Blogs from Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa - page 6

We passed through a lock yesterday after being entertained by local traders trying to sell us outfits to wear for tonight’s party as well as tablecloths and towels. Many of us had already purchased an outfit on board or at a local market but they continued to throw things to the guests, haggle over prices and then either return the goods or send money. Some goods eneed up in the water but I think they did OK. The galabyea party on board that night is where everyone dressed up “like an Egyptian”. An early night for us though as we had to get up early for our trip to Abu Simbel. We listened though as the bass thumped through the boat. Up at 4am for our trip to Abu Simbel. It is a 3 hour road ... read more

Testa uncino serpente occhio occhio falco freccia mano scimmia falco occhio sega testa cappello uncino serpente serpente ibis mano coltello ape chiave mano falco falco donna lumaca sega uncino ape serpente mano ibis chiave falco occhio occhio scimmia testa chiave freccia freccia occhio ibis uncino ape uccello testa testa linea piede falco ape donna piede chiave falco occhio testa testa cappello ibis testa sega uccello uncino ape ape croce linea pacone uncino linea testa testa falco donna serpente chiave mano falco ibis sega occhio occhio serpente mano linea uncino ibis mano mamo occhio scimmia coltello lumaca testa pavone piede chiave coltello occhio... read more

It feels as though Aswan has been welcoming tourists since the concept of tourism was invented. From Churchill to Omar Sharif, everyone has visited and many books have been written about Aswan and the Nile. Aswan gets busier, noisier, more built up every year and yet there is certain unchanging magic about the place. Forty years ago the Old Cataract Hotel was very old, very dusty and unloved. Today the Old Cataract Hotel is proud to be old. It had a major facelift in 2012 and is now “a legend” and it is, once again, beautiful and loved. They have removed the cobwebs but the view of the Nile is unchanged; we see the same view as Agatha Christie saw while writing “Death on the Nile”. Feluccas sail by on the sparkling Nile; palm trees sway ... read more

Un chapitre assez court cette fois-ci pour vous parler de l'endroit que j'ai préféré de tout ce voyage, mais également d'un sentiment d'humilité auquel j'ai souvent été confronté en Egypte. Engoncé dans le bus qui cahote dans la nuit noire du désert, je me force à me réveiller à 5:30 pour assister au lever du soleil. Le ciel commence déjà à s'éclaircir à l'Est, et le bleu fait place à des nuances de vert, rose, orange, jaune, alors que le sable, encore ébène, est tapi dans l'obscurité. Un croissant orange finit enfin par déchirer l'horizon, foudroyant les alentours de toute sa puissance. Quelques secondes plus tard, le dieu scarabée Khepri a tôt fait de le pousser entièrement jusque dans le ciel. Il n'est pas encore six heures, mais la puissance de l'astre solaire dardant ses rayons ... read more

This morning we had to unfortunately say goodbye to the amazing crew who took care of us on our Felucca journey for the past two nights as we head back to Luxor. On our way to Luxor, we stopped at the Temple of Edfu, which is considered the best preserved temple in Egypt. Temple of Edfu The Edfu temple is the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak Temple. It has an inner sanctuary and is dedicated to the falcon god Horus. As the son of Osiris and Isis, Horus avenged his father Osiris's death at the hands of Seth in a great battle at Edfu. Seth was exiled and Horus took the throne. Egyptian Pharaohs claim to be the incarnation of Horus, who was said to be "the living king." The temple was buried in ... read more