September 18th, 2004
This morning was an optional camel ride to the St. Simeon Monastery. Then an optional trip to High Dam and Philae temple in the afternoon was taken. For dinner, it was a traditional Nubian meal in a Nubian home.
Boarding another small boat
Camel ride – Getting ready to cross the Nile for our camel ride.
Wake up call this morning is 6:15 a.m. and breakfast was ready for us by 6:30. By 7:00 we had a short walk along the corniche were a small boat would take us down the Nile a short ways and then across to where our camels would be waiting.
Crossing the Nile
Unusual rock formation can be seen through out this area.
Boat
A boat just like the one we are in now.
Rock formation at Aswan
The rocks looks like they could be man made but they tell me it’s a natural formation
On the Nile
Heading to the West side of the Nile.
Camel ride to the Monastery
On our camels. The cost for the camels, boat ride, guides and tipping was 60 pounds and well worth it. We had a short demonstration on mounting and dismounting and a few instructions on what should be said to get the camels going and to stop them. “Yella” is for go and “shoosh” for slow down or stop, it didn’t always work but each of us had our own guide leading the camel or directing it so we were in good hands. Once we were all mounted it was a 45 minute ride over to the monastery through slightly rolling hills with a good climb near the end.
Camel ride
It's about a forty five minute ride to the monastery and each one of us having our own guide to lead us along in case of trouble.
Camel ride
The Monastery is ahead in the distance. Stephanie has some trouble with her camel.
On my camel
The illness that I had during the first part of the trip has subsided. Feeling much better now.
Monastery
A view from the monastery. We had a guide walk through the monastery with us and explain a few things which took about half an hour.
Monastery
The monastery was used not too long ago.
Monastery
It turns out to be another perfect day with no clouds in sight.
Monastery
Before the High Dam was built, the Nile would come close to the monastery during the flood season.
View from monastery
This is where we came up with the camels.
Back on the camels
Our visit of the Monastery is done and we are getting back on our camels.
Camel guide
My guide was always in front of me.
Camel ride
It was a 10 minute ride back to the Nile.
Cataracts in the Nile
The Nile is broken up into cataracts at Aswan and some areas have very slow moving water.
Back to the Nile
Walking back to our small boat for a ride back across the Nile.
On the Nile
Leaving the West bank of the Nile
Cataracts
Going through the cataracts at Aswan.
Felucca
A felucca on the Nile.
On the Nile
We had many great views this morning and it was very peaceful.
Livestock along the Nile
Livestock graze wherever they can.
Old Cataract Hotel
We pass by the Old Cataract Hotel, our place of high tea yesterday.
Restaurant along the Nile
A restaurant is built within the rock formation along the Nile.
Old Cataract Hotel
Rooms at the Old Cataract Hotel are about $300 USD per night.
Old Cataract Hotel
The tables seen are where we sat yesterday.
Rock formation at Aswan
One last view before our boat docks along the East bank.
High Dam tour
Once we're back from the camel ride, there wasn’t much time for those taking the High Dam and Temples of Philae tour. By 10:30 a.m. we're off in our Taxis with our first stop the High Dam.
High Dam tour
The High Dam was built about 50 years ago.
High Dam tour
We had a short time at a viewing area at the top of the dam situated very close to the center of it all.
High Dam tour
Some information about the dam.
Temple of Philae tour
Once we are done the tour at the dam we are back in our Taxis and off to the East bank of the Nile. From there we boarded yet another small boat taking us over to the island that holds the Temple of Philae; it was well worth the trip.
Temple of Philae tour
Our first good view of the temple. High Dam tour along with Philae cost is $50 Egyptian pounds.
Temple of Philae tour
A closer view as we make our way to the entrance.
Temple of Philae
Some of the small boats used to bring all the tourists over.
Entering Philae
Security is set up at every temple we visit.
Temple of Philae
Some of the details near the top of the pillars.
Temple of Philae
The detail in the carvings are still in great shape after so many years.
Temple of Philae
Some of the many carvings at this site.
Temple of Philae
A view of the pillars from a little further away.
Temple at Philae
Information shows when the temple was moved because of the dam construction.
On the Nile
This evening was our Nubian dinner experience. It was a short walk down to the corniche where we would board our small boat for a scenic ride up the Nile.
Headed for a Nubian village.
We pass by a few quiet places along the Nile within the cataracts near Aswan.
On the Nile
There are many rocks to watch for along our trip. After we finish our dinner tonight we'll be headed back through this area in total darkness.
West Bank of Nile
A view of the West bank from our small boat as we head for the Nubian Village.
Camels on West bank
The camels look familiar and they be the ones we were on earlier today.
On the Nile
This boat is similar to the one we are in.
Nubian Village
We are getting close to the drop off point.
Nubian Village
We arrive at the Nubian village in about 20 minutes on the west side of the River. It was a short walk up the hill through the village. You can see the High Dam in the distance.
Nubian Village
The sun is setting and we have another memorable view of the area.
Nubian Home
We are invited in to a home for hibiscus tea. We had a short talk from the owner before having a look around to see how these people lived. Then it was another short walk further up the hill to another home where we would have our meal. No chairs to sit on but rather mats were laid out along the walls so we could sit down resting against the walls. The people living in this house had a few things for sale but the big attraction tonight was the temporary tattoos offered by a young lady. They were quite affordable and most of our group ended up getting one. I decided not to as it was getting late and it was time to get back to our boat.
Once we're back on the boat we were treated to an experience that made a few of us a little nervous including myself. Heading back down the Nile to where we came from, our boat operator some how missed all the rocks and amazingly found his was back through all the different avenues of the Nile at this point. The Nile at Aswan is not all connected but broken up into smaller streams. They sometimes join again and then divide again so you end up having a few islands and many different ways of going up and down the Nile. Some of these cataracts were just barely wide enough for the boat and others had to be navigated very carefully in order to miss the many rocks just below the surface. To do this in the day light was one thing but traveling at night was another story. But as Wael kept pointing out, these people have been doing this for years. Back in our hotel around 10:00 pm and it was to bed for us all as it would be another early morning tomorrow.