Day 5 - 10 September 2008

Trip Start Sep 06, 2008
1
5
Trip End Sep 20, 2008


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Flag of Egypt  ,
Monday, July 20, 2009

Another blistering hot day as we sailed on to Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus. We left the boat again very early morning to miss the heat of the day and hopefully, most of the crowds. However, by 9am the heat was searing , so God knows how it would feel by mid-day, but by then we would be back on the boat and hopefully having a dip in the pool. Our mode of transport today was by Calesh – a horse drawn carriage and it was brilliant being driven through the hot, dusty streets and catching the breeze. We arrived at the temple, along with half of Egypt, or so it seemed. Obviously everyone was out early to escape the heat of the day. The Temple of Horus is one of the youngest, important monuments in Egypt. This is the place, according to Egyptian myth, where Horus, the falcon headed god, avenged the murder of his father Osiris by killing Seth. Horus was conceived after Osiris' death, and it was only following the hardship of collecting his body parts by his mother, Isis, that Osiris was sufficiently resurrected to give life to Horus Your Calesh awaits
Your Calesh awaits
 . The unity of Osiris and Horus — Osiris was often understood to continue existing by his son — climaxed when Horus finally tracked down Seth and killed him.

Construction of the temple began in 237 BCE by Ptolemy 3 but not finished until some 180 years later by the father of Cleopatra.
We wandered around, taking endless photos – it was all very stunning. It wasn't until I returned home I discovered what a filthy camera lens I had. Hey ho!
Then Taso, our guide directed us towards an area where there seemed to be some sort of violent rugby scrum going on. Apparently, at the centre of this mass of undisciplined bodies, was the Barque. Set in the deepest chambers of the temple, the wooden barque was used to carry the central Horus statue during important festivals. There was almost fever pitch amongst the Spanish group, everyone fighting to get near enough to get a photo.  I had no idea what to expect but thought it must be worth trying to get a look at so joined the mass of writhing bodies, barging arms, grabbing hands, occasionally holding my camera aloft in the air towards the general direction of the mysterious barque. I was getting quite excited now, so great was my anticipation. One by one my group members dropped out, exhausted by the heat and the sheer struggle to try to push to the front Approaching Edfu Temple
Approaching Edfu Temple
 . Not me – by now I was like a terrier with a bone, absolutely determined and with one final push I found myself at the very front with the barque in front of my eyes. When I tell you that I was disappointed to say the least,  you can assume it was one of the biggest let downs ever. Not entirely sure what I had expected but this small, wooden vessel wasn’t it. I snatched a quick photo, took a deep breath and forced myself back into the crowd which was still pushing forward. The group were eagerly awaiting my report as I emerged from the throng but the most eloquent response I could manage was "It was pants." I’m sorry but I thought it was and certainly not worth risking life and limb for. An ice lolly was required so we strolled across to the little cafe, and purchased the most welcome ice lollies while admiring the various attractive photos on the Malborough cigarette packets for sale. Then Taso asked me if I had managed to see the replica of the barque. Replica! All that grief and it wasn’t even */>% *@  authentic!
Returned to the boat and relaxed on the sun deck and in the pool while we sailed to Kom Ombo. Temperature getting higher and when the group disembarked to have a look around the temple I decided to have a couple of beers and just relax on board.  It was a small temple which I could admire from the comfort of my sun bed while the group toiled and sweated up the hill to look at it in closer detail. Amused myself watching the hawkers and sellers from the cluster of multicoloured stalls set up along the quayside , trying to trap any tourist daring to walk past.

That evening we went up on deck to watch the ship going through Esna Lock. Fascinating experience. A few more drinks later and I retired to my cabin and fell asleep watching the reflection of the moonlight on the Nile out of my cabin window, as we sailed through the night towards Aswan. Beautiful.

 
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