Home Safe and Sound!

 

Hello!

 

Well, today was a very, very long day … but first, when last I wrote, I think it was Saturday evening, and we were comfortably ensconced at the Hilton Cairo Heliopolis, room 5081, waiting for Monday morning to arrive so that we could begin the trek back home.  

 

It turns out the Hilton has seven or eight specific different cuisines to choose from for dinner.  For Saturday evening, we selected Raj, an excellent Indian restaurant.  We shared vegetable pakora and a shrimp dish of a forgotten name … it was absolutely outstanding!  For mains, we had chicken tikka and shrimp in yellow curry, with garlic naan and basmati rice.  Everything was great, and for once at an Indian restaurant, we did NOT order too much food!  Yeah!!  Up to bed about 7:30 pm – and literally, we were both so tired we both went to sleep immediately!

 

Sunday was an interesting day, as R did not want to leave the hotel at all, because of the poor air quality in the area.  It was awful!  So, rather than tour, we read, did puzzles and watched movies.  The day passed fairly quickly, but uneventfully.  For dinner, we went to the Executive Lounge on the first floor, which provided more excellent Indian food.  Turns out it was a really good thing we had so much rest, as our day Monday started early:  2 am Cairo time.  We were showered, repacked and headed down to check out by 3:15 am.  The hotel has a complementary shuttle all of the 5 minutes to the airport, but we chose Uber instead, as we didn’t want to wait until 4 am.  So … out the door and into the airport quickly.  

 

Again, the first scanning was divided into male and female lines, and we passed through quickly.  In total, I think we went through three or four security points: X-ray the carry-on, walk through a metal detector, get a pat-down frisk (even if the metal detector gave a green light).  Sometimes, it was “computers out”, sometimes not; sometimes “shoes off”, sometimes not.  And the guy running the X-ray also did the manual check of suspicious bags, which meant that the whole line stopped while he went through someone’s suit case.

 

As we were on our way home, we did NOT need to go carry-on – let the suitcases carry everything possible, making us as light and mobile as could be.  The point was to get from gate to gate to gate – and if our luggage (half of which was dirty anyway!) didn’t make it – oh well!  

 

It took probably 10-15 minutes to get us to the Bag Drop person at Lufthansa.  As it turns out, I was able to get my boarding passes electronically on my phone, but R’s somehow I managed to screw up.  We were assured by Lufthansa, though, that R certainly had his reservation, and just needed to get the passes when we checked in.  Lovely gal at the airport printed everything for us, and wow!  Our suitcases were checked from Cairo to Phoenix!  Yeah!!

 

Down to our gate – which of course wasn’t yet open, as it wasn’t even 4:30 am.  Waited in the hallway for about an hour, and finally they opened up the gate – and through security yet again!  Whew!  Plane was already at the gate.  We boarded on time and shortly were on our way to Munich – almost a 4-hour flight.  Oh!  As we were still waiting to leave Cairo, we got an announcement from Lufthansa/United that our Munich-Chicago flight was already delayed, by about an hour to an hour and a half.  That meant, we already knew, that we would miss our connection in Chicago to Phoenix.  Oh well!  United assured us they “had our backs.”  

 

Flight from Cairo was a bit bumpy – turns out we were flying over the Alps, and there was quite a bit of turbulence. The scenery was stunning! Landed safely and out into a very lovely Munich airport in no time at all.  We of course had to go through security once again … I am SO tired of losing sealed water bottles at checkpoints … oh well!  

