CHAPTER 6. EGYPT CONT.

Our next stop is Luxor, where we moor. We think the lunch buffet was the former evening buffet and had not been kept refrigerated; as a result most of the passengers are ill by night. Glenn sees the Valley of the Kings the next day by courtesy of Pepto Bismol, and Betty decides to rest at the ship.

The Valley of the Kings, in the hills of the west bank of the Nile across from Luxor, is a very ordinary looking rocky and sandy desert site with entrances to various tombs connected by white gravel paths. There is a big crowd waiting at Tut’s tomb, so we go down into that of Rameses VI. There are fairly shallow descending corridors and a large chamber all covered with bas relief and hieroglyphics.

Tut’s tomb is next, after a short wait. It is quite close to the surface and seems not large enough to contain all the treasures, furniture, etc. found there that can be seen in the Cairo Museum. A glass covered gold sarcophagus is all that remains in the tomb.

After Tut’s tomb we go nearby to Horemhab’s tomb. This is a real climb down steps and slanting boards with cleats. It is very deep and becomes hotter as one descends. After a hard climb out, Glenn decides to wait above while the rest descend the next tomb!

That morning we also visit the large temple of Hetshepsut, and in the Queens’ tombs area, see the tomb of Titi and 9 year old prince Amer Khopshut where good color remains in the bas reliefs. Then it’s by ferry back to the ship for lunch time. It is hot enough that early morning is best for sight seeing, and an afternoon rest is appreciated.

The next morning we go by horse carriage to Karnak, while our luggage is transferred to the Etap Hotel in Luxor. Karnak is a very large complex with gigantic columns, statues, obelisks, and a sacred lake. Thanks to Fattah, we have a special visit to an alabaster shrine not on the normal tourist route. There the bas reliefs and hieroglyphics are outstanding.

We return to Karnak in the evening for the sound and light show. It is good, we walk thru the temples with three stops for sound and light presentations, and on to the sacred lake where light is reflected in the water. Back to the hotel for a 9 pm supper.

In the morning we go north by bus to Abydos thru the Nile countryside, seeing sugar cane, palm trees, furry looking evergreen trees, some desert, and brown adobe appearing buildings resembling the indian houses of the U.S. southwest. Abydos is Osiris’ temple and has been largely reconstructed, complete with roof. After a picnic lunch (from the hotel buffet breakfast) we return to Luxor by way of Hathor’s temple, Dendara. This also is roofed, and the others climb up steps for the view while we stay below and look at details.

From Dendara we go back to Luxor for a brief rest, then on to the Luxor Museum. Here are good displays of local articles from 3000 BC to the 14th century AD.