11 November 2024

Seven of us, having earlier committed to taking a hot-air balloon ride at sunrise, met in the hotel lobby at 4:15 AM and were transported to the balloon site across the Nile by small motor launch. There, unfortunately, our luck did not improve. After standing in the chilly dawn for a couple of hours, we were told the balloon flights were cancelled for the day because of wind. Back we went for breakfast at the hotel.

The rest of the day, however, went well, though at least seven of us were worn out by the time it finished. It began with a visit to the Valley of Kings, where we walked through the tombs of several pharaohs. Their walls of granite were lushly decorated with murals in their original colors, bright and distinct after thousands of years. My favorite was Seti's tomb, Seth having been the father of the famous Ramses II. The murals depicted Seti's transition to the afterlife under the protection of the gods.

 Next, we were driven to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the best-known of the few women who ruled Egypt. The story of her rise to power is too complex and lengthy to repeat here. The Temple has been mostly restored. It looks as if it had been chipped out of the limestone by a master sculptor.

 From there we drove to a nice restuarant for a delicious lunch, and after that, to Luxor Temple. This gigantic structure was built and added onto over many centuries by several pharaohs, the main two being Amenhotep III and Rameses II. Its columns tower four stories high. Between it and the Temple of Karnak, which we will see tomorrow, the Avenue of Sphinxes stretches in a straight line for more than a mile. Stone Sphinxes line the sides. 

This evening we made up for yesterday's disaster by eating and socializing with local families. My group of 5 spent the time with a retired chef, his wife, son, daughter-in-law, daughter, a baby, and  two little girls (6 and 9). They were as nice as could be, and the food prepared by the chef's wife could not have been more tasty. In addition to learning about some of their customs, we were treated to the ABC song (same one we sing in the States) in English and in modern Egyptian Arabic. 

Now I"m back in my hotel room trying, and failing, to stay awake. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to finish off this post with some photos. The latter convey what our visits to tombs and temples were like much better than I can with words.