"EGYPT 2004" Egypt by RENE_CARDOEN

The main purpose of this trip was to learn more about the rich ancient Egyptian history and to visit the temples and necropolises built by the Pharaohs some three thousand years ago.

PROGRAM
Day 1: Flight Brussels – Luxor
Embarking on the SM African Queen
Short city trip to Luxor
Day 2: Trip to the necropolis of Thebe and the valley of the Kings (Luxor)
The temple of Hatshepsut
The colossi of Memnon
Sailing to the lock of Esna
Day 3: Edfu – the temple of Horus
Sailing to Aswan
Day 4: Aswan: the granite quarries and the unfinished obelisk
The great dam (add el Ali)
The Philae temple
Crossing the Nile with the felucca to the Botanic Garden
Guided city trip including a visit to the mosque and the bazaar
Day 5: Trip to Abu Simbel
Sailing back to Edfu
Kom Ombo
Day 6: Sailing back to Luxor
Day 7: Temple of Luxor
Temple of Karnak
Luxor Museum
Day 8: Flight Luxor - Brussels

If you fly high up in the air and look down on the river Nile, you’ll understand why this river was and still is so important to Egypt. For thousands of years rich sediments were transported by the river from central Africa to Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Each year in August by the flooding of the Nile the fertile mud was spread out over the valley. It resulted in a narrow strip of fertile soil on both sides of the Nile, which led to the development of the Egyptian civilisation. That is one of the reasons why all the temples and tombs were built close to the river, because in the desert is no water and without water no life is possible. The second reason was that boats transported the heavy stones and obelisks.

• Pros:It is written that every Muslim should undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his life, so everybody who is interested in history and ancient cultures should visit the Egyptian temples once in his life too
• Cons:I know it is impossible to see everything in one week and I regret I did not see Cairo and the pyramids
• In a nutshell:If you fly high up in the air and look down on the river Nile, you’ll understand why this river was and still is so important to Egypt.