The Travels of the Agnew Family

The view from our room in Luxor.

Today was a busy day. We went for a donkey cart ride through the back alleys of the west bank of Luxor and out into the countryside. Our bus picked us up and whisked us to the Valley of Queens. Next stop the workers tombs at Deir al-Medina, followed by Medinat Habu and Colossi of Memnon. In the evening we went to the sound and light show at Karnak Complex.


The donkey carts aren’t fancy --- just a board on an axle hooked up to the donkey. The driver sits on a corner and the passengers sit over the axle. Our donkey wasn’t the best behaved of the bunch ---- he wouldn’t stop and rear ended the cushion on the cart ahead of us. Hard to believe but we ran into road construction on the path/road we were riding on. A bridge was being built from the roadway to a home, so the construction materials were on the roadway included this deluxe cement mixer.


A view up the Valley of the Queens. It was wonderfully quiet here and worth the visit. We visited 2 tombs here which were filled with richly coloured art work.


Deir-al-Medina is a valley filled with the remains of the workers homes. Up the hill from the homes are the workers tombs. These tombs are much smaller the tombs in both the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens but are also filled with colourful art work.


The art work tells stories about everyday life. The black and white cow reminds me of Holstein cows.


Another interesting tale from a workers tomb.


A temple in the Deir-al-Medina illustrates the story of the trial to enter the afterlife with the gods. If your heart is lighter than an ostrich feather you can continue and meet Isis in heaven otherwise the alligator headed lion will eat you.


Medinat Habu is the temple of Ramses III. One of the most interesting features of the temple is that many of the carved hieroglyphics are very deep. The first photo is looking down main walkway as we head out of the temple. The second photo uses Ed and I as sizing for the statues as walls.


The Colossi of Memnon. Behind the statues is the ongoing excavation of the ruins of the temple of Amenhotep III


I just love the contrast between the green fields and the desert hills.

The Sound and Light Show at Karnak Complex was similar to the one we saw at Philea Temple but different. It was worth seeing.




That bright light is the moon.