 

Made it to our gate with several hours to spare.  Not many choices for food, but we were able to get water and bathroom facilities.  Problem was, our flight from the U.S. had not yet arrived.  It did, finally – and we boarded.  Lovely airplane – we had upgraded to Premium Economy, and it was worth every dollar!  This particular flight was REALLY empty – truly, everyone could have had at least an aisle or two for themselves, but we were happy where we were.  Larger, very comfortable seats, with lots of bells and whistles.  Personal charger and headphones for every seat, an amenity kit filled with lovely things, and really excellent food!  Robert opted for their pasta, but I selected their chicken, and it was wonderful!  SO surprising – along with china AND metal knives and forks!  Our only complaint was that their movie selection was pretty terrible!  Not much new at all.  Many movies neither of us had ever heard of in a multitude of languages, so both of us basically opted for our old “standbys” – Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Indiana Jones and Crazy Rich Asians (for me, not R!). The time – almost 10 hours – passed, as it does, and finally we were in Chicago…hoping that United had indeed “our backs.”  

 

Well, they did!  I had looked up to see what flights were going to Phoenix non-stop from Chicago after the flight we missed, and fortunately, there was one later flight – 8:58 pm.  That gave us several hours in Chicago, so after clearing customs and immigration, claiming our baggage and walking it into the U.S., we rechecked everything back to Phoenix.  I will say, though, that while the Global Entry system worked really well in Chicago, we had to walk, literally, R estimates at least a mile from the jetway of the plane to the Global Entryand Customs area.  It was further complicated by the fact that almost all of their moving sidewalks along the way are out of commission for either updating or repair!  Quite a walk, that’s for sure!   Love the exercise!  [Not a universally held opinion. – R]

 

We landed at Terminal 5 – international clearance area, and then of course had to exit the area, take the train to Terminal 1, B and C gates, and go through security yet again!  Trust us!  We are now very secure!  From Terminal 1 B gates, we had to walk underground and take the moving walkways to C gates.  Trudge trudge trudge.   Turns out that we had Red Carpet passes, and the C gates had a great United Club!  We were able to upgrade our seats – moving from row 24 to row 12, which was nice.  (Especially as I had a vacant middle seat next to me!). The food and facilities in the new Red Carpet club were excellent.  It was a great place to just relax, eat and wait; the time passed quickly.

 

We were both exhausted by the time we boarded in Chicago – and of course there was another plane directly behind ours when we were ready to pull out, so we had a delay there … and, for the first time in as long as I can remember, I actually got some sleep on an airplane – I’m thinking about two hours worth!  SO happy, as I was having a difficult time trying to keep my eyes open!  (R calculated that from the time we woke up at 2 am in Cairo, until the time we touched down in Phoenix, it was over 30 hours of traveling.).  As I say, a very long day!

 

Our checked cases were almost the first pieces off the plane, and in literally minutes we were heading to the new Phoenix Sky Train that goes directly to the Rental Car Center!  SOOOOO much nicer and easier than schlepping luggage across the street from the terminal, waiting and then loading onto the bus, making the trip and taking the luggage off the bus … and on an on.  Headed to Budget’s Fastbreak area and picked up car – large Honda SUV.  Very comfortable and easy to drive.  Out on the road by 11:45 pm – and very soon it was the 31^st, and Happy Birthday, Robert!

 

We stopped at Eloy for Coke with CAFFEINE and a serving of chocolate or two … no problems on the drive, and I am just thankful that traffic was very light at that time of night/morning.  We got home on the dot of 1:45 am.  

 

Incredible neighbor Jay had turned on the house and porch lights, which made getting in very easy!  (She had also left some wonderful home-made split pea soup and a gorgeous dessert when we were supposed to be home earlier!  Food for today!!  Yippee!!)  We basically got everything inside – R left the thermostat at something around 60 degrees, and the house felt like a MEAT locker!  Didn’t unpack much; I went to bed!  The problem was – after about 30 minutes, I was still wide awake – I’m thinking TOO much Coke and chocolate … and then I started foot cramps -- so now I’ve been up since about 3 am … second load of laundry going now, and 4 loads of hand-washing completed.  Not too much more – and at some point I am expecting a full and total collapse!  Just hope we can get the car returned before that happens!

 

So, thank you all, so very, very much, for coming with us on our trip!  We have enjoyed all of your thoughts, musings and comments – so, until the next adventure – U.K. in May/June – lots and lots of love!

