My last day in Aswan was all about killing time until the night train back to Cairo. Normally I could occupy myself for hours on end with a solid internet connection, but I had been informed that high speed access was down throughout the country. The 1st class ride back to Cairo was much more […]
Egypt
Felucca Rides
Upon our return from Abu Simbel, Gary, Darcy, Amy, Joe and I went to lunch at a floating restaurant recommended by one of the guidebooks. The prices were higher, but you couldn’t beat the ambiance. The food was good too. Afterwards, we set about trying to find a fair minded felucca captain. Joe and Amy […]
The Sunrise Convoy To Abu Simbel
Paul Theroux doesn’t make it to Abu Simbel as his flight was canceled. For a man willing to travel the decrepit back roads of Africa, it is odd that he didn’t make the journey by bus. Meanwhile, my wake-up call came earlier than expected, around 2:37am. Bleary-eyed, I make my way down to the ship’s […]
Aswan, The Dams, And The Temple Of Isis At Philae
The ship was docked in Aswan when I awoke, the view of the Nile at this point being what I had always imagined. We boarded a big bus and drove over the Aswan Dam to the newer, and more grandiose, High Dam. A few photos later, we boarded the bus again, and connected with a […]
Sunset Cruise To Kom Ombo
“The pleasantest aspect of the river cruise was the combination of gourmandizing and sightseeing, gliding with the current and stopping every now and then at a resurrected ruin.” — Paul Theroux in “Dark Star Safari” The sun began to set as we continued to cruise up the Nile from Edfu to Kom Ombo, a temple […]
Edfu Temple And An Afternoon On The Nile
“Some countries are just perfect for tourists. Italy is. So are Mexico and Spain. Turkey, too. Egypt, of course. Pretty big. Not too dirty. Nice food. Courteous people. Sunshine. Lots of masterpieces. Ruins all over the place. Names that ring a bell. Long vague history. The guide says, ‘Papyrus’ or ‘Hieroglyphic’ or ‘Tutankhamen,’ or ‘one […]
The Valley Of The Kings And Luxor Temple
Upon exiting the overnight train from Cairo, I found a guy holding my name on a piece of paper, as expected. Along with a few others, I was whisked away in a minivan. A few people were dropped at a hotel, while a few of us motored on to The Valley of the Kings which […]
The Night Train To Luxor
After the excitement of camels, pyramids, and hustles, I opted for dinner at a restaurant I could trust, McDonald’s. The McArabia is two small kofta (meat) patties in a pita bread with a bit of salad and some type of sauce. I collected my things at the Berlin Hotel and awaited my pick-up from the […]
The Great Pyramids And Sphinx At Giza
I slept surprisingly well considering my butt almost hit the floor when I laid down on the bed in my little, high-ceilinged hotel room. Along with the free breakfast of egg, breads and tea, came a phone call from the Manager. When I told him I intended to check out after only one night, a […]
From Dawn Till Dusk In Cairo
Egypt Air flight 840 set down at Cairo’s airport just before dawn. I managed a few hours of sleep, despite the nudging left elbow of the tall man to my right. I was near the front of the immigration line which did little good once it was my turn as I failed to buy the […]
