Thread by @boardingsoon

More Egypt Week. In today's #PhotoTravelMemory a look back at what is without a doubt the highlight of every trip I take to Egypt - Queen Nefertari's tomb, in the Valley of the Queens. /1

This is an "extra ticket", like Seti I. On my first visit, I was simply told it was the best preserved tomb in the Valley of the Queens, and worth a visit. I'd already gone into a couple of other tombs, finding them interesting but unremarkable. Then I went into Nefertari's. /2

Photography of all kinds was prohibited, not that it matters because the moment I walked in, I burst into tears. There were no other visitors, and security didn't go in with me. I stood there surrounded by unbelievable beauty, a riot of color so unexpected I couldn't move. /3

The tomb is small and not very deep. It's possible to see it in a few minutes but I stayed every second they allowed me. Twelve minutes. The security guard came to get me at 10 minutes, saw my smile and my tears and let me stay another two minutes. My second visit I knew what /4

was coming and expected to be more in control. Nope. Started sobbing the moment I walked in. Alone again. Focused on a single alcove, used up my 10 minutes, could have stayed another 10 years and wouldn't be enough. So now it's February 2020 and I'm back for the third time. /5.

For sure I will be ok this time. Ha. Cell phone is now allowed and I had the lovely @PenlandKW with me so I figured I would try to be dignified and focus on capturing enough images to study at home. I did that, and still cried. I'll let images explain why. Here's the entrance. /6