Rory Mcilroy to Play 2010 Egyptian Open

Cairo (EGYPT): Northern Ireland’s world number seven Rory McIlroy will be the star attraction when the European Challenge Tour stages its first official event in Cairo with the 2010 Egyptian Open at the JW Marriott, Mirage City GolfClub from October 20-23.T o u r n a m e n t.
officials confirmed the 21 year-old superstar– tipped by many as a future world number one – will join the cream of the European ChallengeTour at the penultimate event of the season.
For McIlroy it will mean a short break from the European Tour just weeks after his expected debut in The Ryder Cup and a month prior to the end of the Race To Dubai.“To have one of the world’s best players agree to join us for the 2010 tournament is a wonderful
bonus after achieving full European Challenge Tour status,” said Egyptian Golf Federation Chairman Ayman Hussein. “Having Rory McIlroy with us will help focus attention on Egypt, a country we firmly believe has a bright golfing future to match
its reputation as the original home of the game in the Middle East.” “I’m very excited about the chance of playing in Egypt for the first time,” said McIlroy. “It’s not a country you would think about as a home for golfbut I have heard about the courses there, the history of the Egyptian Open and the developments that are coming online. I can’t wait to see it for myself.”In Cairo, McIloy will join around 80 players from the European Challenge Tour as well as a selection
of local and regional invites and qualifiers.
In 2009, the event – while not part of the official European Challenge Tour calendar at the time
– attracted an impressive field complemented by a guest appearance by European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.
Last year’s event was very impressive for a first attempt and we expect the 2010 Egyptian Open to take the tournament to even greater heights both in terms of infrastructure and quality of play,” said Nick Tarratt, Director The European Tour International, Dubai Office.
“Its position as an end-of-season event means it will command a strong field, while the appearance of one of the world’s most exciting players in Rory McIlroy underlines the massive steps taken by the Egyptian Golf Federation in putting golf in Egypt on the world map.”
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For more information on interline rates on tours and cruises to Egypt contact InterlineTravel.com online or by calling 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631.

Three new Mercure hotels in Egypt

Three new Mercure properties – Dahab Bay View, Hurghada and Cairo Le Sphinx – are added to one of the world’s largest brand networks that include more than 700 Mercure hotels in nearly 50 countries. Whatever the place, each Mercure hotel has its own special personality that stems from its local environment.
While all different, these three hotels share common features: a stunning location and a fantastic view either on the Red Sea or on the Pyramids!
The opening of the three hotels is the first step to expand the development of Mercure brand in Egypt.
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For more information on interline rates on tours and cruises to Egypt contact InterlineTravel.com online or by calling 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631.

Marina El Alamein to Re-Open

Following years of restoration and development, the Marina El Alamein archaeological site on the North Coast will be opened in mid-September.
A high-tech lighting system had been installed through the entire site, which would permit visitors to view El Alamein in the evening, as well as during the day.
Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said that the site includes Roman villas and baths, as well as Greco-Roman markets, remains of a church, tombs, streets and a Roman theater.
The site of El Alamein was once the most important and well-known port during the Greco-Roman era and was named Locassis, which means “the white shell”. The goddess of love, Aphrodite, was worshipped there and the statues found of her on the site show her emerging from a white shell, in reference to its name.
This is the first archaeological site on the North Coast to be developed as a tourist-friendly site, stretching to a length of 189 fedans.
The entrance fee for the site will be LE 20 for foreigners and half price for foreign students.
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For more information on interline rates on tours and cruises to Egypt contact InterlineTravel.com online or by calling 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631.

