Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hapshepsut, and Whiring Dervish

Another day where we truly stepped back through time. We descended into the tombs of Pharaohs Tutankhamun and Seti I in the Valley of the Kings outside of Luxor. The artwork on the walls was the most amazing we had seen yet, with depictions of animal headed gods, intricate hieroglyphs, and beautiful designs. We even saw some unfinished artwork, which made it fascinating to spot the sketchwork done before the paint was applied. I could have stayed down there for hours just gazing at the walls and ceilings.

In the afternoon, we visited the Temple of Hatshepsut. The scale and design of the temple are impressive, and I thought the statues of her with a beard were especially cool. Her story is very interesting!

Back aboard the Thoth, we enjoyed an evening performance by a whirling dervish. It was my first time seeing one in person, and I was completely blown away. I honestly do not know how they can spin for so long. It seems like it would cause permanent inner ear damage, right?

Before falling asleep, I put on a documentary about King Tutankhamun on the cabin television. I barely made it ten minutes before nodding off. This would become my routine for the next few nights.