Day 2: We are on a river boat headed up the Nile. The River is unique because it runs from South to North. It is also divided into East and West shores. The West shore where the sun sets (dark side...) is the Necropolis area where the tombs are located. The East side is where everyone lived and worshiped in the temples in the all important sun, which renewed life.

Understanding all of the symbols and interpreting the stories would take a life time so we decided to get some help.


Normally cruise ships aren't our style but this is different. Our ship, the Mahrousa is small with about 50 guests. We share a guide with 2 couples & a sweet little 2 yr old boy from Calgary Canada. The other two are our friends from the yacht "Silver Fern". The ship stops at various points of interest along the river.

It's HOT! VERY HOT!. We dart from shady spot to shady spot. The temples are out away from the river without breeze or shade. The Nile valley is lush and green but as soon as you move away the landscape it's dry desert. In some places, the the green only extends a few hundred meters from the river. It goes from desert/sand hills straight to river.


We have quite a time to keep the names, places, Pharaoh's, queen's & animal forms straight. Our guide almost loses his mind by our constant questions & inability to keep it all straight.

EVERYTHING is COLOSSAL! Huge. Egypt's 7000 yr old culture is rich with color, rituals, architecture, smells, food, fabric, style & panache.

Our first day consisted of visiting the East Bank where the Karnak complex ( Pharaoh's Temple's) competed with each other for size & grandeur for 2000 years. Later in the day we went to the Luxor Temple that is in the heart of the city. These temples were built from 1965 - 1213 BC. Incredible

Tomorrow it's off to the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank & the tombs of the Pharaoh's.