DAY: 6
STEP COUNT: 11,982
WEATHER HIGH: 103F
Well let me tell you something, I don’t know how I managed to make it through the entire day on a injured foot but I did it and I did it a well as I could. Let’s me start by saying, the high for the day was scheduled to be 103 F and baby did it get there. We started the day with what was supposed to be a sun rise hot air balloon ride but instead was an early morning air balloon ride. As a group, we were quite upset that we did not get to see the sun rise from the hot air balloon. It was not until we out after the ride that our tour guide said the air balloon company was making sure the air was safe to proceed with the ride due to the current situation over on Israel and Palestine.
Just to interject right here, in case you did not know, Israel and Palestine are currently at war and Egypt has heighten their military forces and security all throughout the country especially at tourist locations. This is why we ALWAYS travel with a security personal as we go from location to location. So yes, I have been on edge a little bit after war has broken out across the way from me, but I am protected by the Lord, and I know that EF has us completely safe and will make sure we remain safe. Now back to what I was saying.
Once we got the ok that it was safe for us to continue with the hot air balloon, we hopped in two boats to cross the river to get to the other side where these vans took us to the start of this hot air balloon ride. Now to get to the ride, we had to walk through local people’s homes and onto a green field where multiple balloons were standing by, waiting for people to come in. please keep in mind that I am doing all of this on a freshly wrapped injured foot. You will probably will not believe me when I say this, but our entire group of 33 people fit into one balloon basket. Let me say that again for the people in the back, they made 33 people fit into ONE air balloon basket.
This was an insane feat, but it was done. The men that were there were nice in helping me get into the balloon in a safe way. Once in the balloon, we took off immediately. Now, I am terrified of a combination of movement and heights so I just knew I would be shake in my boots during this hot air balloon ride. I do not know if it was adrenaline or simply because I didn’t feel us rising in the air, but I was not scared one bit. It was a very smooth and peaceful ride. It was quite a remarkable sight to overlook both the greenery side of the city of Luxor and the dry dessert side. We were able to reach 500 meters (about 1500 feet) in the air. Though the lift off and ride of the air balloon was quite smooth, the same can not be said for the landing. This landing was the most sketches thing that we have done on this trip, and truest me when I say we have done a lot of sketchy things on this trip. Our instructions that were given to us in order to prepare us for landed was that we had to squat down and lend bank facing the opposite direction of which we were going to land. Again, remember I am on a freshly wrapped injured foot here. All those tasks were quite hard to do, but I managed to do my best. When I say we came in hot, we came in H-O-T. So, the way you may think a hot air balloon would be stopped or pulled down would be by ropes or some sort of tether, cause you know rules and regulations. Nope not in Egypt.
In Egypt you have about 10-12 men chasing after the soon to land hot air balloon and to stop it they need to literally jump on the edge of the basket and weight down the basket with full body weigh order to stop the momentum of the balloon from both tipping over and floating back into the air. Because we had to face the opposite direction of which we were to land, I saw all the faces of the men that were sprinting to catch our balloon once it hit the ground. Their faces were not ones that would make me feel confident that they were going to catch us. And to add to that, the balloon did indeed hit a rock hill, bounce up and proceed to relaunch in the air. The men did eventually catch the balloon, a couple of the falling in the process, but as they went to catch the balloon the wind picked up triggering the basket to almost tip over with everyone in it. Though this is a dramatic build of a story, I can proudly say we did not tip over or get sent back into the air, we were indeed safe on the ground. Oh, did I forget to mention we landed in the freaking desert. Yes, the desert of Luxor meters away from the Valley of the Kings (the sight we see next after the balloon ride). We all were filled with excitement and laughter after this ride, happy that no one got injured more. And all that happened at 7:30 in the morning.
After the hot air balloon ride, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for a long day of walking and visiting several tombs. First stop was to the Valley of the Kings (the same one we just flew over early that morning on the hot air balloon). The Valley of the Kings is where several Egyptian kings were buried along with their riches and golds. These are massive underground tombs dedicated to each king. There is a Valley of the Queens several away from the kings valley. They Valley of the Kings contains 63 tombs including the great King Tutankhamun whose tomb was the only one remain un robbed. They say that his tomb was so deep down in the ground that it was simply just missed by the grave robbers. The Valley of the Kings tombs were amazing. They had so much color and hieroglyphics in tacked that you would not think these were created over thousands of years ago. Its amazing how these areas have been how these areas were self-preserve, and then restored and preserved by the Egyptians.
After the Valley of the Kings, we headed to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut which was no more than 5 minutes away from the Valley of the Kings and Queens. The whole desert range that we were in had several different tombs, shrines and burial structures dedicated to these great rulers. I truly believe there is still more out there to discover. Queen Hatshepsut’s temple was massive. Now I did not walk up al the steps because of how long it would have taken me because of my foot but from the outside I can see how amazing it was. There were three levels to this temple with the first and second levels being destroyed making it unable to explore. But the top level was assessable and from what I could hear the inside was stunning. I have included pictured from other people that went up there. It’s amazing to think that she had an entire temple dedicated to her and her reign. With most, if not all, these temples, and tombs, they began constructions while the king/queen was alive. Like imagine being able to design your entire burial grounds the way you want to and know what it would look like.
From the temple, we drove back to the hotel where we were able to rest before the sunset boat ride on the Nile. But before getting to the hotel, we stopped at the jewelry shop where we were able to make our own cartouches with our name in hieroglyphics. Now you know I had to get me something and I decided on a ring with the name Smyles on it. I love my ring and I wish I was able to get it in gold but that was expensive, so I just got it in silver. Jewelry is truly my weakness.
After a much need rest from an extremely active morning and midday, we got ready and to our sunset boat ride where we had two boats. On the boats we have light snacks like nuts, chips, and small pastries along with water and soda for refreshments. The boat crew included a man around 30ish years old and 4 kids of the ages 10 and 11. All I can think about was if these kids were his and they were learning the business and if they even attend school. The sunset was quite beautiful and the sun was nice and full just over the horizon. I feel like the air and sand in Egypt makes the sun look better during sunsets, or maybe I’m just enjoying them more while being on vacation. Overall this was my favorite day thus far on the trip, even walking a great deal in a cast in 103F weather, it was filled with beauty all around. Although I feel that will change as we make our way to Hurghada tomorrow. Until tomorrow…..Laters, Gators 😊
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