Adventures on the Nile: It's Ancient History!



It is strange to me, as a citizen of an extremely young nation with not a lot of preserved ancient history, that the Egyptians live their lives so close to temples and monuments thousands of years old. My mind was blown throughout my time in Egypt, and it got more and more amazing with each stop along the Nile.

Our first temple visit, Edfu Temple, was fantastic. It is Egypt's second largest temple and was built during the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC, dedicated to the sky diety, Horus. When pagan worship was outlawed in the 300s AD, it was forgotten and buried by sand, which helped to preserve it. It wasn't re-discovered until 1860. Our guide, Youssry, did a wonderful job sharing the relevant information as we walked through the temple complex to keep us entertained and placing us back in the Ptolemaic period. 

Our visit to Edfu Temple was a fun adventure from beginning to end, as even our journey there and back was by a thrilling carriage ride with an extremely hospitable Egyptian. He not only got us safely to our destination, but insisted we take turns driving the carriage!


Travel Tip
Before our trip, we did a lot of research on the type of clothing we should wear for the climate as well as to be respectful of the culture. We visited in March, so the weather was absolutely splendid. Even if we had wanted to wear shorts and tank tops, it would not have been needed. There is a lot of walking and sun exposure, so covering your shoulders is not only respectful but practical. We felt comfortable in our long breathable skirts and capri pants with good walking shoes and sun hats. If you don't want to attract a lot of unwanted male attention, modesty is best. So dress for the weather, comfort, and respect - NO spaghetti straps or short shorts!

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