Another report of travelling under the new laptop regulations from Egypt

I travelled from Luxor to Heathrow with Egyptair on Monday 10th April 2017. As a result of the latest advice issued regarding tablets/laptops, I put my Tablet (which exceeded the measurements for being allowed into the Aircraft Cabin), into my Hold Luggage which I protected, as much as I could, with bubble wrap/clothing.

The procedure inside the airport this time, as against previous visits, last November and before that date, involved the checks on Passports and Tickets was made at the entrance door of the airport and not, inside, just before the first Scanning machine. For the 10am flight I arrived early, so I had no wait but, by 8am, there was a long queue outside the door waiting for the Passport/Ticket checks. By the this the sun was well up and some were waiting in that warm sunshine.

My hold luggage was scanned and I indicated to the operator that I had a Tablet inside and he indicated that there was no problem and I then proceeded to Check-in. I later observed the first scanner from within the upstairs departures section and some passengers were taken to the right and their baggage was opened and checked.

Now this seems all quite reasonable, but when I arrived in an airport hotel in Heathrow, both of my hold suitcase ( one of which had no tablet or laptop inside ) were sealed through the lock-eyes with small almost clear coloured cable ties. Of course, any  scissors or other sharp tool I had to cut the cable-ties, was inside my suitcases. Luckily, I found a room cleaner who let me borrow her scissors from her own handbag. I am still trying for think of what I could pack in Hand Luggage which would be allowable in Hand Luggage for cutting these cable-ties on future visits.... I did think of toe nail clippers but the ones I have also have a sharp pointed nail file attached...So, no good

As I was out in Luxor when the new regulations regarding Tablets and Laptops came into force I would suggest that perhaps consideration should be given that your electronic equipment is not insured whilst in the aircraft hold and perhaps have a look at the operating temperature range because your tablet/laptop will be subjected to the hot Luxor weather and then a long flight in an unheated luggage hold with temperatures as low as -60 deg. . I have looked online and there are tablet/laptop cases available which are padded, hard cased, and waterproof ~ This might well be the way to go if you really need to have your larger 'electronics' with you. If these regulations are here to stay, then I'm sure that manufactures will soon be offering an array of suitable products to give additional protection for your tablets and laptops.#

I hope the above helps others.

Ministry response to disabled access request

I have received a follow up to my email to the Ministry about disabled access.

Dr. Sherif Abd El Monem has sent my information to Shenouda Rizkalla who is a PhD candidate in Egyptology, Helwan University.. Very interested in Disabled people, done a site management field school under the supervision of Dr. Sara Perry from York University and Workshop under title " How to deal with disabled people in the Museums" AND published a paper in the international conference of Minia University " Challenging Disability" under title " Visions for the Development of Interpretation and Facilities for the disabled People in Egyptian Archaeological Sites and Museums" in 26- 27 March 2017.

Shenouda says "I saw your project " Hidden Luxor" it is amazing, especially the Logo  as it is a social object and hot interpretation. I read the paper and articles which you sent to Dr. Shreif . When Dr. Shreif mentioned your name I said to him I know her.

I want to contact you and do proposal about Disability  then introduce this project to the MOA and also to deal with the co- operation work with us in this field."

Isnt that fabulous, my little campaign is having an effect!

Flying under the new regulations from CAIRO

Many thanks to Richard Fero for sharing his experience

Jane here is a Cairo Airport update from when I passed through:

Air France is allowing electronics on board in the cabin, although one of the ticket agents said you could not carry such items and wanted to check them. The Egyptian Police are allowing you to carry the items through the new departure 2 terminal check point to the gate (Air France) as of 3-31-17 when I passed through.

Beware Air France is taking some travelers carry-on bags claiming they are too heavy for the cabin and requiring them to be checked. Word of advice if you check a carry on there is a kiosk a few feet away that can wrap the bag with clear plastic for 20 LE. I had to check my carry-on bag. This was the same carry on I brought with me from Atlanta, Paris to Cairo on Delta and Air France, but not allowed to carry back the same way. Inside the carry-on that had to be checked were Professional Nikon camera lenses 7,500 USD with other equipment total of over 9,000 USD. The Air France ticket agent only allowed me to carry my Nikon Pro 35mm digital camera 6,500 USD on the plane after a 20 minute “discussion” with him and his Supervisor. I was allowed to carry in the cabin my backpack with an Apple Mac Book Pro 13 inch computer 2,500 USD. Carry-on bag arrived in Atlanta unopened with all equipment inside.

