Abu Simbel

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Below is some information that Amadeus shared with us. This info was nicely complied by someone who had taken this tour previously:

* You can always tell the difference between a man and a woman, even if you only see their feet, because of the stance they take (men: leg apart, women: legs together)

* The pharaoh always wears a certain skirt, in order to conceal any possible sexual excitement he might experience

* In most carvings, you see a picture of the pharaoh giving gifts to a god in exchange for the scepter (power) and ankh (key of life)

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* The ceiling towards the holy of holies is usually painted with stars, and the floor elevates, because you are getting closer to the heavens and the place of the god

* Women are usually shown 1/6th the size of men, or the same size (depending on the situation of the depiction), but always have their hands on the man in a supportive stance; sometimes, they wear gauzy, sheer garments

* "Normal people" didn't enter the holy of holies, but instead went to the back, where there was a carving of a door, two ears, and two eyes, which represented the ears and eyes of the gods, on the wall, above a carving of what the appropriate offering would be * After a few hours there, we flew back and joined up with the rest of the tour group. We then returned to our boat and later on stopped off at Kom Ombo .We didn't have very much time at the local shops (much like a swap meet) a shopping trip around the local markets in search for a gabalaya for tonight's party. Here we met the locals for the first time.