Friday, Sept. 24
Once again we were up early to beat the heat and the other tour busses to Dendera – Temple of Hathor. This temple has many interesting features including an image of Cleopatra VII and her son Caesarion. (yes, that's where the term Caesarian-section comes from) There is evidence of the early Christians (Coptics) who took refuge and lived in the temple. They have left their mark in the form of Christian symbols and a church as well as the systematic defacement of many of the ancient images, which they viewed as idolatry. We were able to go into the crypt as well as on the roof where the Coptics chiselled holes in the decorative images, to tie their animals. This temple also has the famous zodiac ceiling in one of the rooms; although the original is in the Louvre and the copy is very dark, so not easy to see.
Back on board the ship, we cruised back to Luxor where first we visited the Isis Papyrus Museum. A very sophisticated set up for display and demonstrations of the making of papyrus. How could we resist purchasing samples of genuine papyrus inscribed by local artists? Then we visited Luxor Temple, which was lovely in the setting sun.
This evening I made an attempt to use the onboard internet service. But after some uploading hassles, all I was able to do was load one page of the blog before using up my time – which costs 40LE for half an hour.
We are being very well taken care of on the tour. The busses are always waiting for us at the appointed place and Abdu has an excellent system for keeping us all on time – we call it Abdu-savings time. On board MS Miriam we are served three hearty meals a day and spend the sailing times either in the cool of the lounge or on the deck watching the world go by. Even in the shade, it is always very hot on the deck, but it is the best place to watch the Nile and its every-changing scenery. Most of the time it is very tranquil – from pastoral settings to quiet village life; fisherman, donkeys, cattle and families enjoy the banks of the river together. We watch women washing rugs in the river and children splashing and swimming. Farmers are busy in their fields which are lush with a variety of crops – bananas, sugar cane and others that I can’t identify. The fertile green land gives way abruptly to the harsh desert sand and hazy hills in the distance. Every now and then we can see tombs cut into the rocks.
Once again we were up early to beat the heat and the other tour busses to Dendera – Temple of Hathor. This temple has many interesting features including an image of Cleopatra VII and her son Caesarion. (yes, that's where the term Caesarian-section comes from) There is evidence of the early Christians (Coptics) who took refuge and lived in the temple. They have left their mark in the form of Christian symbols and a church as well as the systematic defacement of many of the ancient images, which they viewed as idolatry. We were able to go into the crypt as well as on the roof where the Coptics chiselled holes in the decorative images, to tie their animals. This temple also has the famous zodiac ceiling in one of the rooms; although the original is in the Louvre and the copy is very dark, so not easy to see.
Back on board the ship, we cruised back to Luxor where first we visited the Isis Papyrus Museum. A very sophisticated set up for display and demonstrations of the making of papyrus. How could we resist purchasing samples of genuine papyrus inscribed by local artists? Then we visited Luxor Temple, which was lovely in the setting sun.
This evening I made an attempt to use the onboard internet service. But after some uploading hassles, all I was able to do was load one page of the blog before using up my time – which costs 40LE for half an hour.
We are being very well taken care of on the tour. The busses are always waiting for us at the appointed place and Abdu has an excellent system for keeping us all on time – we call it Abdu-savings time. On board MS Miriam we are served three hearty meals a day and spend the sailing times either in the cool of the lounge or on the deck watching the world go by. Even in the shade, it is always very hot on the deck, but it is the best place to watch the Nile and its every-changing scenery. Most of the time it is very tranquil – from pastoral settings to quiet village life; fisherman, donkeys, cattle and families enjoy the banks of the river together. We watch women washing rugs in the river and children splashing and swimming. Farmers are busy in their fields which are lush with a variety of crops – bananas, sugar cane and others that I can’t identify. The fertile green land gives way abruptly to the harsh desert sand and hazy hills in the distance. Every now and then we can see tombs cut into the rocks.
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