The hotel in Luxor - One of the most beautiful hotels we have stayed. Luxor in itself is goreous and romantic, the starting place for all the cruises on the Nile
Our hotel was right on the Nile - we are standing on the Hotel property. Notice all the Felucca's in the background. Mr. Szarkozy was there with his current squeeze Ms. Bruni
The mountains in the background - beyond which lies the Valley of the Kings and Queens
Our Hotel pool and in the background one of the cruise ships - unlike the behemoths we see in the Carribean. These are small and cozy affairs
Sunset on the Nile
End of the day
Beautiful and serene
Poolside by the evening.
The feluccas are very colorful and with a personality. Quite cheap to ride in them up and down the river
Bedouin style restaurant on the banks of the Nile
Awesome breakfast here. BTW - Nubian culture is quite old. What is striking is how the clothes, music, and food are similar to the NE Hilly states in India and the Mayans
Streetside in Luxor
Adda - the coffee is quite sweet and potent, but Turkish coffee is my favorite
The complete layout of Karnak Temple - one of the highlights of going to Luxor
At the Entrance of Karnak Temple. What a place - right across from the Nile. Another monument to the genius of the ancient Egyptian's abilty to build intricate but gigantic structures
She was sleepy and had to carry her for quite some time. Check out the rows of Sphinx at the entrance to the Temple
Guarding the temple
Choreographed by Indira
A bit of the background. Do not know about the no equal in the world part. They have to visit the temples in India to establish a benchmark
Fortification. Gigantic colums
Inner passge way. All the walls have magnificient inscriptions
Get Shorty!
If I could only read :)
Awe inspiring structures. Equally beautiful paintings - notice the the underside of the beam
Waiting for the Queen to show up
Happy that sister is crying
Pillars of civilization
Upright and tall
Even the bear is sad - it is a revelation travelling with kids. I am amazed by their adaptability and resilience
Depicts life and death
Kiss and Tell
The Key of Life
Ready to rock and roll
Ready to rock in a frock
Show me yours
While the minions go to war
Perfectly balanced
Even the statue looks serene
Watchful eyes
The ruins of Karnak
Shakira
The ruins spoke of grandeur
The entire ruins
No wonder the number 1 brand in the world
Missile
The Frog
India in Egypt
Indira's viewpoint
I can still feel the heat and the taste of dust and sand
Blissful marriage
The sun was blinding
Understood
Watch out!
Check out the little guy
Close enough
Ready to head back
Where are the tourists?
I am suffering from Vertigo
Catching a lonely moment
Male or female?
The pigments are still there after 4000 years
Notice the sky - do not get to see that color easily
Drinking elixir
Shelter from stifling heat
Holding the key
Fighting for a drink - the heat was unbearable
Got it
Precious water
Say goodbye
Evening entertainment at the hotel
Wassup Babe!
She was gorgeous and a great dancer
'N sync
Two to Tango
Pretty in any Language
True Belly Dancer
This dude was an acrobatic dervish dancer
Part Circus, part dancing, great entertainment
Amazing synchronization
Amazing concentration - he had seven of them things and 3 skirts to manage, all while moving counter clockwise at top speed
Moving so fast, merged into the tree
Jumped from the wall while still spinning one of the skirts
Nubian Dance
The audience dancing with the performers
I had gone for an early morning walk along the Nile - people taking hot air ballon rides over the valley
Getting ready to sail ship
Getting his food stall ready
Notice the size of the cruise ships....
Now I know why I have been dying a slow death!
Getting warmed up - the Luxor temple is in the background
Get Coiffed before sailing
Getting ready for the passengers
Here they come
Captures the moment
Need the windows cleaned for the sunset - the ships go to Aswan and then return - a 4 to 7 day affair with stops at historic places in between
Missed dinner there
I will jump right in front if you do not stop!!
Why bother closing the doors - makes it easier for quick in and out
Like this dad getting his son down in front of the school - amazing concept - speeding vans with open doors
While justice awaits
for the traffic police to enforce the rules
That sums it - beautiful carriages in all its resplendent beauty.
Rush hour
The main highway that parallels the Nile for 2000 kms from North to South
Notice the greenery and the backdrop where the desert begins. The contrast is jolting. Also notice the color of the soil - extermely fertile - now you know where the cotton is grown
Tilling the field on the way back from School
One has to see the contrast to appreciate mother nature
Getting an early start - this train line is solely to transport sugarcane to the nearest factory
Entrance to the Valley of the Kings
The general layout where the tombs were found. Tutankhamens is the 2nd alley on the right
The whole family is here
The ride to the tombs - the heat and reflection of the sun were unbearble - and this was winter. I cannot think of being anywhere close to this place in summer
The Valley of the Kings was the most modern of the tourist facilities
Inside the tomb - pictures were not allowed - took one without flash. All these are 4000 years old
You are only allowed to go inside 3 tombs. There are over 60+ in this hood
One of the tombs being restored
The boy king - you have to pay an extra $20 to check his abode. BTW - this was the only tomb where everything was found intact - at display in the Egyptian Museum. It is worth going to Cairo just to visit the museum
Layout of the dude's chamber
Notice the entrance to another tomb - you had go on a steep decline to get to the chambers. The entire geology is amazing in terms of preservation of the chambers that were built into the mountainside. Inside of the chambers were very cool
Shade for the cops. Kids took it over for a few moments to escape the sun
Inside another tomb
This one was a very long chamber. Generally there were many false chambers, and you had to go deeper to get to the real place
This just 5k from the Green Nile. Go figure
Why are they smiling?
Could not take the heat anymore
Field trip
These are trails that lead to the Valley of the Queens
62 is King Tuts
Notice the actual location of the chambers on a true scale. The white mass above represents the outside and the mountains
Much better picture
Puts things in perspective
Finally - everything makes sense
Ra - sun god
Guarding the Valley of Kings and Queens
Christmas in Luxor
Xmas dinner
We were treated to a Gala Christmas Eve dinner at the Hotel. Sitting with French and British Travellers
The chefs did a fanstatic job in the decoration and presentation of food
Even the fruits were sparkling
Choco Church