I recommend not bringing anything if you can until this situation changes. Note: Air France did not recognize the reciprocal agreement it has with Delta airlines concerning the weight of carry-on bags. Delta does not weigh your carry on and is really only concerned as long as it can fit in the overhead. Air France on the other hand does not recognize this and if you are 16 ounces over they will check the bag, KLM does honor the agreement.

Warfare and Weapons in Ancient Egypt

Starting on April 17th, Egyptologists from the University of Manchester have created an entirely new and revised version of the popular short course "Warfare and Weapons in Ancient Egypt" on the Canvas platform. Composed of entirely new material and taught by Dr Nicky Nielsen, the course investigates how Pharaoh's soldiers fought, won and lost in the great game of politics across the Ancient World. This five-week course is completely free and enrolment has already begun here: https://www.canvas.net/browse/uofmanchester/courses/warfare-weapons-ancient-egypt

Egypt's Coptic Church praises 'state efforts' to contain sectarian strife in Luxor - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online

Egypt's Coptic Church praises 'state efforts' to contain sectarian strife in Luxor - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online: Halim praised the efforts of the country's security bodies and several members of parliament in calming the situation.

He also said that most of the Muslim community in the village had cooperated to contain the potential for sectarian strife.

MS761 27th march taking a laptop in hold luggage experience Egypt to UK

Michael on the roof returned to the UK yesterday. He was on the direct flight from Luxor to Heathrow. He had his laptop with him and this is his experience under the new rules regarding no laptops in cabin luggage.



Highest manual security I have seen anywhere. All laptops in hold baggage, but five separate examination points. Took ages. At one, the laptop had to be taken out, and switched on, and was then examined minutely by some one who seemed to know what he was looking  for. Not a cursory glance, but labels checked, battery removed, checked and
replaced, and my case sealed. ( Sealed so effectively that when I arrived at the UJC I couldn't cut it off, and had to borrow a knife from the kitchen.)

Incidentally, one of the police checkers who had gone back through the reception area was made to go through security again, as was the flight crew.

Queen Tiye statue found

via EEF

"The European Egyptian mission working in King
Amenhotep III funerary temple at Kom Al-Hittan area on Luxor west bank, has
uncovered a beautifully carved statue possibly of Queen Tiye.

Tiye was the wife of king Amenhotep III and grandmother
of the boy king Tutankhamun. The newly discovered statue is carved in alabaster
and uncovered beside the right leg of the lower part of a statue of her husband
King Amenhotep III. Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Khaled El-Enany describes the
queen statue as "beautiful, distinguished and unique." He said that
it is the first time to find an alabaster statue of Queen Tiye inside the
temple as all her previously discovered ones were carved in quartzite. Dr. Hourig
Sourouzian, Head of the mission said that the queen statue was accidentally
discovered while lifting up the lower part of king Amenhotep III colossus. The
Queen statue was found beside the right leg of the king's colossus. Dr.

Sourouzian asserted that the statue is in a very good
conservation condition and it still keeps its ancient colours. Consolidation
work and fine restoration are to be carried out on the statue."

New discovery: Intact tomb uncovered in Aswan - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

New discovery: Intact tomb uncovered in Aswan - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online: The intact tomb of the brother of a 12th Dynasty Elephantine governor has been uncovered, containing a range of funerary goods

Egypt approves price hike for multiple entry visas, maintains old price for single entry - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online

Egypt approves price hike for multiple entry visas, maintains old price for single entry - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online: Egypt's cabinet decided on Tuesday to raise the price of multiple entry tourist visas from $35 to $60, while maintaining the old rate of $25 for single entry visas.

