I'll Take You to The Camel Shop

We woke up Tuesday still cruising down the Nile, but by the time we were done with breakfast we had docked in Kom Ombo to visit the temples of Sobek and Horus. This temple was dedicated to two gods, and is the only temple of this kind in all of Egypt.

Kelly, Maggie and I posing inside the temple

 We learned that women gave birth in the temple and saw some interesting birthing scenes in the art on the walls.

(Left) Image third from the right shows that the temple was used for births. (Right) Birthing chairs

The temple also had one of the only complete Ancient Egyptian calendars.

We then saw a Nilometer. This looked like a large well, in which the people would use to predict crop growth, but most importantly, taxes. We ended our visit by walking through the Mummified Crocodile Museum and with some shopping. I bought a Galabiya (traditional Egyptian dress) and a Rababa (traditional Nubian instrument).

(Left) The Nilometer (Right) Mummified Crocs!

After our visit, we got free time to lay out on the deck in the hot hot sun as we continued cruising. Lunch and a lecture on the history of Islamic Egypt and the Egypt-Israeli conflict followed.

In the evening we had a Galabiya party and watched the boat go through the locks.

(Left) Trygve, Alex, Jamison, Phil and I in our Galabiyas (Right) About to go through the lock

 

On Wednesday we had already arrived in Luxor before we woke up. Luxor has 60% of the monuments in Egypt and 30% of the historical monuments in the world. It was the capital of Egypt in 1200 B.C. following the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. On the West Bank of the Nile are several historical places: The Valley of the kings, The Valley of the Queens, The valley of the Nobles, Early Medina, and many temples.

We started in the Valley of the Kings before it could get too hot and dry for the day. We entered the tombs of King Ramses IV, King Ramses the VI, and a tomb originally used by Twosret then reused and extended by Setnakhte. We could not take any pictures, but the tombs were magnificent with huge rooms, tall ceilings, and so many details in the art on the walls.

We then visited the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, also known as the Deir el-Bahri Temple.

After our visits, we had lunch and part two of our lecture on the history of Egypt, Islam, and the Egypt-Israeli conflict. I am being greatly tested on my knowledge of history, which is definitely a major weakness of mine, but it is really refreshing to be lecture on something other than numbers and business for a change!

In the evening we went to see the Karnak Temples in a sound and light show. This place is massive! I couldn’t believe how big it was compared to all of the other temples we had visited. It is many temples, as opposed to one, because each pharaoh added their own touch to the temple when they were in rule. 

Title: Sarah and I have been working hard at composing some musical numbers in reminiscence of our travels around Egypt. Camel Shop, our first single, is sung to the tune of Candy Shop originally performed by 50 cent (or "Fiddy Cent" as all the youngins like to pronounce it). Our second single is No Drink, sung to the tune of No Sleep by Whiz Khalifa. We have high hopes and dreams for our Egyptian Album. Be looking for the release and tour dates after we successfully graduate college. Any donations can be made to the Habitat for Humanity under the name of our band, "The Pharonics".