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EGYPT 1998
6th October 1998 Cairo
Flew over Cairo on landing in the night big sprawling city. Arrived at hotel and straight to bed.
7th October 1998 Train
After breakfast of some local delicacies, went around the Cairo Museum. Saw Tutankamens death mask and chair.
Lunch with view of pyramids. Went to the Pyramids, blocks are much larger than I imagined. Went inside Chephrens (middle one) as Cheops (Great Pyramid) closed for refurbishment to air conditioning! Large inside, but very basic no carvings or murals. All blocks exact.
Blokes selling stuff and camel rides, don’t seem to take no for an answer.
Went to the sphinx. Temple is made from intersecting blocks of different sizes that have been carved to fit exactly. Pictures of pyramids.
Went to a papyrus place. Train to Aswan. Chicken dinner.
8th October 1998 Aswan
Train continues through the desert. Green immediately around the river. Boys farming with oxen in fields, travel by bicycle.
Went to the Unfinished Obelisk enormous, and to the Aswan High Dam. Chicken dinner in local café.
Sound and Light show at Phile Temple after dark. Boat over as flooded by the dam. Pharaohs seemed to be very incestuous.
9th October 1998 Nile Boat
Up early to get plane to Abu Simbel. Late leaving as problem with the plane. Saw the temple as coming into land next to Lake Nassar. Huge temples excellent. Plane broke down, waiting for part from Cairo. Dinner in Hotel Neferetari rundown, frogs and green sludge in the pool.
Boarded Nile Boat - Amy. Sailed for a few hours as far as Kom Ombo. Local stripper did a show for us on the boat.
10th October 1998 Nile Boat
Went around Kom Ombo temple. Sailed to Edfu and went around that temple very complete with bats in secret passages.
Dressed up in robes for dinner, which we had to barter for.
11th October 1998 Luxor
Early start for the locks at Edna.
Went around Karnak Temple. Rows of statues, large statues of Ramses. Rubble. Obelisks. Coloured etchings must have been incredible if all rock carvings were painted.
12th October 1998 Train
Dawn start for the trip to the Valley of the Kings on donkeys. Went around Ramses VI tomb, saw that of Tutankamen. Back on donkey and went past Queen Hasphatuts temple and onto the villages of workers. Tombs well painted. Past Status of Memmon. Donkeys knew their way home.
Luxor temple, then train to Cairo.
13th October 1998 Cairo
In Cairo, went around market. Saw a couple of mosques.
14th October 1998 Home
Up extremely early and to the airport for flight home.
An excellent short trip. Lots of variety of transport, and relaxing. Hot but saw lots of interesting temples and wonders. Good to see something you’ve read about and seen on TV so many times.
Highlights
§Pyramids §Abu Simbel §Karnak Temple §Valley of Kings §Nile
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