We disembarked from the ship and after a short flight (1pm to 1:40pm) from Aswan we arrived in Abu Simbel (further south near the North Sudan border). It currently sits next to Lake Nasser, the lake created created by the "new" Aswan dam, completed in 1970.
We stayed at the Seti Abu Simbel Hotel. We spent an afternoon and evening viewing Abu Simbel by daylight and later with a light show and narrative. It is hard to believe but the site was moved from its original location is now under Lake Nasser (formed by the upper / high dam). The carved temples were cut into more than 1000 blocks weighing 30 tons each, moved 65 meters up and 200 meters inland and reassembled.
The light show and narrative was the best on this trip.
The next morning we were on an early flight back to Aswan and our lodging at the Old Cataract Hotel.
We passed by the Aswan Low Dam or Old Aswan Dam. It was finished 1902 but was not effective in reducing flooding and supporting irrigation in the Nile delta (even with two height increases).
The Old Cataract Aswan Hotel on the Nile, opened also in 1902. The decor is impressive as are the views over the Nile. Agatha Christie stayed here in 1937 and, inspired by the Nile views, wrote "Death on the Nile".
At the nearby Nubian Museum we viewed artifacts from the Nubian people who indigenous to Egypt and northern Sudan.
Clockwise from top left:
- Ushabtis were placed in tombs among the grave goods and were intended to act as servants or minions for the deceased, should they be called upon to do manual labor in the afterlife.
- Meroitic Nubian pottery often featured intricate painted or incised designs (patterns like basket weaves or animal scales or like below an image of a crocodile.)
- Illustrations of ancient Egyptian boats and ships
- A block statue depicting the ancient Egyptian official Harwa, the Chief Steward of the "God's Wife of Amun,"
- Artifacts from 3100 BCE to 2200 BCE
- Artifacts from 2400 BCE to 1500 BCE
- Artifacts from 4000 to 2000 BCE
After the museum we went to a spice shop and market.
The next day we visited to the Unfinished Obelisk. It is believed that it was commissioned by Hatshepsut for the temple of Amun in Karnak. It was the largest ever conceived and during extraction it cracked due to flaws and was buried by sand for thousands of years.
Later we visited the Aswan Dam or Aswan High Dam - built between 1960 and 1970 and has been successful in managing the flow of the Nile. Lake Nasser extends south from the dam past Abu Simbel and into Sudan.
Clockwise from top left:
- Soviet-Egyptian Friendship Monument in Aswan, Egypt. The monument commemorates the assistance provided by the Soviet Union in the construction of the Aswan High Dam. It was erected in 1967
- Looking North (down river) from the dam
- Us looking South (Aswan, Luxor and Cairo are behind us)
- Lake Nasser (Abul Simbel and Sudan are south from here)
We enjoyed the nice views of Aswan from a sail that started near our hotel.
Clockwise from top left:
- A felucca (typical Nile sailing vessel)
- Qubbet el-Hawa necropolis (or "Dome of the Wind") serves as the resting place of nobles and priests from ancient Egypt. The necropolis was in use until the Roman Period)
- Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan
- Traditional Nubian village
- Natural rock formation on the bank of the Nile
- The Mausoleum of Aga KhanIII, the 48th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims)
Another evening at a French Restaurant, this time it is the 1902 in the Old Cataract. The food was OK but we thought the breakfast service here was better than the evening service.
Next day we toured a Village accessed by boat with more opportunities to view life along the Nile.
We visited a home with a pet crocodile and turtle in West Al Kazan. To get to the house we wandered along a shopping street.
After lunch we returned to the Old Cataract passing an osprey perched along the river.
The next morning we were off to Jordan and, other than some craziness at the very backed up Cairo airport security checkpoint, we had a nice flight on Jordanian Air to Amman.
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