My head exploded in the tombs because, as usual, I was overwhelmed and tears flowed and it made me wonder why. I think it is because it is so incredibly old, beautiful and famous. Maybe what happens to me is like when some people encounter movies stars. It's all in our head. But I also think about the workers who do the work, the incredible accuracy of the hieroglyphics and the fact that the pigment has lasted so long.
The valleys are desolate and on the west bank of the river where days begin as will they be reborn. And you go down into them and it gets hot. The majesty and scale of the work is impressive beyond description and the combination of colour and relief is so richly evocative of a time one can only imagine.
Photos below from Temple of Hatshepsut.
The only downside of the day was coughing through the morning all the time and then, when I got up to get out of the truck, I almost fainted from getting up too soon. I am clearly sick with some respiratory bug, but the timing couldn't be better. If it was going to happen, best whilst on this boat where I can relax in splendor, sleep well and have privacy.
This is what I would call "industrial tourism." We are a convoy of at least eleven ships. I have counted that many at once, but the curves in the river prevent me from owing the total number. We will be going through the locks two at a time.
We got back at about 11:00. Lunch at 1:00. Rest in the afternoon, but I did go up on the deck to wheeze at the sunset. Then we went into the locks. That was rather interesting because row boats with touts selling fabrics loop their ropes around the fleets of the ship and ride alongside screaming for us to buy their wares. It went on for an hour and I wound up turning on the TV, and fairly loud, to drown out their relentless shouting.
But the locks were fun and that was my first time going through some. The ship put on a rather weak tea at 4:00 and cocktail hour at 7:30 before dinner.
Photos below from The "Singing Pharos."
Much later.... Fast notes:
1. There are very large black and grey crows here. BIG, live large ravens. They are agile and far less numerous than at home.
2. I am the only single person on the boat.
3. I am transported every day by our driver and Osama. We travel in a van with nice comfortable seats for 11.
4. Egyptian male style is fabulous. The long robes are fit exactly to the height of their owner. They tend to dark solid colors, the the scarves they wear, around their head,, on their head, around heir necks, all up or sometimes trailing down, is very stylish. The women wear black—sometimes beautifully varied in texture and layered—but it is the men who are the peacocks.
5. The landscape is gloriously coloured with bougainvillea, various trees blooming in striking yellows and reds and oleander.
6. I should point out that our enter age of eleven plus boats is matched by an equal number coming downriver. The schedules of all the boats on the river, regardless of ownership, are synchronized.
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