 

m

xxx

PS - Collapse came about 10 am ... down like a sack of coal.  Slept until 4 pm.  This is going to be one almighty case of jet lag! m xxx

 

 

 

Back in Cairo again!

Hello! 

 

 Welcome back to Cairo!  We have started on our return journey!  I don’t know how other people feel, but there occasionally (not always!) comes a point in a trip where one says, “Yep, time to go home!” And this is ours! So, to start from last blog … and if I confused anyone with my two blogs yesterday, I do apologize. Do hope that the color from such long ago times made it through to your computer.   I truly think that I “tilted” Blogspot … rightly, so, though, as they have tilted me on many occasions!  But that’s another story … 

 

After being dropped off by the amazing Abdul, we decided to see what if anything we could do about the unused Egypt Air ticket that we have from the Luxor-Cairo flight.  I believe I indicated that because of the goofy website, we were not able to change our existing reservation, so it was necessary for us to totally purchase a brand-new ticket, thereby leaving us with the old.  Robert very cleverly spotted an EgyptAir office actually attached to the Winter Palace Hotel, but of course it was closed.  (Remember, they close at 2 on Thursdays.). This time, however, one of the hotel people told us that they were just taking the Friday afternoon (the Muslim holy day) prayers off, and would reopen in “5 minutes.”  Well, all I can say is, beware an Egyptian “5 minutes…”. The call for prayer, which is truly incredibly shrill under normal circumstances (and in this case, doubly so, as the mosque was immediately adjacent to the Hotel) just kept going and going and going.  Not at all the thing when you’ve got a migraine, I assure you!  Finally, after waiting and waiting … I Googled “How long is the Muslim Friday call to prayer?”  And the answer??? 45 MINUTES!  Gracious!  

 

At any rate, eventually it did stop, and then it took another 10 minutes or so for the EgyptAir folks to come back and open up the office.  We were there!  Wait!  First, of course, everybody needed to get back to their computers, putter around the office, and get settled in.  There was a signboard saying “Client Number” – but there were NO numbers to take!  We asked, and were told to just take a seat … which we did.  So, after getting coffee all around, and settling back in, we were finally called forward to a desk.  Okay … the guy first reconfirms tha,t yes, we actually do have reservations on Saturday.  Second, we asked if he could print us boarding passes.  The response:  “We don’t have a printer.”  Right … now let me tell you about a bridge I’d like you to buy.  When met with looks of disbelief, he said he has requested our passes, and they would magically somehow appear on our email within the next 24 hours … considering that it was less that before our flight left … Okay!  Get them at the airport, check!  And, finally, we asked him what we could do about our unused flight.  He was able to help us with that!  He went ahead and cancelled the flight, but of course he couldn’t apply for a refund … We have to do that part on-line ourselves.   So … we were able to walk through that back at the hotel, and EgyptAir has agreed to refund, which is great news!  Whew!  An interesting trip!

 

Back to the hotel.  About 5:30 pm I took the camera and headed out the back door to see what the grounds of the hotel looked like.  Really lovely; hope you enjoy the photos.  I also stopped at Guest Services, and made a reservation at the Corniche dining room for 7 pm (when they open).  First ones there, and had the same lovely table we had for breakfast, right near the windows.  Several large-ish tour groups there, but keeping with Winter Palace standards, not too loud and boisterous.  For starters, I had an excellent mushroom and asparagus soup and followed with a beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes.  R thought he would start the evening with an avocado with fried prosciutto salad, followed by Rosemary-Anchovy Chicken.  (Editor’s Note:  UGH!).  Turns out, though, that R’s avocado somehow morphed into salmon and seafood salad … surprise!  Fortunately, he likes salmon … he said it was fine, just unexpected.  He enjoyed his chicken very much.  No room at all left for dessert, and we were back to our room about 8 pm.  (Note:  I’ve been taking both antihistamines and decongestants, as well as the migraine meds and Advil, and have always had an issue with decongestants; I get REALLY wired!  However, last night, I was just exhausted.)

