Luxor - February 23, 2012

We woke up, put our luggage out for the porters to take for us, ate breakfast, and checked out of the ship.

In Aswan & in Luxor, our ship was not right next to the dock. We were connected to other ships an walked through their lobbies to get to the dock. As fate would have it, one of the ships we walked through as we left the Nile Pioneer I was the ship we were supposed to be on for this trip - the M/S Soleil. We only saw the lobby area, but it was VERY clear that we were upgraded to a nicer ship.

We boarded the coaches for the West Bank of Luxor aka Thebes. We saw the tombs of Ramses IV, Ramses IV and Ramses III.

One of the Tombs we visited - Ramses IV

Some of us paid the extra 100 Egyptian Pounds to see the tomb of King Tutankhamen. King Tut's tomb was different from the others because it was very small and its decorations we're very modest. This is because most pharaohs have their whole lives to oversea the building of their tombs. Tut died unexpectedly at 18 and there was little time to prepare. Also, another difference was that Tut's mummified body is on display in in a glass case in the tomb. Very few tourists were in the Valley of the Kings and we had almost everything to ourselves.

Tut's Tomb

No cameras are allowed in the Valley of the Kings.

Temple of Hatshepsut

Next, we went to the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari. This was a very impressive temple with a ramp/steps leading up to it. It was carved out of the rock of a mountainside. On the other side of the mountain lays the Valley of the Kings.

Temple of Hatshepsut

After, we stopped at an Alabaster factory to see how they hand make alabaster.

The Valley of the Artisans at Deir el-Medina was a quick stop after the alabaster factory. This was the "village" where the workers who created/built the tombs of the Valley of the Kings lived.

After that, we went to Habu temple aka Medinet Habu aka the Mortuary Temple of Ramses III. It was extremely ornate and impressive.

Habu Temple

Habu Temple

We made one more stop before going out for a late lunch - a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon (two statues of Amenhotep III).

Colossi of Memnon

We ate a quick, late lunch at a combined Pizza Hut/KFC and then headed to check in at the Sofitel Karnak. While there. Some of us took the opportunity to look at the political flyers for the elections that have been going on here in Egypt.

Late Lunch

Political Poster (with a female candidate)

Once we checked in, and briefly freshened up. Most of us (some of the younger kids and a few others stayed behind for the evening) went off to several activities. Our first stop was a perfume "factory" where we learned about another local industry (and also had a chance to buy things). Afterwards, we went to Luxor Temple on the East Bank (our hotel is on the same side) It was originally a temple built by Amenhotep III. Later, Ramses II added on to the temple. One of the granite statutes in the temple is of King Tut and his wife.

After the temple visit, we went to dinner at a kabob restaurant in Luxor and then went back to the Sofitel Karnak to sleep and prepare to get up early for our hot air balloon ride.

Avenue of the Sphinx' Luxor Temple

Obelisk at Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple