The Valley of the Kings is on the West Bank at Luxor. It contains many of the
best preserved tombs of the ancient pharoahs of Egypt. To ensure the preservation
of the colours in the hieroglyphics, photography is prohibited inside any of
the tombs.
Hatshepsut was the only female pharoah. Her temple, on the West Bank at Luxor,
is one of the most impressive in Egypt. Scene of an appaling massacre of tourists
in 1997, since then the Egyptians have done much to improve security generally -
there is a proliferation of tourist police at all major sites and around Cairo.
Although the Egyptian attitudes to tourists can be irritating, at no time did
I feel in any danger in Egypt, except, of course, when trying to cross the road,
especially in Cairo - this particular activity resembles trying to play a game
of 'Frogger', the early 80s video game!
Recognisable to all Agatha Christie fans for the scene from the film
'Death on the Nile', the hall of pillars in the Temple at Karnak on the East
Bank at Luxor is an awesome spectacle.
