Today is our last day in Aswan. High temperature 22° C with sunny blue skies.
Our departure time from the hotel to Cairo was slated for 5:30 PM, so we tried to make use of the available time. We took a morning boat ride from the east to west bank of the Nile River. There we could climb a hill to look at some ancient nobles' tombs, and also get a good view of the city. As is customary, we were able to contract a fixed price with a boat captain for 10 of us to go across the river round-trip. He would wait on the shore for us to finish sightseeing.
Our departure time from the hotel to Cairo was slated for 5:30 PM, so we tried to make use of the available time. We took a morning boat ride from the east to west bank of the Nile River. There we could climb a hill to look at some ancient nobles' tombs, and also get a good view of the city. As is customary, we were able to contract a fixed price with a boat captain for 10 of us to go across the river round-trip. He would wait on the shore for us to finish sightseeing.
Our boat on the left. The captain is dressed in a traditional Egyptian galabeya. Common colors are brown, gray, white.
For any tourists who don't want to climb the hill, the ubiquitous camel is available for a ride. I am told the return trip down the hill is harder on the tush than the journey up the hill.
Preserved wall art in one of the noble's tombs. When we reached the top of the hill, a "caretaker" immediately appeared. The tombs were all locked behind gates. The caretaker is the keeper of the keys, and for baksheesh, he unlocks them for our viewing. The caretakers adeptly latch on to any foreigners. At other tourist sites, English-speaking "guides" similarly appear offering their services for a "tour". All very customary in Egypt . . .
Well preserved pillar art in a tomb.
Looking south on the Nile from the hilltop. The Low Dam (1902) would be on the horizon, and the High Dam (1970) further south, creating the giant reservoir that is called Lake Nasser. Like all dams, hydroelectric power is generated, and the temperamental flooding of the Nile is now under human control.
Descending back down to our waiting boat captain.
McDonald's triple cheeseburger is not just for Americans.
Having checked out of our hotel room earlier in the morning, the only reasonable place to take an afternoon nap would be poolside overlooking the Nile, right?
We were loaded onto two buses at 5:30 PM from the hotel, taking us to Aswan airport for our one hour flight to Cairo. Our flight was on time, and we checked into our highest quality Egyptian hotel so far, Le Passage Cairo Hotel & Casino (at the airport), although the casino is not open.
Tomorrow, we will separate into two groups for flights into Rwanda.
Thank you for letting me “travel” along with you. Enjoying this very much! -Wilma
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