View from one of the rooms ... See the pretty pool? (one of two at this hotel - we swam in the other one, it was a little warmer) And ... yes, that is the Nile river ... Isn't that cool!?
At 1:00 we grabbed a quick lunch, then loaded the van for our trip to the "unfinished obelisk". During the carving out of this obelisk (they had to be made of one piece of granite), there was a mistake, and the obelisk cracked. (probably ending the worker's life as well...). So, here it sits, unfinished. This was a huge quarry of red granite and they used for many of the temples and construction all throughout Egypt. There was also a Sheite cementary (above) that you could see from the top of the quarry.
After the quarry, it was back to the van and a drive to the High Dam. This dam was built to help control the flood waters from the Nile. The construction of the dam also created the largest man-made lake, Lake Nasser. By creating the dam, they also put some ancient structures and temples in peril... so, they had to be moved. The Egyptian government asked several countries for monetary contributions, but only Russia helped. There is a large lotus monument at the dam in appreciation for Russia.
Ahhh .... isn't that a cute group of American kids ....
Our last stop before heading back to the hotel was to an island to see Philae temple. This was one of our favorite. The hyrogliphics on this temple were carved in relief form instead of carved IN ... they were amazing!
This is the "guest house" at the Philae Temple (above) and this is the view of the Philae temple as you approach by boat ... (below)
Lucky scarob beetle ... (above) ... two boys on "left over" peices of the temple. This temple as one of the temples that had to be moved to higher ground when the High Dam was built.
Ahh... yes... the scarifical teenager ....
We grabbed dinner on the outside and headed back to the hotel to eat and go to bed ...
