In the Air over Luxor

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After waking up again in the early morning hours, Mom, and Heather and I picked up out boxed breakfasts and embarked on our sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Nile and Luxor.

I’ve always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon so this was a great experience for me. After dropping us off at a boat dock in order to cross the Nile, we were treated to some much appreciated tea and coffee to wake ourselves up. Once across the Nile the tour van picked us up and dropped us off in a field just outside the Valley of the Queens. The field was covered in hot air balloons, ready to be launched into the skies.

There were about 20 people or so per balloon in individual compartments in a much larger basket. The three of us and a fellow Canadian traveller we met on the way managed to squeeze into the compartment. I’m not afraid of heights so I didn’t have any problems as we lifted higher and higher above the fields. We weren’t guaranteed any particular destination and were told by the captain that we could land in the desert, in a field, or across the Nile. Keeping in contact with radio ground support, they would be able to meet us wherever we happened to land.

The balloon sailed over small villages and scattered houses amid the farmland. Most of the homes didn’t have roofs since it only rains once a year. We were able to look into their houses and yards, see chickens, donkeys, and other animals there. Several men were working making bricks and building a new wall.

After about 40 minutes in the air, we started to make our descent- we were about to land in a dirt field. Kids were not in school and ran across the fields to meet us as we landed. They weren’t there begging, but just to wave and say hello. Other villagers came out to meet us as well and the ground team arrived to help dismantle the balloon and pick us up. One of the locals brought a drum and the next thing you knew, we were climbing out of the basket to drum beats as the locals started to dance. Everyone started mixed and dancing in the field as the dust was settling.
Back in our van, a few children chased after us, waving and following us at every turn.

We met up with our guide and visited Habu Temple in Luxor on the West bank of the Nile. The colour on the temple walls and ceilings were the best-preserved colour of the temples and tombs we visited the entire trip. We also made a stop at the Colossi of Memnon- now little more than ruined relics next to the roadway.

Our next stop was the Valley of the Kings, hidden in the mountains bordering the Sahara. The ancient pharaohs were all buried here at one time, including King Tutankhamun. Cameras were not allowed inside the tombs to preserve the vivid colours, and to also keep the impossibly long lines moving. Crowded and dark, the tombs are not for the claustrophobic. The offered relief from the heat but the lack of airflow made them quite stifling with the crowds. I started feeling pretty sick from the effects of the heat and lack of sleep and food at this point.

After stopping at an alabaster shop- horribly boring, especially when you are feeling sick- we went to the Valley of the Queens.
The Valley of the Queens is impressive with Queen Hapshetsut’s temple cut out of the mountain. In the surrounding mountain you can make out the entrances to old tombs, as well as the pilgrimage path people take over the mountains to the Valley of the Kings.
There really isn’t much to see here, other than the impressive outer structure. Inside it’s rather plain compared to the lavishly decorated tombs and temples we had already seen.

After rest time on the ship, we went on a relaxing felucca ride on the Nile in Luxor to see the sunset.

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Photos

Balloon field
Balloons being prepared in the early morning in Luxor

Captain
The captain and the basket

Village
Ancient village that originally housed workers building Hatshepsut's temple

Desert
The beginning of the Sahara

Comments

[Christopher]

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