Our vacation in Upper Egypt began with a day in Abu Simbel. We stayed at a lovely hotel, the Seti, which is on Lake Nasser and has beautiful grounds planted with lush bougainvillea. We were an easy walk from the famous Abu Simbel temple that would have been submerged by Lake Nasser when the High Dam was constructed in the 1960's. In grade school I remember reading about the amazing job of cutting the temple apart and reconstructing it above the planned pool level of the lake. Standing in front of the temple, it is hard to believe that it was completely moved. After visiting the temple in the afternoon, we returned after sundown for a spectacular sound and light show.
The waters of Lake Nasser. |
The grounds of the Hotel Seti.
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Edge of the Saharra.
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The Great temple of Ramesses II.
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The immense statues of the temple.
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The temple of the queen Nefertari.
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Original positioning was preserved in the move.
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Lighting of the temple at night.
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View from our hotel room.
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The pool at the hotel. |