Where we stayed and some of the places we visited
The Pyramids of Giza from our hotel rooftop bar. Cassie's at bottom left
Cassie's ballet interpretation of The Great Pyramid (built in 2560 BC for Pharaoh Khufu)
The Pyramid of Khafre was built for Pharoah Khafre, son of Khufu, and is only a few metres shorter than the Great Pyramid
Local guides, keen for business and baksheesh (tips), greeted us with pyramid facts
Many offers of "good price" camel rides were declined, despite the heat
The Khufu ship was buried at the base of the Great Pyramid for Khufu's use in the afterlife
Cassie and Jacqueline's modelling skills were no match for these tourists
A pigeon loft on our neighbour's roof. There are hundreds of these all over Cairo
The Pyramid of Djoser, in the Saqqara necropolis, was Egypt's first pyramid, built in 2610 BC
The Bent Pyramid, in Dahshur necropolis, was built by King Sneferu around 2600 BC. The current theory is that the angle was changed during construction to avoid collapse
The Red Pyramid, also by Sneferu, was Egypt's first smooth-sided pyramid. Some believe Sneferu's tomb is still hidden inside. We looked inside but couldn't find it
The only intact statue of Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid, is 7.5 cm tall (Egyptian Museum, Cairo)
On our last morning in Giza we finally climbed onto camels for a ride in the desert
Beautiful Islamic architecture at Bein al Qasreen in Islamic Cairo
Photos don't do justice to the stunning interiors of the palaces at Bein al Qasreen
Tanoura sufi dancers (Whirling Dervishes). The show was held in a grand old building in Islamic Cairo and also featured great drumming and singing
The view from our hotel in Aswan, looking across the Nile to the Tombs of the Nobles
Cassie leads the way to the 7th century Monastery of St Simeon, near Aswan
The Monastery of St Simeon housed hundreds of Coptic monks and also accomodated Muslim pilgrims en route to Mecca
Our Nubian camel guides in Aswan
The Philae Temple, Aswan, was entirely relocated by UNESCO in the 1970's due to flooding from the Aswan High Dam
Cassie at Philae Temple
Many of the images of people and Gods at Philae (and other temples) were hacked by early Christians and iconoclasts
The twin temples of Abu Simbel, completed around 1265 BC, were entirely dismantled and relocated in the 1960's to avoid being submerged under Lake Nasser
The entrance to the 'Small Temple' of Nefertari, Abu Simbel. Both temples extend deep into the hill
The Great Temple of Ramses II, Abu Simbel. One of the four statues of Ramses II was damaged in an earthquake soon after it was built. It wasn't repaired when relocated
Ramses II smiting the enemy while his wife, Nefertari, looks on (Small Temple, Abu Simbel)
This ancient, unfinished obelisk in Aswan was abandoned due to cracks. It would have been the largest ever
The city of Aswan from the tower restaurant of our hotel (located on an island in the Nile)
Soldiers stood behind armoured shields at checkpoints and major tourists sites
The Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the falcon god Horus, was built between 237 and 57 BC and is one of the best preserved temples in Egypt
Horus himself made a special appearance in the centre of this photo at Edfu Temple. Or maybe it was just a pigeon
Not sure if Horus was happy with all the bats squatting in his temple
The ibis-headed deity, Thoth, was also found in the Temple of Edfu
One of the few times we swam in the pool rather than the Red Sea, at Abu Dabbab
Interior of Hathor Temple, Dendera temple complex
Luxor Temple. The missing obelisk on the right now stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris
Luxor Temple was excavated from beneath centuries of rubble and subsequent construction, but a working mosque still remains within the temple grounds
Pharoah Akhenaten, father of Tutankhamen (Luxor Museum). His attempts to change Egypt's religion and move the capital failed
Karnak Temple, Luxor. This man's unexpected photobomb was definitely worthy of baksheesh
Omar and his boat, the 'Omar Shariff', our regular transport across the Nile between Luxor and our West Bank hotel
Nile sunset, Luxor
One of many disused ferries and cruise boats in Luxor. Hopefully the photo isn't a metaphor for the sun setting on tourism in Egypt
The Temple of Hatchepsut, West Bank of Luxor
Well-preserved art at Medinet Habu, a large temple in the West Bank of Luxor
Deir el-Medina, West Bank of Luxor, an ancient village where the builders and decorators of the royal and noble tombs lived
A worker's tomb, Deir el-Medina. When they weren’t building and decorating the tombs of nobles and royals, the artisans worked on their own tombs, which were often just as beautiful
Sketches in a nobleman's unfinished tomb, West Bank of Luxor. The tomb went unfinished after the capital was relocated from Thebes (Luxor)
Ballooning in Luxor (we just watched)
Statues of Amenhotep III, West Bank of Luxor. They were built around 1350 BC, then toppled in an earthquake around 1200 BC and were reconstructed in 2014
The Ramessium, mortuary temple of Ramses II, West Bank of Luxor. It includes the feet, head and shoulders of a once giant statue of Ramses II (centre left)
Donkeys are very common working animals in Egypt
This young donkey was one of many animals at Animal Care in Egypt (ACE), Luxor. ACE provides free vet care and education
