We arrived at our hotel only to find that we missed our tour for the afternoon here on the east bank of Luxor because of our delay in our minibus. We managed to join up with another tour group and were taken to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple.
On our bus I met another American teaching English in Turkey. He decided to take a holiday in Egypt. The poor guy was so miserable. He was so tired of paying en
trance fees and getting ripped off. I was able to get in to the temples for 1/2 price due to my Cambidge College student card. It didn't have validation dates on it, but no one seemed to mind. The guy from Turkey (I think his name was Greg) had a teacher card that is supposed to get you the same discounts, but no one would accept it. I learned that lesson three years ago. The Teacher Card is worthless! Do not get one! Get a Student Card if you can! He was really mad when I told him I managed to get 1/2 price at Abu Simbel despite the sign reading that there are no discounts! He was so pissed off and annoyed and tired of getting scammed, that he stayed in the bus while we went into Luxor Temple. I tried to give him a pep talk. I said, "Dude, you're on vacati
on. You can't let them get to you. Remember, you get to go home and these people are stuck here for the rest of their lives!" He told me about getting ripped off on a camel ride at the Pyramids of Giza. I told him my story of getting ripped off even worse three years ago. I said, "It happens to all of us here. Don't feel bad." Oh well, he wouldn't listen. He sat on the bus and sulked.
Karnak Temple is the largest temple complex ever built by man; covering a whopping 247 acres of land in total. It represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders over a period of 1300 years. Around thirty different pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity and diversity not seen elsewhere. It is comprised of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples just north of Luxor.
There are three main temples: Mut, Montu, and Amun, which is the largest, and the only temple that is currently open to the public. There are way too many fe
atures here to talk about. One of the highlights for me was the giant scarab statue. It is said that if you circle it seven times and make a wish; it will come true. I circled it at least ten times for good measure. I also liked the corridor of Sphinxes and the obelisk of Hatshepsut.
Just as it got dark, we made it over to Luxor Temple. It was built by the pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II between 1380 - 1213 BC. I especially liked the huge avenue of the sphinxes. It is 3 km long and it used to connect Luxor Temple with the southern end of Karnak temple to the north. A total of 82 sphinxes have b
een excavated from each side; the rest are still buried under houses. Also, There is a beautiful red granite obelisk which is actually one of a pair. The other is now in the Place de le Concorde, in Paris.
By now, it had been three days since I showered. I went back to my hotel eager to take a nice, long, hot bath. But it was not to be. No hot water! You have to be kidding me! I took a freezing cold shower and went to bed. We had to be ready to go to the west bank of Luxor by 7am.
Karnak Temple and no shower for three days!
Circle the scarab seven times and your wish will come true!
On our bus I met another American teaching English in Turkey. He decided to take a holiday in Egypt. The poor guy was so miserable. He was so tired of paying en
trance fees and getting ripped off. I was able to get in to the temples for 1/2 price due to my Cambidge College student card. It didn't have validation dates on it, but no one seemed to mind. The guy from Turkey (I think his name was Greg) had a teacher card that is supposed to get you the same discounts, but no one would accept it. I learned that lesson three years ago. The Teacher Card is worthless! Do not get one! Get a Student Card if you can! He was really mad when I told him I managed to get 1/2 price at Abu Simbel despite the sign reading that there are no discounts! He was so pissed off and annoyed and tired of getting scammed, that he stayed in the bus while we went into Luxor Temple. I tried to give him a pep talk. I said, "Dude, you're on vacati
on. You can't let them get to you. Remember, you get to go home and these people are stuck here for the rest of their lives!" He told me about getting ripped off on a camel ride at the Pyramids of Giza. I told him my story of getting ripped off even worse three years ago. I said, "It happens to all of us here. Don't feel bad." Oh well, he wouldn't listen. He sat on the bus and sulked.
Karnak Temple is the largest temple complex ever built by man; covering a whopping 247 acres of land in total. It represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders over a period of 1300 years. Around thirty different pharaohs contributed to the buildings, enabling it to reach a size, complexity and diversity not seen elsewhere. It is comprised of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples just north of Luxor.
There are three main temples: Mut, Montu, and Amun, which is the largest, and the only temple that is currently open to the public. There are way too many fe
atures here to talk about. One of the highlights for me was the giant scarab statue. It is said that if you circle it seven times and make a wish; it will come true. I circled it at least ten times for good measure. I also liked the corridor of Sphinxes and the obelisk of Hatshepsut.Just as it got dark, we made it over to Luxor Temple. It was built by the pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II between 1380 - 1213 BC. I especially liked the huge avenue of the sphinxes. It is 3 km long and it used to connect Luxor Temple with the southern end of Karnak temple to the north. A total of 82 sphinxes have b
een excavated from each side; the rest are still buried under houses. Also, There is a beautiful red granite obelisk which is actually one of a pair. The other is now in the Place de le Concorde, in Paris.By now, it had been three days since I showered. I went back to my hotel eager to take a nice, long, hot bath. But it was not to be. No hot water! You have to be kidding me! I took a freezing cold shower and went to bed. We had to be ready to go to the west bank of Luxor by 7am.
Karnak Temple and no shower for three days!
Circle the scarab seven times and your wish will come true!
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