Midnight train to Cairo

Today, we'll cross into the West Bank to travel by "Egyptian Mercedes," a.k.a. donkey. Seriously. Donkey. Heehaw. We'll see how it compares to the camel.

Across the Nile, we'll see the Colossi of Memnon, which stand about 60-feet tall and are all that remain of an ancient temple. Memnon, Ruler of the Dawn, was a King of Ethiopia who led his armies from Africa into Asia Minor and a hero of the Trojan War.

A few years ago, in Turkey, a friend and I watched Troy in the Greek main house of our cave hotel in Cappadocia. (We tried watching Alexander, too, but failed miserably. I just couldn't accept Colin Farrell with blond hair.) I don't really remember a Memnon and apparently features of the colossi are unrecognizable from the waist up. I don't imagine we'll make any casting decisions today.

From here, we'll descend narrow rock-hewn corridors and experience the "magnificent decoration and design of the tombs of the Pharaohs' at the Valley of the Kings. Testament to the power of the queens in ancient Egypt, the impressive funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut seems to rise right out of the surrounding limestone outcrops."

This afternoon, we'll explore Luxor with the Karnak Temple and the Luxor temple, columns and hieroglyphs, and learning about embalming at the Mummification Museum. The day should make for sweet, if somewhat strange dreams aboard our sleeper train back to Cairo.


Tag: Travel Luxor