Today many of our fellow passengers had a very early start to take a flight to Abu Simbel. This was a temple complex that was carefully moved, otherwise it would have been flooded by the Aswan Dam which is pictured (with dingo dog type accessory) above.
We didn't take this tour as it was an optional and a very expensive tour. The great thing about Viking is that most of their shore excursions are included in the price. (As is alcohol with meals). We took two paid extra tours, the night markets in Cairo that I've previously discussed and the GEM which is yet to come!
So the approx 25 passengers left onboard had a sleep in and then went off on a coach trip with Program director Fatma.
Built in the 1960's to control the Nile floods and provide hydro electricity it is one of the largest dams in the world. I guess it also provided employment for thousands of people during its construction. Same as great cathedrals and pyramids, build a whole community around a project. The workers, their families, the shops needed to provide daily essentials and so on...
And it remains hugely controversial. They had to relocate a hundred thousand people, it changed the fishing industry and stopped the Nile crocodile from inhabiting it further north.
However it does mean that the Nile is now deep enough to support tor ships.
There is also some sort of water war, this is a river that spans several countries and the the Ethiopians also have built a dam which is having effects on everyone downstream.
The Nile supports this little strip of green in the middle of a huge desert.
And this is where I need to speak about the dogs.
Wild dogs are everywhere in Egypt. Big dogs, often in packs. Labrador, German Shepard, cross breeds black, white, red, yellow - Go, Dog Go! (channeling P.D. Eastman).
No little dogs like Teddy and Miss Liz - because the big dogs would probably eat them. It reminds me of Athens where there was a similar dog issue.
Because there was a road closed we had to take a detour, and I'm sure it was through the middle of Aswan's tip. But the dog packs! Scavenging. But we also saw them just wandering the streets, particularly in Cairo. Do some de-sexing please!
Don't start me on about the skinny horses and donkeys.
This is a different dog from my initial photo. I joked that it asked for 1 dolla!
Then we stopped at the Lotus tower which was built as a symble of Arab-Soviet Friendship... Really, I can think of better ways they could spend the money.
And this is where I'll speak about the foliage. Yes the trees.
Lots of palms of course, but they have masses of purple bougainvillea. There is also a beautiful red tree in bloom, it reminded me so much of a flame tree, same little leaves like a cassia. I asked Fatima what they are called, she said it was called a Flamboyance tree or flame tree. I think it is the same flame tree that we have in Australia that 'blinds a weary driver'.
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Moving on..
Our next stop was Aswan market
It was a beautiful market.
The 'vultures' were nicer and didn't hassle us as much.
BUT, after yesterday buying the galabeyas, we did not have a cent! Only plastic $ which they can't take.
It was a huge and lovely market, and the spices were amazing. I wish I could have brought some home, only they wouldn't get through customs and we didn't have any money anyway.
Above- There is our tourist policeman sneaking around in the background. (in the suit). You don't think they are there watching you but then they just pop up out of nowhere. Keeping an eye out.
Above- Dried hibiscus flowers, dates, ginger, vanilla, peanuts. The smell was amazing.
Our friend Ed bought some delicious peanuts and shared them with the poor broke Aussies!
"Come and have your photo taken with us Ed"!
That nice policeman took this!
Its amazing how many people cannot work a proper old school camera..
I'm sure my trusty Cannon should come back into fashion one day.
All those nice things to buy for the grand kids and have I said before we have no money!
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Anyway, moving on! On the water.
A beautiful felucca sail ride...
And we are floating on the amazing Nile in a sailing boat.
With 10 year old on kids paddle boards on the water beside us asking for 1 dolla and singing a very badly translated version of you'll be coming round the mountain!
But they did ask us to wear life jackets.
Below is Graham and Betsy.
Then back to the ship, where it is lovely and quiet as most people are off on their expensive excursion.
The good news is that when we got back to the ship there was an ATM on the dock, right next to a police box. Yes it sounds a bit whovian, but the police seem to sit around in all sorts of strange places. The Viking docks are also like gated communities, once you are inside the docks are fenced off and the gate are shut.
We are now cashed up!!
However, While the ship was quiet, I went to the ships shop.
After much discussion with the shop keeper (insert bargaining and salesmanship here) I bought a very pretty but expensive piece of jewellery.
I had a budget, and the first pendant I admired at which I thought would be in my the budget was $9000.00 (once Graham worked out the exchange rate). Yikes! But I thought about it and went back and bought a silver & gold piece which is beautiful and I love it.
BUT,
we could have both done the Abu Simbel trip for the price little trinket this cost me.
This is a cup, a feather and an owl. My name in hieroglyphs.
Plus a lotus for love, I think that was the selling point. Silver with gold on the initials.
And the, back , ankh, scarab beetle, eye of Horus.
It cost $1500.00, not including the chain, so grand kids please don't throw it away. Please.
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