Feb 13, 2024

 Dandarah Temple today.  One of the best preserved temples in all of Egypt.

Hi Ali and Dan,

Here is a representation of the real Cleopatra!  She’s holding a child’s rattle in one hand and a symbol of the Pharaoh in the other.  Circa 200 BC at the 

Dandarah Temple.

Love,   Dad

Gene & JoAnn in front of an alabaster statue of a young King Tut and his bride.  Taken at Luxor Temple this evening.

Love,   Dad

The pyramids were built as a final resting place, an impregnable tome for eternity.  Temples were built to pay homage to one or more of the Egyptian gods.   And as a means for the Pharaohs to support the priests, whom they relied on for a significant amount of their power.  The temple of Karnak supported 60,000 priests and monks!     

The Luxor temple was built by the great Ramses II to honor the goddess Mut.  He had statues of himself EVERYWHERE in the temple!

Off this a. m. For a sunrise balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings, the touring several tombs there.

Sunrise from a ballon over the Valley of the Kings!

There were -30 ballon’s. Each with 32 passenger + pilot!