WBA in Egypt: Luxor Part I

Luxor was my favorite location of all the places we visited in Egypt. Smaller than Cairo and Aswan, it had a much more laid-back, provincial feel. The constant heckling continued, of course, but it was ever so slightly less intense. The sites of Luxor-- the Temples of Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings and Queens-- are numerous, well-preserved, all incredible.

The first day we traveled to the Temples of Karnak. A large complex dedicated to the pharaohs and Theban gods.

Entrance.

Ram-headed sphinxes.

Statue of Ramses II.

Papyrus-shaped stone pillars in the Great Hypostyle Hall.

Original colors preserved.

One of two 25-meter sandstone obelisks of Hatshepsut.

Somehow I just couldn't achieve the same effect.

The sacred lake, where the priests of Amun bathed for ritual purity.

Eunice and I with the "giant scarab."
Lonely Planet identified this as a "huge stone statue of a scarab beetle." I felt a little misled when we finally located the little bugger.

Picture with the Egyptian sand flea.

In the Great Hypostyle Hall.
6,000 square meters-- 134 papyrus-shaped pillars.
It was so tranquil wandering in the hall, dwarfed by ancient pillars.

Some ruins.

Giant gate.

The monument guards will give you entrance into gated areas and off-limits sites for a little baksheesh (tip). 1-2 Egyptian pounds-- 20 cents-- was enough to gain entrance.

A few illegal access photos:

Eunice and the monkey.

Beautiful carvings.

Luxor mosque.

Luxor Temple-- built predominantly by Amenhotep III.

Obelisk.

Ramses, Ramses, Ramses.

Colonnade of Amenhotep III.

Hypostyle Hall.

This portion of the temple was stuccoed over by the Romans around the 3rd century AD.
Used as a cult sanctuary.

14th century Mosque of Abu al-Haggag inside the Temple grounds.

Avenue of sphinxes.