 

Boat on left pulls out; boat on right moves in!

View down onto the staircase from 3rd floor

View down on chandelier from 3rd floor 

View outside to back garden

Great Lion!

Garden pond with sprinkler

View from grounds of back of hotel

The hotel's BBQ restaurant

Hotel pool

Closer view of back stairs; just lovely!

In Corniche dining room

R's "surprise" salad!

My mushroom soup

R's rosemary anchovy chicken

My beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes

Up this morning about 4 and repacked and bathed in the truly wonderful bathtub by about 6 am.  As it turns out, while I am pretty hard-core about going carry-on only, going home is completely different!  We’ve packed up SO much stuff into the cases, that now we can (hopefully) get home much less encumbered that before!   (My packing philosophy basically is:  1) NEVER check a suitcase on the way out, and 2) NEVER ever check anything you might never see again!  And 3) check it or ship it home.  I think it’s a pretty good concept!). Additionally, as either of us almost NEVER shop, we have added the following items:  2 onyx small plates, one Egyptian headscarf, that I’m wearing now, and one small picture book on the Nubian Museum.  I know that I did buy a dorky hat while we were at Aswan … and that I left at the hotel!  R says I’ll probably receive it back in the mail in the next month or two, but that is definitely not necessary, and I truly hope they’d ask before they just assumed that I’d left it accidentally and send it!  And that’s it!

 

Abdul was, of course, punctual this morning and, while I knew the airport was close by, it was actually less than 15 minutes from the hotel!  Said a fond farewell to Abdul; he made our time in Luxor an absolutely wonderful experience!  Then, inside the airport terminal.  Okay … first off, immediately after you enter, the first thing you’re going to through is security.  Separate lines (men in one and women in the other) which we did in Cairo.  This time, though, Robert’s backpack got gone through with a fine-tooth comb.  We have carried for some time now (through TSA, Mexico customs, France, Portugal, etc.) a small pair of cuticle scissors – you know, the ones with blunt tips?  Out they went!  They also had a problem with R’s TINY screwdriver to repair glasses with – but he got to keep that.  Also, they weren’t sure what to do with the base of the GPS, but again, it’s still with us.  He did have to take out the electrical extension cord that he always carries … okay…and put it in our checked luggage.  Right … and yet, somehow, through all this, the bottle of WATER R had in his camera case made it through unscathed!  Ha!  

 

From this security checkpoint, we headed directly in to the luggage check/possibly a boarding pass area – and no, it wasn’t divided into men and women, which was nice!  And then into security checkpoint #2 – everything off, shoes included, computer out, etc.  Still have the bottle of water!  At any rate, we were then, with printed boarding passes in hand, able to get to the “gate.”  So – no gates!  They have two big doors, about 20 feet apart.  Each door has video display on either side of it to show the gate number but it changes as the need arises – Gate 9, 10, 11, 12 – but just because the sign says it’s Gate 9, doesn’t mean that you’ll board from that side.  They basically just drive up a big bus, and then everybody gets on, and we get driven to the plane. 

 

Turns out Bob and Colleen, the couple we met in Luxor, were there as well, although their flight was for 9:40 am and ours was 10:40 am.  Their flight was half-an-hour late, and we were able to chat for a bit.  And of course, as their flight (and the one before that) was late, so was ours!  We boarded a little after 11, but the plane filled quickly, and before we knew it, we were back in Cairo!  Very quick flight!  R did point out, though, that the air (at his estimate, up to about 15,000) was SAND colored.  The dust was bad in Luxor and really terrible in Cairo.  It was incredible!  Very breezy, which is about the last thing I need!  Our luggage came quickly, and we were outside before we knew it.  And, UBER worked from the domestic terminal, unlike when we arrived in Cairo originally.  Between the Uber directions and some nice people, we were able to find Hamby, our driver, only to further find that our hotel, the lovely Hilton Heliopolis Hotel was only five minutes away!  (I think the Uber bill was $2.81 US).  I just asked R to check the current weather conditions in Cairo … 75 Degrees and air quality is Poor, having reached “a high level of pollution and is unhealthy for sensitive groups!”  Got my name on it!!

