Tombs & colossi

On the west bank of the Nile River, past the small village of Gezira (where we're staying) and vast plantations of sugar cane, the Theban Necropolis houses countless tombs and temples. We visited the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Kings, then trudged over the hot, dry Theban Hills to Deir al-Bahri. We caught a ride to Deir al-Medina, where ancient Egyptian craftsmen constructed mini-pyramids to mark their own small but elaborate tombs, and explored the Ramesseum (the inspiration for Shelley's "Ozymandias") before retiring to our hotel for icy drinks, a brief siesta, a dinner of kebab with aubergine sauce, and a couple more drinks. Intrepid exploration is hard work, but it's not without its rewards.