I've been on a cruise ship for the last few days and I haven't been able to get to the internet, so I have a lot to update!
The next morning after our Nubian campfire night, we checked out of our hotel and boarded a Nile River cruise ship, which was docked just at the other end of town. It wasn't exactly a Carnival Cruise, but it did have a restaurant, bar, and rooftop pool. After lunch we headed to the Aswan markets for our first true haggling experience. Because we are all obviously tourists, every shop owner throws himself at us saying things like "I don't know what you're looking for, but I have it" and "I give you money to look" and my personal favorite... "You broke something! You broke something! You broke my heart!" You can't walk 10 feet without being hassled. At first I was scared, then annoyed, and then it was fun and almost like a game. Every price is negotiable, and of course you all know my haggling skills - I am awesome at it - No lie! I haggled one price from 100 EGP to 5 EGP. That's like $20 down to $1!
That night, aboard the ship, we had entertainment in the bar area- a bellydancer. And of course she picked me out of about 50 people to get up and dance with her. Let me just tell you, I certainly could not shake the way she could. SO embarassing!
The next morning we had to get up at 3 a.m. to go see the temples of Abu Simbel. Aside from the pyramids, Abu Simbel is one of the most famous places in EGypt. The bus ride there was about 3 hours long, travelling through nothing but desert. Egypt is very serious about keeping tourists safe because if something happens, the tourism industry will take a hard hit. We had to travel to Abu Simbel in a convoy. There was a line of about 20 or 30 buses, led and followed by trucks full of tourism police with shotguns. Scary - but sort of comforting at the same time.
At 3 a/m/ the stars in the desert are INCREDIBLE. There was no light pollution and the stars were brighter than I have ever seen. I couldn't fall asleep on the bus because I couldn't stop looking at the sky. The amazing sky was then followed by the amazing desert sunrise. It was difficult to take pictures from the bus though.
Once we arrived at Abu Simbel, we had a brief presentation about its history and then we were free to go inside both temples. We could take pictures from the outside (which was amazing), but we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. I can't seem to grasp just how old everything is that I'm seeing here. I don't remember when Abu SImbel we constructed, but it's at least 3000 years old. I am also amzed at how these places were created. Abu Simbel was constructed in the side of a mountain, whereas other pyramids and temples are so big that is seems beyond impossible for these people to have built things without modern technology. In addition to the size of these temples, usually the entire inside is completely covered in carvings, paintings, and hieroglyphics.
After we returned to the boat ( stil docked in Aswan) some of the group went back to the markets - I decided to lounge by the pool. In the evening a coupole of us treated ourselves to the ultiamte American dinner - McDonalds. I forgot we were in Egypt and drank the fountain coke with ice - oops. We shouldn't be drinking any of the water, but it's been a few days and I've been feeling fine. That night everyone in the tour group got together for drinks on the deck. It was a very fun night drinking Egyptian wine and beer. The best beer here is called Stella.
The next morning we were en route to Luxor along the Nile. While watching small vilages, desert, etc. go by, we were relaxing by the rooftop pool again! After lunch we arrived in the town of Edfu, where we stopped to see another Temple - yet another amazing place. But, unfortunately, we have seen so many old temples, etc. by now, they are all running together and we are appreciating them less and less :(
That evening our boat was slightly damaged while going through a lock in the river. We were a few hours late arriving in Luxor, but it did not affect our plans. We started the day with a sunrise hot air balloon ride! It was so amazing! We took flight about 15 minutes before the sun rose. I was a bit nervous, but it was actually one of the most relaxing things I've ever done. We flew for almost an hour, right over more temples, and the Valley of the Kings. It was incredible. It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but SO worth it.
We continued the day by taking a tour through the Valley of the Kings. This is a valley in the desert full of tombs of ancient kings of Egypt. We actually got to go in 3 of the tombs. Walking down long tunnels deep into the mountain was a bit creepy to me, but very worth it. The paintings and hieroglyphics on the walls are still in amazing condition! I couldn't get over how old these places are! Two of the tombs still had the sarcophogus (sp?) there! I was amazing to see the actual tombs where the mummies that we had seen in Cairo had actually been excavated.
After lunch we visited Karnak temples - known as the largest religious site in the world - even bigger than the Vatican. I thought I was sick of looking at temples, but this place was amazing. We took some awesome pictures, and some really silly ones too. It was filled with tourists from all over the world, even Egypt. I had an Egyptian lady ask if she could take my picture (because I was wearing a tank top). I didn't let her, lol. It is sooo hot! And this is winter! I can't even begin to imagine how hot it gets in the summer!
Last night we drove about 4 hours to the city of Hurgada. It is a beach town along the coast of the Red Sea. Today we spent the day swimming and catching rays on the beach. Last night we went to the Hard Rock cafe which was more like a club than a restaurant.
