Temple of Isis

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Another long, but exciting day!

Up at 6:00 a.m., dragging ourselves to the lobby to check out. Forget breakfast!! It was either sleep more and eat less, or visa versa, and we’re not 20 any more!!! We needed our sleep!!!

Our guide and driver were waiting for us. We were running a few minutes late, but the drive back to Cairo wasn’t as bad as yesterday (was it just yesterday?). Today was some type of holiday, and the highways were relatively chaos free. However, as our driver pulled up to the airport (brand new as of five months ago), we were met with a VERY long line of cars edging their way up to the departure gates. Our guide came up with Plan B … and we swerved over to the arrival gates and went through baggage claim. He hurried us through security and check-in, gave us our tickets and pointed out the way to the gate.

We walked and walked, stopped and got coffee and a breakfast bread, and walked some more. Finally came to our gate. Another ten minutes and we were loaded onto buses. We rode on and on and on. Thought we might be driving to Aswan. Finally the bus pulled up to a brand new Air Egypt plane. It was an uneventful flight, the best kind, and one and a half hours later we taxied into the Aswan Airport.

Again we were met by a representative of the travel agency, who gathered our bags and took us to our van and driver. Now, I’m feeling a little weird … I feel like I should be schlepping my own bags, but I try to behave and let the men take care of me!!!

We were driven to our Nile river boat, the M/Y Mirage I where we will stay for three days. We’re glad to be able to unpack for a few days. There are so many river cruise boats they are stacked one behind the other. We had to go through two other boats to get to ours. The boats have ramps from one to the other, and we walk through the lobby of the other boats to get to ours. Our guide checked us in, took us upstairs to the bar for a welcome drink (local hibiscus tea) and took care of some preliminary check-in stuff. We get a couple of minutes to eat lunch on the boat, and then we’re off.

Our afternoon excursion was to the Temple of Isis at Philae. It’s located on an island lying between the High Dam and the 1902 Dam. The Temple is possibly best known for the international effort which moved it in its entirety to the Island of Egelika when its original location was threatened by the change in water level caused by the construction of the High Dam. An Italian man and a team of others rescued the temple and moved it piece by piece to another Egelika which lies beside the now almost submerged island of Philae.

Our guide is very knowledgeable about ancient Egyptian history and we thoroughly enjoyed listening to him. He is Nubian, as is 65% of Aswan. He studied hieroglyphics and showed us many interesting things, including the very last hieroglyphics to be carved into any wall, anywhere in Egypt.

After a bit of free time where we were able to wander around, we met back by the boat and were on our way back to the dock. Kim wanted to see about buying Egyptian cotton sheets, so our guide stopped at, yes, an Egyptian cotton store! Prices were not cheap, so she opted for 1500 count pillow cases!

Then it was back to our boat, a little R&R on the sundeck, dinner and now to our rooms. Gotta get up early again tomorrow. It will be a busy day!!!

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Photos

Temple of Isis
On my right was an obelisk, now housed in some museum somewhere else.

River Cruise
On our way to our boat, which is two behind thise one!

Hanging Out
Rich and Kim waiting for our next set of instructions.

Lobby
Beautiful lobby of our river boat.

At the Dock
We're on our way to our boat that took us to the Temple of Isis.

Temple of Isis
This is the approach to the island.

Courtyard
The courtyard of the Temple of Isis.

Isi
On the left side of the door to the temple.

Vulture
The vulture and falcon are depicted numerous times on the walls inside and outside the temple.

Unfinished
The king died and the project was ended.

Leaning Hieroglyphics
Our guide was very patient with all our (okay, Rich's) questions.

Me and Him
This is the man who made me pay after I took a pic with him. Guess it's a custom!! hahaha

Hieroglypics
Inside the Temple,

More Writings
In another room in the Temple.

Peaceful
A quiet corner. Seemed a perfect place for contemplation.

Pillars
In the style of Greco-Roman architecture.

Full View
An unbelievable experience.

Ahmed
Showing us the last hieroglyphic.

Close Up
of the last heiroglyphic.

Creation
Creation story of the Nile depicted.

Awhhh
Fuzzy but good pic of Kim and Rich!

Goonight
Sunset on the Nile.