APR. 18th -- LUXOR CITY & THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS

FYI -- Temperature is:  93°F/34°C

OK.
This was the "Big One".  Our overland trip to Luxor and the Pyramids has been anticipated since we decided to go on this cruise.
Our bags were packed and picked up, outside our cabin, last night at 10:00 ... we're early to bed and crazy excited.

We docked in Safaga, Egypt at 8:00 AM.
Our excursion is called "Egypt's Renowned Relics:  Luxor & the Pyramids" and we meet at 8:15 in the Star's Lounge to get our bus assignment and to pick up our passports.
We board our bus at 8:30 AM and so it begins!
Our tour guide introduces himself. His name is Magby and he is super smart.  He has his Masters in Egyptology & Hieroglyphics and speaks 4 languages.   He looks like an Egyptian Adam Sandler.

We have a 3 1/2 hour bus drive to Luxor and about 2 1/2 hours of it is desert.

Taken from the bus

We noticed a lot of police on our drive.  There are check-points all along the highway and our bus driver and/or tour guide had to stop and talk to the police.  All of the police were armed with either rifles or handguns, although we did see some with machine guns too.

We pass through a lot of small villages and get a feel for how the residents live.

The people use donkeys as a means of transportation and also as farm animals.  I loved this picture...this little guy & his donkey carrying a load of sugar cane.

Farmland

When we arrived in Luxor, we went to deluxe hotel for lunch.



It was a buffet of Egyptian food.  Along with hummus & pita, an eggplant dish, rice, beef, pasta dish...Barry & I tried the local beer.
It was called "Sakara Gold", a lager, and it was very good.




The hotel was right on the Nile River.

Nile River behind us--after lunch @ hotel

From lunch, we all board a motor boat (covered) and we cross the Nile River over to the West Bank.  Barry & I both put our hands in the water...come on -- it's the Nile River!

The Nile

Not exactly Cleopatra's Barge!!!!

Crossing the Nile to the West Bank (I need a new hat!!)

From there we board our bus again and head for the Valley of the Kings.  Here there are remarkable tombs of ancient kings of Egypt.
We were told that we could not take pictures inside of the tombs...Crap Balls!!!  If we wanted to take pictures, there was an additional charge for that.  If you were caught taking pictures without the pass, your camera/phone were confiscated and you were fined.
We said "No" and we bought postcards of the tombs we were inside.
We went into 3 tombs....Ramses III, Ramses IV and Ramses IX.

On the wall of the tomb.

The colours stay true because sunlight cannot touch these walls.  When you enter the tombs all the hieroglyphics on walls tell a story and they carry on down both sides of the tomb and across the ceiling.

The entrance going into the Valley of the Kings

Map of location of all the tombs

When we left the Valley of the Kings, we then went to Hatshepsut Temple.  The was a photo stop only.

The Temple

Surrounding buildings

Hatshepsut was the only women to rule as a Pharaoh.  The temple was built into the mountainside.

The second photo stop is at the Colossi of Memnon.  They're two massive statues that originally flanked the entrance of Amenhotep III's mortuary temple.

The temple was destroyed by an earthquake so the statues now stand guard over an open field.

Our last stop, which was late afternoon, was at the Luxor Temple.  This was fabulous.  Our tour guide arranged to bring us here last because the lighting is great at this time of day and it was a little bit cooler.

Look how clear the etching & hieroglyphics are.

Avenue of the Sphinxes--at dusk -- right beside Luxor Temple

After this, we got back in the bus and drove to our hotel.
As we drove back the sun was just starting to set.  It was beautiful and I caught it from the bus.  Here's a couple of shots.

Beautiful sunset...

...over the Nile

We stayed at the Hilton Luxor Resort...arrived about 6:00 PM.  We were greeted with a cool towel to refresh our hands & face, a glass of chilled peach wine and a red rose.  Lovely.
Barry & I went to our room -- Room 270 -- refreshed ourselves, changed clothes and headed out.  Cocktail time.
We found the bar -- outside -- and both ordered a Gin & Tonic with lime.  It tasted fabulous.

Dinner is being served from 7:00 to 10:00 PM.

Dinner is also outside.  Barry & I get a table beside the Nile River...I know, awesome, right?  There is a full moon and a lovely breeze off the water.
There is a huge buffet and we have entertainment...there is a belly dancer and 2 whirling dervishes -- I think it was a father & son (the boy looked to be about 12-years old).  Wonderful.

We head to bed about 8:30 PM as it has been a huge day.
We have a 4:00 AM!!!!! wake-up call tomorrow for an early flight to Cairo.