Egypt

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Met with Ahmed, our guide for the day¨and caught a boat across to the West Bank. First stop was the Colossi of Memnon, two very large statues in the middle of a field. The granite had been transported thousands of years ago by river from Aswan, over one hundred kilometres away!

We rode donkeys up the mountain before walking on foot into the Valley of the Kings. I spent the whole time laughing at dad trying to balance on his tiny ride and am even having a little chuckle to myself whilst writing this entry. Poor Nige managed to fall off not once, but twice in the short hour long ride. Turns out is wasn´t his fault at all though, the saddle hadn´t been properly tightened, resulting in his sliding off. The first time wasn´t too bad because we were still on flat bitumen, but the second time was quite worrying as my donkey almost trampled him. It was a slow motion fall, but once I´d ascertained he was ok, I couldn´t stop laughing for the next half hour - think I even gave myself a stitch!

We viewed Queen Hatshepsuts Temple from a viewpoint on the mountain and watched workers excavating a newly discovered tomb in the same area. Then it was time to head into the valley, where we visited three Kings tombs, with Ahmed providing the commentary. We paid an extra USD20- to enter Tutankhanums tomb, which was good to see, yet tiny in comparison to the others we visited - quite a rip off really.

Checked out ACE animal centre on the way back to the hotel and I bought collars for Reeb and Skyy. We walked past Luxor Temple en route to Maccas, which looked spectacular all lit up at night. Got lost and only just made it back home in time to see the Belly and Sufi dancing the hotel had arranged for us and another group. I think the McDonalds gave me a headache because I hadn´t eaten it for so long, so I didn´t participate in the dancing and went stright to bed after the show. A shame really, because the Sufi dancing in particulas was amazing and I would have loved to know how belly dancers shake it like they do.

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Photos

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Colossi of Memnon, Luxor, Egypt

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Nic & Nige at Colossi of Memnon, Luxor, Egypt

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Our donkeys, Luxor, Egypt

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Nigel & Sam on donkey ride, Luxor, Egypt

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Jan & Doug on donkey ride, Luxor, Egypt

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Donkey ride scenery, Luxor, Egypt

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Valley of the Kings workers houses, Luxor, Egypt

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Hatshepsuts Temple near Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt

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Nic & donkey man, Luxor, Egypt

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Valley of the Kings scenery, Luxor, Egypt

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Medinat Habu Temple, Luxor, Egypt

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Medinat Habu Temple, Luxor, Egypt

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Medinat Habu Temple, Luxor, Egypt

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Medinat Habu Temple, Luxor, Egypt

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Statue at Medinat Habu Temple, Luxor, Egypt

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Ceiling hieroglyphics Medinat Habu Temple, Luxor, Egypt

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Medinat Habu Temple, Luxor, Egypt

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Medinat Habu Temple, Luxor, Egypt

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Lunch at Ahmeds house, Luxor, Egypt

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Luxor Temple across Nile River, Luxor, Egypt

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Newborn calf at ACE, Luxor, Egypt