Well, here we are, the REAL Luxor...in Egypt!

This is pretty much what you see everywhere. And, lots of sand, just like in the movies!

I pretended for this photo that it was sweltering heat in the desert. Actually, it was quite cool!

The Karnak Temple Complex (usually called Karnak) comprises a vast mix of ruined temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amun and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II (ca. 1391–1351 BC).

There are several avenues of goddess and ram-headed sphinxes connecting the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Amun-Re, and the Luxor Temple.

This oval shape with the vertical line on the right side is called a CARTOUCHE. The hieroglyphics inside the oval always spell out the name of someone. Later on, in my photos, you will see me wearing a blue polo shirt with my name "MARK" as a cartouche (i.e. my name spelled out in hieroglyphics).

Look how massive these statues are. They are even more impressive in person.

The great hypostyle hall in the Precinct of Amun Re

This is the largest of the precincts of the temple complex, and is dedicated to Amun-Re, the chief deity of the Theban Triad. There are several colossal statues including the figure of Pinedjem I which is 10.5 meters tall. The sandstone for this temple, including all the columns, was transported from Gebel Silsila 100 miles south on the Nile river. It also has one of the largest obelisks weighing 328 tonnes and standing 29 meters tall

The Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak, located within the Karnak temple complex, in the Precinct of Amon-Re, is one of the most visited monuments of Ancient Egypt.

The hall covers an area of 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2). The roof, now fallen, was supported by 134 columns in 16 rows; the 2 middle rows are higher than the others (being 33 feet (10 m) in circumference and 80 feet (24 m) high).

There are two obelisks still standing at Karnak. The obelisk erected by Queen Hatshepsut (1473-1458BC). is 97 feet tall and weighs approximately 320 tons. An inscription at its base indicates that the work of cutting the monolith out of the quarry required seven months of labor. Nearby stands a smaller obelisk erected by Tuthmosis I (1504-1492 BC). It is 75 feet high, has sides 6 feet wide at its base, and weighs between 143 and 160 tons.

There is a 3km avenue that connects the temple at Karnak with the temple at Luxor. The entire avenue is lined with Sphinxes. It's mostly buried, but they are constantly excavating, and this is the result. The temple of Luxor can be seen at the very end of this road in the photo.

Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the River Nile in the city today known as Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was founded in 1400 BCE. , Known in the Egyptian language as ipet resyt, or "the southern sanctuary", the temple was dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut, and Chons and was built during the New Kingdom, the focus of the annual Opet Festival, in which a cult statue of Amun was paraded down the Nile from nearby Karnak Temple (ipet-isut) to stay there for a while, with his consort Mut, in a celebration of fertility – whence its name.

When you see a statue of a Pharaoh with his left foot forward, it represents that the Pharaoh is not to be intimidated, and he is ready to defend at all times.