Luxor - Aswan Cruise on the Nile

Our Christmas present to ourselves this year was a luxury cruise down the Nile. There were so many highlights to the trip it's hard to pinpoint only one. I've only chosen a few photos because the others would need far more explanation. There were so many gods and each god was related to another and was also responsible for 2 or 3 things. So if you want to know more just email or add a comment and I'll reply. Unfortunately we were told not to take our cameras up to the Valley of the Kings otherwise my first photo would have been of Tutankamen's mummy, his tomb and sarcophagus. Seeing those was my "special moment" of this trip. Now I have seen all there is to see of Tutankamen ... until the next excavation.

Karnak Temple, Luxor

                 

                        How did they build those huge
                    entrances?  They built mud brick ramps.

Cleopatra's needle at Karnak Temple

Hatshepsut's Temple in Luxor

Iti and Hathor, wife of Horus,
at Hatshepsut's Temple

Iti, Tony and a Colossus of Memnon

Dog found at Dendera Temple

Originally everything was painted,
including the heiroglyphics on the walls.

They are still looking for other secret rooms
underneath and in the walls of Dendera Temple.

Cleopatra 2nd's necklace on the wall in the secret room

Luxor Temple

This 2 mile long road of Sphinxes goes all the way
from Luxor Temple to Karnak Temple.

Iti found a sphinx friend. Not all
the sphinxes look as good as this one. 

Team Horus. We had Kiwis, Canadians,
Cubans, a Turk, a couple of Brits &
an Egyptian tour guide.

Part of a calendar showing part of the 27th,
the 28th, 29th & 30th of a month

Falucca rides - best way to see the shore line

Cartouche and graffiti side by side.

These boys paddled up to the faluccas
and sang songs for money. No Maori
but plenty of English, French and Espanol.

The Temple of Sobek in Kom Ombo
had a huge collection of mummified
crocodiles.

The Abercrombie & Kent "Sunboat 1V" where we spent our nights on the Nile.

Whirling dervish dancer. Incredible act!
Sorry didn't get a photo of the belly dancer.

If we'd had the time and the money we would have stayed on board for the 4 day return trip to Luxor. Definitely a fun way to spend a week exploring the Nile and the amazing temples, valleys, towns and villages along its shores.


The entertainment on board was miamia (excellent). The staff kept us busy  and being there on New Year's Eve made the trip that little bit more special.

Galabeya Night with Bruce & Margo aka
Laila, Ahmed, Fatima & Mustafa.

New Year's Eve with Margarita, Guillermo,
Bruce, Tony, Margo, Jeremy and Dianne.

Tony, Iti & Bruce on the sundeck.
The water is Iti's.

 Sadly tourism in Egypt has taken a huge blow because of the revolution and continuing unrest and the many Egyptians who depend on the tourist dollar are really feeling the pinch. I'm glad that we are contributing back to the local economy every time we go on one of our little adventures in Egypt.
Can't wait for our next one ... back to work tomorrow.