![\"Luxor](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2017\/05\/Sunset_in_Luxor-Egypt.jpg\")
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It has been suggested that I re-post the following, since the available places on the tour are evidently going fast. \u00a0And, frankly, the Nile cruise ship that we want to use has limited space; if we don\u2019t claim it, somebody else will. \u00a0So, if there is anybody out there who\u2019s thinking about signing up for this trip to Egypt, it may be vitally important to get on the list as soon as possible:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n From 26 December 2018 through 5 January 2019, I\u2019ll be accompanying a tour of Egypt to which you\u2019re invited.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Face it: \u00a0If you\u2019re at all like me \u2014 it was actually much, much worse<\/em> when I was a little kid \u2014 after all the anticipation of Christmas morning, Christmas afternoon and the next several days were a real let-down. \u00a0Here\u2019s something, though, that will pick you up!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And, moreover, December and January are beautiful times to visit Egypt. \u00a0The temperatures are very, very pleasant.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Another factor to consider: \u00a0Also accompanying the group will be Hany Tawfik, arguably the foremost tour guide in Egypt. \u00a0(It was he who was chosen to take President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton around during their official visit to the country.) \u00a0This will be my fourth tour with Hany. \u00a0He\u2019s very, very good.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a rough itinerary for what the Cruise Lady company is billing as \u201cUltimate Egypt\u201d<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We fly on Day 1 and arrive on Day 2, spending the night in Cairo, the largest city in Africa and the largest in the Arab world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On Day 3, we go out to visit the great pyramids on the Giza plateau as well as the Sphinx, and, for those who want to do so, we enjoy a camel ride. \u00a0Then we visit the solar boat museum, directly adjacent to the Great Pyramid of Khufu or Cheops. \u00a0We then go to the Papyrus Institute (which will include some shopping) and to the astonishing Egyptian Museum, which makes the Egyptian collections at the Louvre and New York\u2019s Metropolitan Museum look truly poor and pathetic. \u00a0We\u2019ll pay special attention to the relics of King Tutankhamen.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On Day 4, we fly to Luxor, where we\u2019ll visit the Valley of the Kings. \u00a0We\u2019ll enter three of the spectacular pharaonic tombs there, and those who wish to do so can also go into King Tut\u2019s famous tomb. \u00a0We\u2019ll have a look at the magnificent temple of the female pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut, as well as the famed Colossi of Memnon. \u00a0That evening, there will be optional 2-hour horse cart tour through the city of Luxor, which I highly, highly recommend. \u00a0(Both times I\u2019ve done it, members of our tour have been surprised at how fascinating and enjoyable it was.) \u00a0And, starting on Day 4, we spend our evenings aboard a Nile cruise ship, from which we\u2019ll see Egypt the way the ancient pharaohs did, by boat. \u00a0But we\u2019ll do it in far more comfort than they ever dreamed possible.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On Day 5, we visit the grand Karnak Temple \u2014 the largest complex of religious structures ever built \u2014 which was dedicated to the god Amon, his wife Mut, and their son, Khonsu. \u00a0Some Latter-day Saints will find certain temple images of particular interest. \u00a0We\u2019ll also visit the Luxor Temle, and then board our boat to sail southwards, up the Nile. \u00a0Among other things, we\u2019ll transit through the lock at Esna, which is fascinating to watch.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In the morning, on Day 6, we\u2019ll stop at Edfu, where the most complete temple in Egypt stands. \u00a0Returning to the ship, we\u2019ll sail to\u00a0Kom Ombo, docking right in front of the only double temple in Egypt, dedicated to both Horus the falcon and Sobek the crocodile. \u00a0We\u2019ll have a devotional onboard in the afternoon.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We arrive in the morning of Day 7 at Aswan, where we immediately visit the High Dam that was (controversially) built by the Soviets to control the annual Nile flood and to generate electrical power for a growing Egyptian populace and its expanding industry. \u00a0Then we travel about ten minutes by motor boat over to one of the most beautiful temples in Egypt, the Temple of Philae, sacred to the goddess Isis. In the afternoon, we take another trip by boat to a Nubian village, where, among other things, we have an opportunity to have our pictures taken holding an adorable crocodile. \u00a0On that boat trip, we\u2019ll pass by Elephantine Island, in connection with which there\u2019s an important point to be made with respect to the Book of Mormon.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On Day 8, we fly to Abu Simbel to visit the famous temple of Pharaoh Ramses II (\u201cthe Great\u201d). \u00a0It\u2019s the one, you may recall, that was dismantled and moved to avoid the rising waters of Lake Nasser after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. \u00a0Then we fly back to Cairo.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On Day 9,\u00a0we visit Saqqara, where stands the oldest Egyptian pyramid \u2014 which is also, arguably, the oldest stone building in the world. \u00a0(If possible, we\u2019ll also enter briefly into the Pyramid of Unas, where the famed \u201cPyramid Texts\u201d were discovered. \u00a0It\u2019s often closed, but we were able to go into it a few weeks ago for the first time in many years.) \u00a0Next, we proceed to the ruins of the Old Kingdom capital of\u00a0Memphis, visiting the ruins of the\u00a0Temple of Ptah\u00a0and the gigantic\u00a0Colossus of King Ramses II. At a local carpet school, we watch the children learning to make rugs from the cocoon of the silkworms and learn about the different kinds of Egyptian carpets and, if the mood hits us, we buy.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a>
(Wikimedia Commons public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a>
(Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a>
(Wikimedia Commons photo by Roland Unger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
(Wikimedia Commons public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a>
(Wikimedia Commons public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n