Two stops on today's tour - Karnak and the Luxor Temple.  Both sites are on the East bank - sites for the living.  As opposed Ito the West bank sites for the after life.

Karnak is the larger of the two sites but is not in as good condition.  I will use the descriptions found in one of our guide books to explain the two sites.

Karnak is Egypt's most important Pharonic site.  It was built and expanded over a period of 1300 years.  Each pharaoh would add something.  Over time it expanded in all directions.              
We entered Karnak via the Avenue of the Sphinxes.  And, like all the other sites we have seen, the walls are covered with pictographs.
A change of approach.  For the moment, I am going to add lots of the pictures with some captions.  That way you can see the trip as it progresses.  Hopefully I will go back and fill in the gaps with more narrative and explanations.  That part takes so long that if I wait to finish it you won't be seeing anything for quite some time.  SO, HERE GOES!
The next set of pictures are from Karnak.
One of the obelisks
Hypostyle hall.
Rameses II
The two obelisks at Karnak
Mud ramp
Sacred lake at Karnak
Amonhotep III

The two of us in Hypostlye Hall
This next batch is from Luxor Temple.
Rameses II
Rameses II
Depicting unification of Lower & Upper Egypt
Hypostyle hall - papyrus bundle columns
Painting from time of Roman occupation
Bee's wax used to clean dust from pictographs.
Alexander the Great and Amon Min
Mosque built on top of a church which was built on top of the Temple
Statue of Isis from Roman time
Avenue of the sphinxes
Rameses II
Fields I
Balloon ride that never was!
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