Abu Simbel Sun Festival, Egypt

Oct 22

In 1250 BC Ramses the Great designed his sun temple precisely to allow sunlight to flood the inner chamber twice annually: his birthday in October, and his rise to the throne in February. Rays of light reach 200 feet inside the temple to light up three of the four statures in the innermost chamber, Ra, Amun, Ramses II himself. Only the god Ptah, god of darkness, is left in the shadows. It is even more amazing, considering that in the 1960’s the entire Abu Simbel complex was moved 65 meters higher to avoid the rising waters of Lake Nasser after the Nile was dammed. Now the sunlight hits the sanctuary one day later than Ramses would have preferred. Still pretty amazing. If you book a flight now, you can still make it.

Abu Simbel Festival at What’s On When

The Italian Job Mini Cooper Rally, starting in Turin, Italy

Oct 19-31

The Italian Job Rally races from Turin to the UK in Mini Coopers of all types, celebrating the amazing escape scene in the classic Italian Job film (if you have not seen the original, you really should - it’s amazing). the event is a fundraiser for children’s charities, and has raised over a million English Pounds this year alone. From the website, it looks like you can still enter, so if you have access to a sweet mini and the 500 BP entry fee, get thee to Italy

Italian Job Rally Registration

Dia de los Muertos, Oaxaca Mexico

Oct 28 - Nov 2

“We are not here for a long time, we are here for a good time.” - Oaxaca saying

The ultimate memento-mori event, the Day of the Dead festival celebrated throughout Mexico celebrates the lives of loved ones who have died. In Oaxaca, the celebration lasts a whole week and consumes the town, culminating in the Nov 2 Dia de Los Muertos. In a cultural combo pack of native Zapotec customs and Catholic traditions of All Soul’s Day, families visit and decorate graves with thousands of marigolds and candles and decorate the house to welcome back the spirits of the dead. The day itself is full of celebration in the streets, the living intermingling with the visiting spirits for one night only.

Day of the Dead in Oaxaca