At 6:00AM we are anchored off Suez City and waiting to enter the south end of the Suez Canal. We go to the forward lounge on deck 8 and have some coffee and pastries while waiting to enter. Finally, about 30 minutes behind schedule, we enter
and are sixth in line of the northbound convoy. 
The canal is roughly 190KM long and takes twelve hours to transit.The canal appears to be heavily guarded with numerous one-man guard stations along its eastern side. Actually, the guarding appears rather amateurish.
We do see several pontoon bridges stored on the western shore
and, in some cases, soldiers working around them. We guess these are so they can retreat from the East to the West bank in the shortest possible time. There is also wreackage all along the eastern shore. Hmmm....!
Both sides of the canal are low and sandy with the eastern side being virtually uninhabited. The western side shows pockets of habitation
and, in the area of the Great Bitter Lake,
some very nice houses line the western shore. To the east is Asia; to the west is Africa. The canal finally makes Africa an island. Toward the end of the transit we see two memorials, one for the First World War
and a much more elaborate one with a park area around it for the 1967 war.
There is also one railroad bridge
and a large auto bridge 
near the Mediterranean end.
Our transit ends right on time
and we enter the Mediterranean 
and head for Alexandria. The sea gets rough near dinner time, but that is fine we us...better to sleep!
and a much more elaborate one with a park area around it for the 1967 war.There is also one railroad bridgeand a large auto bridge near the Mediterranean end.Our transit ends right on time
and we enter the Mediterranean and head for Alexandria. The sea gets rough near dinner time, but that is fine we us...better to sleep!
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