The Temple of Queen Hatsepshut and Edfu

Our Guide had an interesting true story to tell us.  Back in about 1997 several groups of tourists were attacked here (at Queen Hatshepsut Temple) by forces under the command of Osama bin-Laden.  About 67 people were killed.  Our guide was there with two tourists.  Apparently bin Laden got word that there was to be a group of Israeli tourists visiting the temple and scheduled an attack.  Massad got wind of it and canceled the Israeli tour unbeknownst to the terrorists.  According to Abdul the tourist groups there were Japanese, German and northern European.  Abdul  hid in terror in a cave near the temple with the young man he was touring with.  The young woman who was with them was one of the casualties.  It was a very sad tale , one that Abdul says helps him when he relates it to his tour groups at Hatshepsut.  Apparently that Egyptian queen had quite a story ruling Egypt over the objections of her stepson.  He managed to get rid of her under suspicious circumstances and then worked really hard to destroy her temple and any memory of her!  We then saw the Colossi of Memnon.  I always thought they were huge (at least in pictures) but they did not seem all that colossal in person......

We went to Edfu where we saw the temple of Horus.  Horus is Shelly's favorite Egyptian god and  Abdul was raised near the temple.  He told us how this temple was the one that inspired him to become an Egyptologist!  It was a lovely temple with great carvings!  One word of caution...we were taken to the temple by horse drawn carriage.  Our guide warned us that the drivers (in fact the people in Edfu) could be quite aggressive in a hostile way.  We gave him our tip money for the drivers so we would not have to be involved in the negotiations.  It was a good thing because one of the drivers became quite hostile when he found out he would not get more money out of us!

We are still on the boat at night.  It is so pleasant to sail while you are sleeping in bed.  Nice gentle rocking.

Next the fabulous temples of Abidos and Dendara.

Christine xx