A North Africa and Middle East ramble

[JohnM]

To round out a busy and diverse year of travel, two weeks from today I’ll be in 1A on an EK bird from PER approaching DXB to start a six-week sojourn in North Africa and the Middle East. Since I booked, EK has changed one of what was two A380 services a day between PER and DXB, so I’m in a B777. Unfortunately, they have done it to the day flight out of PER which I had deliberately chosen over the night flight. C’est la vie.

The primary purpose of the trip was to visit Ethiopia and Iran. Some time to fill between each has me also going to Egypt and Oman.

When I mentioned I was going to Iran, my Chile/Argentina sidekick Rooflyer was soon on board for that part of the travels.

Here’s the routing: PER-DXB-ADD-CAI-MCT-DXB-IKA-DXB-PER. The Qatar blockade meant a little rejigging of flights to remove QR and DOH from the original plans. Thankfully, that was achieved painlessly.



The planned route in each country:



OK, that’s the introduction. I’m not going to attempt to post live. Transmission will resume upon my return in mid-November.

 

[LadyC]

Sounds fabulous. Although the update is some time away, I am looking forward to it.

 

[drron]

I'd watch that sidekick carefully.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'd watch that sidekick carefully.

Geez, first JohnM leads me through Chile and Argentina, where we were rarely out of reach of a good bottle when we weren't driving, and now he's going to lead me through the valley of total dryness. At least when I went through Saudi Arabia I was able to stock up with Swan Super Light (had a slab on the back seat).

 

[zig]

Really looking forward to your updates in November. Safe travels

 

[Boca68]

Geez, first JohnM leads me through Chile and Argentina, where we were rarely out of reach of a good bottle when we weren't driving, and now he's going to lead me through the valley of total dryness. At least when I went through Saudi Arabia I was able to stock up with Swan Super Light (had a slab on the back seat).

Don't fret RooFlyer, just think of that wonderful Ob 'eh Anar to be had! (That's pomegranate juice to the uninitiated)

I hear its like a fine wine, with distinct 'terroir' and ...... who am I kidding, its red juice.


Enjoy the travels John and Roo, it does sound fabulous!

 

[Straubs]

Buckled up ...

 

[romney]

OK, that’s the introduction. I’m not going to attempt to post live. Transmission will resume upon my return in mid-November.

I am excited to follow along! I will be in Oman and (hopefully) Iran at similar times to you, so it will be interesting to see how our trips compare

 

[Major]

Wow. What a fabulous trip. Looking forward to your TR

 

[VPS]

Enjoy both your travels so riding along too

 

[love_the_life]

Again??? Aren't you ever at home?
Sounds fabulous. Count me in

 

[JohnM]

Again??? Aren't you ever at home?
Sounds fabulous. Count me in

Can't stay at home LTL - too many things to do, too many places to go to, too little time....

 

[JohnM]

Well, it's just coming up 5 o'clock*, so time for a refreshing Moet in the EK PER lounge.

(* errr, 5am that is ).

 

[amaroo]

Safe travels!

 

[JohnM]

Now this is a bit better .

 

[Daver6]

That EK lounge is orders of magnitude better than the QF at PER international!

 

[craven morehead]

View attachment 106541

Now this is a bit better .

There is never a bad time to be drinking Dom Perignon 2006 as usual I am looking forward to another one of your adventures JohnM

 

[Bindibuys]

To think it was exactly 1 year ago you were house sitting for us, and we were heading to Egypt.
(fyi, Sally still around, but not for much longer I fear. Rainbow Bridge is fast approaching.)
Safe travels.

 

[JohnM]

Well, I must say I enjoyed the EK F ride PER-DXB. Glad I chose the day flight, even if they have down-gauged it from an A380 to a B777 since I booked.

Bowled over a bottle of 2006 Dom and the teo Bordeauxs were pretty good, too. Cheese board was an absolute highlight.

 

[cove]

So this is what one of my old school buddies is doing. It is just so hard to keep up.......
Looking forward to the Iran pictures because we go to the US . That currently means no Iran without being held up when doing US immigration.
JohnM is pretty good with his pictures so I am buckled up.