{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-post-query-tsx","path":"/2017/12/a-motorcycle-tour-of-ancient-egypt/","result":{"pageContext":{"post":{"slug":"/2017/12/a-motorcycle-tour-of-ancient-egypt/","title":"A Motorcycle Tour Of Ancient Egypt","date":"Dec 14, 2017","timeToRead":4,"description":"For those with an interest in human history, there may not be a more stunning country to travel through than Egypt. It’s a deceptively large country for one thing, which means you can truly treat it as a journey rather than a casual one- or two-day ride.","body":"function _extends() { _extends = Object.assign || function (target) { for (var i = 1; i < arguments.length; i++) { var source = arguments[i]; for (var key in source) { if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(source, key)) { target[key] = source[key]; } } } return target; }; return _extends.apply(this, arguments); }\n\nfunction _objectWithoutProperties(source, excluded) { if (source == null) return {}; var target = _objectWithoutPropertiesLoose(source, excluded); var key, i; if (Object.getOwnPropertySymbols) { var sourceSymbolKeys = Object.getOwnPropertySymbols(source); for (i = 0; i < sourceSymbolKeys.length; i++) { key = sourceSymbolKeys[i]; if (excluded.indexOf(key) >= 0) continue; if (!Object.prototype.propertyIsEnumerable.call(source, key)) continue; target[key] = source[key]; } } return target; }\n\nfunction _objectWithoutPropertiesLoose(source, excluded) { if (source == null) return {}; var target = {}; var sourceKeys = Object.keys(source); var key, i; for (i = 0; i < sourceKeys.length; i++) { key = sourceKeys[i]; if (excluded.indexOf(key) >= 0) continue; target[key] = source[key]; } return target; }\n\n/* @jsxRuntime classic */\n\n/* @jsx mdx */\nvar _frontmatter = {\n  \"title\": \"A Motorcycle Tour Of Ancient Egypt\",\n  \"date\": \"2017-12-14\",\n  \"template\": \"post\",\n  \"draft\": \"\",\n  \"slug\": \"a-motorcycle-tour-of-ancient-egypt\",\n  \"postedLink\": \"https://jamminglobal.com/2017/12/a-motorcycle-tour-of-ancient-egypt.html\",\n  \"tags\": \"Tours,Travel Info\",\n  \"description\": \"For those with an interest in human history, there may not be a more stunning country to travel through than Egypt. It’s a deceptively large country for one thing, which means you can truly treat it as a journey rather than a casual one- or two-day ride.\",\n  \"banner\": \"./abusimel.jpg\"\n};\nvar layoutProps = {\n  _frontmatter: _frontmatter\n};\nvar MDXLayout = \"wrapper\";\nreturn function MDXContent(_ref) {\n  var components = _ref.components,\n      props = _objectWithoutProperties(_ref, [\"components\"]);\n\n  return mdx(MDXLayout, _extends({}, layoutProps, props, {\n    components: components,\n    mdxType: \"MDXLayout\"\n  }), mdx(\"p\", null, \"For those with an interest in human history, there may not be a more stunning country to travel through than Egypt. It\\u2019s a deceptively large country for one thing, which means you can truly treat it as a journey rather than a casual one- or two-day ride. Best of all however is that there\\u2019s a relatively straightforward layout of incredibly ancient sights to see on your way up or down the country.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, mdx(\"img\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, {\n    \"src\": \"https://photos.jamminglobal.com/images/Egypt_1545.jpeg\",\n    \"alt\": \"Jay riding in Egypt\",\n    \"title\": \"Jay riding in Egypt\"\n  }))), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Naturally specific routes will differ, but we\\u2019ll lay out one possible itinerary below. We\\u2019re recommending you start in Alexandria, where there is an international airport and where you can, if necessary, rent a motorcycle for cross-country purposes. We\\u2019ll begin with the first attraction you might want to cross off your sightseeing list.