Aswan to Abu Simbel to Kom Ombo to Edfu
Trip Start
Mar 08, 2008
1
15
25
Trip End
Mar 24, 2008
Abu Simbel, Egypt
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The temples are for Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. The Ramses temple is 42 metres high and 34 metres across. The four statues of Ramses are 21 metres high. Ramses was a very busy bloke, with 54 wives, 150 sons and 200 daughters! Lots of sex must be good for the health as he lived until he was 94.
The temple was moved 200 metres from it's original location and 75 metres higher to avoid it being destroyed by the damming of the Nile at Aswan (now lake Nassar). There were 150,000 blocks to move and it took 4 years. To look at it now, you would not know that it had been moved.
Inside there are four gods and on the birth and coronation day of King Ramses II, the sun shines into the temple and lights the statues of 3 of the Gods (Feb and October 21). The sun never shines on the god of darkness. The date has changed to one day later because of the move.
The inside of the temple is very nice too with lots of pictures with color remaining.
As soon as we got back to the boat, we set sail. It is very relaxing sitting on deck watching the world go past. Believe me, we really need the rest as it has been go go go.
We docked shortly at Kom Ombo temple. This temple has some really nice hieroglyphics. I took too many photo's (what's new?). The hieroglyphics here are a bit different than other temples. Kom Ombo temple was dedicated to the crocodile, which inhabited the Nile river here many years ago. These days the crocodiles are only really found in the south due to the dam. If they do come north of the dam, they are quickly made into shoes or handbags!
Of course, when we stop, the vendors race to meet the tourists off the bus. A common trick is to agree on a low price eg 5 pound being $1.20 Aussie dollars and when you have agreed, they say we meant 5 English Pound, which is alot more (I think about $15 Aussie dollars). You only get caught once. Once you have said a price, it is considered rude to back out so you need to be careful. I didn't pay these scamsters and told them I do not do business with liars and cheats!
We then cruised on to Edfu and docked overnight. We didn't go ashore. Mum is tired and just wanted to relax on board.
