Once on the opposite bank, the Temple of Luxor ahead.
first thing you see when you approach the entrance, are two huge statues of Ramses II and obelisk.
As the guide told us, the obelisks were 2 originally had, but in 1883 one of them was taken to the Place de la Concorde in Paris. It was a gift from the viceroy of Egypt to France.
This temple was part of ancient Thebes, is dedicated to the god Amon-Ra and consists of a large patio, processional colonnade, atrium, pillared hall, several halls, chamber of birth, offering room, foyer, sanctuary of the boat and several shrines. In an area of \u200b\u200bthe temple, a mosque that is still providing services.
The part I liked about this temple was the gateway to the obelisk and the two huge statues, but really the feeling of walking between the columns of the pillared hall, the carvings on the walls and there are other statues around the temple tour leave you amazed. You begin to make the typical question of how could raise the statues and columns, how would that one day pillared hall ceremony with its roof, its hanging looms, all the walls colored engravings etc.
In one of the rooms of the final part of the temple are remains of Roman paintings with which the priests hid the original paintings and reliefs dedicated to various deities of ancient Egypt. No comments.
When we left the temple, Peter tells us that in ancient times an avenue of sphinxes connected the temples of Luxor and Karnak dividing the city in two, and that what is visible from the entrance to the temple is only part of this incredible avenue of just over 2 miles.
We return to the bus to go the way of our last visit of the day, the Karnak Temples complex, but not before dodging vendors. Not since the body for much hassle, it's almost 14:00 and we have 10 hours non-stop, the heat is and we still have to do this last visit before going to eat the boat. Take this opportunity to buy water and eat a kit-kat to give me energy to get the final onslaught.
Upon reaching the gates of the temple of Karnak you can get an idea of \u200b\u200bthe dimensions of the complex. At the end of the avenue of sphinxes (which in this area are sheep), the pylons are input, much higher than those of Luxor, and half an aisle flanked by statues and columns is not the end.
The first explanations of our guide under the scorching sun of midday is not to be encouraging. We note that the complex has 30 hectares dedicated to the worship of many gods, and that the construction and subsequent extensions involving more than 30 pharaohs.
started the visit in a large courtyard with a monumental statue of Pinedyem I. From here you can see the remains of mud at the base of the pylons, which serves to explain how pepe built such high walls and columns. For walls, a ramp made of mud and began to build, while raising the pylons and adobe ramp, when it concluded its construction would eliminate the time you were painting, this time from top to bottom the pylons. Even with this explanation I was fascinated how they could have raised those moles with so few resources.
We continued and arrived at one of the travel times that I lost track of time, the spectacular pillared hall. The latter explanation I heard the whole complex of Karnak was next, after I took the camera and I left the group along with another pal for about an hour.
This room has about 135 columns 15 meters tall on average. Each column is unique, with prints that retain the original painting and papyrus-shaped capitals. At that moment my head and my camera running at 300%, I was more than 15 minutes around the room admiring and marveling with every detail, marveling at the play of light that the sun created the slip between the columns, and again I thought that room at its best with colored roof, tapestries etc.
had to be my companion, who was also in a quite exalted, which took me back to reality. He said the group had gone and not seen, so much to my regret we continue the visit to try to reach the group, but could not be.
A little later in the pillared hall, two large obelisks, with which we were entertained for a while too, and it was while we were admiring those big buildings when a local vertical invited us to follow him places "not permitted" to visitors. Not what we think and within seconds we were following our impromptu guide through the remains of statues, walls etc. we did not know to where. But it was worth, we did a "tour" of shrines, halls and courtyards that are not visited because of the inaccessibility of the road. It was a pleasure to walk among archaeological remains that could well take a glass case in any museum in the world, filled with sand and find those places that not everyone visits. For about 20 minutes it seemed that we were only 3 people around Karnak, no hordes of tourists talking and the silence was almost absolute. The climax was a sanctuary where he had an engraving of a beetle in which he insisted you spend on hand to accompany us good luck on the trip.
We said goodbye to him but not before ignoring their pleas to give him a euro, I had forgotten that in Egypt there is nothing free but call you habibi (friend) every two to three but in this case deserved the visit € 4 due to a problem of understanding between my adventure and I compete, but I do not regret anything he had given those 2 €.
When we returned to the civilized area of \u200b\u200bthe visits, we met again with the group. Most sit or lay pilgrimages to the baths, which were about 500 meters. Join us 2 of our colleagues and we visiting the complex where the great lake of offerings as we told the "fling" you have to live.
After about 30 minutes of free visit where we found more areas off the beaten track to visit and return to my beloved pillared hall, just the exhausting day of visits.
climbed on the bus, we would appreciate a seat and air conditioning, but what there is more desire to eat, but we have to wait account, because while visiting the area, our ship has sailed to Esna where we expect the table set, so we have a bus ride a little longer than we thought.
During the meal, we found something that is normal at lunch time during our stay. Suddenly all the waiters and cooks out of the kitchen with instruments and singing and dancing, we assume that they are dancing and folk songs. At 2 minutes, all who were there eating just a giant conga around the tables making the chorus to the crew. I still remember the battle cry "¨ Aleel ooooh!". What memories. According
end lunch at about 17:30, went up on deck and see the lock fully operational.
The rest of the day until dinner time, I spend lying in bed resting and in the main hall of the ship talking to the few have not finished throwing a long nap after lunch.
After dinner, get on the ship's deck and discovered a ping pong table that we had not seen so far. We went down to reception by the blades and take a mini championship.
In one game, one waiter comes and tells us he is the best boat and if we dare to play with him. Both my traveling companions and I accept the challenge and started playing with him, and after losing almost every time was up half pissed. From this moment, summons us to play every night at 23:30. Did not miss a single day in more than one occasion brought "reinforcements", although little was served. This made for meals provided we had the typical healthy hesitate and spades with the waiter, making us spend a great time and throwing a lot of laughs together.
Day 1 Part 1 - Next Day
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