Tagged With "Luxor Temple"
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Re: In Egypt: Sleeping
As ever, a succinct and informative post from PM. It definitely gets its teeth into the eternal travel dilemma - how to feel comfortable when you're unconscious ! I always maintain (in life generally) that the greatest gap lies between expectation and reality. PM also found the smallest; that between scalding and frigid on an unfamiliar shower 😆😎
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Re: In Egypt: Luxor West Bank
A brilliant collection of pictures and commentary. Avoiding the bus loads is all down to timing, so your patience was well rewarded ! I've visited the West Bank loads of times with groups and it never fails to astound ! Our trips began by meeting up with a host of donkeys from the ferry, at 4.30am. We rode up to cross the cliff top above Hatshepsut's temple then walk down to the Valley of the Kings. Riding a donkey named Saddam up there was always a guaranteed wake-up
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Re: In Egypt: Luxor West Bank
It sounds a perfect way to see the area, though at that hour you'd likely have enjoyed the views without me. I understand the path from Hatshepsut's Temple to Valley of the Kings is now off limits, presumably because of the incident at the temple. You're lucky to have had the experience when you did. Thanks!
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Re: In Egypt: Luxor West Bank
Excellent photos. Your patience paid off since capturing historical locations like these are difficult without them being somewhat obscured by throngs of tourists.
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Re: In Egypt: Luxor West Bank
Thanks, George. The fact that there really are no throngs makes this the perfect time to visit Egypt.
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Re: In Egypt: Up the Nile
Egypt is always going to be a conveyor belt for most visitors, outside of the resorts, and it's hard to get around this, given the country's geography. But PM is right to take the costs on the chin; how many times are you going to be there in this life ? Obviously didn't miss much, from her photos !
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Re: In Egypt: Up the Nile
Back in 1989, when TWA still existed, took their 14 day tour. I believe there were 35 of us. We started in Cairo - 4 days staying at Mena House opposite the pyramids A huge WOW! During our stay there we traveled to Sakkaha and Memphis. Boarded a bus that took us to Alexandria - 2 days staying at Montazah Sheraton. From there we took a train to Aswan (dirty dishes - everyone sick). In Aswan, we stayed on Elephantine Island's Loews Aswan Oberoi. Went to Temples of Philae and flew to Abu...
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
I've really enjoyed this journey...thanks! For anyone who hasn't, I'd suggest checking out the first 3 parts as well. It's amazing to realize how varied the architecture and the wildlife and even the river itself seem at different points along the way. Some of the variation serves to remind us, as well, how many many years went into all this; all of our civilizations are young by comparison, no matter how old they seem to us!
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
What a fabulous conclusion to a delightful series, Mac. Thanks so much for sharing this journey with all of us. I've wanted to visit Egypt for some time, but have always been a little reluctant to go somewhere I might get targeted for extermination simply because I'm a visitor from the west. But your series has made me want to see this sooner, rather than later.
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
Although I've wanted to go to Egypt most of my life, to Egypt and Japan, for some reason I haven't made it to either place (except through the Suez canal, which hardly counts). Your pictures of the colonial-era hotels, though, may be the encouragement I need to finally get there. It's probably less crowded now than it will ever be, also an encouragement.
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
An incredible series on Egypt! I too want to go now sooner rather than later!
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
Thank you kindly fellow Gumbo-ists. You have rightly detected that we greatly enjoyed our trip and it is so photogenic and endlessly fascinating. I always feel a total dullard when going to the tombs and temples and hear all the lists of Pharaohs, dynasties, goddesses and gods - all doing fantastic things at the same time as us Brits were living in mud huts.... I do encourage you all to go and visit now. You will never get better deals than now (but go in the cooler period). You will be well...
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
Mac, can you tell us which company's boat you sailed on? You may have said it but indulge me please with the name (again)?
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
A truly wonderful journey you've taken us on, such a well written piece! Bravo!