 

Inside, and it felt SO much like home!  Really lovely hotel.  Well-staffed and very busy – and even though check-in time wasn’t for another 2 hours, we checked in at their Hilton Honors desk, and in literally minutes, we were in our room – 5081.  Lovely, spacious and clean – and, unlike the past couple of days, we could both be in motion in our hotel room simultaneously together at the same time!!  Yeah!  R is thinking that, under the conditions of the outside air, our combined allergies and migraine, we should stay in entirely until it’s time to leave, something like 4 am on Monday morning.  They do have multiple restaurants here, as well as an Executive Lounge – as well as a Spa!  Hmmm…is this the time for my first massage since COVID?  Could be!!

 

Our lovely room 5081

View from our window!

Writing now, and it’s almost 3.  We’ll head to the Executive Lounge at 6 or 7 (have to check) with dinner following and see what happens next!  More later!

 

Lots of love,

m

xxx

Seti I Tomb and Temple

 

Tomb of Seti I

Temple of Seti I

I think if you click on a photo, it will come up enlarged; good for detail!

Much love,

m

xxx

WAY too Many Photos for two days!

Note:  There are SO many photos from yesterday and today, that I’ve broken them into Seti I, Tomb & Temple, and all the rest with this posting!

 

Hello!

 

It has been a busy day since yesterday afternoon when we decided to get home.  First, we had to make sure we could get from Luxor back to Cairo, and then we had to change our flights back to the U.S.  Fortunately, we do have a computer with us, which made things much easier.  They weren’t without issue though!  First of all, we tried to change our current Luxor-Cairo ticket on Egyptian Airlines.  No success!  We pulled up our reservation and did everything we thought we were to do, but when it came to making the actual change, we kept getting an error message.  So, finally, in desperation, I made us a totally new reservation for tomorrow. Forgot, though, to get seats … which is always nice!  Then, R tried to call United to get an agent to help us rebook our return to the US.  Unfortunately, when he finally got through to someone … the call failed.  So finally, we tried on line.  And that actually seemed to work!  There of course was a fare increase, but we were able to make the changes we wanted as well as booking seats.  Success!!  So, we leave Luxor tomorrow at 10:40 am, will overnight for two nights at the Hilton Hieropolis, which is very close to the airport in Cairo, and we’re off on Monday!  Turns out there is an Egypt Airlines office immediately next to the hotel – but of course, they closed at 2 pm on Thursday!  So, today, we tried again – but they were closed for the main call to prayer around 12:30 pm.  We were assured, however, by one of the hotel people that they would re-open – as soon as the call was completed.  So … we sat down on the curb to wait … and wait … and wait… I finally looked up how long the Friday call to prayer took – and the answer?!  45 MINUTES!  (And I thought High Mass was bad!).  My ears, truly, are still ringing!  Anyone who has ever been in a Muslim country can vouch for the volume of those prayers – five times each day … but as Friday is the Muslim holy day, it’s l-o-n-g-e-r.  At any rate, after all the guys got back into the office, got their coffees or whatever, we were able to talk to someone.  He very kindly verified our flight for tomorrow, and actually cancelled our unused flight!  However, he couldn’t refund it … we had to do that on-line.  Did it, so hopefully all will be well there!  

 

Now, I’d like to finish up from yesterday, and detail today’s accumulation of tombs and temples.  From yesterday, I am including photos of Luxor Temple.  

 

Luxor Temple

Original Sphinxes from Avenue of the Sphinxes

Incised Ramses II carving in his chariot

They built 'em big here!

Beautifully colored walls and ceilings

Luxor Open-Air Museum -- now those are pieces!

