Exotic Enigmatic Egypt! Part 11

It was our last night on the cruise ship and most of the crew came out after dinner and did a performance for us at the lobby area. Towards the end, they got some of the passengers to join in the singing and dancing and we went to bed feeling a bit sad that the cruise was soon coming to an end.

The next morning after we disembark, we were taken to the Valley Of The Kings, located amongst the desert mountain at the West Bank of the Nile.

Unless you're a tomb raider, this is one mountain you won't want to climb.

This valley holds about 63 tombs for kings and nobles and has many chambers. We picked a few to go into as some tombs have very complex chambers where one might have to climb up and down very steep steps. It's really warm and almost up to the point where one might find it hard to breathe (those with asthma were told to refrain from going into certain complex tombs). Let's just say, walking into one of the tombs made me experience how it might be like for one trapped in a mineshaft.

We then went on to visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut which is built right into a cliff!

Wikipedia says : Djeser-Djeseru is the main building of Hatshepsut's mortuary temple complex at Deir el-Bahri. Designed by Senemut, her vizier, the building is an example of perfect symmetry that predates the Parthenon, and it was the first complex built on the site she chose, which would become the Valley of the Kings. Read more about Queen Hatshepsut and the temple HERE.

Explanation from wikipedia : Osirian statues of Hatshepsut at her tomb, one stood at each pillar of the extensive structure, note the mummification shroud enclosing the lower body and legs as well as the crook and flail associated with Osiris



On the way back, we were taken to an the countryside where there were many places selling alabaster. We were given a tour and shown how alabaster is made.




The many different types of Alabasters

Onto our last leg of the tour, we had a bit of luxury when we checked into Steigenberger Nile Palace in Luxor.

In the late afternoon, we had a "meeting" in one of the conference rooms for some Egyptian history lessons and our guide, Mohamad even drew some hieroglyphic for us to learn. Apparently all Egyptian tour guides had to study and pass exams on Egyptian history and hieroglyphics before they can work as tour guides.

We relaxed in the open air lounge before we embarked on a night out in town later ;o)

To be continued ...