Valley of the Kings -- Oct 10


We make sure we get breakfast as we won't be back until 2pm. Greg has gotten quite sick and will miss the entire day. Some of our fellow passengers have gotten up at 4:30am to take a hot air balloon ride. It does look pretty but I am glad to be watching from the ground at a decent hour!

The bus leaves at 8am. It is about a 45 minute drive through the Luxor countryside and over the Nile until we hit very deserty land. There is lots of excavation still going on and lots of tourists. Thank God we have Hanan. Our first stop is King Tut's tomb. It seems they have his mummy there though it is not apparently in good condition. Interesting decoration in the tomb.



Then it was on to the tomb of Ramseses the VI. 

Howard Carter's house was a quiet stop to see where the great discoverer lived.

Next stop is Queen Nefertari's tomb. So colorful. Called the Sistine Chapel of Egypt. Hard to believe the paintings and colors have been preserved that well. 




The next stop is the Al Behari temple. It is up a few flights of stairs and Steve goes up but I stay back and find shade at the cafe. No Pepsi though. 

One last stop at the Colossus statues. They aren't in good shape and not that impressive. Back on bus and we are back at the ship by 2pm. And she is ready to shove of as soon as we are all aboard. We are very hungry so just mop our brow and then head to the dining room. I have a tasty quinoa chicken bowl. Steve has the Egyptian sandwich. Lunch with Brit Judith and her husband. She is very opinionated about America and gained quite a reputation at the Valley of the Kings!



Back to room to shower and rest up. Drop off laundry. Explorers Society reception at 6:15. Some couple has done 11 Viking cruises! Port talk gets us ready for tomorrow. Dinner upstairs. We watch the ship go through locks and the staff wash the windows! We are now docked in Esna. Greg makes an appearance but doesn't eat much and leaves early. Dinner is a mushroom soup and jumbo shrimp. Molly heads out after dessert and Brian, Steve, Mary and I talk until we know we need to head to bed. We miss the whirling dervish!

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