From Esna we move to Edfu, where we will take a carriage ride to the temple. Edfu was named Latopolis by the Greeks after the huge Nile Perch found there. But the temple was built by Thutmose II, but was damaged in antiquity and rebuilt by Ptolemy II.
The temple is in great shape and make sure you stop by the RaHority statue (falcon) for a picture. The temple also has left a replica of the barque (boat for the gods) in its Holy of Holies sanctuary.
I know, there are a LOT of other sites to visit in Luxor, but it is time to move on. Perhaps on my next dream Egyptian Cruise I will visit the Valley of the Queens, Nobles, the Rameseum and other sites but ... time to get back on our cruise ship.
We continue our way south (UP river) to a place most cruises don't stop. That is Esna. Usually cruise ships slow down to go through the locks at Esna but don't visit the temple there. The Temple is dug way down and a long flight of stairs get you there, the modern city of Esna was built on top of the Ancient one. The temple was originally built by Thutmose II but expanded and built up by Ptolemy II. A beautiful and well preserved temple dedicated to the Khnum triad
The last thing we will do in Luxor is take the Hot Air Balloon ride over the whole area. You start before dawn so that you can be in the air when the sun rises and lights up all the ancient buildings in the Luxor area. You gently rise higher and higher. Our last pilot took us RIGHT OVER the heads of the Colossi of Memnon, we could see the grass growing on their heads! It is a peaceful and fun journey to see all the sites from the air
Two more things to do in Luxor. We cannot leave without seeing Hatchepsut's temple in Deir el Bahri. Hatchepsut was one of the few female pharaohs who was also the daughter of a Pharaoh, the wife of a Pharaoh and step mom of a Pharaoh. She ruled in the 18th Dynasty. Her temple looks repaired and preserved due to restoration work in the early 1900s, but archaeologists are now saying the work was done wrong. It is a magnificent structure none-the-less. You can imagine it surrounded by the trees she brought back from her expeditions into Africa and the avenue of sphinx that lead up to it. A beautiful mortuary temple.
And now the MOST famous of sites in Luxor area is the Valley of the Kings. Here you can see the tomb of King Tut, Ramses, and Amenhotep, along with many others. 72 tombs, most of which are open at various times. Your ticket will get you access to 3 of them. Be prepared to be amazed at the colors on the walls and the amazing work that went into carving these tunnels out of the mountainside. Make sure you go in Ramses IV because that is the best that is usually open!
We will hit our fourth stop in Luxor (there is SO much to see in Luxor!) has be Deir el Medina, the Worker Village. I love it because after seeing temples all day it is good to get to a village of the common folk. Here you can see how small the houses and subdivisions were where they lived, you can see their grinding stones and even "facilities". But you must go into some of the small tombs because they have so much color and are decorated just like the Valley of the Kings tombs but just smaller
Our third stop while we are in Luxor has to be my favorite temple at Midinet Habu. Built by Ramses III is has an unusual entrance, DEEPLY carved hieroglyphs to make sure no subsequent king could just scratch them out and carve his own. AND it has its own ancient restrooms!
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