Egypt Air Express Launches New Flight to Port Ghalib

New Destination from Alexandria to Marsa Alam International Airport
The M.A. Kharafi Group announced today that EgyptAir launched a new scheduled flight service from Alexandria to Marsa Alam International Airport, a key element in opening the area to wider domestic tourism. In addition, several new direct international routes will commence to Port Ghalib from Amman, Kuwait, and Jeddah. New flight routes will provide easier access to Port Ghalib, the perfect summer destination catered to individuals and families with activities such as safari dives, horseback riding, water sports, an arcade centre for kids and world renowned Six Senses Spas for adults.
Vice President, Ibrahim Saleh noted that “EgyptAir is the first airlines to commence regular operation of domestic flight services to Marsa Alam from Alexandria, thereby further opening this maginificently diverse area to access by global tourism. EgyptAir’s scheduled flight service to Marsa Alam is a key element in opening the area to wider access by international tourists and source markets, as well as providing easy and appealing access to the area by the domestic tourism market.”
Egypt’s tourism market, especially around the Red Sea Riviera, has enjoyed substantial growth over the past few years as increasing numbers of holidaymakers are attracted to the warm, comfortable climate, the vast array of activities and historic sites and the favourable exchange rate offered by the Egyptian Pound.
Marsa Alam International Airport serves Egypt’s South Red Sea area including Port Ghalib which is just a few kilometres away from the airport. Comprising nine villages, a large conference centre, 160 retail and commercial outlets, 8200 apartments and villas, the international marina, four already operating hotels including The Palace by Intercontinental, The Oasis and The Sands by Crown Plaza and Marina Lodge, along with a substantial residential offering built, Port Ghalib is ready for occupation. In addition, a four lane ten-pin bowling alley, horse academy, children’s centre and all the water sports associated with such an international destination are all up and running. Once complete, the resort will include 19 additional hotels, a yacht club, an 18-hole golf course and further entertainment facilities and services.
Backed by mountains, deserts and oasis containing Bedouin encampments, natural fauna and flora, and rare wildlife, Port Ghalib is located in the town of Marsa Alam in south-eastern Egypt where the Arabian Desert meets the Red Sea. Formerly a quiet fishing village, the area is now an exciting tourist destination, attracting visitors with its combination of diverse cultural, historical and natural influences.
With three of the top ten dive sites in the world within easy reach from Port Ghalib – the Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Rocky Island – and some of best dolphin observing waters on earth, Port Ghalib is becoming the diving capital of the south Red Sea. Adding to this the proximity of Egypt’s Nile Valley pharaonic monuments – only two hours away – and you have a wonderful unique area for tourism and tourism development.

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For more information on interline rates on tours and cruises to Egypt contact InterlineTravel.com online or by calling 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631.

Two distinguished tombs discovered at Saqqara necropolis

The tombs were found during a routine excavation carried out by an Egyptian mission at an area called “Gisr El-Mudir” located to the west of the Step Pyramid of Djoser. The team has been working in the area since 1968. The tombs belong to a father, Shendwa, and his son, Khonsu. The father’s tomb consists of a painted false door depicting scenes of the deceased seated before an offering table. The door also bears the different titles of the tomb’s owner who was a top governmental official during the Sixth Dynasty (2374-2191 BC). He was the head of the royal scribes and the supervisor of the missions as well as other honorary titles. The tomb’s burial shaft is located directly beneath the false door, 20 meters below the ground level. It was intact and had not previously been plundered by tomb robbers. Unfortunately Shendwas’s wooden sarcophagus had disintegrated due to humidity and erosion. Beside the sarcophagus, a collection of limestone jars was found including five offering vessels carved in the shape of a duck. Upon opening the vessels, the Head of the Supreme Council of Antiquates discovered that the bones of the ducks were still intact. Inside the burial shaft a painted relief and a 30 cm tall obelisk made of limestone were also discovered. This obelisk is a symbol of worshiping the sun god Re. Next to the father’s tomb, excavators discovered Shendwa’s son Khonsu. It is a beautifully painted tomb with a false door bearing Khonsu’s different titles. It appears that Khonsu inherited the same titles as his father. Excavators located an offering table just opposite to the false door as well as a stone lintel on the floor….

For more information on interline rates on tours and cruises to Egypt contact InterlineTravel.com online or by calling 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631.

Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel

5-star deluxe hotel Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel becomes first wellness hotel in Egypt to be certified by TÜV Rheinland The deluxe Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel on the Red Sea is the first wellness hotel in Egypt and the first one outside of Europe to be awarded the Best Health International certificate for quality in spa and wellness tourism. This quality standard encompasses more than 130 inspection criteria covering a wide range of different areas that can be hard for guests themselves to ascertain or judge. The certification of the Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel on the Red Sea is part of a programme launched by the Egyptian tourism authorities to improve wellness facilities throughout the country. To help them achieve this, the Egyptian tourism authorities announced at the international tourism trade fair, the ITB Berlin in March 2010, their plans to cooperate with TÜV Rheinland to certify wellness hotels to the Best Health International standard. Over the next two years, at least 20 hotels in Egypt are to be inspected to international standards and certified by TÜV Rheinland as wellness hotels. Pictured from left to right: Randa El Alaily, coordinator wellness tourism committee (ETF); Sherief Moshref, Director of Spa and Karim Boushra, Resident Manager, both Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel; Dr. Stefan Thelen, International Consultants; Karin Rogge, hotel amp; spa auditor, TÜV Rheinland; Naama Tawfik, coordinator medical wellness tourism project (ETA)….

For more information on interline rates on tours and cruises to Egypt contact InterlineTravel.com online or by calling 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631.

FOLKLORE DANCE SHOW UCSB MIDDLE EAST ENSEMBLE

Open Air THEATRE, Cairo Opera Grounds – July 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th The UCSB Music Ensemble’s repertoire reflects the great diversity of cultures found in the Middle East. The ensemble performs music and dance from Arab, Turkish, Armenian, Greek and Assyrian cultures. Performance items range from classical pieces to religious, folk, popular and children’s songs and cabaret styles. They use traditional instruments such as the Middle Eastern oud, the Turkish nay, the Persian Kanun and the Egyptian Rababa. The ensemble’s performances are noted for being colorful and fast paced. The UCSB Music Ensemble was founded in 1989 by ethnomusicology professor Scott Marcus. The ensemble performed widely throughout California and in the Fall of 1999, seven members performed in Uzbekistan at the “International Melodies of the East Festival”….

For more information on interline rates on tours and cruises to Egypt contact InterlineTravel.com online or by calling 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631.

Discovering the Secrets of the Tunnel of Seti I

A tunnel in the tomb of King Seti I (1314-1304 BC) has been discovered by in the Valley of the Kings.

The Egyptian archeological mission has finally succeeded, after 20 years of searching, in completely excavating the 174m long tunnel. The tunnel was cut into the bedrock near the end of the beautifully decorated tomb of Seti I. In addition to excavating the tunnel, the team braced the walls and ceiling with metal supports. They also built a wooden walkway over the original stone staircase of the tunnel to preserve it and installed a mining car system to remove rubble from the team’s excavations. During their work, the mission uncovered pottery fragments that dates to the Eighteenth Dynasty (1569-1315 BC). Several limestone ostraca fragments, as well as a small boat model made of faience were also found. During their excavation of the staircase, the team found that three of the steps were decorated with red graffiti.

The team also uncovered a descending 54-step staircase passage which measures 25.60m in length and 2.6m wide.

The tunnel of King Seti I are well finished and remains of preliminary sketches of decoration are placed on the walls.

It is believed that the workmen and artists first finished the original tomb of Seti I during his twelve-year reign and then began to construct the tunnel. It appears that Seti I was trying to construct a secret tomb inside a tomb. It is likely that when Seti I died his son, Ramesses II (1304-1237BC), had to stop the work and bury has father.

The Egyptian mission is currently working in the tomb of Ramesses II to preserve the wall paintings and to look for a similar tunnel to the one in the tomb of Seti I.
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For more information on interline rates on tours and cruises to Egypt contact InterlineTravel.com online or by calling 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631.

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