Connections Fall Edition – “I See Dead People”

Built in the 16th century BC, the Valley of the Kings was primarily used between 1550 – 1070 BC as the final resting place for pharaohs and the powerful nobles of ancient Egypt and is one of the most famous archeological sites in the world.

Due to incredibly difficult, time-consuming and expensive conditions, traveling to Egypt prior to the 18th century was almost unheard of. It wouldn’t be until the mid-18th century that a Danish explorer by the name of Frederic Louis Norden would provide the first record of Thebes and consequently – The Valley of the Kings.

Starting in the 19th century, the Valley would be explored on a more consistent basis, with expeditions occurring semi-frequently. At the turn of the 20th century, numerous excavations took place including one in November 1922 that discovered the unopened tomb of King Tutankhamun, renowned for the wealth of valuable antiquities it contained.

Today, the Valley of the Kings is one of the country’s top attractions averaging 4,000 – 5,000 guests daily and on visits with Tauck, you’ll have the opportunity to visit these tombs on a private, after hours visit.

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in a day that will forever be known as “D-Day.” In the largest seaborne invasion in history, over 10,000 allied causalities occurred, including 2,501 American troops, in what is recognized as the beginning of the liberation of France and ultimately laid the foundations of the Allied powers’ victory on the Western Front.

Following the end of the war, the American Military Cemetery in Normandy was established, becoming the final resting place of thousands of U.S. troops. The most visited cemetery of those maintained by the American Battle Monuments…