A visit to Luxor and the Red Sea, Egypt
Luxor is a place I only thought of as existing in the bible. And when I visited it, it looked like it still belonged in the bible. Cars and trucks mingle on crowded roads with donkeys and camels.
No photography allowed in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings
Farmers and agriculture are situated right next to the city. Ancient sits next to brand new. From Luxor, I visited the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Collosus of Memnon, Luxor Temple and even managed to float down the Nile in a brightly coloured boat.
Photography is not allowed in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings. But you can take photos of the entrances and the mountains that the tombs are carved into. All the tombs differ in design. No two are the same. The magnificence, depth and splendour of the tomb depends on how long the pharaoh, who the tomb was designed for, lived. The tombs were began as soon as the Pharaoh began his reign. The longer he lived, the deeper and more elaborately decorated his tomb.
The Valley of the Kings is an amazing place, full of entrances to tombs that tunnel down into the rock of the mountains. It is a very hot, bright place and conditions for those who created the tombs and for those who discovered them must have been far from comfortable. Even the tombs themselves are hot. There is no respite from the heat.
Entrance to the Valley of the Kings This is your first glimpse of what is to come. Its modest appearance hides how amazing this place actually is.
Inside the Valley of the Kings The valley is a dry, dusty place and the sunlight reflects off the rock making it hard to see without sunglasses. Entrances to the tombs line the pathway, but not all are open to the public.
Tutankhamun's Tomb The standard entrance ticket gives you access to four tombs and you pay extra to see Tuthankamun's tomb. His tomb may be the most well-known, but it is in fact the least elaborate as the Pharaoh died unexpectedly at a young age, giving the tomb makers little time to finish it.
Entrance to a tomb Entrance to the tombs are down steep steps and then after showing your ticket, you go through a doorway into a passage. The walls and ceiling of the passage are decorated with paintings, with rooms leading off to the sides. At the end of the passageway is the Pharaoh's burial chamber.
Tomb closed to the public Not all tombs in the valley are open for visiting.
Collosus of Memnon You can see how huge these monuments are but how small the people next to them are.
Hepshetsut Temple Queen Hepshetsut's Temple is directly aligned with her tomb on the other side of the mountain.
Hepshetsut Temple The temple has undergone restoration and you can still see the paintings that line the walls.
Hepshetsut hieroglyphics All the carvings would have been painted and you can still see some of the colours.
Hepshetsut hieroglyphics There are many animals, insects as well as people carved into hieroglyphics.
Hepshetsut hieroglyphics Nice legs...
...shame about the face.
A funky bird in a hat at Hepshetsut's Temple Every animal or bird you can think of appears somewhere in a carving.
Hepshetsut carvings Walk like an Egyptian.
Karnak Temple A shady spot is very welcome at Karnak Temple.
Karnak Temple These flowers look almost Art Deco in style.
Karnak Temple Don't worry he's 'armless
Karnak Temple What have they got against arms in this place?
Karnak Temple If you walk seven times around this scarab, apparently, you can make a wish that will come true.
Karnak Temple The statues make you feel very small.
Karnak Temple At certain angles the columns align beautifully, giving you magnificent views through to the other side.
Karnak Temple Hieroglyphics show the signatures of the Kings.
Karnak Temple The columns are decorated right up to the top.
Karnak Temple Rameses III makes his presence known with a huge statue.
Karnak Temple Rameses appears again underneath giant rams.
Karnak Temple A stray dog hides from the heat.
Karnak Temple Magnificent entrance to the temple.
Karnak Temple The temple is both busy and quiet at the same time. You just have to walk for a few minutes to get away from the crowds.
Luxor Temple These "signatures" appear throughout the temple. It gives the name of a Pharaoh.
Luxor Temple An early Christian attempt to bring Christianity to the Luxor Temple with a fresco.
Luxor Temple The temple is situated in the heart of the city.
Luxor Temple Another great statue dwarfs visitors.
Luxor Temple Luxor temple was originally buried below street level. This mosque is testimony to that as it was built on the street before the temple was uncovered and it now perches on one of the walls.
Luxor Temple Its central location means that the temple gets lots of visitors.
Luxor Temple These statues once lined the road leading from the temple to the Valley of the Kings.
Nile You can still see water buffalo grazing along the sides of the Nile.
Nile A sign welcomes passing boats for food and drink.
Nile You can see the temple from the Nile.