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Thursday, June 12, 2014

Edfu Temple.

Today we begin our “vacation” trip, something we do each year but which we extend a bit in the summer when work in 115 degrees of heat demands more from everyone. Maggie Bryson has kindly provided me with some images from our trip, because she takes great images of people. I thank her for the collaboration.

At Edfu Temple.

Somehow we have managed to choose a visit southward to Aswan and beyond rather than to a cooler or seaside destination. Yet, the vote was for Abu Simbel, so the temperature will be a factor all weekend. This morning we are heading to Aswan by way of the Edfu Temple, but the heat is truly oppressive, and despite all enthusiasm for our visit, you see its effects.

Marina and Rania look at reliefs at Edfu.

We arrived at the temple and found that our group of 13 was a significant portion of about 25 to 30 visitors during the period that we were there. Maggie (on the left at the Mammisi) has been using a parasol to keep off the sun, and today it is a necessity. Inside the temple Marina and Rania look carefully at the reliefs in the darkened setting.


Relief of Horus at Edfu.

The ambulatory that runs around the temple proper contains so many fascinating mythological elements of this specific temple, such as Horus of Behdet’s (Edfu Temple) role in combatting the sun god’s enemies, including Seth (as a hippopotamus being serially harpooned by the god). Richard and Rania paused near the end of the ambulatory to talk about what they have seen. Ashley F., however, has defied the heat and was peering through the lower stairway door to the Edfu crypt hoping to see something interesting.

Richard and Rania. Ashley F. on the lower stairway at the Edfu crypt.

The colinnade of the temple.
Finding relief in the shade of the colonnade.

But after a couple of hours we are mostly melting and seek shade in the colonnade between the First and Second pylons of the temple. Soon we head back to the van and on to Aswan.


The Old Cataract Hotel.
A room at the hotel.

As we reach the lovely town of Aswan where the granite outcrops create a natural boundary – or cataract – in the Nile, the group are happily surprised to see that our brief vacation home will be none other than the delightful Old Cataract Hotel, now called the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract. Maggie took a picture of her room (I assume hers), and also provided a snapshot of Darcy sitting peacefully on the hotel Terrace. Our last of the day is a photo of sunset from my room. Night…..

Darcy on the hotel terrace.
Sunset on the Nile at Aswan.

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