Like I said:  If you carve it deeply enough, no one can deface it!

Then, also from yesterday, I’m going to write about Karnak Temple.  (Some folks have asked how I manage to blog every day – and the answer is simple; if I don’t I forget what we’ve seen!  And that is especially true in Egypt, where there are so many Pharaohs and Viziers and Nobles and Gods and Goddesses.  An amazing array!  [Margaret, it turns out, has become something of an Egyptologist with a good grasp of the King List and especially the Egyptian pantheon.  – R]

 

Karnak Avenue of Ram-headed sphinxes

Another amazing ceiling

Love those Lions!

Karnak Temple includes an open-air museum (which is basically where archaeologists have piled up all the rocks they couldn’t find a place for – it’s like a huge greater-than-life jig-saw puzzle – lots of pieces everywhere!) and is an extraordinary complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons (basically entrance gates) and obelisks dedicated to the Theban (Thebes) Triad – Amun, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu.   The site covers over 2 sq. kilometers and is large enough to contain about 10 cathedrals.  Over 1500 years, Karnak was the most important place of worship in Egypt during the New Kingdom period.  I do have to say that there are many, many, many (repeat, please!) statues of Ramses II.  One thing is absolutely certain – he certainly did like to see his likeness everywhere possible!  I will try to label the photos as best I can, but it’s not going to be great!  Sorry!  

 

We then moved hotels to the Winter Palace.  I could never spend 5 days here – the rooms are tiny, but we have a front top floor balcony, and the view over the Nile is spectacular!  Also, they’re very stuffy here – doesn’t seem like R can wear shorts anywhere.  So, he had long pants and a collared shirt on this morning for breakfast, which seemed to pass muster, even considering his blue jeans and tennies, and then came up and changed into shorts and t-shirt before Abdul got here.  He was, of course, early, and out we were four today’s round of sight-seeing!

Main corridor for the hotel dining rooms

Abdul and me!

That's one big balloon basket!

 

I told him I wanted to see Seti I, which is supposedly the best decorated tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and possibly Tutankhamen’s, even though we’d already seen it some 23 years ago.  Also, the (Howard) Carter house (he of discoverer of Tutankhamen fame) and the replica of Tutankhamen’s tomb that has been carefully made and donated.  Also, I wanted to get to Mediat Habu, to see Ramses III’s memorial temple.  Here, though I made an error – inadvertent, I assure you!  When I said I wanted to see Seti I, Abdul thought that I meant the TEMPLE of Seti I, not the tomb!  With so many temples and tombs, one must apparently be very clear as to what one wishes to see!  

 

So, back over the bridge to the West Bank and first to the ticket office for some of the artifacts – Seti I’s TEMPLE, Medinat Habu, and the Carter House.  Not, however, the Valley of the Kings, which has its own ticket office and entryway.  Lovely newly paved and striped road to the Valley, and even though we were fairly early (about 8:15 am) the parking lots was already jammed with buses!  However, the tickets to Seti I’s tomb are 1000 Egyptian Pounds, (~$33 US) and Abdul assured us that there would NOT be a crowd there!  Fortunately, they have big golf carts to take visitors to the beginning of the actual tomb area, and it wasn’t long before we were able to find Seti I.  

 

To say that it is stunningly beautiful is indeed an understatement.  It does, however, run 137 meters long, and very, very, very deep!  The pathway was lined with wooden stairs and ramps, on which one needs to be really careful.  Art from Seti’s reign is among the finest in Egypt, and with Robert’s photographs, you’ll see what I’m talking about.  We got there about 8:30 am and, as someone coming up from below said to me, “It’s getting warm!”  Well, it certainly was!  But the tomb, re-opened after restoration in 2016, is well worth every single penny!  Also, because it is so expensive, most people don’t go there – and we had it all to ourselves for probably 10 minutes or longer.  The guides aren’t supposed to open some of the areas up, but we had no problem – we were actually led from room to room, but a very nice Egyptian who was, of course, suitably rewarded afterwards!  He wanted to know if we were “happy” – and indeed we were!  

