Nile Valley

The Nile valley around Aswan has been a wonderful area to visit for the past few days. Holly and I were able to view a number of ancient ruins and enjoy a few activities while in the area. Our first full day in Aswan gave us time to setup a few tours along with spending a few hours time on a felucca (small sail boat) sailing around a number of islands on the Nile. The next day (Wednesday) started out early (2:45 am - with an abrupt wake up from out hotel staff- just so we could wait 45 minutes for our bus) in order to make it to Abu Simbel for sunrise. On the way back to Aswan we were able to visit high dam (this dam created the second largest man made lake in the world), Philea temple (an interesting temple in a great location) and the unfinished Obelisk (also the quarry that the rock came from for one of the great pyramids in Giza). After the tour we quickly hopped on another felucca for a cruise down the Nile for a day and a night. This morning we got off the felucca and moved on by mini-bus to a few more temples (Kom Ombo was especially good) before arriving back here in Luxor this afternoon. Tonight we will work our way back to Cairo on the 1st class train... (I'm still impressed that Holly would hold the snake)