gateway to the magnificent temple of Karnak, the vast necropolis of ancient Thebes and the Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of pharaohs were cut deep into the mountainside. In Luxor we embark the M.S. Sonesta Nile Goddess , a deluxe river vessel offering all modern amenities, continental cuisine and a small swimming pool. As we sail along the Nile, stop to see the remarkable temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo. Our river journey concludes in Aswan, where we will view the Philae Temple and sail across the Nile in a traditional felucca . Jerash Fly on to Abu Simbel, site of the unforgettable colossal Mediterranean Sea Amman statues and rock temples of Ramses II, before returning to Cairo for a three-night stay. Discover the city’s Coptic heritage and tour the Dead Madaba Sea Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, containing fabulous relics from Cairo JORDAN Tutankhamun’s tomb. Petra r e v i R Congenial company, fine accommodations and exceptional e l i N lectures will combine to capture the essence of Egypt, both ancient EGYPT and modern. We hope that you are able to join us on this program, Red Sea shared with members of Thirteen/WNET New York Public Media. Luxor Sincerely, Esna Edfu Kom Ombo Aswan Lake Nasser Beth Goldman Galer ’88 Abu Simbel Director of the Alumni Travel Program ANTIQUITIES OF EGYPT CAIRO & THE NILE RIVER _________________________________________________ February 25 to March 8, 2010 Pyramids at Giza. NEW YORK CAIRO 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Thursday, February 25 Depart New York on an overnight Sunday, February 28 Begin the day with a guided tour of the flight to Cairo. Great Pyramids – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. See the Sphinx, the Valley Temple of Chephren and CAIRO t h e S o lar Boat Museum, housing the exceptionally preserved 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 cedar boat found near the pyramid of Khufu. Lunch is at Friday, February 26 Arrive in Cairo in the evening the Andrea Grill Restaurant in Giza. Return to the hotel, and transfer to the historic Mena House in Giza, with views where a teatime lecture is planned. Dinner and the evening of the nearby pyramids. are at leisure. CAIRO 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 CAIRO 1 LUXOR 1 Saturday, February 27 A morning lecture by Lanny Bell EMBARK will provide an introduction to ancient Egypt. Drive to 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Memphis, once the glorious capital of the Old Kingdom, and Monday, March 1 Depart on an early flight to Luxor and explore the open-air museum. In Sakkara see the necropolis, spend the morning at Karnak Temple, remarkable for its site of the remarkable Step Pyramid of King Zoser dating from grandeur and exceptional state of preservation. Board the the 27th century B.C.E., which inspired subsequent pyramid Sonesta Nile Goddess in time for lunch. This afternoon designs in ancient Egypt. After lunch in Sakkara, return to the discover the outstanding collections at the Luxor Museum hotel. Gather for a welcome dinner this evening. before a twilight visit of Luxor Temple. Dinner is on board. KOM OMBO 1 ASWAN 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Thursday, March 4 Discover Kom Ombo Temple, a Ptolemaic temple decorated with a series of beautiful reliefs and offering splendid views of the Nile. After lunch, arrive in Aswan, where visits include the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis, and the granite quarries that provided stone used for the pyramids and all the obelisks. Enjoy a sail aboard a felucca , the traditional sailing vessel of the Nile, passing the lovely Kitchener Botanical Garden and the Agha Khan Mausoleum. Return to the ship for dinner. ASWAN 1 ABU SIMBEL 1 CAIRO Step Pyramid at Sakkara. 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Friday, March 5 Disembark the Sonesta Nile Goddess after LUXOR 1 ESNA breakfast and fly to Abu Simbel. The monumental temples 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 of Ramses II and his favorite wife, Queen Nefertari, are Tuesday, March 2 Explore the West Bank of Luxor, including architectural treasures and one of the greatest achievements the Valley of the Kings, where tombs of the pharaohs were of historic preservation. Completed before 1255 B.C.E. and cut deep into the mountainside. Also view the famed Colossi fronted by colossal statues, the temples were constructed to of Memnon (monumental statues of Amenhotep III) and the show Egyptian might to enemies approaching from the south. temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el–Bahari. The Sonesta Return to Cairo on an afternoon flight and check in at the Nile Goddess departs for Esna in the late morning. During a centrally located Semiramis InterContinental Hotel, on the relaxed afternoon of cruising, attend a lecture by Lanny Bell banks of the Nile River. Dinner is at leisure. and admire the scenery. Dinner is on board. CAIRO 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Saturday, March 6 Begin the day viewing the outstanding collections at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, including objects from Tutankhamun’s tomb. In the afternoon continue to Islamic Cairo to visit the Sultan Hassan and Ibn Tulun Mosques. Dating from 879 C.E., Ibn Tulun is one of the oldest mosques in Egypt. At the nearby Gayer-Anderson House, a restored Ottoman residence, admire the private collection of furniture, glassware, crystal, carpets, silks and embroidered Arab costumes. This evening enjoy a festive farewell dinner at the hotel. Temple at Kom Ombo. EDFU 1 KOM OMBO 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Wednesday, March 3 Continue to Edfu, with lunch on board. Step ashore for a visit to the Temple of Horus. An outstanding example of Egyptian architecture, the a v o b u temple’s superbly preserved reliefs retain many of their D a v I original colors. The ship sails to Kom Ombo in the late © o t o h afternoon. A teatime lecture will prepare us for the upcoming P excursion to Abu Simbel. Spices in an Egyptian market. CAIRO LAND/CRUISE PROGRAM RATE $6,995 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 per person, double occupancy Sunday, March 7 This morning focus on Cairo’s Coptic heritage. See the Coptic Museum, the 4th-century Church SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $1,020 (limited availability) of Saints Sergius and Bacchus and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, where the Geniza Documents were discovered. Lunch is at RATE INCLUDES Al Azhar Park, with its lovely gardens and panoramic city I Ten nights’ accommodations, as per itinerary. views. In the afternoon explore medieval Cairo, including a visit to an 18th-century merchant’s home. The evening is at I Breakfast daily, eight lunches and six dinners. leisure. Those participants continuing on the Petra postlude Bottled water and coffee/tea with all meals. will transfer to the airport after lunch. I Economy Class airfare via Egyptair: Cairo/Luxor … CAIRO 1 NEW YORK Aswan/Abu Simbel/Cairo. 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 I Monday, March 8 Depart on early-morning flights home. I Enrichment program of lectures. I Entrance fees for all included visits. F L L B, V S E I Airport/hotel/pier group transfers. ANNY BELL IS CURRENTLY A VISITING SCHOLAR IN EGYPTOLOGY I Transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary, including Lat Brown, where he has taught for more than 20 years. Professor Bell received his B.A. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. from the service of bilingual national