"Sekhmet Omnipresent" 23rd March Luxor -26th

From Facebook Betsy Bryan - "Sekhmet Omnipresent" Betsy Bryan and Hourig...: "Sekhmet Omnipresent"

Betsy Bryan and Hourig Sourouzian announce an international conference, “Sekhmet Omnipresent” to be held in Luxor, Egypt, Thursday, March 23 to Sunday, March 26, 2017 in the Mummification Museum Auditorium. It will be devoted to the imagery and cultic significance of the Sekhmet statues, lions, and lioness deities.



The embarrassment of riches that the field of Egyptology possesses in
the body of Sekhmet statues in Egypt and around the world has been
studied for many decades in a wide variety of monographs and articles.
We hope to explore the current state of such scholarship and link
together those working on artistic and material culture topics with
those working primarily with textual and ritual sources.


Eighteen papers from Egyptian, American, European, and Japanese scholars
before a general and specialized audience will cover topics such as
iconography, cult ritual, archaeological context, and museum display.
On Saturday and Sunday the conference will convene early in the day at
the sites of Kom el Hettan and Mut Temple where large numbers of Sekhmet
statues have been unearthed. This will give participants an opportunity
to spend some time with these statues as they now may be found in situ,
although hardly in their original emplacements. It is expected that the
conference papers will be published in one of several possible series.

The conference will begin at 1:00 pm on Thursday March 23 and at 10 am
to 5:30 pm on Friday, March 24, from 8 am to 5:30 on Saturday, and from
8 am to 1 pm. on Sunday.
The conference will be open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Sekhmet

Omnipresent
MARCH 23-26, 2017
PROGRAMME

1:00 pm Opening ceremonies. Greeting and Introduction of the Minister
of Antiquities by Dr. Hourig Sourouzian and Dr. Betsy M. Bryan

1:15 pm Welcome and remarks by H.E. Khaled El-Enany,
Minister of Antiquities

1:25 pm Dr. Tarek Tawfik, Director-General Grand Egyptian Museum, "Sekhmet & the Statuary of Khafra (Chephren)"



2:15 pm Dr. Nairy Hampikian, Architect Site Manager, The Colossi of
Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project, “The Future of the
Sekhmets Discovered at Kom el-Hettan”

3:05 pm Gerry Scott, Director, American Research Center in Egypt. “Redistribution of Sekhmet Statues”


3:55 pm Ms. Tara Draper-Stumm, University of Exeter, “Exhibits &
Souvenirs: Sekhmet Statues in World Museums and Private Collections”

4:45 pm Discussion: The Display of Sekhmet Statues in Museums and
On-site. Moderator: Dr. Tarek Tawfik

5:30 pm End of day

7:00 pm Reception and Dinner: Location to be announced


Friday March 24 10:00 a.m.


10:00 a.m. Ms. Elena Mora, Conservator and Restorer, “Conservation and
Restoration of Goddess Sekhmet statues in the Amenhotep III Temple”


10:50 a.m. Dr. W. Raymond Johnson, Director, Epigraphic Survey,
University of Chicago Oriental Institute, “Sekhmets of Gold at
Amenhotep III’s Luxor Temple”

11:40 a.m. Mr. Chriastian
Perzlmeier, “Data-base of Sekhmet statues in the temple of Amenhotep III
at Kom el-Hettan until 2015”

12:30 p.m. Lunch – for participants. Location to be announced


2:00 p.m. Mr. Richard A. Fazzini and Ms. Mary McKercher Fazzini, The
Brooklyn Museum Expedition, “Sekhmet statues in the Mut Precinct” &
“Sekhmet Today”

3:30 p.m. Dr. Magda Abdalla, Kafr EL-Sheikh University. TBA

4:20 p.m. Discussion: Moderator, Challenges of the Sekhmet Statuary, Dr. Yasmin El-Shazly, Ministry of Antiquities

5:30 p.m. End of Day

7:00 Dinner for participants. Location to be announced


Saturday, March 25
7:30 Participants take boat launch from Iberotel to west bank

8:00-10:00 a.m. Visit to Kôm el Hettan and visit to Sekhmet statues in
the MOA magazine, with Hourig Sourouzian and other expedition members

10:30 a.m. Dr. Hourig Sourouzian, Director, The Colossi of Memnon and
Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project, “Amenhotep III and Sekhmet at
Kôm el-Hettan
11:20 a.m. Dr. Christian Greco, Director, Museo Egizio, Turin, “Museographic Features of Exhibiting Sekhmet Statues”


