Monday, September 10, 2007

Travel: Abu Simbel for the midsummer solstice

The Times Online
This is actually an advert for a cruise to see the twice-yearly solar event at Abu Simbel , but it provides a short but useful overview of the pros and cons of a trip to experience this event. The paragraph appears around three quarters of the way down this page:


Twice a year, at Abu Simbel, the rising sun illuminates the inner sanctum of the temple of Ramses II, who ordered its alignment so that the sun’s rays would mark his ascension to the throne and his birthday – that’s February 22 and October 22 to you. . . .

Pros and cons: the tour delivers all the marvels of ancient Egypt, with the glittering bonus of the Sun Festival thrown in. You and your shipmates won’t be alone, though, so don’t expect spiritual contemplation.

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