Saturday, November 11, 2006

Very busy day!

Out the door again by 10:00. We walked down to the ferry dock and crossed the Nile for 1 e.p. each. On the ferry we met up with a taxi driver who gave us the whole day for 120 e.p.

Our first stop was The Valley of the Queens. We went into all of the open tombs. Queen Nefertari's tomb is by special request for tour groups only and you have to get a special certificate from the government which costs 20,000 e.p.! Oh, and you're still not allowed to take pictures.

Our next stop was Hatshepsut's Temple. It's huge! Cut from the limestone directly out of the mountain. I started to feel my skin fry by this time, it's very hot out in the open desert.

Then we drove through the mountain to The Valley of the Kings. You are only allowed three tombs for 70 e.p. Tut's tomb is an extra 80 e.p.! We went into Ramses I, Ramses IV, and Ramses IX. Took pics around the valley. I was shocked to see that KV64, the new one that was discovered in February is closed up again.

Our next stop was Medinet Habu. The temple is farther from the main sites and less popular, but it's incredible! Paint is still on most of the walls.

I'm lucky to have Mohab on this trip, I've been able to do things other tourists can't. A guard at Habu let us into a room that is blocked off, and I was allowed to take pics in some of the tombs, which is strictly forbidden.

Our next stop was The Collosi of Memnon. They are huge! 6o feet high statues.

Then we ferried back across the Nile and had dinner, Koshari and rice pudding, which only cost us 8 e.p.

We came back to the hotel for showers and a nap and slept through the night.