Stories to tell -places to see - books to read - with special offers thrown in!

Hello ,

I’m glad you have decided to join me on this journey with Globetrotter Stories, a monthly newsletter bringing you my personal adventures in writing and travel. 

Missed a newsletter? You can always check out former ones by clicking here.

I finally got to see one of my bucket list destinations!  Taking a trip to view the pyramids (last of the great 7 wonders still standing) ranks up there with Machu Pichu and the Parthenon as must-sees for me.

My wife and I headed for Luxor and embarked on a 4-night cruise on the River Nile. Day trips were filled with amazing scenes: temples of Karnak, Luxor, Edfu, and Kom Ombo and the tombs found in the Valley of the Kings, and the Valley of the Queens. What fascinated us the most was viewing paintings and hieroglyphs so well preserved even after 3000 years. We learned that this was due to the extreme dryness of the Egyptian desert climate and many sites having been underground or buried in sand for millennia. We have modern day houses that don"t even make it ten years before the paint fades or chips!  

Late afternoons aboard our ship were truly spectacular. We watched as the medley of towns, mosques, and fisherman boats passed by. Sounds from the muezzins coming from the many minarets filled the air, seeming to glide with us. The peace was only sometimes interrupted by boatsmen that attached themselves to the ship, hawking colorful scarves to anyone who dared to peer over the railing. It provided great entertainment for all, as these hawkers were skilled at throwing their wares onto the upper deck. After a lot of haggling and deals made,  money was placed into a plastic bag and thrown down onto their boat. Big cheers erupted!

Having missed the 2021 "Golden Parade of Pharaohs" (what a sight that must have been!), when 22 royals were transferred from the old Egyptian Museum, we went to visit the mummies and coffins in their new home at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Those pharaohs most likely never anticipated this turn of events. Their tombs may have been raided of most of their after-lifes "necessities" (and valuables), but the mummified remains are now well protected and remembered.

By the way, a state-of-the art museum is about to open right next to the pyramids in Giza.

For more photo impressions, check the section Travels on my website.

Currently, Books For Benjamin 2 is in the works in draft form. In case you don’t already know, Books For Benjamin was my debut book about a worm who doesn’t really  fit in with his family as he loves to read (more in the synopsis below). 

My next book to be released is called, Mother To Elephants, a nonfiction picture book biography about a lady who rescued orphaned elephants. I hope to have a cover reveal soon. Kate, my Ukrainian illustrator, is working hard to make this happen. 

That's all for today! Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

Until next time,

R.G.