2004 09 – Egypt – Day 14

Wake up call this morning is a reasonable 7:00 a.m. and breakfast with the group started around 7:30. Most breakfasts consisting of bread and cheeses in all the hotels we have stayed at so far. By 8:00 we are back on our bus with our luggage and tourist police close at hand.

There are many different modes of transportation in Egypt.

Another view from one of the many towns we pass through.

Many people are selling fruit and vegetables along the road way. Grapes are abundant.

Another view of the local vendors along the street.

A donkey is burden with a large load, we see donkeys still used to a lot of the work in the Nile Valley.

We continue our way through more small towns this morning.

As we head North along the west bank of the Nile the road conditions are starting to improve.

One of the many security crossings that we must go through. No pictures were to be taken, they were constantly watching us making sure we keep our cameras away … Oops!

Our ferry crossing to the tombs of El Amarna.

We arrive at a ferry crossing by 9:15 a.m. to take us back over the Nile to the East bank where we then board a small bus to take us over to the tombs of El-Amarna.

The bus we will board to take us the rest of the way to El Amarna and a few other stops.

Some basic information about the site.

You can see the bus and the steps that we have climbed as we head up to the site.

It was a good climb from the base of the hill to the tombs where we ended up visiting 3 tombs. It was a great view of the Nile Valley.

Again, no pictures allowed in the tombs.

As we walked from one tomb to another the tourist police tried to sell us some local artifacts. This shows us some of the basic Egyptian culture of selling anything to supplement their very basic income including these government employees. We walked back down to the base of the hill to a gift shop buying a small basket for a mere 10 pounds. She tells me it took her hours to build it out of palm leaves.

Back on our small bus to the North Palace to see some ruins of the so called workers of the tombs.

Workers of the tombs near El Amarna – Young children trying to sell us hand made ornaments made out of papyrus leaves. Guards chase them away aggressively.

We are back on the ferry taking us back to the West bank where our main bus waits.

Another view from the ferry as we approach the West bank.

There were plenty of satellite dishes on many of the taller buildings. Back over the Nile on the ferry and back on the bus by 12:30 p.m. for our drive over to Beni Hassan.

Back on the bus heading for the Beni Hassen site.

Going through more small towns on our way to Beni Hassan.

Arrive around 1:30 p.m. for another ferry ride over the Nile going over to the East bank for a visit to Beni Hassan.

A view showing a few people in our group as we travel across the Nile.

You can see our destination, the tombs in the mountain side are Beni Hassan.

Another view of Beni Hassan in the mountain side. The tourist police stay with us in their own boat keeping a close eye on us.

We are walking over to the tombs of Beni Hassan from where the ferry docks on the East bank of the Nile. A small bus waiting for us but a few of us decided to walk over to the gathering area as it wasn’t that far. It turned out to be a good opportunity to walk through some of the farming area seeing some of the local people and how they carried on with their day to day chores.

We are near the base of the hill where we will start our climb up to Beni Hassan.

Another view from the base of the mountain before we start our accent to the tombs.

Once we all rested for awhile and had a few beverages it was another walk up another hill to where the tombs were located.

A view of the path way we've just climbed.

It was a great view from the top.

It was a beautiful view taking a few good pictures. 4 tombs were visited in all and no pictures are allowed in any of them. Looking to the Northwest from the top.

Looking to the Southwest from the top. No pictures allowed in or around the tombs, the guards follow us all the way and watch us closely and make sure we don’t take out our cameras.

Heading back to the ferry after visiting Beni Hassan.

A farm house along our walk back.

Even in the remote areas the children are looking for money from the tourists.

Another view from our trail along the way.

On the ferry going back to the West bank of the Nile. Security police follow us all the way as you can see them in the small boat. They are also guards in our boat as we cross.

Security police have been by our side for this entire bus trip.

We are in the town of El Minya situatied near the center of Egypt. There was hardly anyone trying to sell us mechandise in this part of Egypt as they are not too many tourists.