Vic's Pics

[evangilder]

That's some cool lighting.

[Gnomey]

Yeah, nice lighting there. Good shots!

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Excellent shots Vic!! Well done sir!

[Wayne Little]

Awesome Vic!

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks guys, and for some more snaps from Egypt………………............……….We were now on the Nile Cruise, but before setting sail we had an early start visiting the Valley of the Kings, sadly cameras were not allowed, but I can tell you that walking into the Tombs of some of the Kings was incredible. The preservation, colour, size and length of them as they twisted and turned into the bedrock was gobsmacking and the memory will live on with me. Following this we drove to the other side of the mountains from the Valley of the Kings, where we have the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.

Pic 1. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut who because the belief that the ruler of Egypt must be a man, often dressed as a King and in constructing this temple tried to burrow her way through to the Valley of the Kings.

Pic 2 & 3. Hieroglyphics' on the outer walls of the temple, the preservation of shape and colour is unbelievable.

Pic 4. The Colossi of Memnon, these two statues remind me of modern day Transformers.

Pic 5 & 6. As we approached the lock at Esna, we were swarmed upon by trader in small rowing boats, known locally as 'Bum Boats', they would throw the goods up onto the upper deck of the ship and if you wanted it, start bartering.

Pic 7. Another cruise ship being attacked by bum boats.

Pic 8. The locals as we entered the lock, asking for bucksheesh.

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

I would feel way out of place out there. Great shots Vic. Thank you for sharing.

[evangilder]

Great stuff. The bum boats are proof that everywhere you go, there are capitalists.

[Wayne Little]

fantastic shos Vic!

[GrauGeist]

Great photos!

Number 2 & 3 are just awesome!

[Gnomey]

Great shots Vic!

[Vic Balshaw]

Still in Egypt, this time we have sailed up the Nile to the Temple of Horus at Edfu and then after a short afternoon sail we arrived for the evening at Kom Ombo Temple.

Pic 1. The Temple of Horus. The classic shape of these temples, the two high walls with the entrance between derives from the high mountains either side of the Nile.

Pic 2. One of the many column Capitals, this one represents the papyrus reed that we often see made into sheets and painted in vivid colours. Queen Nefertiti is a classic example.

Pic 3 & 4. They say that as you move up the Nile, the temples and hieroglyphics get better. This is so true as the influence of the Greeks and Romans shows through in the sculptured carving, the images showing more detailed relief.

Pic 5. Sparrows, they get everywhere.

Pic 6. For the ladies, the latest Kom Ombo fashions.

Pic 7 & 8. Again, no flash used and both shots show the more detailed relief on the stone carving.

Pic 9. Kom Ombo Temple at nightfall.

[Gnomey]

Great stuff Vic!

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

The night shots are excellent sir!

[wheelsup_cavu]

Excellent pictures Vic.


Wheels

[Vic Balshaw]

Today we visit the temple of Philae at Aswan. The miracle of this temple in my opinion is that it has been moved stone by stone from it's original site and re-constructed on an island in exactly the same construction and aspect as the original sight. The temple is between the Aswan Dam and the Aswan High Dam.

Pic 1. Having fought through the melee of people and boats to get our ride to the temple island, we set out.

Pic 2. The temple as we circle round the island.

Pic 3 & 4. Walking towards the temple, the columns were not constructed by the Egyptians, but by the Greeks who wanted to stamp their influence on Upper Egypt. As you can see in pic 4, the Greeks were not particular about getting the line of columns in line with the temple's entrance.

Pic 5. The very well defined hieroglyphics on an outer wall and partly obscured by a Greek addition.

Pic 6 & 7. The entrance way to the temple, note on the left of the door is a Christian cross added in the 6th Century when the temple became a Christian church.

Pic 8. A column capstone which shows the later influences of Greco-Roman rule.

Pic 9. A final picture as we sail back to Aswan.