http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , Egypt , Upper Egypt , Aswan en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:16:03 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:16:03 +0000 Peace is certainly not upon me in Luxor. It would seem not all of Africa's top predators operate at night or the gloaming. The Egyptian streets are infested with voracious hyenalike touts and the Luxorian subspecies surely cannot be matched for base animal cunning capacity for deceit or infuriating insistence by any of its Egyptian or even worldwide counterparts. I am not exaggerating when http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-458562.html So another night train to Aswan this one kinda sucked. Very beautiful town on the Nile. All lush in town and then bam nothing but sandChecked out the unfinished Obelisk. Was going to be huge but broke when they were cutting it out so it was abandoned. Took in Philae Island. The Temple was dedicated to Isis who found the heart of her slain brother Osiris on Philae Island. Now Philae Te http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-458216.html Arrived into town at about 9.30am on the train didn't get much sleep last night mainly because egyptian train drivers don't know how to brake properly.Got a pickup from the station to a hotel just around the corner now I have a day to waste in Aswan. The tour organiser told me to go sleep so I went done the road to a large 'hasslefree' market saw far too may pasty white faces for my liking http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-446611.html Day 6 and 7 AswanOn arrival at Aswan a coach was waiting to take us to the Orchida Hotel. About the best thing you could say about this hotel is that it is near the Souk and also handy to a Duty Free store.It turns out that yoursquore allowed to buy duty free on the presentation of a foreign passport and a valid visa within 48hours of arrival. Prices were quite good. I selected a 1L Grants Whi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-445260.html We set out at 5 am to get to Heathrow for our flight to Cairo Egypt so far so good. Em's bag did not arrive and she was unable to enjoy the swimming pool in the hotel as her bikini was in the bag with all other clothes and the camera. On the next day Em kitted out in Frankie's clothes we started with the famous Step pyramid and then proceeded to the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. All really i http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-434818.html Confusing Irsquoll ExplainhellipEgyptian History 101Egyptrsquos Pharaonic history dates over 3500 years and is split into three kingdoms Old Middle and New Kingdoms. During this time and even until today Egypt itself is separated into five regions. Upper Egypt where the Nile river flows from Lower Egypt including Cairo Alexandria and the Nile Delta The Western Desert from the Nile http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-434076.html We got up early to head for the new dam and Lake Nasser. The old dam was built by Sir W. Wilcock on behalf of the British authorities in 1898. It was constructed from granite quarried in the Aswan area and the official opening took place in 1902. Mayer told us how the United States refused to help Egypt with money or construction of the dam in the 60's but Russia jumped at the chance. Of cour http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-431423.html After a somewhat reluctant allnighter where there was no alcohol involved I ventured out onto the streets of London at around 3 am and caught two public buses to heathrow airport. Once I was through security etc I had 2 hours to wait until boarding perfect time for sleeping right But no after my poor form earlier in the week I didn't wanna fall into a deep sleep and miss the flight so I despe http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-430781.html I managed to get a little sleep and I was very glad to wake up because that meant I had survived the night Michele and I were both glad the sun had finally came up so we could get a look at what we were passing by on the train. We could not believe our eyes when we looked out the window. It was as if we were transported back into the Bible. Time has seemed to stand still here. It was beaut http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-428515.html I left Hannah looking very red and flustered at the gangplank of the ship. All we wanted to do was board the bloody thing and find somewhere to sit down just anywhere to collapse in the blistering sun waiting to set sail for Sudan. Instead the policeman guarding the door insisted that the 6 hours that I had been running around collecting paperwork from various offices just wasnrsquot enough http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-420676.html July 4 Happy Birthday AmericaSeeing Egypt from a felucca on the Nile is just horrible. The cool breeze that fills the sail of your felucca as your expert Captain perfectly trims the sails the exquisitely prepared traditional meals in the absence of everything but a hot burner no less and the gorgeous scenery flowing by as you head north of Aswan downriver are just stressful Seriously http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-416867.html July 3 Giant Statues AnyoneBoarded a 330am van for a predawn caravan across the Sahara to Abu Simbel. Everything is better here before dawn the absence of Level 6 HHI somehow made the experience of viewing statues 4000 years old a pleasant experience as well as educational.The temple of Philae was next nothing short of unbelievable its main purpose to worship the goddess isis. HHI http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-416865.html July 2 Happy Birthday DeVandolyn Arrived in Aswan via overnight train from Cairo. Ahmed our tour guide volunteered to drive the train because Even I could drive better than this . Although the stops were tough the service was impeccable and various members of our group were exhilarated to find that the drink menu included beer. Steady nonalcohol diet as a result of limited availabi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-416719.html Day 7Today we woke early as it was a special day. It was Chesterrsquos Bday. And if any of you have spent a Bday with Chester you know she has to have her day. Thankfully it was a fun filled day thanks to our guide Ahmed. We started with a horse drawn carriage ride to the Edfu Temple. This sounds like a nice quiet romantic thing to do but when every person on every cruise in port that day http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-410820.html Day 6Sorry for not writing sooner no internet access in Cairo that was easily accessable. Arrived fine in Cairo bloody HOT. Hostel on roof top and view over Cairo but millions of cats trying to eat our food. Now expert in getting hospitality from ppl trying to sell papyrus and perfumes. Egyption ppl friendly and mostly speak good English but Pete Russ is taking your advice if they dont under http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-405773.html coming soon http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-404764.html DAY 24We have morning departure for the sail down the Nile which is actually traveling north. We board the Felucca which is different from the previous one as this is one large flat padded deck with pillows around for all. We will be eating sleeping and relaxing as the nobles of long ago did. We leisurely sail crisscrossing the Nile to catch the wind there is no motor on this sailboat so w http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-397459.html DAY 22We alight from our train in Aswan at about 9am and go directly to the Nuba Nile Hotel. This is not even a three star hotel although it is clean and we have a fridge and air conditioning. That's all that matters. This morning is free and we head off to the souq to explore. We are approached by every shopkeeper to buy. Angie finds her Egypt collector pin and we have had enough. The tem http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-397135.html DAY23Well Dennis today is a scorcher mate and we are headed to Abu Simbel. Francine and Angie are the only 2 on the trip that have paid extra to fly instead of the 6 hour roundtrip by guarded convoy. Our driver to the airport will also take us to the Aswan Dam built 1960 prior to the flight. The Dam is the largest in Africa and created Nassar Lake that is 500 miles in length. Many ancien http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-397115.html After Abu Simbel we returned to Aswan and boarded our corresponding boats. Some people opted for the more expensive and all modcons cruise whilst the rest of us chose the more real and of course more fun Felucca.A Felucca is a traditional wooden sailboat used in the protected waters of the Mediterranean Red Sea and the Nile and has either one or two sails. It can typically hold up to ten passen http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Upper-Egypt/Aswan/blog-395923.html