\"), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Pompey\\u2019s Pillar\"), mdx(\"p\", null, mdx(\"img\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, {\n    \"src\": \"https://photos.jamminglobal.com/images/post-egypt-pompeyspillar.jpeg\",\n    \"alt\": \"Pompey's Pillar\",\n    \"title\": \"Pompey's Pillar\"\n  })), \"\\n\", mdx(\"em\", {\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, \"Pompey's Pillar\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"This is a stunning structure that doesn\\u2019t get quite as much attention as some other Egyptian monuments \\u2013 perhaps because by comparison it\\u2019s quite young. The pillar, about 20 meters tall and weighing as much as 285 tons, was erected in the 3rd century A.D. to commemorate a victor of the Roman emperor Diocletian. It was named erroneously for Pompey because Middle Age crusaders mistakenly believed that the old general\\u2019s ashes were in a pot at the top of the column. Taking an in-person look at this freestanding column is a great starting point before you head on to the main attractions of the journey, in Cairo.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"(220km on Route 75M, southeast toward Cairo)\"), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Great Sphinx & Pyramids Of Giza\"), mdx(\"p\", null, mdx(\"img\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, {\n    \"src\": \"https://photos.jamminglobal.com/images/Egypt_0770.jpeg\",\n    \"alt\": \"The Great Sphinx & the Pyramids of Giza\",\n    \"title\": \"The Great Sphinx & the Pyramids of Giza\"\n  })), \"\\n\", mdx(\"em\", {\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, \"The Great Sphinx & the Pyramids of Giza\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"The ancient sites of Giza just across the Nile from Cairo, are naturally the stuff of legend. The Sphinx is a mythical creature that has appeared in legends and fantasies even quite apart from Egyptian culture. For instance, the famous Harry Potter novels involved a living Sphinx at one point \\u2013 a mysterious beast who told riddles to characters looking to make their way through a magical maze. Because of interpretations like these it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that the Great Sphinx is a real structure. It\\u2019s a stunning limestone monolith dating back to about 2,000 B.C., and thus one of the most fascinating man-made structures on the planet. It also gives the appearance of guarding the great pyramids beyond \\u2013 perhaps the most famous buildings on Earth.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"With the pyramids too, we can lose sight of the reality of their construction and existence, simply because there are so many fictions that revolve around them. In 2017 alone we\\u2019ve seen multiple video games celebrating the pyramids. First there was the circulation of \\u201CPyramid: Quest For Immortality,\\u201D a slot reel in which symbols are made up of ancient Egyptian wonders; then there was \\u201CAssassin\\u2019s Creed: Origins,\\u201D a wild adventure game set in a vividly rendered take on the ancient civilization. It speaks to the buildings\\u2019 mystique that people are still designing these kinds of fictional interpretations. But nothing compares to seeing the pyramids in person. They\\u2019re larger, more beautiful, and more astonishing than most visitors realize they\\u2019re going to be.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Once you\\u2019ve seen the ancient wonders of Giza, it\\u2019s time to pay a visit to Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"(620km on Asyuit Desert \\u2013 Cairo Road/Route 75M toward Qus)\"), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Hatshepsut\\u2019s Temple & The Valley of the Kings\"), mdx(\"p\", null, mdx(\"img\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, {\n    \"src\": \"https://photos.jamminglobal.com/images/Egypt_1461.jpeg\",\n    \"alt\": \"Hatshepsut’s Temple\",\n    \"title\": \"Hatshepsut’s Temple\"\n  })), \"\\n\", mdx(\"em\", {\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, \"Hatshepsut\\u2019s Temple\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Qus is a city you might want to stay in to break up your journey, and makes for a nice starting point from which to visit the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, just south along Route 75M. Located on the Nile\\u2019s West Bank near the famous Valley of the Kings, this is one of the more impressive funerary shrines in Egypt, though it has been reconstructed over the years. Built into the base of the towering Deir el Bahari cliffs, the ancient shrine is considered to be among the more sophisticated examples of Egyptian architecture \\u2013 not unlike some classical Greek and Roman building.