Sunday, Sept. 26
Overnight we docked at Edfu and were out and about early to visit the Temple of Horus. Another well preserved temple, as it was mostly buried in the desert sand for thousands of years. In the shrine, there was a copy of a barque used to transport the deity from one temple to another. Outside the temple we visited the market set up for tourist trade and bargained for a couple of galabeas - traditional Egyptian outfits. While the ship travelled to Kom Ombo we enjoyed the tiny pool and the passing scenery of the river and it banks. Its always baking hot up on deck, so not that many people come outside, but we manage by following the shade under the deck awning and dipping in the pool from time to time.
As soon as we tied up at the dock in Kom Ombo we walked to the temple. This temple is unusual as it is dedicated to two gods, Sobek – the crocodile god and Horus – the falcon god and has two sanctuaries. On the walls are interesting medical texts with illustrations of medical implements and procedures. One of the “guides” offered to show us a chapel dedicated to Hathor and beside it in a room blocked off by stones he told us there was a crocodile mummy. He took a photo through the hole with my camera but all we could make out was a black blob with eyes. This, on later inspection, turned out to be a cat. But when we blew the photo up on the computer we found that beside the little black cat, there was a human mummy and what appears to be the remains of another mummy. We felt it was our special find and well worth the couple of pounds we tipped the “guide” and the tourist guard. We asked Abdu about this, but he wasn't sure what it was and why the mummies were there hidden in a blocked off room.
Tonight was the galabea party where we all dressed in our finest Egyptian outfits and had a special Egyptian dinner. This was followed by dancing and general silliness – passengers and crew together.
Overnight we docked at Edfu and were out and about early to visit the Temple of Horus. Another well preserved temple, as it was mostly buried in the desert sand for thousands of years. In the shrine, there was a copy of a barque used to transport the deity from one temple to another. Outside the temple we visited the market set up for tourist trade and bargained for a couple of galabeas - traditional Egyptian outfits. While the ship travelled to Kom Ombo we enjoyed the tiny pool and the passing scenery of the river and it banks. Its always baking hot up on deck, so not that many people come outside, but we manage by following the shade under the deck awning and dipping in the pool from time to time.
As soon as we tied up at the dock in Kom Ombo we walked to the temple. This temple is unusual as it is dedicated to two gods, Sobek – the crocodile god and Horus – the falcon god and has two sanctuaries. On the walls are interesting medical texts with illustrations of medical implements and procedures. One of the “guides” offered to show us a chapel dedicated to Hathor and beside it in a room blocked off by stones he told us there was a crocodile mummy. He took a photo through the hole with my camera but all we could make out was a black blob with eyes. This, on later inspection, turned out to be a cat. But when we blew the photo up on the computer we found that beside the little black cat, there was a human mummy and what appears to be the remains of another mummy. We felt it was our special find and well worth the couple of pounds we tipped the “guide” and the tourist guard. We asked Abdu about this, but he wasn't sure what it was and why the mummies were there hidden in a blocked off room.
Tonight was the galabea party where we all dressed in our finest Egyptian outfits and had a special Egyptian dinner. This was followed by dancing and general silliness – passengers and crew together.
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