| Nile Cruise --- 8 to 11 March |
We boarded our Nile cruise ship, the "River Hathor" about noon and had lunch aboard. The
vessel had been scheduled to sail immediately after lunch but the departure was delayed by
about two hours because of the high winds created a dust storm which hampered visibility.
The wind died down and we sailed upstream, arriving at the Esna Locks at dusk. It was
interesting to see our ship go through the Esna Locks, designed to raise the level of the Nile.
Just past the locks the vessel was docked overnight.
vessel had been scheduled to sail immediately after lunch but the departure was delayed by
about two hours because of the high winds created a dust storm which hampered visibility.
The wind died down and we sailed upstream, arriving at the Esna Locks at dusk. It was
interesting to see our ship go through the Esna Locks, designed to raise the level of the Nile.
Just past the locks the vessel was docked overnight.
Next morning, shortly after breakfast we arrived at Edfu, 74km (46 miles) north of Luxor. In
Edfu we rode by horse and buggy to visit the Temple of Horus, dedicated to the falcon-headed
god. This beautiful temple is the second-largest in Egypt and is in an excellent state of
preservation. Its many hieroglyphics, sculptures and bas-reliefs were well-preserved by
having been buried desert sands until modern times.
Edfu we rode by horse and buggy to visit the Temple of Horus, dedicated to the falcon-headed
god. This beautiful temple is the second-largest in Egypt and is in an excellent state of
preservation. Its many hieroglyphics, sculptures and bas-reliefs were well-preserved by
having been buried desert sands until modern times.
On our way to the Temple of Horus, Edfu, Egypt
Entrance to the Temple of Horus, Edfu, Egypt
Courtyard, Temple of Horus, Edfu, Egypt
Courtyard, Temple of Horus, Edfu, Egypt
Bas relief, Temple of Horus, Edfu
Hieroglyphics, Temple of Horus, Edfu
After lunch our ship left Edfu to continue to our next stop, Kom Ombo. During our 215km
(135 mile) cruise up from Luxor to Aswan we noted that the rich green agricultural strip
along the Nile gradually narrowed from about 10 miles wide down to almost nothing by the
time we arrived at Aswan There was a sudden change from the green agricultural area to the
desert sands.
(135 mile) cruise up from Luxor to Aswan we noted that the rich green agricultural strip
along the Nile gradually narrowed from about 10 miles wide down to almost nothing by the
time we arrived at Aswan There was a sudden change from the green agricultural area to the
desert sands.
As we cruised the Nile we enjoyed the scenery. Fields of sugar and rice, date palms,
occasional small villages and scattered farm houses, and every hour or so another cruise ship.
occasional small villages and scattered farm houses, and every hour or so another cruise ship.
That evening we had a dinner prepared in part by our group participants from the fruits
and vegetables we had bought in the market in Luxor the previous day. Then we all had a
costume party with everyone dressed in pseudo-Egyptian attire.
and vegetables we had bought in the market in Luxor the previous day. Then we all had a
costume party with everyone dressed in pseudo-Egyptian attire.
Tourists "helping" ship's cooks prepare dinner
Shopping for dinner ingredients, Egypt
The following morning we got off our cruise ship at Kom Ombo 190km (118 miles) south of
Luxor. In Kom Ombo we visited the only temple in Egypt dedicated to two different gods ---
to Sobek (the crocodile god) and to Horus (the falcon god). The two gods got separate but
equal treatment by each having his own temple entrance, own galleries, and own chapels.
Luxor. In Kom Ombo we visited the only temple in Egypt dedicated to two different gods ---
to Sobek (the crocodile god) and to Horus (the falcon god). The two gods got separate but
equal treatment by each having his own temple entrance, own galleries, and own chapels.
Decorated temple walls, Kom Ombo, Egpt
Temple columns, Kom Ombo, Egypt
In the afternoon our ship arrived at the end of our 215km (133 mile) cruise, the town of
Aswan. Upon arrival of our ship at Aswan we sailed in a felucca to the Botanical Gardens on
nearby Kitchener's Island. This was Friday, the Moslem day of rest, so we had the
opportunity to see many local families and friends enjoying the Botanical Gardens.
Aswan. Upon arrival of our ship at Aswan we sailed in a felucca to the Botanical Gardens on
nearby Kitchener's Island. This was Friday, the Moslem day of rest, so we had the
opportunity to see many local families and friends enjoying the Botanical Gardens.
Aswan Botanic Garden on a Friday afternoon
Our felucca being prepared to take
us from our cruise ship to the
Botanical Garden, Aswan
us from our cruise ship to the
Botanical Garden, Aswan
In the evening we saw a show on our ship featuring Nubian music and dances. The Nubians
are a large ethnic group living in southern Egypt and northern Sudan; they are much darker
than most other Egyptians but have similar facial features. We stayed overnight on our
docked cruise ship.
are a large ethnic group living in southern Egypt and northern Sudan; they are much darker
than most other Egyptians but have similar facial features. We stayed overnight on our
docked cruise ship.
Nubians at the Aswan Botanic Garden, Egupt
Nubian dancer on our Nile cruise ship