Abu Simbel

So I won’t go into the full spectrum of Egyptian gods. I’ll just put this little cheat sheet up. Samar is doing her best to cram knowledge into my head, but honestly, with the heat, the sensory overload, and the amount of material I’m digesting, I’m basically flunking Egyptology 101.

Note the top row are the heavy hitters, which you see throughout the tombs and temples. Now, as far as real-life Egyptian Kings or Pharaohs goes, Kings Ramesses II is pretty much the top dog. He is responsible for uniting the lower and upper Nile and placing temples up and down the river lest anybody forget who was King. 

So after our long van ride south from the boat we step out of the air conditioning into a furnace. The mercury is topping 114 and there are plenty of groans as our feet crunch down on sand and broken rock. But then, suddenly, we round a corner and there it is. The sweltering heat, the long ride, the constant motion, all seem to fade away. We are looking at the great King Ramesses II temple, and oh what a sight it is. This dude knew how to throw a party! 

He even built a temple for his wife (Nefertari) right next door. Smart man!

Time to explore inside! And here’s the man with the key…

(Peek-a-boo!)

It’s magical inside these temples. A journey back in time, touching the hands of our past. 

We take a small boat ride to Philae Temple which is located on an island near Aswan and discover some more ancient ruins. 

(Our boat driver)

(Philae Temple)

(Our guide Samar, pronounced “Summer”)

(Necklaces anyone?)

(Can you find the dummy, I mean mummy?)

Then we stopped at a perfume and oil store. 

But it’s time to get back to the boat, to embark on our cruise up (or is it down… not quite sure) the Nile!

           (View from the top deck)