Luxor Again

After saying our farewells to J&M we headed back into Aswan to visit the unfinished obelisk and Philea Temple. The Obelisk looks as though the workers have just popped out for lunch and will be back any minute to finish it. It was abandoned when a flaw was found in it.

Philea Temple is on an Island and the approach by the lake created by the British built Low Dam is cooling and very picturesque. The Temple itself is nice, but it is its setting that is the main attraction.

We set off for Luxor, passing Pumba outside McDonalds, and arrived at to find we were the only people on the campsite! So we went to bed to catch up on some sleep. Quinten and Julie arrived the next day and we spent the next few days having another bash at mending the fuel tanks, going on a becalmed Faluca (sailing boat) ride and visiting the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsuts Temple, the Ramesseum and the tombs of the workers. We cycled to the Valley and Temple and despite It reaching 46C found the 30km cycle very cooling, especially if it ends with a strawberry milkshake at McD's! The kings tombs are fascinating, but we really liked the workers tombs which were much smaller but lavishly decorated. The Ramesseum was devoid of tourists so was ideal to just sit in the shade letting yourself drift back to when the temple was full of life and Hatshepsuts temple we felt was impressive from a distance, but disappointing once you arrived.

So after another 5 night spell at Luxor, a few McDonalds milkshakes and chillie cheese nuggets (yum), 2 pizza Huts and loads of temples we spend our last night on the campsite with Q&J over a Pizza Hut takeaway!
The next morning after restocking our wine rack (3 bottles) we set off northward.

It is getting hotter and hotter and we are relieved we are beginning our trek northwards to hopefully cooler weather. By 9am it is hot - mid to high 30's and after 2 you just want to sit in the pool in the shade. Heaven help those people heading off to Sudan!




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