There was a small scale model of the temple showing the layout and how it would have been back in the days of creation. Several kings, Ramses II included, had built the temple over many centuries. Its mostly complete, but had some roof failures during the earthquake around 27BC. The greeks had rebuilt a main chapel area with a roof showing the stonework. The approach to the temple was lined with "rows of Rams" - sculptures like sphinxes, but Rams for Ramses. This tour took over an hour due to the size, the wandering around, the pictures of the many columns holding up the roof of the temple, the sacred lake where the priests held their ablutions, and the surrounding stone work that is being restored and more discovered. Once we left Karnak, we went to the Temple at Luxor, which is smaller, but is in some better shape due to the fact that it was mostly buried and a village, with a mosque, was built on top. You could see the area where the ground had come up to build the mosque foundation and where they had dug down to discover the temple. There were several statues in very good condition with good embossments of symbols and writing.
Lots of workers were still restoring patterns on all the walls of the temple and this was where 1 of 4 arches were found. The egyptians knew how to do arches we were told, but they were more work than just the flat doorways and roofs. Odd. From there, we went shopping for Nighties. We met Omar the shirt guy who proposed 350 egyptian pounds per cotton nightie-like shirt. We settled, due to Dale's magnificent and lovely bargaining, on a much smaller amount for the entire group (8) of nighties. We had a nice lemon drink there and Omar was happy in the end, though not as rich. The papyrus museum was interesting to see how it was made (inter crossed layers of the papyrus plant, wet and then pressed over a long time). We overviewed the collections on the wall and made a deal for a nice bookshelf size one, along with a blank sheet to create our own. Rolled it up and away we go. From there, back to the ship for lunch (buffet) with guava (which we thought was a pear), soup, some kind of beef that wasnt that good, pasta with sauce. Quite filling. Then, up on deck to read books, as we started to sail around 2pm to Esna and through the locks to get to Edfu for the next day. Long sail and when we approached the locks, several (10-15) guys in row boats were chasing the boat.
These merchants were then beside the boat, throwing up dresses in bundles for us to take a look, see if we wanted it, send down money. Dave got this on film, so we'll see if we can attach it. great time and entertainment. Dresses go for about 30egyptian or so I think. From there, down to dinner of chicken or veal and chipsish things. No wine, just water, need lots of water. Ended the night with a nubian dance/music thing in the disco bar - was entertaining. The nubians were mostly displaced when the Lake Nasser was formed at the Aswan dam back in the 80's or so.
Next Edfu.
