I've been to Luxor twice and I love it there as there is so much history and it's the kind of place you can explore without holiday reps! We became friendly with some locals and were invited to an Egyptian wedding in one of the small villages on the edge of the Nile. We went walking in the Theban hills, partied on the Nile and visited everything! It's no good if you like beach holidays tho'. I've also been to Sharm el Sheik - very nice but not enough to do for me! We were set to go to Jordan from there but the trip was cancelled. I'll find some piccies for you!
PS. Given the chance I would go to Abu but I believe you will be amongst hoards of people!?
As I PM'd you, Sunanda, I spent in fact six weeks in Egypt (actually just to meet someone there) in 1976, and that's it. I went to Abu Simbel - then there was a hydrofoil (much faster than bus) so there may still be one, from Aswan? But not worth it IMO - it's just one building that would have been covered by the water when the Aswan Dam was built, so the UN transported it stone by stone to a higher location. (No one there when I went in 1976, apart from those on our hydrofoil.) I'd say you might skip it and relax a bit instead.
'76 - those were the days! ... I got to the Valley of the Kings by hiring three mules and a guide. You could cycle, but in that July heat, no thanks! 😮 When you get there (Valley of the Kings) make a comparison: in '76 the "amenities" for travellers/tourists were ... a hosepipe with cold water coming out - which was just essential to refill water bottles by then - and that was it :p.
Time to read up on 'The Orion Mystery'? i.e. the real meaning of the alignment of the major pyramids? Maybe it's be online if you look up the term. It'll possibly much add to the interest of the spot.
Enjoy!!
V
Hiya Sunanda
I used to work as a holiday rep in Egypt - way back when though! You will have a fab time. Mis April is a good time to go although it will get very very hot by mid morning - i remember seeing the temperature on the boat in the shade top 50 degrees centigrade!
Abu Simbel - well it is amazing - however if you are not that interested in Egyptian temples ,do remember that you will be seeing at least one every day on the excursions from the boat and if you are sailing Luxor to Aswan you may well be 'templed out' by that stage!
Lots of early starts because of the heat - at the hottest time of the year we used to give the guests 05.00 wake up calls to leave at 06.00. But you'll more than likely be back on board and sailing by mid morning and can chill for the rest of the day.
You'll love it! If you want any more info, pm me,
On the esoteric side, here's a 'trip' in Egypt you may like to try, Sunanda. 🙂 You may be aware of the books of Paul Brunton, who was also an early Westerner to study amongst the Indian yogis. I recall his book on Egypt, which this refers to:
http://www.mysteriouspeople.com/Egyptian_Mystery.htm
And I also recall in that book that he suddenly found himself, physically, face-to-face with one of the Egyptian Adepts, who told him of the rise and fall of spirituality/esotericism in that land:
[DLMURL] http://www.ianlawton.com/hor2.htm [/DLMURL]
V
I did the same as you last year. A cruise on the nile starting at Luxor and then up (or down?!?) to aswan and back.
The excursions to valley of the kings, valley of the queens, luxor temple, aswan dam etc were all included and we did have to get up early and leave the boat at 7.30 am. Though it seemed early, we were gratefull as by 11am when we were generally leaving the places, it was so incredibly hot. Those temples are suntraps and I think if we went mid day we would have passed out. We went in march last year so it wasnt even hot hot!
It was brilliant though. The temples are facinating. In Luxor temple, I think - there were so many that I cant quite remember specific ones, I had a strange experience. It was a huge place and we had plenty of time to wander round. In one quiet place I suddenly felt overwhelmed with sadness and felt very upset. Im not sure what I was picking up on, residual energies there, a past life? I cant be sure but it was very strange. The next temple we went to "felt" much better and had a more positive energy to it. At that time I was only at the begginning of paying attention to my intuition and have since done much more work with myself. I would love to go back and see what I could pick up now.
Im sure that you will have a lovely time.
Love and light.
Fluffy xx