9 replies to this topic

[aziza]

I'm planning trips in the next year to Eygpt and also Ireland.
Sure would like some advice on places to go to.
Transportation, the locals, and what ever other info you can offer.
This will be my first time out of the US.

I prefer locals places to stay and hang out as opposed to
main big cities and giant hotel chains.

I know I want to see castles and other historical sites.

Italy is another place I would like to try to incooperate in my travels.

2 weeks in each place for a total of 6 weeks.
Thank you in advance for info.

Peace and blessing,
aziza

[Genesis Veracity]

In the beautiful Mediterranean waters offshore from Alexandria are the submerged megaliths of Sidi Gabr and Kinessa, on now-submerged ridges a few miles from shore in water about 50 feet deep.  So if you are an adventurous scuba type, there you go.  

There are megalithic walls and ramparts and temple ruins, those areas are popular for the commercial fishermen, for obvious reasons, so just ask the local fishermen where are the ruins (which appear to be of circa 2000 B.C. vintage).

[RonR]

I am not too knowledgeable of places to visit in Egypt, but I can tell you a good time to go if you are interested in things astronomical.  There will be a spectacular eclipse of the sun on Wednesday, March 29th and the centerline will cross the border between Egypt and Libya at the coastline with the Mediterranean Sea.

I am already booked on a cruise sils from Genoa, calling in at Naples to see the ruins of Pompeii;  It will dock in at Alexandria for an excursion to the  Great Pyramids and Sphinx, and the pyramids at Sakkara and Memphis.  We go ashore at Tobruk to observe the eclipse on land, and then sail to Tripoli, Malta, Salerno and back to Genoa.

This isn't exactly a megalith hunter's style trip but if you are interested I would be pleased to send full details.

RonR

[Jimit]

Hi aziza,
If you're visiting Ireland and want to see some really old places, you couldn't do better than to consult this site  http://www.megalithomania.com/ .
Tom Fourwinds is THE man to ask.

Jimit.

[aziza]

Thank you so much for the info and web site.
And yes please Ron, I would appreciate the information.

[BuckyE]

Dear Aziza,
Mainland Italy isn't exactly known for megaliths, but it's crammed with "history," and if you visit the big Italian island of Sardinia, wow, will you see stones! This site has a terrific section on Sardinia, and after a week there, Loie and I recommend a trip which would be a week in the north and a week in the midsouth. Driving from one end to the other for a daytrip isn't feasible.
And of course, the area around Naples has Greek Paestum, well worth a day: well preserved temples, a whole city in ruins, a pretty little Paleochristioan church and a good museum (check to see when its open); Pompeii and Herculaneum; Mount Vesuvius; and the archaeology museum in Naples, although budget constraints have closed much of it. You never know what may be open or closed in Italy, and you can't always trust what any individual tells you. Italy is kind of a crap shoot!
Rome of course is Rome. You could spend a couple of weeks there just in the city, seeing sights and art from ancient times through the Christian era.
Tuscany, especially Volterra with its gates and museum, has a good amount of Etruscan (indigenous preRoman) material to see.
So, prehistoric through Bronze age Sardinia (including the wonderful Phoenician city of Tharros); Greek Paestum; Etruscan Tuscany; Roman Rome and Pompeii; Christian Rome. That's pretty much the whole of western civilization, eh?

[Diego]

BuckyE, on 25 September 2005, 13:26, said:

Mainland Italy isn't exactly known for megaliths

That's (mainly) true, but probably BuckyE didn't visit Apulia. It is the region on the "heel" of Italy - and there are lots of megalithic sites there. If you are curious, you can have a look at our Ancient Apulia Tour section, where you can find photos, maps and descriptions of about 70 ancient Apulian monuments.

Hope this helps!

Diego

[Goddess babe]

I just found this site and too am trvaleing to Scotland and love to travel to "Goddess Sites" or shall I say neolithic sacred sites ?as the research continues)
I'll simply chime in although Aziza might have gone on the trip already.
if there is any room for planning here......MALTA MALTA MALTA.
As for Rome....eat at Orso 80. Any successful effort to get to this place will be greatly rewarded.
Any tips from anyone on Orkney? I'll be traveling there (my first time) May 2006......suggestions anyone?

[MacD]

Hi Goddess Babe

Lucky you! Orkney is stil on my "to do" list so I haven't had first hand experience of it. My aunt and uncle were there last month - weather awful, so be prepared for that! Check out the Orkneyjar website for just about anything you would want to know about.
Happy planning, and let us know how you get on.

MacD

PS I agree, Malta's sites are mega.

[Diego]

Goddess babe, on 28 October 2005, 1:51, said:

Any tips from anyone on Orkney? I'll be traveling there (my first time) May 2006......suggestions anyone?

We visited Orkney twice - and we are looking forward to coming back again - time, money & family permitting.
If you are going to stay there more than a few days - and if you are interested in megalithic monuments you must spend there at least a week - we strongly suggest to book a self-catering flat. It's a relatively economic choice, in our opinion far better and cheaper than the local hotles. And you should also rent a car or take yours up there, because the weather is so unpredictable and the sites quite distant one from each other. And take into account that ferries are horribly expensive, so if you are going to visit some lesser know isles, be prepared to pay top $$$ just to go there.
To have an idea of the Orcadian "megalithic highlights", this is one of our maps:


You can find the full clickable map here.

Hope this helps!