Thursday
Today has been a L-O-N-G day. We checked off the river boat at 6-45am and got on the bus for a day of touring. We pulled into our hotel in Hughada at just after 9pm.
The highlight has to be the Valley of the Kings…this vast expanse of hilly sandstone was used to conceal the tombs of the kings for a period of about 500 years from 16th to 11th century BC. (The Exodus was said to have taken place in the 13th Century, so it was during that time that the Pharaohs and Kings were creating elaborate tombs in preparation for their death. They chose the Valley of the Kings because it has a mountain that has a little top which is shaped like a pyramid.
The surrounding cliff faces are dramatic…
And it’s sandstone brown is everywhere…
We went into three tombs. The one of interest to me was the one who is said to have been the Pharoah at the time of the Exodus. His name was Merenptah and this is the entrance to his tomb.
To get to the burial chamber, you take a walk down 186 steps. He’s not there of course, but they have set up a replica…
Amazing historic place.
We had a couple of other temples to visit as well as an Alabaster factory and we also swung past the statues of Memnon….here is one of them. Most of the visitors were more interested in the hot air balloons!
We had lunch at the Africa restaurant on the banks of the Nile, had the last temple visit and then finally left Luxor at about 3:30pm. We got into Hurghada at just after 9pm. We are staying at a large, very smart resort that is ‘all inclusive’! We are only really here for one full day and that’s tomorrow. We stay two nights and 5am Saturday morning pull out of here and return to Cairo. It’s after 11pm now, so time to say good night.
Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
Gym:
14524 steps.
Braces:
1 year 50 days