A day of tombs and temples today. And a 4:30am start :(
Hot air balloon over the Nile at Luxor
First stop, after a forty minute coach ride, was the Valley of the Kings. No cameras allowed in there (xray bag checks) so left them on the bus. The ticket gives you entry to three tombs of your choice (except for Tutenkamen which is extra). Our tour guide recommended doing Ramses III, IX and IV, so that's what we did. They were pretty awesome, although someone said they'd been restoring the paintwork on them to make them look shinier. Will need to see if that is true.
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut in the distance
The Valley of the Kings
Entrance gate to the Valley of the Kings
Photo by Dad
Next stop, round the side of the mountain, was the temple of Hatshepsut. This temple is a very unusual design with ramps and terraces. Unfortunately not much is original - about eighty percent has been restored by a Polish team. Quickly explored that one.
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Terrace and columns at the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Photo by Dad
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Inside the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Statues outside the Temple of Hatshepsut
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
A short hop to our next temple - Habu Temple. This one had some very deep hieroglyphics, and some beautiful paintwork.
Entrance to Habu Temple
Habu Temple
Habu Temple
Habu Temple
Habu Temple
Deep hieroglyphics in the walls at Habu Temple
Ramessid columns in the peristyle court
Decoration on the lintel at Habu Temple
Mohamed showing the depth of the stone carvings
Hieroglyphics in the walls at Habu Temple
Stone carvings on the walls at Habu Temple
Artwork in Habu Temple
Columns in Habu Temple
Photo by Dad
A very quick stop at a couple of statues, that I must look up the significance of (one of them was cracked in an earthquake and the wind passing through it made it sound like it was whistling).
Colossi of Memnon
Back across the Nile to Karnak Temple. This was by far the most crowded place we have been to on this trip. An avenue of rams head sphinxes, a one hundred and thirty four column room, and two whole obelisks were the highlights of this huge temple complex. At one point one of the armed guards of the place beckoned to Dad and me to follow him to see a part of the temple that was normally fenced off. We tried to tell him we had no change (well I had enough change for two more toilet trips in the country so was saving that) but he said come anyway. Of course he wanted a tip anyway didn't he, so I gave him and the other dude a few of the pens that I brought along.
Avenue of ram head sphinxes outside the temples at Karnak
Ram head sphinxes at Karnak
Pylon under restoration at Karnak
Sacred Lake and Karnak Temple Complex
Statues and pylon at the Karnak Temple Complex
Statues at the Karnak Temple Complex
Me and an obelisk at the Karnak Temple Complex
Photo by Dad
Karnak Temple Complex
Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak
Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak
South entrance of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak
Column of Taharqa
Pylons at Karnak
Obelisks at Karnak
Obelisk at Karnak
Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak
Statues at Karnak
Avenue of ram head sphinxes outside the temples at Karnak
Western view of the Karnak Temple Complex
Model of the Karnak Temple Complex
Model of the Karnak Temple Complex
Just before twelve we drove to the airport and off we went back to Cairo. Sadly on the wrong side of the plane to see anything in Luxor or Cairo (and the plane was pretty much completely full except for the seat next to me), but could see the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez off in the distance.
Nile River north of Luxor
Nile River near Qus
Got back to the hotel mid-late afternoon and did some photo backups for the parents. Also got all my videos and all my resized photos onto memory sticks that the parents will take home as a backup (my masters take up far too much space..hrmm).
View from my room at the Marriott Hotel
Went with Jan and Howard to dinner at Thomas' again.
Then back here to blog and bed. Was going to wash my hair but think will leave that til London.
Distance covered on the GPS: 650.3 km
Steps walked: 17216
Photos on the Canon: 253
Photos on the Sony: 59
Videos: 3
EGP Spent: 17
USD Spent: 50
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