Egypt (part 2)

[Mags]

Valley of the Kings

The day started early due to the heat, it was already in the 80's at 7.00am.

We had an Egyptologist as our guide for the tour, she made the visit so much more interesting with all her knowledge of ancient Egyptian history.

The Valley of the Kings, situated on the West Bank of the Nile, looks like a huge mound of rock but there are tombs of more than 60 kings buried deep into the hillsides of this desolate, sunbaked valley... the tombs are all deeply cut into the solid rock. Despite the precautions they took to hide their treasures from tomb robbers, only a single tomb - that of the boy king Tutankhamun - has ever been found intact.

Unfortunately no-one is allowed to take photos inside the tombs, just the exterior surrounding areas. We were able to enter three tombs that day, Rameses IV, Rameses VI and that of Tutankhamun. The inside of the tombs are very colourful and a work of art with hieroglyphics covering the walls and ceilings. Many of the tombs plunge up to 100m deep into the rock.

Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in 1922 by an English archaeologist, Howard Carter. Sadly King Tut's tomb is a sad anticlimax as its treasures are all in the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, leaving only a small empty chamber........ but it is still well worth the visit.

Because the sun sets in the West, Egyptians believed that the Western Desert (West Bank) was the entrance to the Underworld where the dead dwelled and through which the sun passed at night..

Entrance to one of the tombs....

Howard Carter's house in the V of the K, which remains empty..

Temple of Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut was one of the few women to rule Egypt in her own right, though her statues depict her wearing the ceremonial false chin-beard of a male pharaoh in token of her rank. Her temple stands alone and appears to grow out of the pink cliffs into which it was built.

Many images of the Queen were defaced by her stepson and eventual successor, who resented her power and desecrated her temples here and elsewhere, often replacing them with his own.

Unfortunately, two weeks before we arrived there was a nasty accident here. A Russian girl was taking photos on the second level where many of the columns were laying on the ground. She was moving backward to get a better picture and tripped over a column and fell over the edge ...... by the time the ambulance reached her she had sadly died.

While we were there, the officials had roped off the edge of the temple to save another tragic accident from happening.

[charliebubs]

Oooooo - lovely pics Mags and very informative commentary

What a shame about the poor Russian girl

It looks like it was bloomin' hot!!!!

[angieh]

Really interesting photos Mags! Thanks again for sharing. What a shame about the poor Russian girl.

I loved your comment in the daily thread about Cassie sleeping with you and bopping you on the nose - that will teach you to leave her and go away!!!! (wonder what they think!?)

[Moli]

Fascinating pictures Mags, what a beautiful place to visit.....

[Mags]

It really is a wonderful country steeped with history..........I would think you needed to spend a month or more there to see all the sights..

Although there is a lot of poverty in Egypt and a lot of begging goes on, every Egyptian we met was so friendly and they love to talk to you. I was amazed at how many of them had some knowledge of the English language..

[babycakes]

Fabulous pictures, sounds a wonderful and magical place. Sad about that girl though how awful

[yola]

This was one of my favourite places to visit in Egypt (apart from having to run the gauntlet of the stalls selling tat between the coach drop-off and the temple).

I think this temple is SO mysteriously beautiful, and the way it's circles by the rocky hills behind it is wonderful.

It sounds like you had a far more informative and informed guide that we did. I remember reading the books after we'd returned to the boat about the tours to get additional information as the guides seemed not to willing to share.

[alexgirl73]

Fabulous pics and descriptions mags! Looks wonderful. Such a tragedy about that poor girl though.

[Mags]

Originally Posted by yola

It sounds like you had a far more informative and informed guide that we did. I remember reading the books after we'd returned to the boat about the tours to get additional information as the guides seemed not to willing to share.

We had a marvellous guide Yola, she went into everything with full detail - nothing was too much trouble for her. She even play-acted the life of Queen
Hatshepsut with some members of our group so that we could understand her bid to be recognised as a legitamate queen.

[Elaine]

Outstanding pictures Mags, looks wonderful

What a tradgedy to have happened in such a beautiful place, poor girl.