Blogs from Aswan, Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa - page 22

Friday July 14, 2006 - Got up late today and packed up and checked out. I still am carrying around three bags - my backpack, my daypack, and the bag I bought to carry snacks in for the airport stint but now has some souveneirs. Put this all in storage and then went out for a bit. Came back and met Roger for lunch. He had a new friend - Declan, from N. Ireland. The three of us got some lunch at Felfela and then decided to see some more of Cairo. Got a taxi to take us to Khan al Kahlili, the big market place near Islamic Cairo. Here felt like real Egypt -all the random shops and markets you'd expect down winding alleyways. Here we ran into the Canadians. After walking around here for ... read more

Well...were married when it comes to anyone who asks that is....its safer and easier to say were married when it comes to anyone who asks..(dad you can take a deep breathe)....then to have to explain...most people assume we're married anyway so its nothing new....but when we start having 2 children and are from central america...well thats a different story...lol SO heres what I have to say about EGypt so far: I've never in all my life been stared at soo much...yes I know I have big boobs and yes I got lots of looks in Europe....but people here stare me down and its not one person on the road its everyone including the tourist police.....I've never felt like such a piece of meat \....they stare and they make kissing sounds...I just get so frustrated sometimes....thank God ... read more

I awoke at 3:00am to get ready and be picked up by the driver of our mini bus that was going to take us to Abu Simbel. In order for tourists to go to Abu Simbel you have to travel in a police convoy. Now the idea of Convoy is lost by the Egyptians because as soon as the convoy starts all the buses, vans, and cars try to race to the front. Its a mad dash down the highway in the desert that takes you to Abu Simbel. So after a 2 1/2 hour drive our bus made it to Abu Simbel. Now before the Aswan High Dam was built Abu Simble was located lower down the mountain but UNESCO saved the temple from being flooded and moved to the temple to higher ground and ... read more

Day 5: Cairo to Aswan Let's see.. Last you heard from me, I was in a cafe with hooka smokers and domino players, right outside the fruit market.. That night, we took a 14 hour train ride from Cairo to Aswan.. Definately not a sleeper car, we were in decent seats, but they kept the light on all the time. Leaving at 10pm, we arrived right at noon.. Checked into our hideaway next to the Nile. After a few hours rest, we headed over to Elaphantine Island and relaxed at a traditional Nubian home. We then went off for a nice camel ride across the sanddunes and ended up at another Nubian house with a fabulous meal. Nice relaxing day along the Nile, all the village children came and danced for us, then with us. We ... read more

Geo: 23.9698, 32.7945Finally got some sleep this morning on the train. The seats are great and comfortable, but I found it hard to fall asleep. Aswan seems like a small city, much cleaner, less hectic than Cairo, like it already. The porters took our bags to our hotel and we walked the two minute walk. Don't know how I'm going to learn how to carry my bag if others are keen to do it for me. Our hotel is beautiful, overlooking the Nile, which is blue here and not brown muck like in Cairo. It has a pool, hope I get around to getting in it. We had a quick tour of the town and had an Egyptian lunch as a group. It was yummy. Seven of us wandered through the market. Everything seemed to be ... read more