Abu Simbel -- Oct 12

Up for as much breakfast as I can handle before we leave for Abu Simbel. First we are in the bus. We stop at the high dam. Then we head to the Aswan airport. Thru security 2x, and we wait at the gate for a good half hour. Some nice hassle free shipping however. Then on an airport bus to get to our chartered Petroleum Air plane. It's about a 45 minute flight over very desolate country. Then on to the next airport bus and then we are on a tour bus to take us to the temple. It's around 11am when we get there. And after a short hike.... lo, the magnificent temple of Abu Simbel is in front of us. Yassir has been our guide for this trip.



We have about an hour to walk around. Narrating is not allowed inside so hopefully Yassir has given us enough of an intro. There are two temples -- one for Ramses II, one for his wife Nefertari. Again, it is hard to imagine how well preserved these temples are considering their age and that they were moved stone by stone!




At 1pm we head back to the bus. Thank God for some provided snacks and also the little sandwiches I packed at breakfast. We repeat the process backwards and are finally back in Aswan at the ship at 3:30. It is indeed time for lunch. We are all starving. We sit, waiters take our order and we finally have food at 4pm. I have an Italian salad. Steve has a very juicy burger. Time for a hot shower. Then I head up to the deck to watch the sunset over Aswan. With the boats sailing in the harbor and the lights on the hill it is very atmospheric. Greg and Mary head up. Greg is feeling better. 


Eventually it is time for dinner. 

We ate lunch so late we aren't really hungry for dinner. We are joined by yet another St. Louis couple at our private Aquavit Terrace table, Marilyn and Bob. So now there are 8. Steve has noodles and a Caesar salad. I have the sea bream and a pistachio cake. I am so tired I can't fall asleep. 

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