World Cruise - Day 102 - Apr 23 - At Sea + Luxor Part 3

This is part 3 of my post on Luxor (continued):

Karnak Temple is considered to be one of the most extensive and best preserved of Egyptian antiquities from the time of the pharaohs:

There are several obelisks at Karnak, this one is outside the main entrance:

These are the huge statues lining the entrance to Karnak, some with ram’s heads and some with lion’s heads:

Closer up shot to give you an idea of the massiveness of each one of statues:

Most Karnak appears to be ruined, but as you look closer, you can see much of the original details still intact:

This building is just inside the main walls:

This along the main walls on the inside of the temple:

Krissie in front of the statue of one of the Ramses, I forget which one:

This continues further into the main temple area, note the local guy standing in the doorway:

The walls are massive.  And what makes this most impressive if that they are all carved and etched.  Look closely and you can see the carvings on the walls on both sides of Krissie:

Here is a closer up view of the carvings:

Each of the pillars are carved as well:

Guys are not allowed to show affection to females in Egypt (for example, I cannot hold hands or kiss Krissie), but guys regularly put arms around each other here (nothing gay about it, just accepted local custom):

Note how the pillars go on and on.  Krissie is standing at the center, so it goes out that far in the other direction as well.

All of these carvings were originally painted as well.  Most of the paint has not survived to present day, although you can see the remnants of some of it on the underside of the pillars that were protected from the elements:

You can see more of the coloring on the underside of the massive columns:

More colors on the columns:

You can see some of the hieroglyphics on the underside of this structure:

Another view of the hieroglyphics on the upper structure:

These upper areas were originally windows along the top colonnade:

Close-up of the hieroglyphic inscriptions:

Two more obelisks in the main temple area, both fully inscribed:

You can see where parts of the lower part of the obelisk began to wear away.  The one on the left had other buildings around its base, originally built by a pharaoh wanting to cover up that part of the obelisk, yet it ended up protecting it from the elements.

More hieroglyphics on the walls:

Another Ramses statue:

Detail of one of the inside walls:

This guy has a “job” if you want to call it that—he charges tourists for getting their picture taken with him.  You’ll see him again a little later.

Noemi with her colorful umbrella and an interesting looking guy coming up next to her:

The only inscriptions of monkeys that we saw here at Karnak:

This obelisk had fallen over and is now on display:

Yes, this picture cost me $1, taken with Krissie in front of the scarab:

Interior walls where you can see more of the original colors:

Krissie, Dan, Jackie and Terry were walking along…

…so I told them to jump on the count of three.  Dan did the best, Jackie’s on her way up, Krissie’s faking it and Terry is getting ready to jump:

Cute kid, you’ll see her a little later admiring the dead dogs out near the entrance:

Nice contrast of the old and new:

“Mommy, can I pet that doggie?”  “No, dear, that doggie is dead.”

“Mommy, there are two more doggies, can I pet them?”  “No, dear, they’re dead, too.

They really do look dead, but they’re just relaxing in the heat:

Back outside Karnak on our way to the restaurant for lunch, another donkey and its cart:

Side street in Luxor:

Local scene off on a side road in Luxor:

Wash day with the kids out on the sidewalk:

Four local boys:

Old and new.  The store on the left sells cell phone accessories.

They were all waiting in line for something, although not sure what:

Local café, note the water pipes being used and along the back wall, very common in Egypt:

Local street scene, I just like how the three on the left (especially the little girl) are looking at the guy in the doorway:

We saw this sign above a store in downtown Luxor, I don’t think they got Yahoo’s permission to use either the name or logo:

More on Luxor in Part 4…