EGYPTIAN SPLENDOR
Globus tour QE 10 days
October 7-15, 2005
October 7-15, 2005
Day 6: A BUSY DAY!
The next morning Renée took the opportunity to rise early and write in her journal on the top deck. It was a beautiful place to relax.
Then we departed the cruise boat for a busy day of sightseeing.
We took a motor launch to the island of Philae. The vendors seized every opportunity to offer more souvenirs.
The Temple of Isis is another that was rescued from the waters of the dam. It is very impressive.
It is always easy to find a "helper" in the tourist sites. They are glad to add a bit of local color to your pictures, for baksheesh, of course.
There is a bit of a garden outside the temple. One of the garderners picked these flowers for René. She recognized the bouganvilla and the basil, but was surprised to find out the small white ones were henna.
On the way back we stopped at the Aswan High Dam. It is certainly impressive. In the back you can see the monument built by the Soviet engineers, supposed to represent a lotus flower.
Then we went to the ancient granite quarries. Many of the monumental stones came from here.
Then it was a visit to the beautiful Kitchener Gardens.
We returned to the ship for lunch.
Then it was a few leisurly hours cruising down the river to Kom Ombo.
The temple at Kom Ombo contained one of the famous "nilometers." The skilled priests could use this device to predict the level of the coming flood, and determine all sorts of things from the need for canals to the levels of tax revenue to expect.
Kom Ombo is renowned as the home of the cobras. Both Renée and I were brave enough to let him drape them around our necks - after the boy repeatedly assured us "No fangs!"
Running the "gauntlet" of vendors outside the temple I bought a galabyia for that night's party, and Renée
found some beautiful scarves. The bargaining involved a lot of handwaving, walking out, being dragged back, and finally striking a deal in Egyptian pounds and US dollars that was so confusing I am still not quite sure what we paid. But it was a lot of fun!
Most of the ladies in our party chose to dress up for the party. I felt sort of like a Sultan with a harem during the entertainment!
The Nubian band played some lively music, and then started the dancing off. It was a lot of fun!
NEXT DAY
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| The next morning Renée took the opportunity to rise early and write in her journal on the top deck. It was a beautiful place to relax. | Then we departed the cruise boat for a busy day of sightseeing.
| We took a motor launch to the island of Philae. The vendors seized every opportunity to offer more souvenirs.
| The Temple of Isis is another that was rescued from the waters of the dam. It is very impressive.
| It is always easy to find a "helper" in the tourist sites. They are glad to add a bit of local color to your pictures, for baksheesh, of course.
| There is a bit of a garden outside the temple. One of the garderners picked these flowers for René. She recognized the bouganvilla and the basil, but was surprised to find out the small white ones were henna.
| On the way back we stopped at the Aswan High Dam. It is certainly impressive. In the back you can see the monument built by the Soviet engineers, supposed to represent a lotus flower.
| Then we went to the ancient granite quarries. Many of the monumental stones came from here.
| Then it was a visit to the beautiful Kitchener Gardens.
| We returned to the ship for lunch.
| Then it was a few leisurly hours cruising down the river to Kom Ombo.
| The temple at Kom Ombo contained one of the famous "nilometers." The skilled priests could use this device to predict the level of the coming flood, and determine all sorts of things from the need for canals to the levels of tax revenue to expect.
|
Kom Ombo is renowned as the home of the cobras. Both Renée and I were brave enough to let him drape them around our necks - after the boy repeatedly assured us "No fangs!"
| Running the "gauntlet" of vendors outside the temple I bought a galabyia for that night's party, and Renée
found some beautiful scarves. The bargaining involved a lot of handwaving, walking out, being dragged back, and finally striking a deal in Egyptian pounds and US dollars that was so confusing I am still not quite sure what we paid. But it was a lot of fun!
| Most of the ladies in our party chose to dress up for the party. I felt sort of like a Sultan with a harem during the entertainment!
| The Nubian band played some lively music, and then started the dancing off. It was a lot of fun!
| |
NEXT DAY