King Tut has been expecting you for 3 thousand years!

It was an early morning today! Our wake-up call was at 5:00! It actually worked out for the better because we were trying to go during the cooler part of the day (another 109 degree day). After a delicious breakfast buffet we met our group at 6:00 to head toward the Valley of the Kings. This was on the west coast of the Nile, which is what the ancient Egyptians thought of as the 'death' side (Melanie term here). The kings wanted to be laid to rest on the side that the sun set because they thought it was the side closest to heaven. We saw five of the tombs in the Valley of Kings, including the tomb of King Tutankhanan and Rameses VI.

King Tut's tomb was pretty much undecorated, which was somewhat of a surprise considering that it was filled to the brim with such fabulous antiquities to follow him to his afterlife. Rameses VI's tomb was a different story. The walls were covered in vibrant colored hyroglyphics. We were unfortunately unable to take pictures inside of the tombs, but I think I will always remember those colors - unbelievable that they have lasted that long. Other notable tombs visited were Rameses I, V, & IX. They were all equally impressive with there decor, but Rameses VI was by far the most beautiful.



We then headed to Queen Hatshepsuet's Temple. She was one of the four women who ruled as Pharoah of Egypt (in a coniving way of course). Tutmosis III became the Pharoah at the age of 9 and Hatshepsuet (his evil stepmother) sent him away so that he could learn how to be a strong and powerful ruler of Egypt. He was gone for 20-30 years in which she 'temporarily' ruled for him. As she was Pharoah, she dressed and acted like a man and even had a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Unfortunately for her, Tutmosis III came back and she mysteriously disappeared and was never seen again (hmmm...I wonder of Tutmosis III had anything to do with that). Tutmosis III took over his throne and ruled as Pharoah. Because of her manipulative ways, her statues in her temple were defaced or beheaded to show the Egyptians' disrespect for her. There were three levels in this temple, with the top level known as the heavenly level.


Some of the painted carvings in Hatshepsuet's Temple


Our next stop was the Valley of the Queens. Though these tombs were not as large as the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, they were equally as beautiful with gorgeous carvings and colors. We were presented with the option of seeing Queen Nefertiti's tomb (she is one of the most famous - Rameses II's first wife), but we would have had to pay $3000 (U.S.) to see it (not quite in our budget).


An interesting fact (out of many) about the tombs: Once they placed a Pharoah or queen in her tomb, they sealed the walls with poison that created toxic vapors once the tomb was shut. Therefore, if someone were to rob the tomb and be the first to unseal it, they would instantly die from breathing in these poisonous vapors. Enter at your own risk!


We headed back to the boat and I layed out on the sundeck while we sailed to Esna. It was really neat because we went through some locks in Esna because the Nile shifts at this point. Later, we went to dinner (an authentic Egyptian meal) and went back to the room for bed.



My view from the sundeck - see how lush!


A sunset on the Nile