Monday, February 22, 2010

Hot Chicken Soup

After the Hot Air Balloon we were taken by mini bus to regroup with our Egyptologist, George. We visited the Colossi of Memnon which used to be an ancient temple until an earthquake destroyed it. All that's left are the two Colossi that used to guard the entrance. The temple belonged to Amenhotep III. The French Archaeologists are trying to restore the damaged Colossi. From there we visited the Valley of Kings but again we were not alowed to take any photos. (I've got these from the internet) You can just about make out the steps going up the side of the valley (below) that you have to climb to reach the tomb. When you get up there you have to go down even more steps to reach the chambers inside. It was about 10am when we did it and 37 degrees C outside lol. Even the water in the bottle we were drinking out of was hot. I have no idea how much hotter it was inside but sweat poured off us :O)I wouldn't have missed it for the world :O) The next tomb we looked at belonged to Ramasses III. It was much bigger & more easily accessible. The paintings on the walls & ceilings in both tombs were awe inspiring. The colours were so vivid and just blew your mind to think how old it all was. I can't wait to go back and do some more exploring.

We were taken from the Valley to Queen Hatshepsut's temple (hat-ship-suit), George called her Hot Chicken Soup lol. Her father was Tuthmosis I & she married Tuthmosis II. When he died she became Queen of Egypt. She was the only woman ever to be Pharaoh and she dressed like a man with the double crown of Upper & Lower Egypt & even wore the false curly beard. The heir to the throne was Tuthmosis II's son Tuthmosis III. When he was 8 years old, Hatshepsut sent him, with the army, to fight the Hittites hoping he would be killed. He wasn't, and returned years later as an accomplished warrior. He became Pharaoh after the death of the Queen, and had everything that bared her name or image, removed. This wall painting shows Anubis on the left with, what used to be, Hatshepsut on the right. It's now a blank piece of stone where Tuthmosis had her removed. There was no love lost between them was there.

When we were walking around the temple it was 42 degrees C and the hottest I've ever been in my life! George said in the Summer months it gets up to 55 degrees C!!!

We left Hatshepsuts temple and were taken back across the river by speed boat to another hotel for lunch. On the way back to the Nile, George pointed out the Valley of the Artisans & the Valley of the Workmen. We watched a program (one of many) about the village they found that belonged to the workmen & their families, who built the tombs. We talked about Dr Zahi Hawass who we've seen many times on TV and George told us how eccentric he is. I think he's just really enthusiastic, he makes Ancient Egypt come alive :O) Because of him, we were able to see Tutankhamen's death mask etc. last year when he bought it over to the British museum.We travelled back to Hurghada by minibus and were so thankful of the air conditioning. We were hot, tired & sweaty but what an amazing 2 days. Thank you George :O)

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