Nefertari

Probably the most beautiful of all tombs is the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens. It is hard to get to and was found late so well preserved. Just look at these pictures!

Time to Tour Egypt With Me! Still room in October trip!

Amazing Artestry!

You HAVE to be amazed at the artistry of the Ancient Egyptians. They covered absolutely EVERYTHING in the tombs with color. Each had it's own meaning as determined by priests for THOUSANDS of years. 

Look at the colors and the designs, distinctly Egyptian! I know each ancient culture has a type of artistry that is distinct but to maintain that distinctness for THOUSANDS of years is absolutely amazing!

It is time to Tour Egypt With Me! The October 2014 trip still has room!

Hot Air Balloon ride

One of the BEST things you can do to get a great view of the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor is to take a Hot Air Balloon ride! 

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There is no better way to see the MANY sites you could never make it to unless you stay in Luxor for a full week. Plus some unique views of every day life AND view of the TOP of many of the huge places you can only look up on. For instance we float RIGHT OVER THE TOP of the Colosse of Memnon, which are actually the statues of Ramses II

Filling the Balloon early in the morning ...

First Temple we see is part of the Rameseum

Then we approach the Colosse of Memnon (Rameses II)

We think we are going to run into it but our pilot takes us no more than 10 foot above the head.

Here is the picture as we gently, quietly pass over this massive statue!

Queen Hatchepsut's temple nestled into the foothills

Modern day farmers working their fields

Getting pretty high as we see the whole West Bank with the Nile River in the background.

Best Photo Op!

On the Giza Plateau there is a place where you Air conditioned bus will take you, and even not too many vendors there. Where you can overlook the whole Giza Plateau with all three pyramids in site. It is a GREAT place for a photo op and and a great place for having some fun pictures taken!

Our May trip is too late to join but our October 1-11 Trip is filling us fast!

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Crocodiles

One of the "fun" and creepy places to visit in Egypt is the Crocodile Museum in Kom Ombo. 

The Egyptians worshiped the god Sobek in the form of a crocodile. You can imagine their fear of croc's which were plentiful along the Nile River even up until the Aswan Dam was built, now they stay South of the Dam and if you have ever been to Abu Simbel you remember the fences around the shore of Lake Nasser which keep the croc's away from the tourists.

Kom Ombo has a temple where there are two gods worshiped. One of them is Sobek. Archaeologists have found MANY mummified crocodiles here and so have built a Museum honoring them. it is amazing to see how HUGE some of these croc's are. Many more than 20' long and some close to 30!

It is time to Tour Egypt With Me!

The Best Temple in Luxor

You have to go to the Karnak temple because it is the biggest and has many interesting features, plus it allows you to see one end of the avenue of the sphinx.

You have to go to Luxor temple because it is the other end of the avenue of the sphinx and also it is a pretty cool temple ... especially at night.

BUT my favorite temple in the Luxor area has to be the temple at Medinet Habu. It has the best colors of any of the temples, you can still see the original paint on many of the ceilings and walls. Also it has a 5000 year old restroom. And so many sculptures and things that make it the most interesting.

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Using the 5000 year old "facilities"

Amazing colors on the columns

Ahmed showing the depth of the carving to MAKE SURE those who came after could not erase the names of the ones who came before. (a common practice especially if you did not like the previous king)

More amazing doorway colors.

David Roberts

In 1838-1840 David Roberts traveled throughout Egypt capturing life and beauty in paint. His lithographs are still available today. But what he captured was what all the sites looked like 180 years ago. Before sand was removed from the sphinx and before more aging faded the amazing colors. 

Notice the color of the Philea Temple in 1830's

Notice the sand burying the sphinx up to his neck.

You really have to Tour Egypt With Me!

Beautiful Egypt

'nuff said

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Re-using stones

In these pictures you have an example of how stones sculpted in Ancient Egypt were re-used again for a Roman Basilica in el Minia.

On the one side you see reliefs of ancient Egyptian symbols. If you flip the stone 90% you will hide the Egyptian reliefs and get the Ancient Roman reliefs (second picture). Even in antiquity they would dismantle the old to build the new.

Above is the side with Ancient Egyptian Symbols

Below is the same stone with Ancient Roman Symbols

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