Tomorrow we are headed to Dahab where we will snorkel and hike! Can't wait!
The next morning after our Nubian campfire night, we checked out of our hotel and boarded a Nile River cruise ship, which was docked just at the other end of town. It wasn't exactly a Carnival Cruise, but it did have a restaurant, bar, and rooftop pool. After lunch we headed to the Aswan markets for our first true haggling experience. Because we are all obviously tourists, every shop owner throws himself at us saying things like "I don't know what you're looking for, but I have it" and "I give you money to look" and my personal favorite... "You broke something! You broke something! You broke my heart!" You can't walk 10 feet without being hassled. At first I was scared, then annoyed, and then it was fun and almost like a game. Every price is negotiable, and of course you all know my haggling skills - I am awesome at it - No lie! I haggled one price from 100 EGP to 5 EGP. That's like $20 down to $1!
That night, aboard the ship, we had entertainment in the bar area- a bellydancer. And of course she picked me out of about 50 people to get up and dance with her. Let me just tell you, I certainly could not shake the way she could. SO embarassing!
The next morning we had to get up at 3 a.m. to go see the temples of Abu Simbel. Aside from the pyramids, Abu Simbel is one of the most famous places in EGypt. The bus ride there was about 3 hours long, travelling through nothing but desert. Egypt is very serious about keeping tourists safe because if something happens, the tourism industry will take a hard hit. We had to travel to Abu Simbel in a convoy. There was a line of about 20 or 30 buses, led and followed by trucks full of tourism police with shotguns. Scary - but sort of comforting at the same time.
At 3 a/m/ the stars in the desert are INCREDIBLE. There was no light pollution and the stars were brighter than I have ever seen. I couldn't fall asleep on the bus because I couldn't stop looking at the sky. The amazing sky was then followed by the amazing desert sunrise. It was difficult to take pictures from the bus though.
Once we arrived at Abu Simbel, we had a brief presentation about its history and then we were free to go inside both temples. We could take pictures from the outside (which was amazing), but we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. I can't seem to grasp just how old everything is that I'm seeing here. I don't remember when Abu SImbel we constructed, but it's at least 3000 years old. I am also amzed at how these places were created. Abu Simbel was constructed in the side of a mountain, whereas other pyramids and temples are so big that is seems beyond impossible for these people to have built things without modern technology. In addition to the size of these temples, usually the entire inside is completely covered in carvings, paintings, and hieroglyphics.
After we returned to the boat ( stil docked in Aswan) some of the group went back to the markets - I decided to lounge by the pool. In the evening a coupole of us treated ourselves to the ultiamte American dinner - McDonalds. I forgot we were in Egypt and drank the fountain coke with ice - oops. We shouldn't be drinking any of the water, but it's been a few days and I've been feeling fine. That night everyone in the tour group got together for drinks on the deck. It was a very fun night drinking Egyptian wine and beer. The best beer here is called Stella.
The next morning we were en route to Luxor along the Nile. While watching small vilages, desert, etc. go by, we were relaxing by the rooftop pool again! After lunch we arrived in the town of Edfu, where we stopped to see another Temple - yet another amazing place. But, unfortunately, we have seen so many old temples, etc. by now, they are all running together and we are appreciating them less and less :(
That evening our boat was slightly damaged while going through a lock in the river. We were a few hours late arriving in Luxor, but it did not affect our plans. We started the day with a sunrise hot air balloon ride! It was so amazing! We took flight about 15 minutes before the sun rose. I was a bit nervous, but it was actually one of the most relaxing things I've ever done. We flew for almost an hour, right over more temples, and the Valley of the Kings. It was incredible. It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but SO worth it.
We continued the day by taking a tour through the Valley of the Kings. This is a valley in the desert full of tombs of ancient kings of Egypt. We actually got to go in 3 of the tombs. Walking down long tunnels deep into the mountain was a bit creepy to me, but very worth it. The paintings and hieroglyphics on the walls are still in amazing condition! I couldn't get over how old these places are! Two of the tombs still had the sarcophogus (sp?) there! I was amazing to see the actual tombs where the mummies that we had seen in Cairo had actually been excavated.
After lunch we visited Karnak temples - known as the largest religious site in the world - even bigger than the Vatican. I thought I was sick of looking at temples, but this place was amazing. We took some awesome pictures, and some really silly ones too. It was filled with tourists from all over the world, even Egypt. I had an Egyptian lady ask if she could take my picture (because I was wearing a tank top). I didn't let her, lol. It is sooo hot! And this is winter! I can't even begin to imagine how hot it gets in the summer!
Last night we drove about 4 hours to the city of Hurgada. It is a beach town along the coast of the Red Sea. Today we spent the day swimming and catching rays on the beach. Last night we went to the Hard Rock cafe which was more like a club than a restaurant.
Tomorrow we are headed to Dahab where we will snorkel and hike! Can't wait!
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