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Published: November 30th 2010
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I had some free time in the morning. I joined Jane and Andy, a lovely couple from the UK to see the Aswan Dam and Philae Temples/Island (can only get there by boat). The rest of the group woke up at 3am to go see some carvings. It involved over 6 hours of driving to see a site for 1 ½ hours. I passed on the opportunity. By noon, the temperatures reached over 100 degrees, so we all generally head indoors. I headed for some lunch and sweat my tushy off sitting at a restaurant on the Nile. My stomach wasn’t doing so hot (are you surprised?). Our tour guide can’t stress enough how we should not eat any local food as our stomachs will not adjust. He can drink and eat lots of the foods as he has been his whole life. The restaurant I went to was on his ‘safe list’. Brie returned around 2pm. Most of the group was exhausted, but some went back out to the Nubian museum.
We all met for dinner around 6:30pm. Our guide brought us to an Egyptian pizza restaurant. Of course the Egyptians suggest they created pizza. Anyhow, I had Egyptian
style pizza and it was wonderful. The pizza is made between filo dough. I literally got a chicken, mushrooms and tomato pizza (no cheese or sauce). It was quite delicious. We then walked through the markets of Aswan. It was hilarious and ridiculous all in one. We have one girl, Shannon who is African American. Every single Egyptian called her ‘my cousin’ and assumed she was Nubian. Of course, they offer payment to look at their goods, everything is 1 pound and they tell you they love you. OYE. The best are the camel offerings. I will give you 30 camels to marry your friend. About 5 of the girls were walking with this one guy Josh, and they kept asking him to buy presents for all of his wives. Additionally, he stopped for a haircut in the middle of the chaotic night and we all laughed as the barber starts to thread his eyebrows! The Egyptians manscape – not what I would have ever guessed. It was one very long and fun walk back to our hotel.
In the morning, we headed to our felucca. The group split up between 2 feluccas. Our boat was 7 girls and
our guide, Saad. We literally sailed the entire day. Every few hours we connected with a support boat with a bathroom – the same one where we had lunch and dinner. It was by far one of the most relaxing days I have had in a very long time. I was worried about the bathroom situation and the boredom situation – but the day flew by a little too quickly. Bedtime was around 9pm as we were waking up by 5:30am to start our day. What Brie and I didn’t realize is how cold it gets on the Nile! Sleeping outside, we skipped on the blankets the boat provided (mainly because they smelt like mold). It was still at least 70 something degrees. By 1am we heard a party going on… we found out the next day it was a Nubian wedding. By 3am the two of us were shivering! Oh well… by 5am I got on the support boat to use the restroom. As the generator wasn’t on, there was no running water. Oh well. Did I mention the night before I went to take a shower. As I was washing my hair in the refreshing (aka cold) water,
I look up to see a peeping tom staring down where the fan is! Urghhhh – perve. I told my group and they all tried to get me to laugh it off. The next girl showered with her bathing suit on – lol.
We got off the felucca after breakfast at 6:45am. We head directly to Kom Ombo which was dedicated to the Crocodile G-d. To be honest, I was exhausted and not paying much attention. We all get back into the air conditioned vehicle after our visit around 8am to head towards Edfu. Here is one of the most completely reserved temples. By this point, I realize I am not so much tired… but more bored. The hieroglyphics start all looking the same. The history is all ‘theoretical’. During the late Dynasty, the Romans burned and destroyed the library which held all the secrets to Egyptian history; therefore everything we learn about is a theory or word of mouth through the centuries. The most disturbing thing at Edfu is that hundreds of faces are all scratched… apparently by the Romans (in my opinion who the f would waste their time!).
Off to Luxor we go… we arrive around 2pm. We take the afternoon to get some tea, relax and meet the group around 6pm. It is Violet Beauregarde’s (Willy Wonka chick) bday, so we celebrate with a cake followed by a lovely dinner. I am not sure why everyone told me the food is bad in Egypt? The food certainly tastes good; however there isn’t one person in my group who hasn’t gotten sick. Mostly everyone is dealing with massive stomach pains and the runs. I am having my typical adjustment period, so I have no pain… just not my normal self. I guess that is what people mean by bad food – as in bad for your stomach. Of course my stomach continues to grow its food baby as I hoped that Egypt would be the start of my 16 pound weight loss! I am wrong once again! My taste buds have been stimulated very nicely in Egypt. The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is the cow’s brains. That is the only thing I didn’t enjoy. Additionally, we are having a camel feast our last night – I am looking forward to it! Yes – I love food. I am a foodie. If I can banish bread from my site for the next 6 weeks I would – but I don’t think it’s going to happen!
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