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Close by you can visit the Valley of the Kings. In fact, it takes only a matter of minutes to get from one to the other \\u2013 a sort of loop northwest along Kings Valley Road. Once in the Valley of the Kings, you\\u2019ll find that there\\u2019s as much to learn as there is to actually see. There are not towering monuments here, but rather a surprisingly humble set of rolling burial mounds and hidden tombs. This is where you\\u2019ll find yourself in the presence of perhaps the most famous archaeological find in Egypt \\u2013 the tomb of King Tut.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Following this sightseeing tour, which should take a full day between Hatshepsut\\u2019s temple and the Valley of the Kings, you might consider staying the night in nearby Luxor, a city as closely tied to the ancient civilization as Cairo or Giza. It\\u2019s just across the Nile to the east and slightly south of the Valley.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"(30km on Aswan-Giza/Aswan Western Agricultural Road toward Luxor)\"), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Luxor\"), mdx(\"p\", null, mdx(\"img\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, {\n    \"src\": \"https://photos.jamminglobal.com/images/Egypt_1627.jpeg\",\n    \"alt\": \"The Great Hypostyle Hall at the Karnak Temple Complex.\",\n    \"title\": \"The Great Hypostyle Hall at the Karnak Temple Complex.\"\n  })), \"\\n\", mdx(\"em\", {\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, \"The Great Hypostyle Hall at the Karnak Temple Complex.\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"In Luxor and in its immediate vicinity, there are several stunning structures to take in if you\\u2019d like to stay put for a day, or even a morning. Luxor Temple, a place of worship beginning in 1500 B.C. is still standing; Medinet Habu is a temple in honor of the great Ramesses III; and the Colossi of Memnon, two giant sandstone statues at the edge of town, are certainly among the entire country\\u2019s most impressive monuments. Indeed Luxor can be difficult to tear yourself away from. But to complete the journey, there\\u2019s one more drive south to the village of Abu Simbel and the Abu Simbel temples.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"(488km on Luxor-Aswan & Aswan \\u2013 Abu Simbel Road/Route 75M toward Abu Simbel)\"), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Abu Simbel Temples\"), mdx(\"p\", null, mdx(\"img\", _extends({\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, {\n    \"src\": \"https://photos.jamminglobal.com/images/post-egypt-abusimbel.jpeg\",\n    \"alt\": \"Abu Simbel\",\n    \"title\": \"Abu Simbel\"\n  })), \"\\n\", mdx(\"em\", {\n    parentName: \"p\"\n  }, \"Abu Simbel\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Near the border with the Sudan and on the bank of Lake Nasser you will find these two temples \\u2013 far south of the rest of Egypt\\u2019s most noteworthy monuments, but well worth the journey. These temples were built not as a posthumous tribute to a ruler, or a celebration of the gods, but rather directly by pharaoh Ramesses II (who lived in the 1200s B.C.). The temples were actually dismantled and relocated in 1968 when there was a new damn built in the area, so they\\u2019re not quite as they were thousands of years ago \\u2013 but the structures themselves, including temples and giant, incredible statues, are the same. It\\u2019s an awe-inspiring place to wrap up your motorcycle journey through ancient Egypt.\"));\n}\n;\nMDXContent.isMDXComponent = true;","tags":[{"name":"Tours","slug":"tours"},{"name":"Travel Info","slug":"travel-info"}],"banner":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"src":"/static/1ad3d1fdb03c73b77639975b05527d52/29765/abusimel.jpg","srcSet":"/static/1ad3d1fdb03c73b77639975b05527d52/55357/abusimel.jpg 200w,\n/static/1ad3d1fdb03c73b77639975b05527d52/29765/abusimel.jpg 500w,\n/static/1ad3d1fdb03c73b77639975b05527d52/82ba4/abusimel.jpg 960w","aspectRatio":2.5,"sizes":"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px","base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"}}}}}},"staticQueryHashes":["318001574","3787687951","3787687951","988380150"]}