Our compartment on the Cairo to Luxor train is a miniature slice of heaven. And more than anything Christi and I can lock the door and enjoy a little privacy. At least we can when Ahmed the host is not serving us dinner or later when he wants to turn our comfortable seats into two comfortable beds. Our compartment comes with a wash basin (with soap and towels) and luxury of luxuries...air … [Read more...]
Deir al-Bahri and the Valley of the Kings, Day 286
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It's a 7 am start for a packed day of Egyptology on the West Bank of the Nile. Our fixer at the Princess Hotel in Luxor, Jak, surprises us by providing an air-conditioned mini-van just for Christi and I. Based on prior experiences with tours in Egypt this may not prove to be the case. We double-check with Jak. A private tour of Deir al-Bahri, the Valley of the Kings, and Medinet Habu - guaranteed, … [Read more...]
The Temple Complex of Karnak, Day 287
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The Temple Complex of Karnak is a hop, skip, and a jump from downtown Luxor (weather permitting). It is still incredibly hot, but Christi and I take an early morning wander up to this vast open-air museum and largest ancient religious site in the world. It is the second most popular tourist site in Egypt after the pyramids at Giza. This is hard-core Egyptology for the devotees of Ancient Egypt. It … [Read more...]
The Nile Story Cruise, Day 288
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Christi and I were so busy enjoying the luxurious surroundings aboard the Nile Story yesterday that I forgot to mention the cruise itself. To begin with finding our houseboat at its mooring alongside the Nile at Luxor was no easy task. There are literally dozens of these massive ships docked along the river - and they are double-parked. Christi and I actually walked through the lobby of one boat … [Read more...]
Nile River, Egypt, Day 289
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It is quite wonderfully relaxing to float gently up the Nile. There is ample food and Christi and I have quickly trained ourselves in true Pavlovian style to respond immediately to meal times. Putting on an extra pound now might come in handy as we head deeper into Africa and the Heart of Darkness. At the moment, though, our hearts are light, bright, and happy. I try not to dwell on what will … [Read more...]
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