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
..an amazing journey, Mac, thanks for sharing it with us...and for anyone who hasn't been to Egypt, forget all the bad publicity you've heard and make this a priority on your adventure list; as someone who has been there, I can highly recommend it
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 1)
Thanks for the journey, Mac. Yes, it is sad that tourist numbers are down as there is so much to see. We were there in January'13 and loved every minute. Such a fascinating country and with friendly people too. Forget what you hear in the news, just go!
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 1)
thanks We hope that increasing numbers of tourists to Egypt soon
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 1)
Well, TravelGumbo will be giving them more reasons—this is only Part 1 of Mac's journey, and he has some more stunning pictures! Stay tuned...
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Egypt campaigns to rebuild tourism
Egypt is planning to invest millions in an advertising campaign to build tourism to 20 million visitors by 2020, more than double last year's 9.8 million. The peak was 14.7 million in 2010. The campaign will launch in August. Egypt, long a...
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In Egypt: Luxor West Bank
PortMoresby visits 3 sites on the West Bank of the River Nile, opposite Luxor near the Valley of the Kings, the ancient Theban Necropolis.
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In Egypt: Around Luxor
With a week to spend in Luxor, PortMoresby enjoys leisurely days in the town as much, if not more, as those spent at its famous monuments.
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In Egypt: Luxor & Karnak
With a week to spend in Luxor, PortMoresby visits Luxor Temple, very near her apartment, then 3 kilometers northward along the Nile, wanders within the Temples of Karnak.
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In Egypt: Howard Carter's House
Last stop on a day spent across the Nile from Luxor, PortMoresby visits the house where Howard Carter lived while excavating Tutankhamun's Tomb.
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In Egypt: Up the Nile
PortMoresby leaves Luxor, takes to the river, sees riverside farms & temples along the way, learns a lesson and begins her wish list for next time.
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In Egypt: Sleeping
PortMoresby ends her Egyptian adventure with thoughts on the wide variety of places she called home…in Cairo, in Luxor and in Aswan.
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Re: In Egypt: Luxor & Karnak
Thanks for sharing you Egyptian adventures. I'm sure you were looking over you shoulder for any tourist lurking danger. I especially liked the Roman fresco and Amun profiles. You are a true traveler, story teller and photographer of ancient locations that I would probably never visit. You are also a great advisory to ID'ing those WITW Gumbo photos.
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Re: In Egypt: Luxor & Karnak
Thanks, George, so glad you're enjoying them. I laughed at 2 things you said - I actually forget to remember the possibility of "lurking danger". And if you mean "adversary", every week I forget to look at the WITWs until you've probably already named them. Not much of an adversary.
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Re: In Egypt: Luxor & Karnak
Like you, we were completely blown away by the temples and monuments along the Nile - to the extent that we booked an identical tour for the following year. The second time round we explored the more distant parts of the sites. We often found ourselves completely on our own.
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Re: In Egypt: Luxor & Karnak
I was often completely alone, too, possibly for a different reason, the shortage of visitors. I am considering going again next winter, and because independent travel is always a learn-as-we-go experience, I'll do some things differently and mention them later in the story.
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Re: In Egypt: Luxor & Karnak
I am headed for Egypt in April. I am really enjoying your posts...your photo are excellent!!
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Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
And so we arrive in Aswan, the furthest navigable point before the High Dam. From here some courageous souls can continue to the beautiful temple at Abu Simbel which was relocated with fantastic precision prior to the construction of the High Dam. The...
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Cruising down the Nile (part 1)
 Poor Egypt gets some bad press at the moment and in the process their tourist numbers have fallen dramatically and that is understandable, however, in cities like Luxor tourism provides employment in one way or another for some 85% of the...
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
It wasn't Edfu, Mac, but Dendera. Edfu is South of Luxor and, as you quite rightly point out, we went North (to Qena). https://www.travelgumbo.com/bl...temple-complex-egypt