Egypt (The Nile Expedition) - Dec 98
With a new expedition starting at Cairo a day after the previous one finishing, it was soon off out of Cairo and a long drive south following one of the many canals. A slight detour into the desert after beating the police convoy complete with armoured cars and nothing like getting stuck in the sand which we became aware as being one of Mick, the drivers' pastimes.
We did arrive at the western desert town of Paris (actually Baris on a map) then heading back east to Luxor complete with dust and sand pouring in through the cracks of the truck cabin where we enjoyed being thrown around daily.
Camels loaded with palms leaves. Arriving in Luxor at the Rezeiky Camp site complete with real grass and a swimming pool. Luxor being graced with many old hotels along the Nile. This being the Winter Palace
The Luxor Palace, one of the vast array of old temples and tombs of ancient Egypt. Crossing the ferry to the west bank complete with camels drinking from the Nile and having a no doubt overdue bath
As touristy as hell, here we land in a alabaster shop and the salesman getting a kick out of Mary (a western woman). No video cameras allowed in any of the tombs of the Valley of the Kings or Queens, etc, but Rob couldn't resist this shot of Ramses tomb showing the hoards of tourists flocking in. It is merely one of over 50 tombs nestled deep into the rocky hillsides. Back close to the Nile and another splendid example with the Nabu Temple with the colourful hieroglyphics still present.
The fantastic looking Temple carved into the side of a mountain. Back on the east bank and Karnak Temple with massive pillars all bunched together and rows of carved rams. The ever present police, especially since the massacre here eighteen months ago.
Not too far from Luxor to Aswan, down a secondary road following the Nile south. Aswan where the first nice shop seen was one selling ivory. Disgusting is the word and should not be allowed! The omnipresent Nile as we viewed it from our hotel roof whilst having a few drinks after a busy day. Next its south to check out the Aswan low and high dams. Rather awesome.
Actually filled with earth not concrete, makes this dam rather special, and the largest in the world. While a few of us decide to have a day off, the rest hire a felucca and sail up the Nile for two days to Edfu where we eventually meet up with them. Looking around Aswan and this collapsing array of buildings was amusing, especially with the old guys still drinking tea above the slide.
Old interesting markets in Aswan as Rob heads off in a carriage to find some you know what!. The range of spices are something else. Next across to Hurghada which is too horrible and touristy to show so on to St Anthony's monastery set up when Christianity arrived in Egypt, around 52AD. It has the oldest monastery church in the world which is still used today, and here chief brother describes where the spring water comes from (South Africa he said). Perhaps further north. Interesting!
Not long before we head north beside the red sea and into the city of Suez. What a dump! Huge ships on the Suez Canal, then into the tunnel that crosses from Egypt to Sinai. and camp out, guess where? Wrong. Beside the Red Sea. In the morning a couple of Bedouins visit us.
Lunch in the desert just before heading into Dahab again for eight days. It's then off to Cairo to catch a plane to Ethiopia as the border is closed into Sudan due to war there.