12 : 10 p.m. Ms. Silvana Cincotti, Université Paul Valéry -
Montpellier, Institut d'Egyptologie François Daumas, « Bernardino
Drovetti and Jean-Jacques Rifaud in Luxor »
1 :00 p.m. Lunch for participants. Location to be announced

2:15 p.m. Dr. Alessia Amenta, Curator of the Egyptian and Near Eastern
Collections, Musei Vaticani, “Sekhmet Statues in the Vatican Collection”

3 :00 p.m. Dr. Rainer Stadelmann, "From Memphis to Thebes, the protective goddess embracing the king”


3:20 Dr. Vincent Rondot, Conservateur en Chef, Louvre Museum,
“Omnipresent even when she is absent: the stela to the First of the
Seven Arrows of Bastet in Cheikh Labib”

4:10 p.m. Discussion: Moderator, Dr. Vincent Rondot, Musée du Louvre
5:00 p.m. End of Day

7:00 p.m. Dinner for participants. Location to be announced


Sunday, March 26
7:30 Participants leave Iberotel for Temple of Mut

8:00 Visit to Mut Temple with Betsy Bryan


9:30 Dr. Betsy M. Bryan, Professor and Director, Johns Hopkins
University Expedition to the Mut Temple, “Sekhmet and Ritual Revelries
in the Reign of Amenhotep III”

10:20 Dr. Nozomu Kawai, Kanazawa University, “The Lioness goddess statues from the rock-cut chamber at Northwest Saqqara”

11:10 Dr. Sabah Abdelrazek, Director, Egyptian Museum, Cairo, “Sekhmet Statues in the Egyptian Museum”

12:00 p.m. Final Discussion: Moderator, Mr. Vivian Davies, Senior Research Associate, Griffith Institute, Oxford.
1:00 p.m. Close of Conference

MoA_Newsletter_8_English.pdf

News about work in Luxor

MoA_Newsletter_8_English.pdf: 20

Indian megastar Amitabh Bachchan visiting Egypt, to be honoured at Luxor Film Festival - Entertainment - Arts & Culture - Ahram Online

Indian megastar Amitabh Bachchan visiting Egypt, to be honoured at Luxor Film Festival - Entertainment - Arts & Culture - Ahram Online: Bachchan's last visit to Egypt was in 2015, when he was a guest of honour at the India by the Nile festival

No final decision reached on increase in visa fee: Egypt tourism minister - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online

No final decision reached on increase in visa fee: Egypt tourism minister - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online: Egypt's Minister of Tourism Yehia Rashed said in an interview with the Russian Ria Novosti news agency that Egypt has not made a final decision regarding whether it will increase fees for entry visas.

Last month, an official source in Cairo airport told Ahram Online that the foreign ministry informed airport security officials that the cost of entry visas would be increased from $25 to $60 starting 1 March.

Days later, the foreign ministry informed its envoys abroad of a cabinet order to postpone the price increase until July.

66 statues of Pharaonic goddess Sekhmet discovered in Luxor | Egypt Independent

 

66 statues of Pharaonic goddess Sekhmet discovered in Luxor | Egypt Independent: Since the beginning of the year, the German archaeological mission operating at the King Amenhotep III Temple area in Luxor has discovered parts from 66 statues of the Pharaonic goddess Sekhmet, the Antiquities Ministry's official Facebook page reported on Wednesday.

Ramses II statue to be restored in Luxor Temple - Daily News Egypt

Remember this news story, well work has started.

Ramses II statue to be restored in Luxor Temple   - Daily News Egypt


Thanks to Brenda for the photo

Tourist entrance fees to increase at museums, archaeological sites in October: ministry | Egypt Independent

Tourist entrance fees to increase at museums, archaeological sites in October: ministry | Egypt Independent



Ticket prices at the pyramids will be
raised from LE80 to LE120, the Valley of the Kings in Luxor from LE100
to LE160, the Egyptian museum from LE75 to LE120, Abu Simbel temple from
LE100 to LE160, and Kom Ombo temple from LE40 to LE80.