Day 80 - the Suez Canal, Egypt

we started out transit approach before sunrise. We were the first one in the convoy that entered from the south. Military ships get to go first then cruise ships. Another 2 convoys entered the 2 entry points  on the northern end. much of the canal can only handle one lane of traffic

the southern entry to the Suez Canal

we have entered the canal

the sun starts to rise

sunrise

the city of Suez sits at the southern  entrance to the canal

I wasn't the only one taking pictures

the city of Suez 

the had coffee to rolls out on several of the bow

another cruise ship followed us

the captain was giving some commentary

Egyptian military guards along the canal

Egyptian soldiers

Some people watched indoors from the Crowsnest at the front of the ship

  

What people with upper balconies could see

the ships following up behind us, Two cruise ships then a large container ship followed us.

fishermen in the canal

a military air base

the channel to the right is fairly new. It allows 2 way traffic through a longer section of the canal

a swing bridge that can be used to cross the canal

a container ship going the other way in the other channel

a monument

a 

a container ship going the other way as seen through a cross-over channel

ships going the other way in the other channel

first sight of the Egyptian-Japanese Friendship Bridge or the Mubarak Peace Bridge 

this is the only permanent bridge that crosses the Canal. We we told it is not used because of security/terrorist concerns

there is nothing on the eastern Sinai side