Trip Overview – Athens, Rome, Egypt
Around July 2025 I had the thought to “go see the pyramids.” One factor was that I had composed AI song “Pyramids Will Rise Again.”
Another factor is that, nearly 50 years ago, I suggested to my grandparents, who had the time and money, that they visit the Pyramids, but they didn’t. Among their interests was Rosicrucian:
The Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, has a deep historical connection to Ancient Egypt, with its origins traced back to the Eighteenth Dynasty of New Kingdom Egypt. The Order’s creation is attributed to Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III.
Putting together the plan and flights, it made sense to layover in Athens and Rome for a comprehensive “Ancient Civilizations” tour.
Flights and Hotels
I booked nine flights, four hotels, four Viator tours, and understood the ground transportation at all locations.
Two nights sleeping on planes
Saturday night I flew from Sacramento to Newark. Then Sunday night I flew from Newark to Athens. I spend Sunday in the United Lounge, which was quiet and comfortable – beat a day at the office I suppose.
Contactless Payments
I’d read that EU is more advanced than USA. They often prefer contactless payments. Revolut is big there as is payment by phone. So, I set up Google Wallet and did make most payments by hovering my phone – no need to dig out credit cards. Nice that all payments are in Google Wallet history too.
Worst Airplane Meal
The Egypt Air meal was a kiddie box of fake orange drink, a KitKat, and a tasteless sandwich of squishy bread and processed meat. I didn’t eat any of it – and observed the same of other passengers. The Sunset at Cairo airport on stop-over to Luxor was nice.
TSA No Shirt at Rome Airport returning to USA
I kept my passport, cash, and credit card in this thin cloth pocket, under this shirt – mostly not visible. For TSA in Rome, I put the contents in my backpack and walked through the detectors with no “beeps.”
Not good enough. “Are you wearing something under your shirt?” I lifted shirt and let him squeeze it to show it was empty cloth. “You need to remove it and pass it through the machine.”
“I need to remove my shirt to get it off.” He didn’t care.
So, I walked backwards through the detectors (no beeps), took off my shirt and unstrapped the cloth pocket. I try to cut in line to put this piece of cloth in a bucket – but people ignored the crazy shirtless guy. Here’s an AI rendering of the experience:
When it was done, I got dressed and asked a female TSA, “Why did I need to take this off”?
“Because something might be hiding in it.”
“Something might be hiding in socks, under-shirts and boxer briefs with pockets, women’s bras… Yet I don’t see you asking any females to take off their shirt and put their bra thorough the machine.”
Later at the gate, “Paging passenger Berry.” I’m thinking, “Now what… did TSA rat me out?” But no – they asked if I’d be willing to move to an exit-row window seat – nice upgrade for a 10-hour flight to Dallas!
Night Arrival in Sacramento
Wanderlog
I planned and managed this trip with Wanderlog. It keeps everything in one place. I generates map and time estimate between stops. It syncs on multiple devices, and with the paid plan it works offline and supports attachments.
Here’s some screenshots and a video about the app. (Also screenshots how I used Google Lens to confirm the location of a photo I took. From that vague wall – it knew the location.)
