We've never been through the Suez Canal before -- one of the reasons for choosing this cruise. Unlike the Panama Canal, the Suez is at sea level -- there are no locks. According to the captain, we entered the canal at 4am. We didn't start taking pictures until 6:30am. We slept in.
On the sea day before entering the canal, we passed a number of oil platforms in the Red Sea. Notice that the sea has a little kick in it. It was windy and coming from the north, right down the narrow Red Sea.
From the south the Suez Canal has a short excavated segment, then enters the Great Bitter Lake. That's when we got up on deck.
A large freighter ahead of us. I think it's a car carrier.
We passed a number of air force bases along the canal in Egypt. Notice the hardened hangars for the planes.
The northbound lane of the Suez Canal just north of the Bitter Lake is brand new. Previously this segment was one way alternating. A convoy traveled north, then the waiting convoy traveled south. With this new lane, traffic can go both ways.
The dredging spoils were built up between the two lanes, making it difficult to see to the west. That's where all of the cities and interesting things are. Julie, the Cruise Director, says we have to come back and go south through the canal to get the full experience.
A cut through between the two lanes.
A new city under construction. A mile of new buildings, none occupied yet.
WWI memorial
Tribute to the canal builders
This bridge must be new. It's the only one we passed under during the transit. And there were NO vehicles on it the entire time it was in view. It must have cost hundreds of millions, given the very long approaches that they built. Yet it wasn't used.
A monument to the Six Day War.
Here's how people get across the canal without using the new bridge. There were ferries, usually 10-20 car ferries every five miles or so. This was an instance of a people only ferry.
With no pomp or circumstance we just pass through into the Mediterranean.
To get through the canal I have this image of an EZ-Pass transponder stuck onto the bridge windshield. I imagine it's more complicated than that.
On the sea day before entering the canal, we passed a number of oil platforms in the Red Sea. Notice that the sea has a little kick in it. It was windy and coming from the north, right down the narrow Red Sea.
The dredging spoils were built up between the two lanes, making it difficult to see to the west. That's where all of the cities and interesting things are. Julie, the Cruise Director, says we have to come back and go south through the canal to get the full experience.
To get through the canal I have this image of an EZ-Pass transponder stuck onto the bridge windshield. I imagine it's more complicated than that.
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