We were able to drive to the old side-gate by the Sound-and-Light ticket office, arriving on site at about 06:00. Sunrise was not until just after 06:30, but it was still a struggle to find a suitable viewing position. My preference would have been on the bridge over the Quay just beyond the security check-point, but this was quite crowded with journalists and TV crews, so I went forward to the first open courtyard. The alabaster altar made a good camera platform, and you will see from the slide-show below that I had an almost uninterrupted view through the Hypostyle hall, 3rd and 4th pylons, and through the holy of holies.
It is difficult to estimate numbers, as Karnak is so immense, but I would guess there were a few thousand on site before 07:00. The good and the great were of course there for the photo opportunity, and both Channel 1 and Nile TV had coverage.
I returned to Sheherazade for breakfast soon after 09:00, and wanted to get the blogs up to date before doing anything else.
There is a discrepancy between 07:00 and 08:00 in the program. If I had seen the program before the event I might have arranged my morning differently, but my pictures are better than those on Nile-TV. :-)
But the question is, where did it come from? Had it crossed by the bridge, or been brought by lorry?