June 25th-Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples

We begin our day we a wonderful breakfast and a smooth cruise on the Nile River, it was so smooth we did not even feel the boat begin to move.  The scenery is breath taking and it was really interesting to see life on the river. It is a much different place then the cities!!

Our first stop was Kom Ombo Temple, dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek.  The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank.  When they dug at this site they found crocodile mummies and are currently working on a museum to show them.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kom_Ombo  The street vendors were very aggressive and eager to sell there goods at this site, so Theresa was very happy to get back to the boat and get away from them!!

After returning to the boat we continue our cruise up the Nile to our next destination, Edfu Temple.  In the meantime we enjoy our cruise laying by the pool, having a nice lunch and then massages!!!  I felt like Cleopatra as the sound of the river played the music in the massage room and the smell of Egyptian rose oil filled the air. AHHHHH!!!!

We arrived in the city of Edfu and were taken by a horse carriage ride to the site. Edfu Temple is the largest and most completely preserved Pharaonic temple in Egypt, and was built for the falcon god Horus.  As we wondered through the magnificent pylon and viewed the carvings it was all we could do to try and imagine what the temple looked like when it was completely painted and the flags where flying high in the front.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Edfu

When we returned back to the boat Theresa went to an Egyptian cooking lesson while Brad had his massage.  She was the only female as there were only two other couples on the boat, our new friend Deborah, who is a principal in a British school in Alexandria,  and a group of 19 German Engineers who where training people in Cairo to build wind turbines.  It was interesting since none of the Germans spoke any English. Later we had an Egyptian Night where they served Egyptian food and we dressed in Galabeya's for the occasion. We had many laughs as we danced some of the traditional Nubian dances with the staff.  

Good night, we have had a very full day!!!! Tomorrow is going to be very busy and VERY HOT!!!

June 24th-The Unfinished Obelisk & Philae Temple

When we arrived back in Aswan we were met by our guide Osama and another guest on our river boat, Deborah from Wales.  The four of us visited on of the Granite Quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples. The quarry still holds the largest unfinished obelisk that they have found.  It was so cool to see how they made them with Diorite stones, but very mind blowing how they could transport those large pieces of stone up the Nile River by boats.  

Next we took a very relaxing boat ride to the Island of Agilka to visit Philae Temple. The beautiful temple was  built for the Goddess Isis, during the reign of King Ptolemy II, and then other kings added to the temple.  It was a very beautiful and peaceful site and since we were there at the end of the day the four of us had the place to ourselves, it was fantastic!!!

Now off to our river boat The Nile Adventurer for afternoon tea and then a welcome reception, we are excited to be on the Nile River where it is calm and peaceful and no honking cars!!!

June 24th-Abu Simbel and Aswan Egypt

We left Cairo in the morning to fly to Aswan and then a quick flight to visit Abu Simbel. The two temples were carved in the limestone mountains between 1290-1124 BC, one for Ramses II and the other to honor his favorite wife Queen Nefertari. When they built the Aswan dam the temples we relocated by cutting them into blocks, raising them piece-by-piece, and then reassembling them in a new higher position on the hillside.  It took two years to complete (1966-1968).  As we stood before these beautiful temples it was hard to imagine how they we built in the first place let alone moved.  It was truly an amazing sight to behold and we where so glad we made the trip.  After Abu Simbel we flew back to Aswan for our next adventures!!!