The Stroll in the Streets of Egypt

Continues from The Valley of Workers and Colosssi of Memnon  
 

Yes, Our Egypt travel is at the end. Nariman dropped us at the cruise by afternoon. After a refreshing sleep and hectic re-packing, we were soon ushered to the cozy train. Sleep lulled our eyes and the golden rays of the Cairo Sun were already upon us as we woke up.

Ali was ready to welcome us back at Cairo. We again re checked into Hotel Nile with the view of Egyptian museum. We settled down, laid back and realized with a sweet pain that our visit is over at Egypt. Even if we visit another time, so many things would have changed! Even the freshness in our eyes to the country would have faded.

As I looked out the streets, I realized that some of the best parts in the trip include a few strolls in the various streets of Egypt. This travelogue would be incomplete without any mention of them.

Aswan

On our first evening at Aswan, we took a leave from the cruise and went out to explore the city life. Horse carts were luring the tourists all around. We walked to the nearby Aswan market that sold spice, Nubian antiquities, souvenirs and jewellery.

The vendors were smart enough to spot us out us Indians! As we proceeded, many of them started to call out their familiar Indian names, “Amitabh Bachchan, Sharukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit etc.” We were fascinated for sure.

We entered a shop that sold Papyrus paintings. The price was on a higher side and we satisfied with two small pieces. As we paid the shopkeeper, the shop assistant started praising my eyes, “Mehabooba, you’ve got such beautiful eyes.” Never in my life, anyone has told my eyes were beautiful and I never felt so. I thought the old man to be crazy. However, it turned out that he had expected some tip from us and was spreading his net for that.

The night was young and pleasant in the market. We spent almost three hours in the market. We hired a horse cart to come back. As we galloped through the Aswan streets, the breeze seemed sweeter than ever.

Luxor

Karnak Temple at Night

On the eve of our departure from Luxor, we wished to take a final look at the Luxor and Karnak temple in night lights. We hired a horse cart and reached the temples. The majestic temples looked deserted and silent in the night life. The umpteen lights seemed to have failed to light up the vast areas. The scene was sad and eerie.

On the way back to our cruise, two sign boards caught our attention-Luxor Museum and Mummy Museum. We postponed the visit to the Luxor Museum for the next day. (It didn’t happen after all!). We got into the Mummy museum that charged a less price as the entry fee. The museum had mummies of many animals, leaflets on the history and procedure of mummification, latest samples on the attempts of mummification and the mummy of a priest in the Pharaoh period. 

It was a very good museum compared to the Mummy room in the Cairo museum. However if you are so keen to view the mummies of pharaohs, there is no other option but to visit the Mummy room in the Cairo museum. All these mummies looked same and ghastly to me...

Continues in The Final Stroll in Egypt

Luxor Temple: The Dazzling Preservation of a Culture

 Continues from Karnak Temple: The Most Perfect of Places

We reached Luxor temple in the mid afternoon. It is a sacred place of wonderful architecture built since 1550 B.C. The afternoon heat scorched on our thickly tanned bodies. Yet, we wanted to visit the last temple in our itinerary.

Entrance to Luxor Temple

The massive entrance pylon built by Rameses II welcomed us. Two colossal seated statues of Ramesse edged the entrance in all grace. There was one obelisk on the left side of the entrance with names of Ramesses II, Horace, Amun and the King’s favourite Gods on each vertical side. However, the space for Obelisk on the right side was vacant. Nariman explained that the obelisk had been carried to France and now can be seen at Place de la Concorde, in Paris.

Headless Statues of Luxor temple

We entered the Luxor temple. Just inside the temple was a mosque built over the ruins. Compared to the other Egyptian temples that we had already visited, Luxor was in a less preserved state. Arrays of headless statues stood around the courtyard. 

Roman Mural

It seems invaders considered Luxor temple as a catch for them. The Roman invaders made the temple and its surroundings as a fortress for the Roman government. There was one Roman mural on the temple wall depicting the Christian devotees.

Nariman ushered us to the court of Amenhotop II. A better preserved area in the temple, it was flanked by double rows of Papyrus columns with bud capitals. The reliefs on both sides of the hall depicted Amenhotop II's coronation by the Gods.

Nariman left us there to admire the beautiful architecture by ourselves. We roamed around the yard of the Theban triad-Amun, Mut and Chons. This is the same place where ancient Egyptians gathered to praise their protectors and celebrated the famous Opet festival. This is where, the Christians had raised their church and Muslims later conducted their prayers. 

Sphinx Avenue

Yet, there was not much for our eyes in the temple and we came out. We were soon led to the Sphinx Avenue that once led all the way to the Karnak temple. The sphinxes still remained in better condition.

It was time for us to retreat to our cruise. We relished the welcome drink and the wet towels offered as we’d entered the boat. There was a relaxing afternoon ahead us to get prepared for next day’s travel.

Continues in The Valley of Kings!