The buses parked further away from the entrance and we rode these little carts up to the tombs. Then we walked. We went inside 4 tombs, one of which was Tut Ankhamen's. When we have come here in the past, all we could see was the coffins and sarcophogi that held his mummy. This time they had removed the mummy and had it inside a glass case to look at. Pretty cool.
Our next stop was the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
This is Pit Tomb 33--may be similar to a tomb where the Book of Abraham papyri were found.
These are streets scenes in Luxor. We were travelling from Valley of the Kings, back to our hotel to have lunch.
We love to see the school kids!
This is a small, roadside mosque.
Look at the size of these stones!!!
Beautiful churches:
Many women wear head coverings but not always a dress.
More school children.
After lunch and a nap, we took a falucca ride across the Nile. That is our hotel there amongst the trees. Each class had 2 faluccas that were tied together. To get on, we would walk along a plank into the first boat and then across another plank into the second boat. When that boat was full then the rest would stay in the first boat.
Getting further away.
Look at the lush banks along the Nile.
More Nile scenery
Here we are, and there is the rest of the class behind us.
Karnak Temple
When we reached the other side of the Nile. We all got on a camel. They took us in a long line, every camel had a caretaker that walked alongside. We went past little homes, roadside restaurants, shops, fields. Every so often we would pass someone on a donkey or in a little cart. The "boss" road up and down the path to make sure everything was going well. He was talking on his cell phone most of the time. My camel guy was very disappointed that he got an old lady instead of one of the cute college girls! Probably the best experience I've had riding a camel.
Just setting out.
It took quite awhile to get the entire class onto camels and into a line. We're in the process here:
After the camel ride we got back on the faluccas and this time we were pulled back across the Nile, to our hotel.
Everyone in the group has one of these green/gray water bottle carriers. I wrote my initials on mine but I was doing it upside down and the J came out backwards. Oh, well, at least everyone will always know who it belongs to!
This is the tug boat that pulled us "home". We stopped along the way and gathered more faluccas. At one point the tug was pulling about 8 faluccas behind it.
We love to see the school kids!
This is a small, roadside mosque.
Look at the size of these stones!!!
Beautiful churches:
Many women wear head coverings but not always a dress.
More school children.
After lunch and a nap, we took a falucca ride across the Nile. That is our hotel there amongst the trees. Each class had 2 faluccas that were tied together. To get on, we would walk along a plank into the first boat and then across another plank into the second boat. When that boat was full then the rest would stay in the first boat.
Getting further away.
Look at the lush banks along the Nile.
More Nile scenery
Here we are, and there is the rest of the class behind us.
Karnak Temple
When we reached the other side of the Nile. We all got on a camel. They took us in a long line, every camel had a caretaker that walked alongside. We went past little homes, roadside restaurants, shops, fields. Every so often we would pass someone on a donkey or in a little cart. The "boss" road up and down the path to make sure everything was going well. He was talking on his cell phone most of the time. My camel guy was very disappointed that he got an old lady instead of one of the cute college girls! Probably the best experience I've had riding a camel.
Just setting out.
It took quite awhile to get the entire class onto camels and into a line. We're in the process here:
After the camel ride we got back on the faluccas and this time we were pulled back across the Nile, to our hotel.
Everyone in the group has one of these green/gray water bottle carriers. I wrote my initials on mine but I was doing it upside down and the J came out backwards. Oh, well, at least everyone will always know who it belongs to!
This is the tug boat that pulled us "home". We stopped along the way and gathered more faluccas. At one point the tug was pulling about 8 faluccas behind it.
People out working their land along the Nile.
Fisherman
As disgusting as it seems to me, these young boys were actually swimming in the Nile, and having a wonderful time!
After dinner, Kent and I went for a carriage ride around Luxor. It wasn't a very pleasant experience. The carriage drivers have become like the camel drivers -- very agressive and pushy. We had 2 of them get into a shouting match over which one was going to drive us. Finally the boss came over and settled the dispute. We had him take us into Luxor and then we walked a bit and took pictures. This is the Luxor temple.
We found another carriage driver, who was much more reasonable BUT we asked him to take us to the suk so we could wander around. He took us to his "friend's" tourist shop. I did find a cute ceramic Egyptian house but basically I felt like we had been cheated out of a fun evening. Kent did have me take a picture of him and the driver when we got back to the hotel.
On a happier note, THESE were our accommodations while in Luxor:
Dining area
Living room
Bedroom
Bathroom
Lounge chairs on the balcony
"Picnic" area on the balcony
Balcony views:
Fisherman
As disgusting as it seems to me, these young boys were actually swimming in the Nile, and having a wonderful time!
After dinner, Kent and I went for a carriage ride around Luxor. It wasn't a very pleasant experience. The carriage drivers have become like the camel drivers -- very agressive and pushy. We had 2 of them get into a shouting match over which one was going to drive us. Finally the boss came over and settled the dispute. We had him take us into Luxor and then we walked a bit and took pictures. This is the Luxor temple.
We found another carriage driver, who was much more reasonable BUT we asked him to take us to the suk so we could wander around. He took us to his "friend's" tourist shop. I did find a cute ceramic Egyptian house but basically I felt like we had been cheated out of a fun evening. Kent did have me take a picture of him and the driver when we got back to the hotel.
On a happier note, THESE were our accommodations while in Luxor:
Dining area
Living room
Bedroom
Bathroom
Lounge chairs on the balcony
"Picnic" area on the balcony
Balcony views:One:
Two:
Three:
Four:
Two:
Three:
Four:
