Sightseeing in Luxor meant even more temples, tombs and statues then any other place so far.
My guide picked me up at the ship and we headed over the bridge to the west bank where all the tombs and memorial temples are situated.
Colossi of Memnon
The first major temple we visited was the Memorial Temple of Queen Hatshepsut - the female pharaoh. The temple was carved on several levels in the mountain limestone cliff.
Queen Hatshepsut's Temple
colorful paintings inside
The next stop was the Valley of the Kings - where so far 63 tombs of pharaohs have been found. Not all of them are open and each tourist is allowed to enter only 3. The tombs have been robbed long time ago, floods did further damage and the biggest threat today are the tourists.
Tutankhamun was not a great pharaoh - ruling only nine years without any big victories and magnificent buildings. Even his tomb is not a very impressive one. What made it special at discovery was that it was nearly intact and that treasure hunters did not clear it out.
Valley of the Kings
Paintings inside the tombs
Sarkophag
scarab - another Egyptian symbol
We returned to the east bank and I had pigeon for lunch - not a very big feast.
pigeon lunch
View from the restaurant on Luxor Temple
In the afternoon, we visited two more temples - Karnak and Luxor Temple. As it was baking hot I was thankful to spend my remaining hours at the relaxing Steigenberger Hotel watching the waters of the Nile pass by and the sun to set.
Karnak Temple
Statue of Ramses II
Obelisk - one that remained in Egypt
Luxor Temple
Statue of Ramses II
Steigenberger Hotel
Sunset on Nile at Steigenberger
I left Luxor by night train to Cairo for the last part of my Egyptian adventure.
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