Glacier Viewing and Dog Sleigh Riding

This adventure begins with a lie...well, about weight. You see in order to view the glaciers and get to the dog sleigh ride, you have to ride a helicopter and before you get in the helicopter, you have to let the pilot know how much you weigh. My husband said he was 10 pounds heavier than his actual weight because he suspected that a few people said they were 10 pounds lighter. Once the pilot has your weight, you slip into these special boots, since you will be walking on ice and snow and they make you wear a life vest, since you will be flying over bodies of water. The life vest is a requirement, but I don’t think it’s going to save your life if you end up in the body of water which has mountains of ice in it. Back to the helicopter; you don’t have a choice of seats. Based on your height and weight, the pilot positions you in the craft. And the reason why you put your life vest on before you board the helicopter is because there’s hardly any room to move around in once you’re in the helicopter.

Once you’re airborne, you’re in for a spectacular view of the town of Juneau, the waterways, and the breathtaking mountains and glaciers. We’re talking miles and miles of ice. Some of the ice is soot colored, some areas white, and some areas are various shades of blue. It’s hard to think of global warming when you’re viewing this vast mountain of ice. Just as you’re enjoying the wonders of the glaciers, the dog sleigh camp comes into view. 

Here you see rows and rows of dog houses, which look like little igloos. These dogs are lean and strong! You would think they’d have longer hair to help keep them warm, but surprisingly, they have short hair. According to the trainer, the dogs prefer colder temperature and you can see some of the dogs laying spread-eagle on the snow to cool off. I guess the trainers get used to the temperature too because a few of them were walking around in t-shirts. These dogs wore booties to protect their feet as the trainers positioned them for the sleigh ride. The team consisted of 7-8 dogs, 2 in the front, 2 in the back and the remainder spread out between them. 


The trainer shows you how to work the sleigh and then “Mush!” you’re off. What an exhilarating experience! You’re not just a passenger on the sleigh, oh you get to experience that too, but you actually drive the sleigh! The dogs are incredible as they dig into the snow and pull you, a passenger and the sleigh. This really is a ride of a lifetime! After your sleigh ride, you can warm up and meet some of the dogs. The trainer introduces you to the dogs and lets you know if you can pet them or not; the dogs love the attention. We’re told that this is like a “summer fun” camp for the dogs before they begin their training for the Iditarod. We headed back to Juneau filled with wonderful memories of our once in a lifetime ride. 

Things to be aware of:

• Take sunglasses, gloves and a head covering (knitted top is good). The sunglasses protects your eyes from the white glare; gloves and hat will keep you warm when driving the sleigh.
• Layering your clothes might be better than using a thick jacket. Two reasons for this: 1) It’s a snug fit in the helicopter and 2) It gets warm even in the snow and ice if you’re walking around quite a bit.
• Bring your camera. You don’t want to miss out on the photo taking opportunities above the glaciers and at the dog sleigh camp.

Cairo, Egypt - The Pyramids and The Sphinx

Did you know that many stores and vendors in Egypt prefer U.S. currency instead of their own Egyptian pound? It's true! We exchanged some U.S. currency for Egyptian pounds and never used it because the merchants wanted our U.S. dollar. So much for using the local currency.

We traveled from Port Said to Cairo. It was a long ride filled with miles and miles of desert and then suddenly we see huge cargo ships sailing alongside the bus. It was kind of funny but at the same time pretty neat to see ships in the desert using the Suez Canal. Finally, after 3 hours on the bus we reached Cairo and the pyramids. The bus ride was worth it! Cairo is a fascinating place to visit.

There's about 10 million people living in the outskirts of the city and approximately 12 million living within it. Needless to say, it's crowded. The streets are filled with donkeys and cars and if there are car lanes, they don't use it. If there's an open spot on the road then a car is sure to squeeze into it. I'm sure everyone thinks they have bad traffic, but Cairo is the worst! Cairo is very colorful and there's an interesting mix of modern and olden day lifestyles and buildings. The Nile River is close by and you can take a boat ride on it. Just imagine floating along the same Nile River that Cleopatra used. Well, we didn't have Cleopatra on our boat but we did have a belly dancer and were treated to an interesting Egyptian buffet.

Seeing the pyramids is a breathtaking experience. You can walk into the the oldest and largest pyramid to see the crypt. However, if you're claustrophobic, you might want to stay top-side; it's a cramped one way in/one way out walk to the crypt. The Sphinx is a short distance away from the pyramids and it is a spectacular sight. Let me clarify that it's a short distance as long as you're in some sort of vehicle. Both structures are so huge it looks like a close walk but I wouldn't be surprised if people collapse of heat stroke if they tried walking to the Sphinx. Once you get to the Sphinx you can view it from various angles. It is amazing to stand next to, to see, and in some cases, touch these marvelous structures built by the Egyptians.

When you get to the pyramids, here are a few things to be aware of:

• Peddlers - Protect your belongings and ignore the peddlers as much as possible. Some of them will grab your camera from your hand, snap a picture of you with the pyramids in the background and then they want you to pay them $1 because they took your picture. Some try to put merchandise in your hands. If you take the merchandise, the peddlers refuse to take it back and wanting payment instead. Oh and watch out for the peddlers who stick a turban (yuk!) on your head and say they'll take your picture. They'll ask for money after taking your picture. Also, prices are inflated so when they say $5, you should bargain for $1.

• Entering the Pyramid - You can't take your camera or cell phone into the pyramid. You can leave those item up front in a bin before you go in, but no one is really accountable for it. It's safer if you leave it with someone you know before you enter the pyramid. 

• Sitting on Camels - Confirm the price for sitting and taking pictures with a camel or the cost of riding a camel before getting on them. Some camel guides will let you get on and then refuse to let you down until you agree to pay their price. 

• Riding the camels - Be sure to stay in view of your tour bus or starting point. Our tour guide reminded us that we're in the desert; she said, "If you get lost out there, chances are really good I won't find you."