Egypt - October 2009

October 2009 we made our way over to Egypt for 2 weeks. Lena wasn't too fussed about going but her mind changed very quickly after she began witnessing some of the most spectacular feats of engineering man has ever built. I highly recommend the Nile cruise. It typifies the essential experience of Egypt...

As cliche'd as it is, you still need to ride a camel at Giza...

The Great Sphinx is one of the world's largest and oldest statues, but basic facts about it, such as who was the model for the face, when it was built, and by whom, are still debated.

Despite conflicting evidence and viewpoints over the years, the traditional view held by modern Egyptologists at large remains that the Great Sphinx was built in approximately 2500 BC by the pharaoh Khafra, the supposed builder of the second pyramid at Giza.

Cairo

I'm sure anyone who's been to Cairo will agree it is a seething mass of dust, noise, crowds and just about anything that can assult your senses. Not your idylic holiday destination.. however it is home to the famous Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum and the necessary launch point for the rest of your journey around Egypt. As most say, get in.. see what you gotta see and get the hell out!

Cairo (Arabic: القاهرة‎ al-Qāhira, literally "The Vanquisher" or "The Conqueror") is the capital of Egypt, the largest city in Africa and the Arab World, and one of the most densely populated cities in the world.[1][2] Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a center of the region's political and cultural life. Even before Cairo was established in the 10th century, the land composing the present-day city was the site of national capitals whose remnants remain visible in parts of Old Cairo. Cairo is also associated with Ancient Egypt due to its proximity to the Great Sphinx and the pyramids in adjacent Giza

Lena, her parents and myself catching some rest and shade from the extreme heat in Luxor. This was our first temple we visited  - Karnak Temple. The pillars we're sitting on are huge!

Here's a slide show of some shots from Egypt recently.

Medinet Habu temple

This was one of favourite temples in Egypt as it's inscribed reliefs were more pronounced than others and looked a little more graphic. Personal preferencxe I guess.

Medinet Habu is the name commonly given to the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III, an important New Kingdom period structure in the location of the same name on the West Bank of Luxor in Egypt.

Here's one of the many guardian's who look after the temples during the day. I think he prefered hanging with Lena than posing for the camera, however like everything in Egypt, money talks and don't think you can get a photo of any of these guys without handing over some Baksheesh (tips in Egypt)

One of the many types of boats sailing the Nile. I can't quite remember the name of these boats but they are more traditional and think they were the first forms of tourist boats to sail the Nile.

Lena's parents and us on board the Nile Cruise refuelling over dinner after days of exploring the amazing temples in Luxor and along the Nile.

Doing the tourist thing and posing.

This was one of the stops on our Nile cruise heading south towards Aswan. Another scorching day with very little sun, hence why most times you visit these temples is first thing in the morning or late afternoon.

The Temple of Edfu is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu which was known in Greco-Roman times as Apollonopolis Magna, after the chief god Horus-Apollo. It is the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak and one of the best preserved.

Here's a couple we met on the cruise and really enjoyed spending time with. They are british and have now retired in the south of France and renovating their chateau. Tough life eh? :)

 

These are the kind of sunsets you experience every day whilst sailing the nile. Probably due to the amount of dust in the atmostphere due to the desert terrain.

I was late for dinner but stayed back to sneak in this shot as the sun set exactly behind the boat on this stretch of the river making it possible to get an exposure long enough and keep it sharp..  and to top off, these 2 locals in a boat row past lining up the silouette perfectly!