We are on the Odyssey, one of the President line of ships. There are 131 on board and it carries a maximum of 150 with 70 cabins. All of the cabins are the same. The bathrooms are larger than on the large cruise ships we have been on but the room are about the same size. The lowest level are all cabins. The second level are cabins and the main desk. Our cabins are on the second level. The third level is the dining hall and gift shop. The fourth level is the bar-lounge area, a small pool and covered and uncovered lounge area. There is a ping pong table and they do have scrabble and backgammon games. English is the primary language spoken on board. About half of the people on our tour are British and the remainder represent a wide spectrum. The food is good and plentiful. You pay extra for all beverages including water which is all bottled. Breakfast and lunch are buffet but dinner is served and takes about one and a half hours. Afternoon tea is served with cakes and tea.
The Nile river is the longest river in the world 4,132 miles and creates a sliver of fertile land. Egypt depends on it for food, transportation and power. Before the dam was built the farming year was divided into three seasons by the behavior of the Nile. The time of flooding was called the Inundation. It was caused by melting snow and rainwater from the mountains in Ethiopia. The flooding lasted from June until September. The peasants worked on the King's building projects, using the floodwaters to float huge stones on rafts. From October to February the water receded leaving rich silt on the fields to sow their crops. From March to May they harvested their crops including the wild papyrus reed that was used to make paper, boats, baskets and ropes. Today with the dam providing year round water availability cotton is Egypt's most valuable cash crop. Dates grown mainly in the desert oases are perhaps the best known. Corn, oranges, potatoes, rice, sugarcane and tomatoes are also grown.
Temple of Amon at Karnak:
Our guide's name is Abdalla and he is very knowledgeable. It took me awhile to get used to his accent but after that as long as I was paying close attention, I could understand what he was saying. Abdalla's native tongue is Arabic. To me Arabic is a very harsh sounding language. It sounds angry or upset even when they are having a pleasant conversation.
Generations of pharaohs added to the temple at Karnak until it was the largest temple ever built. The vast (247 acres) complex was built over a 1,300 year period. The three main temples of Mut, Montu and Amun are enclosed by enormous brick walls.
Ramses II, the most ambitious builder of all the pharaohs completed the great Hypostyle Hall. The hall having been started by his father Seti I. Hypostyle is the Greek word meaning "to rest on pillars". The halls roof was supported by 134 columns, each showing scenes of the pharaoh worshiping Amon. The outer walls of the Hypostle Hall are covered with scenes of battle.
One of the obelisks was erected by Tuthmois I, who was the father of Hatshepsut. This obelisk stands 70 feet tall and weighs about 143 tons. The obelisk of Hatshepsut is 97 feet high and weighs approximately 320 tons. The single piece of pink granite for the obelisk was quarried at Aswan. Besides the Lateran obelisk in Rome, this is the tallest standing obelisk. The one in Rome is 101 feet high. The inscription on the obelisk says "O ye people who see this monument in years to come and speak of that which I have made, beware lest you say, 'I know not why it was done'. I did it because I wished to make a gift for my father Amun, and to gild them with electrum."
The temples were the god's home on earth and only a few priests were allowed into the temple. Ordinary people worshiped the gods at home.
After our tour Seth negotiated a half hour horse and buggy ride around the city which turned into an hour tour which the driver expected to be paid for. He took us through an actual bizarre that was barely wide enough for the carriage. Clothing was strung between the buildings overhead creating a very colorful sight. Merchants had a wide variety of items from live chickens to Disney merchandise. Baskets of spices including saffron and hibiscus abounded. Running alongside our carriage were children begging for food. The driver used his whip to discourage them but they would soon be back.
The hibiscus is used to make a tea which is a very common drink in Egypt. Add a cup of the hibiscus to a liter of water and let sit overnight. Strain off the leaves and dilute and add sugar to taste.
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