 

After Seti I, we toured Tutankhamen’s tomb – a very, very different story!  That tomb was packed to overflowing, with people quite literally fighting for spaces from which to take good photos.  R took some, and I had a good look, but then really – let’s get out of here!!

 

Painted decoration of Tut's tomb

Tut's Sarchopagus

As we had seen five different tombs 23 years ago, and by the end of our tomb-viewing day, we honestly couldn’t remember which ones we had seen, and also judging from the crowds that were literally pouring into the valley, we decided we’d seen what we came to see, thank you very much, and wanted out!  Oh!  One nice thing!  Twenty years or so ago, we had the opportunity to meet the archaeologist Kent Weeks, thanks to Art Center’s attorney, Debbie Hall, when he gave a lecture to an assortment of Allen, Matkins (Debbie’s law firm) friends and clients. (Thank you SO much, Debbie!)  He was the discoverer of KV5, and runs the Theban Mapping Project.  KV5 is one of the most important discoveries of the 20^th century in Egypt!  It is the huge, multi-leveled tomb for the sons of Ramses II – and there were MANY of them – about 52!  Excavation work continues … but remember, it took Carter more than 10 YEARS to fully excavate Tutankhamen’s tomb and contents!

 

KV V

KV 5 tomb entrance

LOTS of people this morning!

Out of the tombs and found Abdul.  He seems to have timed us practically, as he is almost always right there we emerge, bedraggled and hot, from wherever he has left us.  Don’t know how it does it!

 

Off now to the view the Carter House, which is just to the side of the Valley of the Kings, and very convenient for excavation work.  Here, the house was really lovely.  Made entirely out of mud-brick, but nicely designed (by Carter).  It contains an assortment of archaeological equipment as well as some photographs; made for a nice visit.  By this time, I was getting a bit frazzled, so as we had already seen his actual tomb earlier, we decided we could skip “Faux Tut” as R calls it.  We believe the plan is to close the real tomb because of the damage caused by the presence of so many tourists and rely on the replica instead.

 

Outside Carter House

Study

Office

Bedroom

Kitchen

Many Tombs of the Nobles

Next stop was the TEMPLE of Seti I, not to be confused with the tomb!  And here, thankfully, we had to the entire temple to ourselves!  Yeah!  Seti I had died before his memorial temple was completed, so it was completed by – can you guess?  his son, Ramses II himself!  The differences, though in the sculptural style is striking.  Ramses II did not want ANYONE to ever deface or change his monuments – so the images and the hieroglyphics are very deeply etched into the stone.  Seti I didn’t really have that concern, and his sculptures are much more finely drawn and very beautiful!  The Temple was damaged extensively in 1994 by floods, and restoration work continues to this day.  

 

Our last visit for the day was to Medinat Habu, Ramses III’s memorial temple.  It is really lovely – although again, Ramses II pops up everywhere, still (attempting) to smite his Hittite foes!  (I wish he had gotten over it, but apparently not!).  What is really interesting though, are the two floors above the ground, where there are large windows where apparently Ramses III used to show himself to his subjects! Not many people here, although more (greater than none…) than at Seti I’s temple.

 

Medinat Habu stunning detail

Ramses III smiting again

Skeet, Lion Goddess

Windows where the subjects could see the Pharaoh

First Pylon (entrance)

Decorated ceiling

Talk about deeply incised

After that, we were exhausted, and headed back to the hotel.  Upstairs now, having finished our Egypt Air business, stopping to buy a few large bottles of water, and we’re probably in for the night.  However, as it’s Friday afternoon, the cruise boats from Aswan are all pulling in to dock now!  More balloons tomorrow!

 

So – closing now!  Abdul is coming at 7:30 am tomorrow, so we’ll be up and about early.  Need to repack everything and head to the airport!  More later!

 

m

xxx